We may be the dominant species one this planet (for now), but does that mean we should dominate the paranormal as well?
Tales of our dearly departed animal companions returning from the great beyond are found the world over.
We’ve already spoken about Gef the Mongoose and Phantom Black Dogs, so let’s explore three three spooky stories of animal ghosts you may not have heard of!
The Ghost Bear of the Tower of London
Renowned the world over for its bloody history and famous ghosts, the infamous Tower of London is also said to be the haunting ground for one bear-y scary ex-resident.
One night in 1816, a tower guard was more than a little alarmed to see a huge bear coming at his from the Jewel Room. The guard, a man named George Offer, was so frightened of the creature that he attempted to lance it with his bayonet, only for it to strike against the door itself – straight through the phantom bear, who’d subsequently disappeared.
Unfortunately for Mr Offer, the apparition so frightened him that he collapsed and never recovered, dying shortly afterwards from the fright of the encounter.
At the time of the ghostly appearance, the Tower of London was known to hold the Royal Menagerie, with all manner of wild animals reluctantly calling it home. This included lions, elephants and, of course, bears.
This included a polar bear, gifted to Henry III in 1252 by the King of Norway, and a bear known as Old Martin, gifted to George III by the Hudson Bay Company – although he was said to have commented that he’d have preferred a pair of socks.
Old Martin was gifted to the menagerie in 1811 and stayed there until he was transferred to the newly opened London Zoo in the 1820s, so it’s fair to assume that when Mr Offer encountered the spectral bear he must have thought Old Martin had escaped. The fright of the whole experience sent him to an early grave.
Perhaps the ghost was the spirit of the long dead polar bear, come back to wander the Tower at night? Perhaps Old Martin really had escaped, only to put himself back before anyone notices? I’d like to think that Old Martin had a talent for astral projection and took himself for little wanders outside of his probably inadequate cage and accidentally stumbled upon poor George Offer.
The last animals of the menagerie’s animals were transferred to London Zoo in 1835, but if you ever explore the Tower of London you may be wise to keep an eye on any dark passageways. You never know who – or what – lurks in the shadows.
The Ghost Eagles of Castle Coch
Castle Coch (pronounced as ‘cock’- don’t laugh) stands today as a 19th century Gothic Revival built over the original Norman castle site just outside of Cardiff. Although it’s current form is comparatively modern, it’s just as haunted as any spooky ol’ castle!
One of its many legends is that of Ifor Bach, a Welsh nobleman said to have occupied the site in the 1100s.
Ifor – who was said to have scaled the walls of Cardiff Castle with his bare hands and kidnapped the Earl of Gloucester, his wife, and their son – was said to have practiced witchcraft and turned two of his men into stone eagles in order to guard his treasure buried somewhere beneath the castle.
According to legend, thieves broke into the tunnel where this treasure is supposedly hidden and where accosted by two eagles with glowing red eyes, before being chased away. The thieves entered a second time, armed with guns, but their bullets had no affect on the eagles and the group fled once again.
The third time, they returned with silver bullets and a priest in tow. The priest is said to have attempted an exorcism but neither this nor the bullets had any affect and they were chased off a final time.
If Ifor’s treasure is buried in the tunnels beneath Castle Coch, it remains undiscovered.
The Ghost Of The Martyn Ape
Athelhampton is a historic house in Dorset, once owned by the Martyn family. The head of the family, Sir William Martyn, a trader who managed to acquire an ape as an unusual and ill-advised family pet.
The Martyn’s were a catholic family, and such was the political landscape at the time, their manor included “priest holes” – hidden rooms or recesses where priests could hide from persecution.
The legend goes that one of the Martyn daughters got into a disagreement regarding her wish to marry and fled to one of these holes, behind the paneling in the Great Chamber. Unbeknownst to her, the pet ape followed her inside. She later emerged, but the ape did not.
Whether or not that part of the legend os true, or if the ape managed to get itself stuck behind the panelling itself, the outcome is the same. It starved to death.
In the centuries since, the ape has been seen wandering the grounds of Athelhampton and disappearing into its walls. Even today, if you listen closely, you can hear scratching coming from behind the walls.
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The Hawthorn Files 
Great reading. I always enjoy your “files”!
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