Rotherham-Ghosts

Reported sightings of ghosts around the Doncaster area!

They are closer than you think!!

Please help us keep this site going and e-mail your sightings to

Sightings@Rotherham-ghosts.com or click here for the contact us page!

Index of listings

Please click on the sighting you want to view and use your back button on your browser to return or scroll down the page.

1. Aukley Village, Doncaster
2. The devils eye, St Lawrence Church, Adwick
3. Brodsworth Hall, Doncaster
4. Burghwallis Hall, Doncaster
5. Cromwells, Conisbrough
6. Cusworth Hall, Doncaster
7. Conisbrough Castle

8. The Lantern Boy, Doncaster Colliery, Doncaster

9. Denaby Railtrack, Denaby (Cadby ghost)
10. Denaby Main Colliery, Denaby
11. Hangman, Stone Road, Marr
12. Harlington, Doncaster
13. Hatfield Church, St Lawrence, Hatfield, Doncaster
14. Hickleton, Doncaster
15. Gospel Hall, Mexborough
16. Lindholme Prison
17. St Micheals Church, Rossington
18. Stripe Road, Rossington
19. Darlington Grove, Morrland, Doncaster
20. Creepy Hollow Woods, Skellow
21. Hatfield Colliery, Doncaster
22. Wells Road, Wheatley
23. Wong Lane, Tickhill

The village of Auckley has been home to a famous grey lady apparition who has made appearances at the rear of crowds particularly at weddings and christenings for more than 300 years. The story goes that she was the youngest daughter of a local chap who was kept as little more than a servant. She had little opportunity to meet a man herself and so took solace in the happiness of others, and it soon became a custom at feast days to set a place for the grey lady and a special toast was made.

There is an urban myth that relates to a gravestone in the grounds, named "The Devils eye". The myth goes that if you spit on the eye, and run around the church 3 times, you will befall ill and death. The stone has been moved from its original location and is weathered so it is unknown at present who the stone belongs to, and just how many victims have been claimed by this curse. I have heard many stories about a friend of a friend etc. but as yet no real evidence has been found...

Over 30 years ago a courting couple was outside the gates of Brodsworth Hall, when all of a sudden a mist started to appear in the shape of a man from the waist up wearing what appeared to be a three cornered hat. The couple were quite spooked at this and drove off, when the couple looked into the history of the site, they found that the place where they were parked used to be part of the old Great North Road and many other people had also witnessed strange happenings there too.

Storey submitted by Lolly in Thurnscoe.

A short distance from St Peter's Church in Conisbrough there stands an unusual old building which appears at first glance to be Georgian in origin. Further investigation into its architecture reveals that the old house, now a restaurant called Cromwells, has much earlier roots, and is believed to have been built during the 1600's.

Throughout its history, the building has had many uses - as a farmhouse, a boarding school, a post office, and a community centre. In 1983 it was sold on to become what is today a licensed restaurant, although unfortunately a rather unexpected visitor from the past was handed down along with the deeds of the property, much to the surprise of the current staff!

Before recent alterations changed the interior of the building, the stairwell leading to the upstairs bar was next to a narrow passage. Chef Ian Godfrey recounted how one of the waiters was surprised one afternoon by a figure in a long cloak and a large hat with a feather, rushing past him as he made his way down the stairs. The figure, similar in appearance to a Cavalier, disappeared in an instant, leaving the waiter startled. It is perhaps no coincidence that an unseen hand has on occasion slammed the kitchen doors on unsuspecting staff, causing them to drop handfuls of plates.

Another local legend tells how one of the former occupants of the house in days of old was involved in an affair with a local man. When her husband found out, she is said to have hanged herself from one of the ceiling beams near the stairs. This area is close to the old coffee lounge, where strange atmospheres and icy coldness have been detected.

When renovations were taking place in 1989, an electrician was rewiring in the upper part of the building in semi-darkness. He was so convinced that a man had walked past him and disappeared that he dropped his tools and ran downstairs to confront his colleague, whom he suspected of playing tricks. Assured that this was not the case, the electrician then realised that the figure he saw had been wearing old-fashioned clothes, with sacking gaiters on his legs! The history of the building shows that it was used periodically as a working farmhouse for .more than two hundred years. The dress of the apparition would suggest that he was a land worker, and his appearance has been recorded on several occasions since.

The current landlord was preparing to close the premises at the end of a busy evening, when all except two of the guests had left the downstairs restaurant. Without warning, a huge gust of air 'screeched' past their heads and 'banged' into the wall close to the chimney. Although the sound was so loud that the remaining guests left in terror, nothing was physically seen, and no explanation could ever be offered.

There are rumors of a few ghosts at this place, a grey lady I believe. A family once had a strange encounter with a phantom piano there once, The family said that it was quite unnerving and "real" (If you get my meaning). I did however speak to a security guard there, who told me that the stories of the ghost had been made up by a previous owner of the house. But for those of you who know the place, you have to admit, its creepy.

I've just had a look around your website and I've just
remembered something I saw some time ago in March
1994. I saw a caped figure climb the side of the Keep
at Conisbrough Castle.
 
It came into view on the part of the Keep that is
outside of the curtain walls. The shadowy figure
climbed about half way to the top and then moved
sideways out of sight around the other side of the
Keep. From my vantage point which was about 1/2 Mile
away on the Oval Park I could clearly see the figure
climbing the keep. Although it was dark the street
lighting on the surrounding roads illuminated the side
of the castle enough to see the figure against the
stone background. My girlfriend at the time also
witnessed the event.
 
I have tried to rationalise the sighting for many
years but I still cannot believe that a person can
climb that particular section of the Keep in the way
that I saw. I lived in Conisbrough for nearly 20 years
and have been to the Castle at all times of day and
night and never saw anything like I saw that night.
 
I have had a check through records and cannot find any
specific reference to anything similar to this
incident. Thought I'd pass this story on do with it
what you will.

A young girl (know as the Mexborough Ragger) is said to have been walking through a tunnel taking water to the quarry when a train hit her. There is a archway in the tunnel wall, which you can sit in, then you say her name 3 times and she reappears walking through the tunnel. Only a few people have been in contact with the white lady. I am yet to be one of them!

Click here for the investigation report!

As above at Hatfield Colliery, this is another reputed haunted site rumored to home the spirits of miners who have lost their lives down the pit. the old site is now a nature reserve, but many of the old bridges still exist, reports even to this day of people seeing unexplainable figures walking along the old railway lines.

This old relic of bygone days is a location where they used to hang villains and scoundrels, located between Mexborough and Doncaster; it seems connected with some of the local highwayman haunting. The ghostly manifestation of a gallows is reported to appear at times.

Approximately thirty years ago on a dark cold night , a group of friends were having our usual wander around the village (Harlington), as they were walking along the road from Harlington to the Crown Inn area, when as if from nowhere a man dressed in 1940s workers clothing appeared in front of them, "ayup" they all said to the man in unison, But there was no answer, a matter of seconds later they all turned around to check out the strange figure and to their horror he had vanished.

On October 10 1965, a young man from Doncaster was celebrating his birthday when he decided to take a short cut through the grave yard, in a hurry not wanting to hang around on a cold night in the graveyard, he just turned the corner of the Church and was looking up to navigate his progress, he could see a woman heading towards him in as much of a hurry has him. He could see quite clearly that she wasn’t wearing suitable clothing for such a cold night just a long flowing dress. He even notice that his feet were making a crushing noise on the frosty gravel but her footsteps were silent. He had an appreciation of the female form, as this young woman passed him, he turned his head to have another look, and there, was no one there, All that was there, was a very strong aroma of roses and crushed mint leaves.

He cleared the cemetery wall in a single leap and was home in two minutes flat.

Storey submitted by Samurai from Doncaster

Approximately 20 years ago a couple were coming home from work late at night, (approx 3 am in the morning), Has they approached Hickleton Crossroads opposite the monument near St Wilfred's church. At the crossroads they were waiting to turn right when they noticed two old men who appeared to be dressed in unusual old fashioned clothes. One was sat in an old fashioned wicker type chair with large wheels, they were both facing forward looking directly at them. They sat staring at the pair for a while because they looked so strange and thought is could be an elderly couple who were a bit confused, but the old couple didn't seem to move has the couple in the car pulled out of the junction the elderly couple disappeared.

Storey submitted by Brian in Barnsley.

The Ghost of the Polish Airman

In World War II, Lindholme Prison in Doncaster was used as a base for Wellington bombers. But one day, a bomber overshot the runway, crashing and killing all five Polish soldiers on board.

For years afterwards, the moors were haunted by a figure in flying costume that appeared at midnight, asking strangers directions in a foreign tongue.

Soon, in Finningley and Hatfield, reports started coming in that the tail of the plane could be seen when the ghost was believed to be around.

In the 1970s, the wreck of the plane was finally found, and the bodies of four of the airmen were recovered. But the ghost still appeared from time to time.

It was only in 1987, when the body of the fifth crew member was discovered and given a military burial, that the apparitions stopped… or have they?

At the top of Stripe Road near the old farm house there have been sightings of a lady old withered and dressed in a grey gown walking across the road, the ghostly figure has been seen on several occasions by people from the village. I don't know the history, but I wouldn’t walk down there alone at night.

Reports of a figure of a man, 6 feet in height and dark, was seen in the 60's at that estate. No further reported sightings have been made.

It is unsure as to what its real name is, I find it highly unlikely that the location is really called "Creepy Hollow", but a name it has picked up over the years. Most of the residents there know it by its name. It has a spectral figure of a green lady, who is said to carry her head occasionally when she has been spotted. She haunts a large area of this woodland and is seen on a certain path. Apparently this place is only for those of a strong disposition and iron will. We now believe the location is named Red Brick kiln plantation.

It is said that there are phantom miners in the tunnels and mines. Many of the workers witnessed sightings of miners who were killed many years before. Noises of banging and cries for help were all heard by many, and many of the minors didn't like being left alone in the mines incase they were witness to another unexplained happening.

Wells road, is not far from the devils island area of Wheatley, its got quite a bad reputation hence the name, I guess, but I know that one of the properties here has been the centre of a poltergeist visitation a few years ago. What is interesting about it is, the name of the road "Wells", comes from the fact the street is built on an old well that was the site of the local execution place of hundreds of witches (Suspected witches), that were cast down it as punishment for the crime of witchcraft hundreds of years ago.

This ghostly coach has been observed dashing down Wong Lane before fading from view. Also strange figures have been seen from other times walking along the road side and many people have said that these apparitions may have caused some of the road accidents along that particular road.

Please take a look at other area sightings

Rotherham

Sheffield

Barnsley

Other areas