Historic Haunted Hitchin - Part 1

Some of you do and some of you don't. Whether you believe or not there is always an interest in spirits and ghosts. Hitchin is apparently awash with paranormal activity and attracts tourists all year round.

With so many old, historical buildings it's no surprise that your friendly ghost wants to stick around and work on his/her haunting skills.

So, where to begin? Let's start on Bancroft, the flat above Ladbrooks is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a cat. Residents of the flat claim that they are scratched around the legs by the ghostly feline. It is said that the cat was run over and shortly afterwards the owner committed suicide.

This, to my knowledge is the only animal haunting reported in the town but a more common venue for ghosts to appear are public houses. In Hitchin the Coopers Arms, The George and The Red Hart Inn are said to be haunted.

The Coopers Arms in Tilehouse Street has the ghost of a monk. With its proximity to Hitchin Priory it is likely to of been a Carmelite monk. Whereas the George is said to have a cellar that fills people with terror when they go down there and nobody, including animals, will venture in after 11pm. The final public house listed is the Red Hart Inn which is over 500 years old and is said to be on the site of the last public hanging in Hitchin. In the sixties the manager of the time woke to find a elderly man sitting in a chair at the end of her bed.

Other than pubs another favourite haunt of your ghostly apparition is local shops. Woolworth's, Charisma Beads and Hawkins all claim to have visitors from the other side.

Hawkins in Bucklesbury has reported the sound of footsteps on the landing and cold spots in the flat above the shop. It is said to be down to the ghosts of a woman in a blue dress and a tall thin man with straggly hair. Charisma Beads in St Mary's Square has a ghost that throws beads at staff and turns the shop lights on during the night. The final shop Woolworth's is said to have a Lavender Lady; when she appears there is an aroma of Lavender. 

Believe in them or not they add mystery and intrigue and revenue to the town as tourists make a beeline for Hitchin to visit the places that are listed on many paranormal activity sites.

For other haunted building in Hitchin visit the Ghost of Hitchin Gallery at http://www.hitchinpeople.co.uk/galleries