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Blinded Adventurer's Ghost

Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex Apparition Eighteenth century

Old Steine in Brighton is a spot where the past seems to linger, particularly in the form of a ghostly apparition known as John Robinson. This eighteenth-century adventurer and soldier of fortune met a grisly end after his eyes were burnt out with hot irons in Persia, a consequence of backing a failed rebellion. A sympathetic merchant helped him return to England, but his journey ended in Brighton, where he died along the Old Steine. Since then, Robinson's phantom has been seen lying in the road, a sight that has left witnesses in a state of shock.

The story of John Robinson is one of fortune and misfortune. Supporting a failed rebellion in Persia led to his eyes being burnt out, and though he made it back to his hometown of Brighton, his life was cut short. A police officer who encountered Robinson's ghost was physically sickened by the sight of his face, while a woman was so shocked that she spent a night in hospital. These encounters, though unsettling, contribute to the enduring legend of Robinson's ghost along Old Steine.

Historical Context

Eighteenth-century adventurer and soldier of fortune

Location

Location Details

Location Type
Road
Activity Types
Visual
Witness Credibility
Multiple Witnesses
Threat Level
Harmless
Accessibility
Public Access
Date / Era
1969
Postcode Area
BN1

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