Nottinghamshire has long been home to paranormal activity – from mysterious noises and smells to strange sightings and amazing apparitions.
So, to prepare ourselves for Halloween, here are 14 of the most haunted buildings and places across the county and the surrounding area.
Have you visited any of these places?
5. Newstead Abbey
The ancestral home of the poet, Lord Byron, is said to be home to enough ghostly characters to justify a Scooby Doo reboot! Among others, the Black Friar, the Goblin Friar, the Rose Lady, the White Lady and a flock of rooks containing the souls of monks are said to enjoy bed and breakfast at Newstead Abbey. Photo: Anne Shelley
6. Annesley Hall
Annesley Hall, twice ravaged by fire, is a pale shadow of its former self as the home of Lord Byron's lover, Mary Chaworth. But with a history of witchcraft, murder and suicide, it remains one of the most haunted sites in the UK, especially as victims of the bubonic plague (or 'Black Death') in the 14th century were buried in the grounds. Photo: Angela Ward
7. Bestwood Lodge
Now a successful Best Western hotel, Bestwood Lodge was the love nest of King Charles II and his mistress, actress and orange-seller Nell Gwynn, in the 17th century. Many visitors have reported ghostly encounters, including the smell of oranges, figures disappearing into thin air and the sound of voices coming from the cellar. Photo: Submitted
8. Spring-Heeled Jack
In Linby, there is a legend about Spring-Heeled Jack, an entity from English folklore during the Victorian era. The first reported sighting of Spring-Heeled Jack was in 1837, and there have been sightings in London, the Midlands, and even Scotland. However, Linby is thought to be the last known sighting of this infamous entity. Witnesses claim to have seen footprints in the snow and observed the figure leaping between buildings, across fields, over gardens, and heading toward the quarry down the road. This story was shared by paranormal investigator Kristian Lander. Image: Linby Trail. Photo: Linby Trail