5 haunted locations in Surrey
5 haunted locations in Surrey
By Charlie Hall
As a paranormal writer, researcher and medium, I love visiting haunted locations to investigate and have been to many wonderful sites in the UK. I never realised how many exciting places were on my doorstep so wanted to share some histories and happenings at a few of my favourites.
1
St Philomena’s, Carshalton
Steeped in history, this building has been a private home, boarding school, convent and Catholic girls school. The original structure known as Carshalton House was built in the 1600s and owned by tobacco merchant Edward Calton before being taken over by the Daughters of the Cross.
In the early 18th century it was acquired by Sir John Fellowes of the South Sea Company who had extensive works carried out on the grand manor house including the construction of a magnificent Water Tower. Many have seen the apparition of a nun in and around the tower, observing passers by. Between the house and tower is a beautiful hidden hermitage with old graffiti etched on the walls. Mediumistically I wasn’t alone there and got the feeling of being followed, once inside I saw a silhouette of what I believed was a nun, could this have been the same ghostly nun from the tower?
The staircase has been subject to spectral visitations and tragic rumours, including that of owner and physician of Queen Anne, Dr Radcliffe, who when summoned by her messenger one day threw him down the stairs. On the same stairs Fellowes pushed a tax man down them and a footman was thought to have fallen.
A Grey Lady is known to haunt the house and claims were made that the dumb waiter was mysteriously tampered with at night and would unlock. This spooky lady became some what of a legend amongst students.
The long gallery is another hotspot where a child ghost wanders and it is the place where a housemaid was murdered by a butler, and the scene residually replays, allegedly leading the sisters to have it exorcised.
2
West Street, Carshalton
There are several known haunted buildings in this road but two houses stand out more than the rest. Built around 1675 Rose Cottage has an archaic well in the garden and appeared in Elliot O’Donnell’s 1909 book, ‘Haunted Houses of London‘. There are notable sightings of a female ghost that stands by the fireplace, a Mr Cooper drew a picture of who he had seen but it is no longer in existence. On many occasions walking past I have sensed someone looking out of an upper window but no one is there. Other residents have reported feeling weird presences in different rooms.
The White Cottage was made famous by a ghostly apparition in the bedroom window. Years ago it made the local paper with the then-owner telling of some strange things happening in the house. A later owner told me of how when his child was very young they used to talk of someone in the corner of that room but no one was visible.
3
The Old Rectory, Cheam
This impressive old dwelling dates back to the 1500’s and was used as a guest house for the wealthy, with laundry, stables and orchards. Queen Elizabeth I used to hunt in the park nearby and the building survived a bomb from World War Two.
Lots of spirits are meant to haunt the property: a child, an elderly lady, some Roman and Civil War soldiers and the rather disturbing-looking Bishop Lancelot Andrewes whose apparition is said to only materialise from the knees up. These and a mischievous ghost, who an owner claimed pinched her behind in the basement, are just some of the reported spooky visitors at the property.
Another proprietor has previously told of his favourite ghost, Regency rector Henry Peach, who his wife saw by their mantelpiece and he said they made contact with him during a ghost tour.
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4
The Greyhound, Carshalton
This lovely ancient pub sits facing Carshalton ponds and was originally a coaching inn built around the 1700’s. Anne Boleyn’s well is a few seconds away and the water opposite was named The Horse Pond as the inn used to keep horses to help free carriages from the mud.
There is a ghostly tale from the 1800’s whereby a weary, cloaked traveller, looking for shelter one winter’s eve, was sadly found on the doorstep frozen to death the following morning. The Swan bar inside is where the grey spectre appears and a previous staff member told me of her experience in there when a cold feeling came over her and she felt it go right through her.
5
Rose Hill Cinema/Bingo Hall, Sutton
The art deco style Gaumont cinema opened in 1937 and was turned into a bingo hall in the 1960’s. It holds many spooky tales of phantoms thought to be past employees and musicians, that are seen in doorways, the circle or by the bar where beer taps are turned on and glasses fall by themselves.
A Grey man is regularly spotted wandering around, and it is home to a ghost said to have been a boiler man who tragically died after falling down the stairs.
There is a fascinating well-known story about the Rose Hill organ ghost, who kept on playing long after the instrument had been removed. Loud organ music would be heard coming from the building in the early hours by local residents. Complaints were made but the original Compton theatre organ was no longer in the venue.
Mecca just held a special Halloween gaming event here called ‘BingGhost’ in collaboration with a paranormal team from North London. They have opened their doors to investigators previously when members of the renowned Ghost Club visited to carry out a séance: doors were heard slamming and orbs were captured in the auditorium.
Whatever you believe, these stories are timeless and get passed down through the years, with additional spooky experiences being added by new generations and long may this continue.
