Skip to main content

Phantom Jacobean Carriage

Moors near to Blakemere Pond, Leek, Staffordshire Unknown Jacobean

Deep in the Staffordshire moors, near Blakemere Pond, a chilling sighting took place on a dark November evening in 2013. Three friends, gathered for a vigil on the windswept moors, reported seeing a stunning Jacobean style carriage, seemingly without horses, speeding across the landscape. For five minutes, the coach remained visible, its elaborate design a stark contrast to the rugged, natural beauty of the moors. At its closest point, it passed about two hundred metres from the awestruck witnesses, leaving them shaken and wondering if they'd really seen what they thought they had.

The Roaches, a road that winds its way through the Staffordshire moors, has long been associated with strange happenings and unexplained sightings. This particular incident, which occurred circa November 2013, adds to the area's reputation for paranormal activity. The Jacobean carriage, a style popular during the early 17th century, seems an unusual apparition, especially given its apparent speed and the fact that it appeared to be without horses. While the witnesses' experience was undoubtedly unsettling, there's no record of any malevolent intent; the encounter was simply a bizarre and inexplicable event that has contributed to the local folklore.

Historical Context

The Jacobean period, named after King James I of England, spanned from 1603 to 1625 and was marked by a distinctive style in architecture, art, and literature.

Location

Location Details

Location Type
Moorland
Activity Types
Visual
Witness Credibility
Multiple Witnesses
Threat Level
Harmless
Accessibility
Public Access
Date / Era
Circa November 2013
Postcode Area
ST13

Nearby Haunted Places

Legend 0.2 mi

Mermaid of Blakemere

Blakemere, Leek

Blakemere's eerie waters are said to be home to a legendary creature - the Killer Mermaid. This fish woman surfaces at midnight to comb her hair, but beware, for anyone venturing too close risks being dragged down into the deep waters with her. The mermaid's pool has been a source of fascination for locals and visitors alike, with many claiming to have caught a glimpse of this mystical being.

Pool or Lake Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.2 mi

Dieulacres Abbey White Figure

Area of Dieulacres Abbey, Leek

Dieulacres Abbey, a once majestic presence in Leek, Staffordshire, now lies in ruin, its grandeur lost to the passage of time. Yet, it's here that a rather intriguing sighting took place in 1894. Several people claimed to have spotted a white-robed figure wandering the grounds where the abbey once stood. The story quickly gained traction, with many believing it to be a ghostly apparition. However, the explanation turned out to be far more mundane, yet no less fascinating. The 'ghost' was identified as a Canon, a member of the clergy, who was visiting old religious sites, clad in the traditional white robes of his order.

Historic Abbey site Victorian
Read Full Story
Legend 0.3 mi

Mysterious Bone-Spewing Well

Well in the Wall, Tean

In the quaint village of Tean, Staffordshire, lies a well with a rather bizarre reputation. Willy Wall's Well, or Willy Waugh's Well as it's also known, has been spitting out small bones for as long as anyone can remember. Most of the year, that is, except for July and August when it seems to keep its secrets to itself. The bones, likely from birds, have been a source of fascination for locals and visitors alike, leaving many to wonder what's behind this strange phenomenon.

Well Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.3 mi

Phantom Coach of Leek

Ashbourne Road, Leek

On Ashbourne Road in Leek, Staffordshire, a strange and unexplained phenomenon has been reported by locals and travellers alike. The phantom coach is a haunting manifestation that can be heard travelling through the area, its presence felt but not seen. The sound of rattling wheels and horses' hooves echoes through the night air, leaving many to wonder about the origins of this ghostly apparition. Some believe it may be the spirit of a long-forgotten carriage, doomed to roam the roads for eternity.

Road Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.5 mi

Leek Gallery Ghost Sighting

Well Street Gallery, Leek

The Well Street Gallery in Leek has a reputation that precedes it - one that's steeped in mystery and a hint of the paranormal. It all started back in 1992 when a local press article mentioned the gallery's haunted status in an exhibition launch article published on Friday the thirteenth, a date often associated with bad luck. The article didn't go into details but it was enough to pique the interest of locals and visitors alike.

Art Gallery Late 20th Century
Read Full Story
Shuck 0.6 mi

Jacobites' Black Hound

Leek to Ashbourne road, Swinscoe

On the windswept Leek to Ashbourne road in Staffordshire, a spine-tingling legend has taken hold. Locals whisper about a massive black hound said to roam the stretch of road where three Jacobite rebels are buried. This eerie canine guardian is believed to ensure the graves of the rebellious men remain undisturbed. The hound's presence is shrouded in mystery, with no one certain when it appears or what its intentions are. Some say it's a harbinger of doom, while others believe it's a loyal protector of the fallen rebels.

Road Georgian
Read Full Story

Stay Nearby

Haunted hotels and accommodation near Moors near to Blakemere Pond