If you have ever been curious about paranormal investigations you may like to explore the mysterious Fenlands by narrowboat. The eerie and captivating landscape of the Fens, with their reclaimed marshlands, huge skyscapes, and isolated villages have inspired fantasy novelist Philip Pullman, and horror fiction writer M R James. Our local folklore includes legends of drownings and stories of ghosts, disappearances and violence. You may be surprised to know that a narrowboat is the most comfortable way to travel, if you are planning a paranormal investigation in the Fens.
So, here are five haunted locations to visit if you dare…
The First World War Soldier
One of the eight resident ghosts at Peterborough museum is a First World War soldier. Peterborough can be reached by canal boat from our hire boat base, by travelling west through the Middle Level and along the picturesque River Nene. Whilst at the museum look out for a ghostly kitchen maid, banging doors, ghostly footsteps and voices, unaccountable smells, mysterious lights and orbs around the building. This 19th century mansion was used as a hospital from 1857 until 1928.
The Laughing Children
Travelling east from our hire boat base you can take the River Great Ouse towards Ely and visit Oliver Cromwell’s House, which is now a museum. This spooky season they are offering a number of events including guided ghost walks, a witchcraft walking tour, Fen Tales in the Crypt, and a pop-up escape room. Oliver Cromwell was a military and political leader, during the time of the English Civil War. In his 13th century Ely home you may now hear ghostly sounds of children’s laughter, footsteps which echo along corridors and down the staircases, and jangling keys. For real.
(Read about the murdered ghosts of Southery and the hanged men of Littleport in this article: The Spooky Truth About Cruising to Ely.)
Heartbroken Juliet
17 year old Juliet Tewsley sadly hung herself from a tree outside The Old Ferryboat Inn in Holywell, near Cambridge, because of her unrequited love for Tom Zaul. Her heartbroken ghost now returns to the inn on the anniversary of her death. Her body is buried under the floor of what claims to be the oldest pub in England. Staff avoid walking over her grave, as it is believed to cause frightening apparitions. A former duty manager said, “Sometimes the lights just won’t go out unless you say ‘goodnight Juliet’.” You can visit this pub by narrowboat, by cruising the Great River Ouse.
The Disappearing Nun
Near the River Cam in Cambridge a nun haunts Abbey House, a sixteenth century house, built on the site of Barnwell Priory, which was established in 1112. It is said that she wanders into bedrooms in the spring time and stands at the end of beds, before disappearing into the curtains. There are also reports of footsteps on the stairs, banging on bedroom doors and a spirit with rattling chains. Some say Abbey House is the most haunted house in Cambridge, as the ghosts include a poltergeist, a butler, a woman in white, a grey lady, a squirrel, a dog, and a hare.
Cambridge can be reached by boat, by cruising the River Cam on a narrowboat holiday. On a ghost walk tour you can visit the hangman’s house and learn about the final resting place for Oliver Cromwell’s head. The walk promises haunted pubs, secret graveyards, grisly hangings and ghostly dogs.
The Hanged Irishmen
The Ship Inn, Brandon Creek, can be visited via the River Great Ouse, and there are moorings for customers. A dog-friendly, cosy waterside country pub steeped in history. Mark Twain once ‘sobered up’ here but Cliff Richard was once turned away for not being appropriately dressed. In the 1800s the first landlord and his wife were murdered in their beds. Three Irishmen were suspected and hanged for the crime and their ghosts may still be seen on murky, misty nights.
If you’re serious about your supernatural research, pack your EMF meters, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, motion sensors, recording equipment, and night vision video cameras and book yourself a Fox Narrowboats holiday.
If you fancy haunting the Fenland waterways yourself next year, check availability here to plan your next narrowboat holiday, with paranormal investigation included!
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