The Stocksbridge Bypass Ghost

In 1987, construction began on the Stocksbridge Bypass in South Yorkshire, cutting through ancient land near an old monastery. Almost immediately, workers reported terrifying encounters with ghostly figures. When police were called, they too saw something that left them shaken. The bypass opened in 1988 and has since become one of Britain’s most haunted roads, with fatal accidents and ongoing sightings adding to its grim reputation.

The Construction Era

1987

The bypass was being built:

• To relieve traffic through Stocksbridge
• Cutting through Pearoyd Wood
• Near the site of an ancient monastery
• Through land with a dark history

The First Reports

Security guards on the site:

• Began reporting strange experiences
• Cold spots in warm weather
• Feelings of being watched
• Sounds with no source
• Then actual sightings began

The Key Encounters

The Security Guards

Two guards, Stephen Brookes and David Goldthorpe:

• Were patrolling the construction site at night
• Near the newly built Pearoyd Bridge
• Approximately midnight, September 1987
• They saw children dancing in a circle

The Children

They described:

• A group of children
• Dressed in old-fashioned clothing
• Moving in a circle
• On the bridge
• Then they simply vanished

The Monk

Later that same night:

• They saw a figure in a dark robe
• Hooded, face not visible
• Standing motionless
• Watching them
• It disappeared when they looked away

Their Reaction

The guards:

• Were experienced men
• Not prone to fantasy
• Were genuinely terrified
• Refused to return to that part of the site
• Reported the incidents

The Police Investigation

Officers Dispatched

Special Constables:

• Dick Ellis and John Beet
• Were sent to investigate
• They were skeptical
• They expected to find pranksters

What They Found

At approximately 11:30 PM:

• They parked near Pearoyd Bridge
• Their car began shaking violently
• The radio and lights malfunctioned
• They saw something outside

The Figure

Through the car window:

• A figure appeared
• A tall man in a hooded robe
• He pressed against the car
• His face was not visible
• The officers were paralyzed with fear

The Aftermath

The officers:

• Eventually drove away
• Were visibly shaken when they returned
• Filed an official report
• Their experience was taken seriously
• It made national news

Official Statement

PC Ellis later said:

• He had never been so frightened
• He believed something supernatural occurred
• He couldn’t explain what he saw
• It changed his views on the paranormal

Historical Context

The Monastery

The site was near:

• The ruins of an ancient religious house
• Possibly linked to the Priory of the Canons
• Dating back centuries
• Where monks lived and died

The Land

The area has:

• Ancient burial sites
• Historical significance
• Dark history including plague deaths
• Pre-Christian significance

Local Legend

Before the bypass:

• Locals knew the area was “strange”
• Stories of figures in the woods
• Sightings going back generations
• The construction disturbed something

The Open Road

1988 Onwards

After the bypass opened:

• Sightings continued
• Drivers reported figures
• Fatal accidents occurred
• The road gained a reputation

The Accidents

The bypass has seen:

• Multiple fatalities
• Single-vehicle crashes
• Drivers swerving to avoid “something”
• An unusually high accident rate

Drivers’ Reports

Motorists have reported:

• A figure in the road
• Children appearing suddenly
• A monk-like shape on the verge
• An overwhelming urge to stop
• Feelings of dread

Specific Incidents

The Monk on the Bridge

Multiple drivers have seen:

• A hooded figure on Pearoyd Bridge
• Standing or walking
• Disappearing as they approach
• Causing emergency braking

The Children

Continuing sightings include:

• Children on or near the road
• Dressed in period clothing
• Playing or dancing
• Vanishing when approached

The Dark Figure

Some describe:

• A tall, dark presence
• In peripheral vision
• Accompanying their vehicle
• Causing terror

Investigation

Paranormal Researchers

The bypass has attracted:

• Ghost hunters
• Television crews
• Paranormal investigators
• Psychics and mediums

Their Findings

Investigators report:

• High EMF readings
• Cold spots
• Equipment malfunctions
• Some claim photographic evidence
• Personal experiences

The Pattern

Sightings cluster:

• Near Pearoyd Bridge
• In the early hours
• More common in autumn
• During construction anniversaries

Theories

Disturbed Graves

The Theory

• Construction disturbed burials
• Medieval monks’ graves
• Plague victims
• Their spirits are restless

Support

• The monastery connection
• Historical deaths in the area
• Classic “disturbed burial” haunting

Stone Tape Theory

The Theory

• Events imprint on the land
• Trauma and death leave residue
• The construction exposed old recordings
• The figures are echoes, not ghosts

Active Haunting

The Theory

• Conscious spirits interact
• The monk is aware
• The children are sentient
• They’re trying to communicate

Support

• The police car interaction
• Figures that respond to observers
• Ongoing activity

Mass Suggestion

The Theory

• The original reports created expectation
• People see what they expect
• Fear and darkness create apparitions
• A self-fulfilling haunting

Problems

• The police officers’ experience
• The physical car shaking
• Sightings by those unaware of the history

The Road Today

Continued Activity

The Stocksbridge Bypass:

• Remains in use
• Still has unusual accident rates
• Still generates sighting reports
• Maintains its reputation

Local Knowledge

Residents:

• Know to be cautious at night
• Some avoid the road entirely
• Accept the hauntings as fact
• Have their own experiences

Tourism

The bypass has become:

• A destination for ghost hunters
• Featured in paranormal media
• Part of local identity
• A genuine haunted location

Analysis

What We Know

• Multiple credible witnesses saw figures
• Police officers filed official reports
• The experiences were terrifying and consistent
• Activity predates public knowledge
• Sightings continue

What We Don’t Know

• Who or what the figures are
• Why they appear
• What they want
• Whether they’re connected to deaths
• Whether they can be stopped

The Question

They built a road through ancient land.

And something woke up.

Construction workers saw children dancing on a bridge that wasn’t finished yet. Security guards saw a monk standing in the darkness. Police officers - skeptical, professional - had something shake their car and press against the windows.

The road opened. The accidents started. Drivers swerved to avoid figures that weren’t there. Or were they?

Thirty years later, the sightings continue.

A hooded figure on Pearoyd Bridge. Children in old clothes. A presence in the dark.

The Stocksbridge Bypass cuts through the Yorkshire hills, carrying thousands of cars every day. Most pass without incident.

But some see something. Some feel something. Some crash.

What walks that road at night?

What did the construction disturb?

And why won’t it rest?

The Stocksbridge Bypass Ghost. One of Britain’s most haunted roads.

Drive it if you dare.

But maybe keep your eyes on the road.

Don’t look too closely at the shadows.

And whatever you do, don’t stop.