The Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre 121-123 Union Street

This building is also known as the New Palace Theatre of Varieties and more recently the Academy Nightclub. Built in 1898 for the Livermore Brothers, this impressive building is one of only a handful of Victorian buildings left in Plymouth today. It was designed by Architects, Wimpers and Arber as a music hall and variety theatre.

The Theatre opened as the New Palace Theatre on Monday the 5^th September 1898. The total capacity of this building in it’s hey day would have hosted around 2500 people, the Auditorium consisted of stalls and a pit with a grand circle and gallery to suite, along with a further eight stage boxes. 

Sadly the original lavish auditorium and stage house were completely decimated in a serious fire on the 23^rd December 1898 almost 4 months after the Theatre had originally been opened. Out of the ashes the Theatre was indeed restored and opened to the public once again. This building has had numerous owners over its long service, once owned by the well known local Hoyles family, legend states that the spirit of Mrs Hoyle is one particular ghost that haunts the Palace Theatre.

With regards to hauntings at this well known Plymouth landmark, it is said that a woman called Mary who supposedly passed in the fire in 1898 has been seen and heard, the fire is believed to have taken a number of souls. It is said that Mary still haunts the vacant ruins of the Palace Theatre even today. I have spoken to a couple of individuals in recent times about the famous Theatre. One particular gentlemen worked as a security guard (door man) in the late 1980’s and stated that he had a number of first hand unnerving encounter’s during his employment at the ancient Theatre. The gentleman recalled one particular morning, it was around 3am and the building was closed for business after a busy evening. Himself and a colleague were just talking amongst themselves in one particular area when all of a sudden the stony silence was broken as a disembodied female scream was witnessed followed by all the lights turning completely off leaving both men open mouthed and slightly spooked, as no one else was present in the building at the time. The gentleman went on to state that noises were indeed quite commonplace and also the sightings of dark silhouettes resembling human forms were also seen by himself and others in areas unoccupied at the time.

Today the Palace Theatre is no longer open although I would personally jump at the opportunity to spend the entire night at this awe inspiring building, just to experience first hand if any of these old souls still wander aimlessly through the abandoned building.

The Octagon

The Octagon is situated just off Plymouth's famous Union Street, it was here during the aftermath of a devastating air raid over Plymouth during the second world war that two young children had a first hand encounter with a spectre.

A ten- year old girl accompanied by her eight-year old brother walked amongst the smouldering rubble, in search for the missing family cat. Whilst they carried out searching intensively for there beloved feline, a woman joined them and too began to search along side the two children. A few moments went by when all of a sudden the woman lost her footing and began to stumble upon the small mountain of rubble, instinctively one of the children went to grab her hand to offer assistance, and at this point she faded and completely vanished before the children's very eyes.

It was not until the shocked children returned to there family and retold there odd experience with the woman, that they realised the woman never once spoke to either of the children whilst she assisted them in searching for the family cat.

Photograph kindly provided by Derek Tait

Ferry House Inn - Saltash Passage

Saltash Passage photograph kindley provided by Derek Tait

A 300 year old ancient Inn located in the picturesque area of Saltash Passage. This building was onced used as a ‘chop stop’ where travellers would frequant the Inn for a brief stop to enjoy a hot meal and sometimes a well earned rest before continuing on their journey. The old Plymouth to Saltash Ferry once ran daily from across the way of the Ferry House Inn hence the Inn’s given name.

Back in 1993 the then new landlord and lady of the Ferry House Inn experienced first hand, a couple of regulars from the world of spirit. After being informed by a handful of the pubs regulars a number of weeks previously, that the building was indeed haunted by the restless ghosts of a young girl and an elderly woman. It was only a matter of time before the new owners had their first unnerving experience of the old spirts dwelling within the buildings ancient walls.

One evening heavy ponderous footsteps was heard upon the stairs that connect the two bars together even though no one was walking in this area at the time; this was followed by an instant drop in temperature.

Another horror stricken experience witnessed by the new tenants involved there beloved canine which saw the owners dog leeping forward with its lips curled back, heckles up and teeth exposed, evidently barking and snarling at an area occupied by some unseen force.

It is believed that the elderly lady who haunts this building once resided at this very property and has some unfinished buisness. Although it is not quite clear to whom the young girl is and why she still haunts the public house.

I have been told that the building is still very atmospheric and that strange sounds are still being witnessed today by the regulars at the Ferry House Inn.

Featured in the book 'Haunted Plymouth' by Kevin Hynes

Haunted Plymouth Ghost Walks

http://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/haunted-plymouth-ghost-walk-p1407593
Haunted Plymouth Ghost Walks - 1st Sunday of every month

Halloween

What is Halloween?

The term Halloween is a shortened version of "All-Hallow-Even", the eve of "All-Hallows'-Day" (also known as All Saints' Day). The modern version of Halloween is believed to have originated from the ancient Pagan festival Samhain. In Celtic culture, Samhain celebrated the end of the harvest season and stocking up on supplies and livestock for the winter ahead.

The Celts believed that on the evening of October 31st,  the deceased would come back to life and cause trouble to the livings' health and crops as the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead overlapped. The Celts therefore held festivals to scare off or placate returning troublesome spirits, that included burning bonfires and wearing costumes and masks. 

Burgh Island Devon

Burgh Island is located off the Devon coast facing Bigbury on Sea, the island is linked to the main land by a sandbar.
 
The island is home to the ancient old Pilchard Inn, it is believed that the island is also haunted by none other than Tom Crocker who was leader to a band of vicious pirates in the late 14th century. It was well known that Crocker and his men were indeed responsible for looting and plundering a wide array of ships over many years during the 14th century.
Although Crocker met his demise after a well coordinated attack ordered by the King of England Edward III, this was due to the fact that Crocker had previously attacked an English ship.
His band of men were defeated and surrendered after a brutal fight and Crocker himself  was captured and dragged kicking and screaming for his life to the highest point upon Burgh Island from where he was hung by his neck until he was declared dead. It is said that his restless ghost has been sighted outside the Pilchard Inn and also wandering aimlessly on the shores of Burgh Island!! Crocker's nebulous ghost is said to appear on the anniversary of his death on August 13th every year!!!

White Lady Road

'The White Lady of Radford is probably the most well known of all the ghosts that are said to haunt this very area. The suspected ghost is a former resident from the old Radford House. There are several different ghostly tales referring to who this phantom female is and where the haunting originates.

One legend states that during one particular summer dating back over many years, the lady in question secretly escaped from Radford House to meet up with her female acquaintance from a nearby village. Although the young lady was forbidden by her parents to meet with her friend due to the vast gap between the gentry classes and that she should not be mixing with anyone of a class below her due to being a lady of Radford House.

This very rendezvous was to end in disaster. The young lady was assisted to her escape by one of Radford’s servants. Free from the safety of her home she headed straight towards Radford Lake where she was united with her close friend. Upon the boating lake a tragic turn of events occurred as whilst in one moment of pure chaos the young lady fell overboard from her small wooden vessel, unable to swim and being weighed down by the material of her heavy white dress, which had become saturated by the lake. She slowly slipped into the dark waters of Radford Lake her lungs filling with cold fresh water. This was to become her watery grave.

Although the fable does not end hear, as the phantom presence of the White Lady has been sighted by many individuals over the years upon the ancient lake.

 

Her ghost has been spotted sitting upon the bank of the lake. It is also believed that she is the spectre that has also been sighted wandering aimlessly around the grounds where the old Radford House once stood.

The legend of The White Lady of Radford lives on today as ‘White Lady Road’ has been aptly named after her. It is quite intriguing that this location has indeed been named after the mysterious female ghost. This road can be found as you drive down towards Radford Dip, although I will say if you do venture and visit this very road, be on your guard as you may indeed come face to face with the elegant spirit. ' Featured in the book 'Haunted Plymouth' by Kevin Hynes