Published: 08/11/2024
Cambridge is a city known for many amazing things, but the ones that usually come to mind are the colleges, punt tours, and architecture, which would leave anyone speechless. But those aren’t the things we are talking about today; you can have too much of a good thing, especially the amount we harp on about them. In this blog, we might be mentioning the winding cobbled streets, but not in the way you might think. No, today, our focus is more on the countless ghost stories that blend local folklore with historical events. This blog explores some of our favourite tales, from haunted colleges to ghostly sightings; we can’t wait to send a shiver or ten down your spine. Grab a cushion, as you might need something to hide behind…1. The Grey Lady of Jesus College
Jesus College, founded in 1496, has one of Cambridge’s oldest and most enduring ghost stories. The college was built on the site of a Benedictine nunnery, and it is believed that a nun known as the ‘Grey Lady’ roams the grounds even centuries after her death. Her spirit is said to have remained following her tragic death. The legend says that the nun fell in love with a young man, breaking her vow of chastity, which led to her confinement within the convent walls. Forbidden from seeing her love and unable to leave, she died in sorrow, her spirit destined to remain in the nunnery-turned-college. Over the years, students and staff have reported seeing a figure in a grey habit wandering the gardens and halls of Jesus College.
2. The Ghostly Choir of King’s College Chapel
King’s College Chapel holds another Cambridge mystery. During the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell's forces desecrated many religious institutions, and King’s College Chapel was no exception. Soldiers used the chapel for barracks, and its priceless stained glass and artefacts were nearly destroyed. According to legend, a choir of ghostly monks appears on certain evenings, their singing echoing throughout the ancient stone walls. While King’s College Chapel hasn’t housed monks for many years, some visitors claim to hear a distant choir chanting Latin hymns. These ghostly choristers are believed to be monks who once served the chapel.
3. The Black Shuck of East Anglia
The legend of the Black Shuck—a massive black dog with glowing red eyes—is common across East Anglia, including Cambridge. Descriptions of this ghostly canine vary, but it is generally described as an omen of doom. Sightings around Cambridge and nearby Fenlands have continued for centuries, with reports of the beast appearing in various places. One chilling tale places the Black Shuck along a historic Roman mound known as Castle Hill. Local lore claims that a dark fate marks those who meet the Black Shuck. Cambridge residents have occasionally reported seeing a large, shadowy dog late at night, its eyes burning with a supernatural glow…eeeek.
4. The Haunted Cellar of the Eagle Pub
The Eagle Pub is well-known as the spot where James Watson and Francis Crick announced the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. But the pub, dating back to the 16th century, has its own spine-tingling story. In the pub’s dark cellar, staff have reported eerie happenings: glasses shattering on their own, mysterious footsteps, and sudden cold drafts. The pub’s hauntings are attributed to RAF pilots who drank there during World War II. Some of these brave young men never returned from their missions, and it is believed that their spirits linger. Patrons claim to feel a sudden chill or sense an unseen presence in the area of the pub where these pilots once gathered.
5. The Headless Horseman
Near Stourbridge Common and the banks of the River Cam, sightings of a headless horseman have been reported for centuries. According to legend, this spectral rider appears on dark, misty nights, his cloak billowing as he gallops along the riverbank. The origins of the headless horseman are unclear, though some suggest he may be the spirit of a soldier executed many moons ago. Sightings are rare, but those who claim to have encountered him describe a sense of dread as the horseman passes through the fog, sometimes accompanied by the sound of clattering hooves.
6. The Haunted Rooms at Peterhouse College
Peterhouse, Cambridge's oldest college, founded in 1284, is home to one of the city’s most chilling hauntings. The ‘Haunted Room’, as it is often called, is located in one of the college’s oldest buildings, where generations of students have reported ghostly sightings and strange occurrences. One infamous tale tells of a student who lived in the room and became obsessed with alchemy. He performed strange experiments that disturbed his neighbours, and shortly afterwards, he vanished without a trace. Since then, students who have stayed in the room claim to have seen ghostly lights flickering at odd hours or felt an uncomfortable presence that makes it hard to breathe.
7. The Ghosts of Addenbrooke’s Hospital
The original Addenbrooke’s Hospital site, founded in 1766, was once one of the city’s main medical institutions, treating patients with various ailments. But some of these patients, it seems, never left. The ghost of a woman in white is often reported walking the halls of the Old Schools building. Believed to be a nurse or a grieving widow, this apparition is said to be gentle but sad. Some university staff have also reported seeing shadows or feeling a sudden cold as they pass through certain hallways. Although the hospital itself has since moved, the spirits of the past appear to linger.
8. The Tragic Lovers of Corpus Christi College
The ghostly tale of Corpus Christi College centres around a pair of lovers from the 18th century. According to legend, a young scholar fell in love with the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Their romance was forbidden due to differences in social class, yet they met in secret, hoping for a future together. Tragically, the young woman died suddenly, and her lover, heartbroken, took his own life soon after. Their spirits are said to haunt the college grounds, often appearing near the college chapel where they once dreamed of a forbidden union.
Are you a believer?
Whether you are a sceptic or not, there is no denying that these stories are pretty entertaining. Have you witnessed any eery goings on in any of the Cambridge Colleges? Maybe you are familiar with one of these stories…