Derby Ghost

With over 1,000 ghost sightings in recent years, Derby is the most haunted city in the country and as such has been dubbed the “Ghost capital of Great Britain”.

The volume of recorded Derby ghost sightings over the years has led to a rising interest in all things paranormal in Derby and as a result there are many ghost stories to be told and Derby Ghost walks to be enjoyed around the city.

Derby Ghost Walks

There are a number of different ghost walks around Derby on which you can hear about stories of famous hauntings throughout the city as well as tales of gruesome executions and grisly murders from Derby’s past.

Derby City Centre Ghost Walk –

• Starting at the Shakespeare Inn on Saddlergate the city centre ghost walk continues on to Derby’s first jail where witches heretics and traitors were locked away.
• Next is the Lock-up yard where policeman PC Moss was brutally murdered in 1879 and whose ghost is said to wander around the fish market.
• A quick liquid refreshment stop for Derby Ghost hunters at the Tiger Bar and then it’s down to the tunnels underneath the Guild Hall where the ghost of a 12 year old boy is said to roam.
• More tales of Derby Ghosts are recounted as the walk continues across the Market Place on to Derby’s most haunted pub, Jorrocks.
• Finally the walk passes the Cathedral and comes to an end at the Shire Hall where in 1665 a horrific pressing-to-death took place.

Friargate Derby Ghost Walk –

• Starting and ending at Derby Gaol, the Friargate ghost walk tells stories of horrendous murders, grisly executions and supernatural occurrences.
• The first haunted port of call is Seymours on whose wall hangs the picture of a Victorian lady who still haunts the place today.
• Next stop is St Werburghs Church where a savage murder was carried out and on which a curse still hangs.
• Built on the grounds of an old Dominican Friary, The friary cellars are then visited which are haunted by a black monk.
• Hauntings in Pickfords house museum as well as stories of The Reformed Bill Riots of 1833 are retold before heading on to Vernon Street, the site of Derby’s fifth and final jail.
• Finally, Derby ghost hunters are treated to a condemned man’s supper

Both of these Derby ghost walks, as well as private ghost walks are available for bookings through Derby Gaol (contact details below), the home to many ghost sightings and gruesome executions.

Derby Ghost Walk Reviews

Below is a selection of genuine reviews and comments about Derby Gaol’s Derby Ghost Walks. All reviews are taken directly from fans on their Facebook pages:

“I Had a great Ghost Walk last night. Screamed and laughed my away around town. Brilliant night, am looking forward to the next! Many thanks”

“loved all the orbs visible on the Derby City Centre photos! especially all those coming up from the trapdoor in the pub!”

”The Derby ghost walk was awesome fun, cheers guys. If you do ever end up doing a Chester one, we are so there! ”

”A most enjoyable walk starting and finishing at the old city Gaol last night. I couldn't help but notice the excellent selection of bottled beers behind the bar.”

Derby Ghost Breaks

If you are an avid Derby ghost hunter or just fancy doing something out of the ordinary then you can book a place on one of Derby Gaol’s overnight vigils. Derby ghost breaks give those brave enough the opportunity to investigate the jail as well as take part in a Ouija board session and séance. Ghost hunters are then allowed to roam freely around the jail in the hope of seeing something supernatural and can even bring their own audio/video equipment for capturing any spooky goings on.

To enquire about availability of Derby ghost breaks or ghost walks you need to get in touch with Derby Gaol using the contact details below:

Derby Gaol Contact Details:

Address: 50 Friargate, Derby,

Postcode: DE1 1DF

Phone: 08000 277928

Derby Ghost Stories

As Britain’s most haunted city, there is an abundance of Derby ghost sightings as well as Derby ghost stories dating back hundreds of years so it would be impossible to list them all. However below are a few stories of some of Derby’s most famous ghosts and ghost sightings:

The Old Lady at Seymour’s – The figure of an old lady dressed in grey is said to haunt Seymours Wine bar in St Werburgh’s churchyard. Several sightings of her have been reported by staff and often the sightings have been pre-announced by a very strong smell of lavender. The manager of Seymours also reported strange goings on such as items being moved around or disappearing completely, only to turn up days or even weeks later.

The Choir Boys at Darley Abbey – Whilst walking in the grounds of Darley Abbey Park a lady had an unnerving feeling of being watched. When she looked behind her towards the tea rooms she was shocked to see a group of young men walking up the path towards them wearing old fashioned choirboy cassocks a collars. After walking nervously on for a few minutes, both her and her husband looked back to make sure they were not seeing things only to find that there was no one around. It is believed that these may be the souls of the schoolboys searching for their beloved school in Darley Abbey which was demolished by Henry VIII in the 1500’s.

Derby Cathedral Ghost sightings – Several sightings of different ghosts have been reported in and around Derby Cathedral, the most prevalent of which is thought to be Charles Edward Stewart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie as he was known. One lady who lived opposite the cathedral is said to have seen a figure of a man dressed in Jacobite style clothing on several occasions around the grounds of the cathedral. Another sighting of a ghostly figure in cavalier style dress has been reported nearby at the Silk Mill pub.

Other sightings at the cathedral include a lady in white seen walking down the steps behind the church, a young woman apparently crying and also a small child.

Derby Ghosts - Tell us your stories

If you have experienced anything out of the ordinary or any supernatural goings on in Derby we'd love to hear about it. Maybe you have had a genuine encounter with a ghost around Derby or you know of someone that has - if so use the form below to share your spooky stories.