What is it about bridges and ghosts? It seems every area has its own spooky bridge with its ow spooky legend. We’ve already covered The Goatman and Bunnyman Bridges – two of the most famous bridge-related urban legends – so let’s explore three more horribly haunted bridges you may not have heard of.
Hell’s Bridge, Michigan, USA
This rickety little footbridge earned its a horrible little name from a horrible little legend.
Crossing the Rogue River, this bridge is allegedly the site where a man named Elias Friskie drowned a group of children in the 1800s.
According to legend, Friskie was either tasked with looking after the children (or alternatively, kidnapped them) and took then down to the river. In an attempt to summon demons, he murdered the children and either buried them on the riverbank or tossed their bodies in the river.
When the townsfolk discovered the children missing and Friskie covered in blood, they hanged him.
As is often the way, there’s no facts to support the story. No news articles, graves, or documentation. There is, however, a Friskie road close to the bridge.
This hasn’t stopped ghost hunters, who claim to have caught demonic laughter, red eyes peering from bushes, and ghostly screams in and around the area.
Could these alleged anomalies be explained away? Yes, but why let that get in the way of a good story?
Devil’s Bridge, Ardino, Bulgaria
What is it about the Devil and bridges? Bridges the world over are known by this frightening moniker, usually associated with legends of the Devil building the bridge in exchange for the first soul who crosses it.
However, Devil’s Bridge is a little bit different. The story goes that an Ottoman soldier lusted after a local girl, much to her horror. She fled to the Arda River, the solider and his group in hot pursuit, but just before the girl could take her life by jumping off the bridge, the soldiers saw the reflection of the Devil in the waters below. Terrified, they fled and the girl was saved.
This isn’t the only strange story associated with the bridge, however. Going back to the traditional folklore, the Devil supposedly helped in the building of the bridge, which is why his countenance is reflected in the waters below – or alternatively, leaving a footprint one one of its stones.
Curiously, archeologists found a stone engraved with the seal of King Solomon – a figure renowned for mysticism – at the centre of the bridge.
Frenchay Footbridge, Bristol, UK
Just outside one of the entrances to Oldbury Court Estate – also known as Vassals Park – sits an unassuming little footbridge, but despite its apparent tranquility, a present lurks.
The manor house of Oldbury Court Estate was torn down in the 20th century, but during the reformation, the family were supposedly hiding a Catholic priest.
According to legend, the priest was hiding within the house’s priest hole when soldiers arrived and took the family away. With no one to let him out, or feed him, he slowly starved to death.
Now, his spirit wanders the woods, but he is often spotted haunted the footbridge at the edge of the estate. An interesting site, considering the many legends around spirits being unable to cross running water.
The footbridge has attracted a handful of paranormal investigators, including yours truly! With Spookanatural Explorers, JD and I took to the bridge and the nearby woods to conduct our own investigation into the spectral monk.
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The Hawthorn Files 