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Ghostly goings on

Catherine Deshayes

English Heritage reveals country's ghost hunting hot spots with new online map...

Do you have a taste for the gruesome? Ever fancied tackling a headless ghost - head on? As caretaker of some of the country's oldest and most haunted properties, English Heritage has delved into our murky past and created a 'Haunted Heritage' map to share its spookiest findings, just in time for Halloween.

For a limited time only, ghostly thrill seekers can log onto www.english-heritage.org.uk/halloween to view an interactive map detailing some of the most spine-tingling tales in English history.

Informed by tales of spooky sightings from visitors and English Heritage's own staff, the map highlights some of the scariest sights in the country.

Explore the dungeons of doom at Kenilworth, discover the gothic abbey that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula and find out which Devon castle has a past so terrifying that even dogs hate to walk near it.

Mark Badger, English Heritage's Head of Visitor Operations said, "We British have quite a taste for the macabre side of history.

"Every year we get thousands of visitors descending on our castles and houses asking about the ghastly and gruesome happenings of the past, so this year, for the first time, we're making our own recommendations for a terrifying tour of England's past."

As an added bonus this Halloween, selected English Heritage properties will be hosting special haunted events - from regal spirits of kings and queens, to headless horses, there's a ghoul to spook even the hardiest horror fan!

Dare to meet the bossy ghost of the former head chef at Pendennis Castle, try to spot all nine spooks at Dover Castle or befriend the shy shadow of Queen Victoria's son, Prince Leopold, at Osborne House.

Emily Burns, English Heritage's Head of Events, said, "Our visitors come year after year to experience our ghost tours, but for us staff, unexpected encounters are just part of the job. Only recently, a member of staff at Pendennis Castle was locking up at night when he heard a sudden piercing scream from the stairs.

If that wasn't disconcerting enough, he later discovered that a young scullery maid had lost her footing on the steep stone stairs and fallen to her death on the very same spot. It took several cups of tea before he calmed down."

English Heritage's haunted tales and tours have been collated over a number of years and are based on sightings that are reported time and time again by different sources.

Many of the tales can be linked back to actual historical events or people who once lived at these properties. English Heritage's spook-by-spook map of England is available to view now at: www.english-heritage.org.uk/halloween

Source: English Heritage