Stocksbridge Bypass: The Phantom Monk Road

The A616 Stocksbridge Bypass in South Yorkshire has been haunted since before it opened. During construction in 1987, security guards reported terrifying encounters with a hooded figure and spectral children. Since then, motorists and police officers have had their own experiences on this modern road built through ancient land.

The History

Construction

The bypass was built to relieve traffic through Stocksbridge:

• Construction began in 1987
• The route passed near a medieval monastery site
• Pearoyd Lane Bridge became a focal point of activity
• Reports began before the road opened

The First Encounters

Security guards during construction:

• Saw a hooded figure near Pearoyd Lane Bridge
• Children appeared in the middle of the night
• The figures vanished when approached
• Guards refused to work alone

Police Investigation

Police were called to investigate:

• Two officers saw the figure themselves
• Their patrol car suffered electrical failures
• They documented their experience officially
• The case became famous

The Hauntings

The Hooded Figure (The Monk)

The primary apparition:

• A figure in a dark, hooded robe
• Seen on or near Pearoyd Lane Bridge
• He stands motionless
• Vanishes when approached
• Connected to the medieval monastery nearby

The Phantom Children

Child spirits appear on the bypass:

• Playing in dangerous locations
• Running across the road
• Drivers swerve to avoid them
• No children are ever found
• May be connected to historical deaths

The Electronic Interference

Vehicles experience problems:

• Engines cutting out
• Lights failing
• Radios producing static
• The phenomena occur in specific locations
• The road seems to reject technology

The Woman in White

A female figure in white:

• Standing by the roadside
• Hitchhiker appearance
• Drivers stop but find no one
• Classic phantom hitchhiker pattern

The Police Report

The 1987 police experience was documented:

• Officers officially reported their encounter
• Their vehicle malfunctioned
• A hooded figure appeared and vanished
• The report is on record
• Unusual for police to document paranormal

Modern Activity

The bypass remains active:

• Regular sightings continue
• Drivers report near-accidents
• The monk appears most often
• The road has a reputation
• Some avoid it at night

Theories

Why is the bypass haunted?

• Ancient monastery site disturbed
• Ley lines crossing the route
• Pre-existing burial grounds
• The construction violated sacred space

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The Stocksbridge Bypass was haunted before it opened. Construction workers, security guards, and police officers all encountered the hooded monk and phantom children. The road was built through ancient land, and the ancient dead made their presence known. They still do.