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History and hauntings of Saint John’s Chapel and the Tower of London

March 25, 2013 by Andrew 4 Comments

The Tower of London is one of the best-known buildings in London and a major tourist attraction. It is of architectural interest and historical significance. Not only has this building got an interesting history, there are also stories of hauntings that make this building even more intriguing.

Construction of the Tower of London began in the 1070’s when William the Conqueror wanted a stone tower in the centre of his London fortress. Saint John’s Chapel, part of the original White Tower, was constructed in 1078. The White Tower was completed by 1100 and dominated the skyline of London as it stands at 90 feet tall. Many monarchs added to the building and by 1350 the tower was complete as it is known today. Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII, was laid in state in Saint John’s Chapel, after she died during childbirth in the Tower.

The Tower of London saw several significant changes of use during the World Wars. Josef Jakobs was the last person executed here in 1941 and the predominant use of the Tower was as a prison. There was also great bomb damage, especially to the North Bastion, in the Second World War. The Crown Jewels were removed to a place of safety and allotments for growing vegetables were created in the moats.

Hauntings

With such a long history it is little wonder that the Tower of London is alleged to have hauntings. One of the most famous ghosts is the White Lady. It is believed that she appears in a window to wave to children in the opposite building. Her perfume can be strongly smelt entering Saint John’s Chapel. Guards at the White Tower have reported a crushing sensation when in the gallery, close to Saint John’s Chapel, and one guard was even choked from behind, leaving marks on his neck.

Further ghostly sightings from other locations around the Tower of London include those of many well-known historical figures. Thomas A. Beckett was the first ghost to be reported here but the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn is possibly the most persistent ghost. Her headless body has been seen walking the corridors of the Tower. Ghosts of two young boys, thought to be the two princes, can also be seen. It is believed that Richard V and his brother Edward were murdered by their uncle. Their skeletons were found in the White Tower.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to the Tower of London and taken a tour? Did you pick up any sense of its history, did you walk where condemned men and women once trod or did you sense anything out the ordinary?

What do you think it would have been like to visit St John’s in the Tower? A chapel in a building associated with so much death, murder and betrayal?

Image credit: St John’s Chapel, Tower of London Wikimedia Commons.

Why can women propose on a leap year?

February 29, 2012 by Andrew Leave a Comment

Tradition suggests that women can propose to their boyfriends or the man they liked the most on February the 29th.

Women can propose on leap years. But why?

The short answer is that we’re not sure. The most popular legend concerns St Patrick and St Bridget. Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary, 387 AD to 493 AD, and widely recognised as the patron saint of Ireland. In the St Patrick’s leap year legend Saint Bridget complained that women could not propose to the men in their lives. Saint Patrick began by suggesting women could propose but only once every seven years. According to legend, Saint Bridget bargained that seven year window down to every four years.

The Ladies Privilege

The 29th of February is sometimes known as “The Ladies Privilege” and is surrounded by many myths.

One myth is that it is Scottish law, dating from the 13th century, that any man who refuses the proposal from a woman on the 29th must pay £100 in compensation. It was believed failure to pay the fine would result in terribly bad luck. £100 was an incredible amount of money back then. A twist to that myth it was also suggested that if the woman wore something scarlet and the man refused then he would be spared the bad luck if he could not find the £100 fortune.

It is most likely that the legend of girls being able to propose to boys in the leap year – either for the whole year, or more commonly the leap day itself, simply arose to the day being outside the normal calendar. Outside the normal calendar gave cultures a chance to act outside the normal behaviours.

In Pure Spirit

Are you planning to propose on the 29th? Have you been proposed to on the 29th? Please do share your experiences in the comment section below.

Do you have any theories of your own as to how this custom came about?

The haunted landscape of the Ashton Memorial

October 28, 2009 by Andrew Leave a Comment

The Ashton Memorial was built by the Oilcloth King; James Williamson. The Oilcloth King got his nickname from the vast empire and fortune he amassed from his oilcloth and linoleum empire.

Williamson was so successful that, at one point, he employed nearly a quarter of Lancaster’s workforce. When he was made sheriff he threw a breakfast party to some 10,000 workers.

In architectural terms the Ashton Memorial is a folly – it is a building constructed purely for decoration. In fact, Baron Ashton began construction of the memorial between 1907 and 1909 in memory of his second wife; Jessie Ashton.

The Memorial is sometimes used as a wedding venue today and local authorities have run ghost story nights for local families.

The Ashton Memorial is part of Williamson Park and is an open neighbour to Lancaster Moors and the horrible Gallow’s Hill. In fact, the view from Ashton Memorial is so good it is said that it is sometimes possible to see the Isle of Man or Blackpool Tower.

Hauntings and History

Until 1800 Gallow’s Hill was where condemned prisoners were taken from Lancaster Castle to be hanged. The judges of Lancaster sentenced so many people to the noose that they became known as the Hanging Judges.

The Ashton Memorial is used as a ghost story venue for reason – some people suggest it is still haunted by the spirits of those hanged here or even perhaps one of the Williamson family.

The moors also saw the death of the Lancaster Martyrs. In the religious conflict of the English Reformation, priests were hanged, drawn and quartered. There are 15 catholic martyrs who met their gruesome end in the moors; including martyrs who later became saints.

Their names are; Blessed James Bell, Blessed John Finch, Blessed Robert Nutter, Blessed Edward Thwing, Blessed Thurstan Hunt, Blessed Robert Middleton, Venerable Lawrence Bailey, Blessed John Thules, Blessed Roger Wrenno, Sir Edmund Arrowsmith, Blessed Richard Hurst, Saint Ambrose Barlow, Blessed Edward Bamber, Blessed John Woodcock and Blessed Thomas Whittaker.

Each of the Lancaster Martyr stories is grim. Blessed Thomas Whittaker, for example, was witness to Edward Bamber’s hanging and then John Woodcock’s botched hanging – where the rope broke the first attempt and he has hung again and butchered alive – was given the chance to recant his faith in order to save himself and he refused. Little wonder that people sometimes sense the presence of a holy man or total hatred on the moors.

In Pure Spirit

Have you walked in Williamson Park or spent any time at the Ashton Memorial? Did you detect any sort of ghostly presence? Do you think so much death and murder in the name of religion could have effected the countryside around the memorial?

History and hauntings of Saint John’s Chapel and the Tower of London

Hauntings

Why can women propose on a leap year?

The Ladies Privilege

The haunted landscape of the Ashton Memorial

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