Lytham & St Anne’s GHOSTS & MYTHS

TOP 10 Lytham & St Anne’s GHOSTS & MYTHS

       
In 1895 The Glendower Hotel was formally a ladies college owned and run by Miss Bayley. Around 1905, a pupil committed suicide by poisoning herself with acid, her ghost is said to roam the corridors. In 1986, when Peter Haworth bought the hotel, he found that the school furniture was still in storage in the cellars.

In 2005 the normally quiet Lytham reported accounts of their own Nosferatu. The original victim had been a 38 year old owner of a French eatery who had been chatting in French to a male customer, when he suddenly lunged and sunk his teeth into her neck. Locals were enraged to discover that a further woman had been attacked in a bar. Nicknames have included Dracula and Le Fang, the reports even made it to the national newspapers. The man behind the sucking attacks is described as well dressed and 5ft 8in tall with very dark, short hair, as of yet he has not been caught.

It is believed that there was once a church known as Kilgrimol that was flooded and buried by the sea, and, it is said that on New Year's Eve, or in a storm, the church bell can be heard tolling from beneath the waves. In a map of the area dating from around 1532, a place is shown as "Kylgmoles", which is recommended to have been positioned out to sea between St Annes and Squires Gate. In St Annes over the years Kilgrimol has lent its name to roads, schools and even a Masonic lodge.

The Beast of Lytham raised its paws and head in 2005. In the summer months over 20 sightings have been reported around the Green Drive area of Lytham, the mysterious creature has been spotted roaming in thick woodland at a beauty spot. About as tall as a collie dog but with huge ears, a large mouth and a lolloping gait, local Illustrator Sam Shearon came up with his drawing after speaking to several witnesses. They included Sandra Sturrock who was walking her dog, and Willie Davidson was playing bowls when he heard snarling behind him. One theory is that it could be a muntjac deer, one of the last remaining from a herd brought to Lytham Hall by the local squire over a century ago.

At the Ship & Royal Hotel on Clifton Street in Lytham there are reports of a ghostly male manifestation. Locals and visitors have claimed to see the man before he suddenly disappears. Also this spooky male disturbed paperwork and played about with the telephone.

A squires horse is said to be seen cantering through ‘Witch Wood’. The Witch was the favourite horse of the local squire, John Talbot Clifton, who lived at Lytham Hall. At that time before the houses were built Witch Wood was part of the grounds of the hall. It's thought the Witch was killed in a riding accident in the woods, the witch's grave is in the trees by the side of the path. The inscription reads: 'The Witch. Died January 5th 1888.'

 

In the early morning of Christmas Eve 1919, the body of 26 year old Kathleen (Kitty) Breaks was found among the sand dunes at St Annes. She had been shot 3 times with a revolver by her lover Lieutenant Frederick Rothwell Holt, locals have reported over the years of seeing a woman wandering around the dunes on Christmas Eve.

 Lytham Hall dates from the mid 1760’s and was built by Thomas Clifton, over the years many ghosts have been seen of the late Clifton family. I must admit I was lucky enough to go round on an open day, a delightful building but very spooky. One of the most reported sightings apart from the vast grounds is in the upper gallery where portraits of previous generations hang. You can almost feel the eyes in the paintings watching you. I myself felt like I was being followed, but when I checked no-one was there.

 Ley Lines can be described as an alignment of ancient sites, these are considered to be earth's natural energy lines and also that spirit may use these of travelling quickly from one place to another. It has also been suggested that where two Ley Lines    cross there is a possible chance of a portal opening to other dimensions. Over the years at Starr Gate which boarders St Annes and Blackpool these ‘lines’ have been reported, phantom trams, apparitions in period costume and ghostly boats.

Over the years many locals and visitors have seen what can only be described as ‘UFO’ sightings that seem to hover over the Lytham area. Many eye witness reports state they see ‘flashing orbs, cigar shaped craft and triangular objects that move at great speed then stop. When local airports and or air sites such as Warton have been contacted they deny any such action of testing.

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