Scarborough Castle: The Headland of Ghosts

Scarborough Castle commands one of the finest coastal positions in Britain, its ruined keep visible for miles. The headland has been occupied for at least 3,000 years, from Bronze Age settlers through Roman signal stations to medieval fortress. In 1914, it was shelled by German battlecruisers. All these layers of history have left their mark—and their ghosts.

The History

Ancient Occupation

Archaeological evidence shows Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman activity on the headland. The Romans built a signal station here, part of a chain warning of Saxon raiders.

Medieval Fortress

The stone castle was begun by Henry II in the 1150s. It endured multiple sieges:

• Captured by rebels in 1312
• Held by the crown against rebellions
• Two major Civil War sieges (1645 and 1648)
• The keep was split in half by Parliamentary cannon fire

World War I

On December 16, 1914, German battlecruisers shelled Scarborough, damaging the castle. This was one of the first attacks on British soil during the war.

The Hauntings

Piers Gaveston’s Ghost

Piers Gaveston, the favorite (and possible lover) of Edward II, was held at Scarborough before his execution in 1312:

• A richly dressed medieval man
• Appears distressed and pacing
• Seen in the keep area
• His execution elsewhere doesn’t stop his spirit from returning

The Roman Sentinel

A figure in Roman military dress has been seen:

• Standing at the highest point of the headland
• Staring out to sea as if watching for raiders
• Dressed as an auxiliary soldier
• A duty that continues after 1,600 years

The Civil War Dead

The brutal sieges of the 1640s left many casualties:

• Soldiers in Roundhead and Cavalier dress
• The sound of cannon fire
• Screaming and explosions
• Bodies falling from the walls
• The garrison was starved; their hunger echoes through time

The World War I Victims

The 1914 bombardment killed civilians in the town below:

• Townspeople have been seen on the castle grounds
• The sound of shells and explosions
• Fire and smoke
• Panic and terror
• Most common around December 16

The White Lady

A female figure in white walks the castle walls:

• Identity unknown
• She appears to be searching
• Possibly waiting for a lover who never returned
• Seen at dusk

The Black Dog

A spectral black dog has been reported:

• Classic British phantom hound
• Seen on the approach to the castle
• Its appearance portends misfortune
• Red eyes, silent running

Modern Activity

English Heritage manages the castle and has documented:

• Regular paranormal reports from staff
• Visitor photographs showing figures
• EMF anomalies in the keep
• Temperature fluctuations throughout the site
• The headland produces strong activity during storms

Visiting

Scarborough Castle offers panoramic views of the Yorkshire coast and the resort town below. The ruins are extensive and atmospheric.

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Three thousand years of human occupation have left Scarborough Castle crowded with ghosts. Roman sentinels, medieval favorites, Civil War soldiers, and World War I casualties all share this headland, watching the sea that brought traders, raiders, and battleships.