Lancaster Castle - The Spectral Prisoners
A castle that served as a prison and site of witch trials is haunted by condemned prisoners, including the ghosts of the Pendle Witches awaiting execution.
Lancaster Castle served as a court and prison for over 800 years, and its walls witnessed countless executions, including the trial and hanging of the Pendle Witches in 1612. The castle is intensely haunted by the spirits of condemned prisoners, with the ghost of a woman in chains appearing in the Well Tower where the accused witches were held. Witnesses report hearing agonized moaning, the rattle of chains, and desperate pleas for mercy echoing from the cells and dungeons.
The most active area is the former prison and the Crown Court where the witch trials took place. Staff and visitors report sudden drops in temperature, the sensation of being watched, and glimpses of shadowy figures in period clothing. The ghost of a male prisoner has been seen in the dungeon area, and some witnesses report encountering multiple apparitions simultaneously, appearing as transparent figures huddled together in the cells. The hanging corner, where public executions took place until 1865, is particularly oppressive, with many visitors reporting feelings of intense dread and sadness.
The haunting at Lancaster Castle is considered one of England’s most evidential, with phenomena documented by staff, tour guides, paranormal investigators, and casual visitors. The castle remained a working prison until 2011, and former prison officers reported numerous unexplained incidents. The spirits of the Pendle Witches and countless other prisoners appear to remain trapped in the location of their final days, making Lancaster Castle a powerful reminder of historical injustice and the human cost of England’s legal history. The castle continues to serve as both a tourist attraction and a genuinely active paranormal site.