Bloody Water of Canterbury
Sun Street in Canterbury, Kent, is home to a rather gruesome legend. A pump that once protruded from a wall here was said to produce red water, allegedly coloured by the blood of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was brutally murdered in 1170. This eerie phenomenon has become known as Bloody Water, a haunting that has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike. While there's no record of when this strange occurrence supposedly took place, it's clear that the story has endured for centuries.
The story of Bloody Water is inextricably linked to the tumultuous history of Canterbury Cathedral, where Thomas Becket was killed. Becket's murder, orchestrated by King Henry II, sent shockwaves throughout the country and led to a surge in pilgrimages to the cathedral. It's possible that the legend of Bloody Water arose during this period of heightened tension and bloodshed. Although there's no concrete evidence to support the claim, the persistence of this legend suggests that it may have been based on a real event or observation. Unfortunately, the pump that allegedly produced the bloody water is no longer present, leaving us to wonder if this was a case of medieval superstition or something more inexplicable.
The murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 and the subsequent pilgrimages to Canterbury Cathedral
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
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The Black Figure of Canterbury
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Canterbury Black Figure Haunting
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Nell Cook's Cathedral Ghost
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Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Sun Street
Woolpack Inn
Chilham, Kent
Eastwell Manor
Boughton Lees, Kent
The Shurland Hotel
Eastchurch, Kent
The Chequers
Smarden, Kent