Ghost Stories from Glasgow

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It’s the second Friday in October and time for the next post in the ghost story series. Last week the spooky tales hailed from Charleston.

This week we cross the sea to the ancient city of Glasgow, in Scotland. Founded in the 6th century, on the River Clyde, the burgh grew to become Scotland’s capital city.  Today it features amazing architecture, a bustling art community and a thriving night life. Young adults hitting the pubs aren’t the only ones active at night. Check out these ghost stories from Glasgow for a peek into the city’s dark side.

World’s Friendliest City

Voted the World’s Friendliest City, Glasgow is indeed a fun, inviting city. I’ve visited twice. While there I love listening to the locals and chatting with them about their city.

Due to its age and long history, the city doesn’t lack ghostly locations with things that go bump in the night.

The Necropolis

Called the “city of the dead”, the Necropolis is a sprawling Victorian cemetery located behind Glasgow Cathedral. It is the final resting place for more than 50,000 people. Wandering among the creepy statues, gothic tombs and elaborate mausoleums, it’s not difficult to imagine all manner of ghosts hiding here.

The Woman in White floats among the tombstones in the wee hours of the night, just before darkness gives way to morning light. People claim to see her and hear her murmurs as she passes by.

In addition to a low lying mist that often appears at night, visitors also report disembodied whispers coming from graves and mausoleums. Professional ghost hunters caught the apparition of a child next to a grave when they live streamed their visit to the Necropolis online. And some claim to witness statues in the cemetery changing their facial expressions. Don’t blink! (Doctor Who reference)

Cathedral House Hotel

Across from the Necropolis sits the Cathedral House Hotel. Built in 1887 as a hostel for inmates, it housed prisoners released from nearby Duke Street Penitentiary, where some of Scotland’s worst criminals were incarcerated.

Today the building is a boutique hotel and considered one of the most haunted places in Glasgow.

Duke Street Penitentiary executed many of its inmates. It’s believed that some of those restless spirits haunt Cathedral House Hotel, including the last women hanged at the prison in 1923, Susan Newell.

Visitors report a presence on the stairs that brushes up against them and a mischievous boy who disappears into the wall in the pub downstairs. Others hear ghost children running and playing in the attic. One story suggests that a woman released from prison was reunited with her two children. Distraught and fearful, the woman supposedly drowned her children in one of the hostel’s bathtubs. It may be her children who haunt the top floor.

Furniture and other items in the hotel appear to move on their own.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

This hospital has continuously cared for the sick and dying in Glasgow for 227 years. Most hospitals contain spirits. The Royal Infirmary is no exception. Even the doctors and nurses can’t explain away the supernatural occurrences there.

The most documented stories from the infirmary include the following:

The Floating Sister at first appears as a staff member making her rounds…until one realizes she’s only visible from the knees up. It’s thought the ghost is walking along on an older floor that has since been removed.

Archie the Whisperer haunts ward 27 at the infirmary. He appears at the bedside of dying patients, an elderly man wearing a hair bun.

The Grey Lady walks silently down hallways and disappears through doors.

And a very recent story tells of a doctor responding to a call to help a man who suffered a heart attack. As the doctor approached the patient’s room, a man asked him for directions on how to exit the hospital. The doctor pointed him in the right direction and continued to the patient’s room. There he discovered the patient already dead…and that he was the same man the doctor had just given directions to.

Provan Hall

Provan Hall, in Glasgow’s east end, is one of the city’s most paranormally active locations. Built in the 15th century as a hunting lodge for the bishops of Glasgow, the hall hosted historical guests including Mary Queen of Scots and King James V. It houses some well documented ghosts as well.

The Man with the Dagger haunts the main bedroom in the hall. In the 19th century this man returned home after two years at war to find his wife had given birth to a child. In a rage, he killed both and continues to angrily stalk the room.

Reston Mather is the last private owner of the house. He most commonly lurks on the staircase, sporting a white beard and wearing a black bowler hat and dark clothes. He died of breathing difficulties and paranormal investigators report feeling breathless on the stairs.

The upper floor of Provan Hall is haunted by the ghosts of a woman and a young boy who died there. People report seeing them peering from the upstairs windows as they walk by.

Theatre Royal

Theatre Royal on Hope Street is the oldest theatre in Glasgow. It originally opened as the Royal Colosseum and Opera House in 1867 and shortly after, renamed itself the Theatre Royal Glasgow. Although burned in the fire of 1875, the building was restored.

Nora, a cleaning woman and would be actress, is the theatre’s most famous ghost. After begging for an audition from the theatre manager, Nora failed to realize her dream. In fact, they laughed her off the stage. She jumped to her death from an upper balcony in the theatre . People report hearing moaning, crying and doors banging shut from the upper circle and sensing a presence up there. Objects move about. A lone workman suffered a hit to the head from a hammer while working in the roof area in 2006.

Another oft sighted ghost is that of a fireman who died in an electrical fire at the theatre in 1969. He appears wearing his dated uniform, staring at musicians in the orchestra pit. The fireman ghost stirs up activity in the basement also, tormenting workers there and moving tools.

The October Ghost Series

Although I’ve visited Glasgow twice, spending several nights there the first time and one night the second, I do not have any paranormal experiences of my own to share. I do sense interesting, watchful energy in the Necropolis. You won’t find me wandering there in the dark of night! Perhaps on my next visit, I’ll spend a night at the Cathedral House Hotel.

Have you visited Glasgow, Scotland? Did you experience any hauntings?

Check back each Friday in October, for a new set of ghost stories from different cities.

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