Lancashire is steeped in myths and legends, and reports of spooky sites across the county.
There’s visitors to a pub who spoke with a ghostly figure, a tragic tale of unrequited love, soldiers still on patrol, and even a long-gone Pleasure Beach worker still determined to add an extra element of suspense to a ride.
Find out more about some of our area’s most haunted place in the pages below.
1. Pendle Hill
There have long been reports of paranormal activity on Pendle Hill, includning the sound of chanting and the haunting of a 400-year-old farmhouse on the hill, which was a suspected meeting place for 'witches' in 1612. | EJDPhotography
2. Lancaster Castle
The old cells beneath the crown court are said to be haunted by many ghosts. In particular, a little boy called Thomas has often been seen in Cell 2, used during lock-in experiences on guided tours. He is dressed in clothes from the 1890s, sporting a look like the Artful Dodger, with ankle grazing trousers, a flat cap and blonde hair. Like the Dickensian character of legend he whips around the corner from the cell as visitors go in. | Contributed
3. Inside the North Pier Theatre, Blackpool. Photo: Kelvin Stuttard
The North Pier Theatre in Blackpool is reportedly haunted by several spirits, including a phantom older couple who visit the dance floor and seating area, and a Victorian lady who is said to be in the dressing room Photo: Kelvin Stuttard
4. Samlesbury Hall
Samlesbury Hall is reputedly one of the most haunted houses in Great Britain, with 13 different ghosts which haunt the 700-year-old manor and the grounds around it. One of the most frequently spotted ghosts roaming Samlesbury Hall is the White Lady. She has been spotted by visitors and employees inside the Hall as well as nearby fields and even the nearby bus stop, causing drivers to stop the bus but no one to get on... The identity of the White Lady is thought to be Dorothy Southworth. Dorothy's family were strict Catholics and, in the 17th Century, she fell in love with a boy from an Anglican aristocratic family. Dorothy's father forbade them to get married so the young couple would meet in secret and decided to elope. Tragedy struck when the couple's secret was discovered by Dorothy's brothers. On the night of their elopement the brothers waited in ambush, killing the boy and two of his friends. Dorothy was sent away to a foreign convent where she died of a broken heart. Centuries later, three skeletons were discovered outside the moat. The popular opinion has connected the remains with Dorothy's tragic tale. | unknown
5. Blackpool Grand Theatre
Within the beauty of the Victorian walls lies a deep, dark tale of Charlie, a restless spirit who still haunts the upper circle today. Charlie, an employee of the theatre whose passionate love for a ballerina was unrequited, caused him to commit suicide by throwing himself off the balcony edge. Charlie who remains angry at this rejection is known to cause some real mischief around the theatre. Many guests have reported taps on the shoulder with no one there, chairs being flipped upwards, shadowy figures and woeful singing, echoing across the empty stage. Many of these reports are from staff working late, long after the curtains have come down. | Google
6. Winter Gardens, Morecambe
Morecambe's Winter Gardens the town's oldest surviving theatre, is one of the town's most haunted buildings. One ghost is said to be that of a seamstress who never achieved her dream of becoming a dancer and so still haunts the dressing rooms. People have reported ghostly goings on in the auditorium, the stairwells and the bar. There are also numerous stories of people being poked, prodded, slapped and pushed, as well as a brown cloaked figure running around backstage. The theatre is said to have a "good side" and an "evil side", along with a very sinister presence lurking beneath the stage and apparitions walking on the staircase. Photo: Submit