Perched above the city skyline, Lancaster Castle looks every inch the proud medieval fortress, but its stones are steeped in fear, punishment, and grief. For centuries it served as both court and prison, earning Lancaster the grim nickname “the Hanging Town”.
With witch trials, mass executions, and overcrowded cells in its past, it is little surprise that many visitors and staff believe not everyone ever truly left this place behind.
Witches on Trial and the Weight of History
In 1612 the Pendle witch trials brought national infamy to Lancaster Castle. Accused men and women were held in foul underground cells before facing days of testimony and condemnation in the court above.
Ten people were executed on the moors beyond the city, and countless later prisoners went to the gallows from the same castle complex. That concentration of fear, injustice, and final goodbyes underpins nearly every modern ghost story told within the walls today.
Haunted Cells and Unseen Hands
Beneath the courtrooms, the old prison cells are often described as the most unsettling part of the castle. Visitors on tours report sudden cold spots, the sense of someone standing directly behind them, and, in some cases, firm tugs on their clothing when no one is near.
One oft‑mentioned spirit is a young boy nicknamed Thomas, seen in an old cell in period clothing, darting away around corners as if still trying to escape his captors. In other cells, people speak of blue lights hovering in the air, foul smells appearing from nowhere, and bundles of “clothes” that seem to shift into human form before vanishing into the darkness.
Echoes in the Gatehouse and Yard
The main gatehouse and former prison wings carry their own layers of haunting. Shadows have been seen crossing the entranceway when the area is locked, and some staff have described being pushed into chairs or briefly held in place by an unseen force when locking up alone.
Outside, the old execution areas and route towards the gallows feel heavy even in daylight. Many people speak of hearing marching footsteps, muffled voices, or the rustle of clothing as if a ghostly procession of soldiers and condemned prisoners is still passing by on its way to the final drop.
Why Lancaster Castle Suits Ghost Hunters
For ghost hunters, Lancaster Castle offers a compact but layered environment: dark cells, echoing passageways, open yards, and historically charged courtrooms. The contrast between cramped underground spaces and exposed exterior areas makes it ideal for running varied vigils, from quiet EVP sessions in single cells to group experiments in the old execution corner.
It also sits within reach of many other North‑West haunts, so anyone joining our North‑West ghost hunts or DeadLive paranormal events in Lancashire and Cheshire can easily build a full weekend around history and hauntings.
DeadLive would love to run future investigations at Lancaster Castle itself, but right now events are centred on locations such as Lark Lane Old Police Station Liverpool, Mayer Hall Wirral, Vernon Institute Chester, Penrhyn Old Hall, Coffee House Wavertree, and the Transport Museum Manchester.
DeadLive – taking you where the haunting is happening.