The Old Operating Theatre Museum, Bankside

• Date: Built in 1822

• Perpetrator/Victim: Poor women undergoing surgeries without anaesthesia

• Location: Bankside, South London

 

Key Facts:

Located in an 18th-century church attic, the Old Operating Theatre Museum is known for gruesome medical history. Patients, mostly poor women, underwent surgeries without anesthesia, and many reportedly died in agony. Visitors report unexplained chills, ghostly apparitions, and the sensation of being watched by figures in the gallery.

 

St Mary’s Church, Putney

• Date: Built in the 13th century

• Perpetrator/Victim: The Grey Lady, believed to be the wife of a former rector

• Location: Putney, South London

 

Key Facts:

Dating back to medieval times, St. Mary’s is the site of the Putney Debates and a longstanding paranormal presence, including sightings of the Grey Lady who is seen gliding silently through the aisles. Witnesses report flickering candles, eerie footsteps, and, occasionally, weeping sounds emanating from her tombstone area.

 

The Crane Pub, Wandsworth

• Date: Established in the 18th century

• Perpetrator/Victim: A murdered man (unnamed) attacked in the late 1700s

• Location: Wandsworth, South London

 

Key Facts

Known for its spectral history, this pub was allegedly the site of a murder in its stable yard. A shadowy figure has been seen sitting alone in the pub, vanishing when approached. Staff and patrons report heavy footsteps in the basement and the eerie sounds of phantom hooves, supposedly linked to a carriage that took the victim’s body away.

 

Queen’s House, Greenwich

• Date: Built in 1616

• Perpetrator/Victim: Apparitions and ghostly figures on the tulip stairs

• Location: Greenwich, South London

 

Key Facts

Queen’s House is famous for its ghostly photo from 1966, which appears to show a figure on the tulip stairs. Visitors frequently feel chills and see shadowy figures or hear faint music in the Great Hall. A mysterious woman in white is also seen on the upper floors, thought to be a heartbroken royal figure.

 

Chislehurst Caves

• Date: Claimed to date back to the Saxon era (400-500 AD) or even 6500 BC

• Perpetrator/Victim: Druids and rumored human sacrifices

• Location: Chislehurst, South London

 

Key Facts:

This 22-mile network of man-made caves was allegedly used by Druids for ritual sacrifices. Guides point to altars that supposedly bear the marks of blood rituals, and tours often report a strong eerie presence. The caves have been used as a WWII shelter, a concert venue, and film set, adding layers to their spooky reputation.

 

Battersea Poltergeist (63 Wycliffe Road)

• Date: Haunting began in 1956

• Perpetrator/Victim: “Donald,” a poltergeist targeting Shirley Hitchings

• Location: Battersea, South London

 

Key Facts:

The poltergeist terrorized the Hitchings family with scratches, loud bangs, and objects thrown across the room. Shirley, a 15-year-old at the time, seemed to be the center of the haunting. Paranormal investigators documented escalating events, with theories suggesting the poltergeist may have been linked to Shirley's emotional state.

 

Croydon Cat Killer

• Date: 2014-2018

• Perpetrator/Victim: Unknown (initially suspected to be a serial killer but later attributed to foxes)

• Location: Croydon, South London, and surrounding areas

 

Key Facts

Over 300 mutilated cats were discovered around Croydon, sparking fears of a serial cat killer. Cats were found decapitated or disemboweled, often arranged in a way that hinted at human involvement. After a three-year investigation, police concluded the mutilations were likely due to fox scavenging, though some community members and animal activists still question this.

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