Headless Woman of Stokesley
Lady Cross in Stokesley is a spot where the ordinary and the unexplained seem to collide. This junction, which leads to Broughton and Ayton, has a reputation for being a place where evil seems to congregate. It's said that on certain occasions, a headless woman appears, her body burning with an otherworldly fire. Another account tells of a man who was followed by a pale woman riding a white horse, she kept pace with him for a while before vanishing into thin air.
The stories of these ghostly apparitions date back to the nineteenth century, a time when Stokesley was a small but bustling market town. The area has a rich history, with many old roads and pathways crisscrossing the countryside. The headless woman and the pale woman on a white horse are just two of the many reported sightings in this area. While the origins of these apparitions are unclear, they add to the complex and intriguing history of Stokesley.
The area has a rich history dating back to the medieval period
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Flaming Phantom Carriage
Tweddell's Stripe, Stokesley
Tweddell's Stripe, a narrow path surrounded by fields, has long been considered a spot to send shivers down your spine. It's said that a phantom flaming carriage, carrying a headless woman, would thunder along this route at breakneck speeds, pulled by a team of six greyhounds. The reason behind these ghostly appearances remains a mystery, adding to the intrigue of this Yorkshire legend.
The Stokesley Horseman Haunting
Broughton Bridge, Stokesley
Broughton Bridge in Stokesley is said to be haunted by the ghost of a horseman. This phantom apparition is reported to travel over the bridge, accompanied by the sound of jangling armour. The unsettling noise is said to cause unease in anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. The image of the horseman and his caparisoned horse is a chilling one, and it's little wonder that this haunting has become a well-known legend in the area.
Wise Man of Stokesley Legend
No exact location, Stokesley
Stokesley village in North Yorkshire is home to a fascinating legend about a self-proclaimed seventh son of a seventh daughter, John Wrightson. He moved to the area in the 1800s and claimed to possess strange powers of healing and fortune telling. The villagers, however, were not convinced of his supposed gifts and soon discovered he was a fraud. Wrightson's deceit was exposed, and he was forced to flee the village to avoid the consequences of his actions.
Poisoned Horses of Great Ayton
Area near the river, Great Ayton
Great Ayton's picturesque riverbank is home to a haunting that's as eerie as it is tragic. They say that on quiet evenings, you can still hear the pitiful neighing of horses that met their end in a horrific incident. The story goes that thirty men and over a dozen horses died after drinking poisoned water from the River Leven, which flows gently through this Yorkshire town. It's a heartbreaking tale that's left an indelible mark on the local landscape.
Madame Turner's Ghostly Apparition
Busby Hall, Little Busby
Busby Hall in Little Busby is home to a rather charming ghostly presence - that of Madame Turner. She was once seen in the kitchen, sipping tea like a perfectly ordinary inhabitant, but of course, she wasn't. Her phantom form has also been spotted haunting the corridors of her former home and even the road leading to the hall. It's a curious thing, this haunting, and one that has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike.
Mysterious Growling Hillside Encounter
Hills in the area, Carlton in Cleveland
Deep in the Yorkshire countryside, near Carlton in Cleveland, a bizarre incident took place on a hillside one evening in early 2011. A group of friends were busy setting up equipment for a rave when they started to hear strange noises. The sound was described as a cross between a snarl and a howl, and it seemed to be coming from the darkness all around them. The witnesses found this sound seriously weird and were unsettled as it appeared to follow them.