Hylton Castle

Craigavon Road
Hylton Castle Estate
Sunderland
SR5 3PA
Tyne and Wear

History

Originally built in 1072 the original wooden building was home to the Hilton family until Sir William Hilton, sometime within the end of the 14th Century and within the first ten years of the 15th Century, built the present stone castle.

The castle is now owned and protected by the English Heritage.

Paranormal Activity

This ancient castle is famous for its legend of the Cauld Lad and there are at least three stories explaining the ghostly apparition. One was that of a young retainer who was discovered by the young heiress’s father courting his daughter and was subsequently killed and now walks the castle. Local historians however believe the ghostly apparition that haunts this castle is explained from a story dating back to 1609. Lord of Hylton had given orders that his horse be prepared by a certain time in order that he could make an important journey. Angered by the delay he visited the stable and found the stable boy asleep. The furious Lord drew his sword and decapitated Roger Skelton, the boy in question. To hide his crime he threw the corpse into a pond and put about a story to cover up what he had done. When the remains were finally discovered Lord Hylton was tried and acquitted of murder. The Coroner’s report from the Chester Ward at Hylton on the 3rd July 1609 showed that a witness supported Robert Hylton of Hylton, describing him as a gentleman, saying; “when he swore that whilst using a scythe during mowing he accidentally struck Roger Skelton with the point of the scythe on his right thigh, causing a mortal wound one inch long and two inches broad from which the youth died within the hour.” And thus Bishop William Jameson granted a free pardon for manslaughter on the 6th of September 1609 and the legend of the Cauld Lad was founded.

The castle itself isn’t the only area that is haunted though. The ghostly apparition is said to also appear as a boatman on the Hylton Ferry, where he would accept fares but would leave passengers stranded in the centre of the river and items are often rearranged and displaced in the kitchen. Even today visitors have claimed to hear the unearthly cries of the ghost. One such visitor reported this; “I heard loud bangs coming from inside and I can't think of any logical explanation for that, it certainly wasn't my imagination. Perhaps The Cauld Lad was trying to give me a fright. I heard a voice say, "go" when I was in the woods”.

Blacksmith’s Table Restaurant

The Green
Washington Old Village
NE38 7AB
Tyne and Wear

History

Originally named The Old Smithy, the building here is one of the oldest buildings in the area and was constructed to service the Old Hall Estate, the ancestral home of American President George Washington, some 400 years ago. The building has served mainly as a smithy until as recently as 1954 but has also been home to a variety of businesses since such as a potter’s studio and a health food shop. It’s current sympathetic renovation as a restaurant happened in 1987 and finally opened in 1988 and is now famous for its English, Continental and Exotic foods as well as its wide range of malt whiskeys, spirits and international wines all surrounded by its cosy atmosphere.

Paranormal Activity

Many ghostly encounters have been reported at this restaurant, which once used to be an old smithy. The most famous ghost is that of a Robert Hazlitt, a highwayman who robbed around the old Gateshead/Wrekenton coach roads. In 1770 one of his robberies was witnessed by a young post boy who a few days later noticed the highwayman’s horse receiving attention in the smithy. The post boy alerted the police and Hazlitt was arrested, confessing his crimes. He was taken away and very soon afterwards hanged, probably at Durham. At the time of his arrest he cursed the blacksmith for being instrumental in his capture and so it is believed Hazlitt still returns to haunt the old smithy.

A blacksmith has also been spotted sitting in the back corner of the restaurant on what is now table 9, with his elbows on his knees as if watching the proceedings. A medium visiting the restaurant reported that the ghost of the blacksmith was pleased that the building had continued to be used for social gatherings and happiness and that he looked upon the restaurant with great pleasure.

Other ghostly visitors have also been spotted within the restaurant, including a grey lady who is believed to possibly be that of Jane Atkinson who was ducked to death as a witch in 1676 in the village pond. A man has also been seen standing just within the front door and another man has been seen sometimes sitting on the edge of table 6 leaning with his chin on his fist watching the customers’ conversations.

The Marsden Grotto

Coast Road
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE34 7BS

History

Jack ‘The Blaster’ Bates built this building around 1782 into the limestone cliffs along Tyne and Wear’s coastline and has been home to many tales of smuggling, suicides and deaths. The building is now a refurbished pub and restaurant.

Paranormal Activity

With its chequered past it comes to no surprise that this old inn is home to some unexplained occurrences ranging from strange knocking noise to rattling sounds coming from the cellar when no-one is there as if someone is locked inside.

Many staff have reported a chain that is used to keep customers the right side of the bar, rattling and clanking when no-one is nearby and strange hushed voices have also been heard when no-one is around. Also a mysterious set of bare foot prints have also appeared on the wooden floor which cannot be washed away and return every time they are cleaned.

A ghost of a man has also been reported by staff and visitors, often appearing in the lower cave bar as well as numerous sightings of strange dark shadows.

Paranormal investigations have reported power and electrical drainage along with many unexplained lights and sounds recorded on digital equipment.