Mysterious Footprints of East Mersea
The East Mersea sea wall, a stretch of coastline in Essex, is home to one of the most bizarre and unexplained paranormal phenomena in the UK - the ABC footprints. In 1996, a series of large, unusual footprints were discovered on the sea wall near Cooper's beach holiday park. Measuring 6 inches across and featuring extended claws, seventeen of these enigmatic marks were found, leaving investigators and locals alike scratching their heads. The fact that cats, which might be expected to leave similar prints, do not walk with their claws extended adds to the mystery.
Historically, the East Mersea area has been prone to strange occurrences and sightings, although records of these events are often scarce and anecdotal. The ABC footprints, as they've come to be known, remain an unexplained anomaly. While some have dismissed the footprints as a prank or a mistake, their unusual characteristics and the number of prints found make it difficult to dismiss them outright. Without further evidence or witnesses, the true nature of these footprints remains a mystery, leaving us to wonder if they might be more than just a simple hoax.
The footprints were discovered in 1996, but historical records of the area date back to the Domesday Book.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Mersea Island Phantom Yacht
Beach near church, Mersea Island
Mersea Island's tranquil shores have witnessed a bizarre and unexplained event. A local man was out when he spotted a wrecked yacht just off the coast, its crew in dire need of assistance. He spent several hours trying to save the badly injured sailors, only to eventually lose consciousness during the rescue attempt. When he came to, he was lying on the beach, but there was no sign of the boat or its crew. It was as if the whole ordeal had been a product of his imagination, but the physical exertion and mental strain he'd endured told a different story.
Caged Witch of East Mersea
Churchyard, East Mersea
Deep in the Essex countryside, the quaint village of East Mersea is home to a most intriguing and somewhat macabre grave. The churchyard of East Mersea Church holds the final resting place of Sarah Wrench, a woman accused of witchcraft in the 19th century. Her grave is distinguished by a metal cage, which has become a local landmark and a testament to the superstition of the time. While folklore suggests that the cage was placed over her grave to prevent her from rising from the dead, the truth is more practical - it was actually installed to protect her body from grave robbers.
Roman Soldiers of Mersea Island
East Mersea Road, Mersea Island
Mersea Island, a tranquil retreat off the coast of Essex, is home to a most intriguing and ancient haunting. It's said that the ghostly apparitions of Roman soldiers have been spotted wandering the island, their presence a testament to the area's rich history. One woman reported being closely followed by the ghost of a man dressed as a Roman soldier while walking back to her home late one night. The eerie feeling of being watched must have been unsettling, to say the least.
Mersea Island Ghostly Apparition
Dawes Lane, Mersea Island
On Mersea Island in Essex, a couple out walking were startled by a ghostly figure. A woman wearing a bonnet and a long silk dress approached them, making barely a sound as she walked. Her presence was all the more eerie given the time and place - it was as if she had stepped out of another era. The couple watched in amazement as she glided into a nearby cornfield, yet the crops didnt move around her. It was as though she was a spirit, unencumbered by the physical world. And then, just as suddenly as she appeared, she vanished.
The Cloaked Figure of West Mersea
Between the Fox and turning for Waldegraves, West Mersea
On a stretch of road in West Mersea, Essex, a strange and intriguing haunting has been reported. It's a spot where the ordinary and the unexplained seem to intersect. A passenger in a car, driven by a friend, caught a glimpse of a white, cloaked figure crossing the road ahead. The figure didn't seem to be in a hurry, but as it reached the middle of the road, it looked back, then continued on its way until it vanished into a roadside hedge. This sighting wasn't a one-off; about fourteen years later, the same witness, this time a passenger in a car driven by his wife, experienced something similar. She slammed on the brakes as a white shape darted across the road in front of them.
Mersea Island Ghostly Apparition
Corner of Colchester Road & High Street, Mersea Island
Mersea Island, a place steeped in history and natural beauty, is also home to a rather intriguing ghostly sighting. In the 1960s, a phantom female was observed sitting on a wall at the corner of Colchester Road and High Street. She was dressed in a smock and wore a tall hat, with a stick tucked under one arm. The image is quite vivid and has been etched in the memories of those who claim to have seen her.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Sea wall near Cooper's beach holiday park

The Rose and Crown
Colchester, Essex
Brook Red Lion Hotel
Colchester, Essex

The Mistley Thorn Hotel
Mistley (near Manningtree), Essex

The Blue Boar Hotel
Maldon, Essex