world wide haunted cemeteries

flowe3rs · world wide haunted cemeteries

World Wide Haunted Cemeteries
Welcome to my summary of the most haunted cemeteries in the world. All of them have their ghostly tales, read on to find out why graveyards can be truly terrifying...

Highgate Cemetery, London, England

This spooky, mysterious cemetery, also known as the City of the Dead, was once the most fashionable place in London to be buried in Victorian times. Sadly, it crumbled into neglect following the Second World War and was a desolate spot stretching over many acres. The many magnificent tombs and memorials became a truly gothic sight with twisted branches and ivy curling their way around the ruins. Stories abounded of terrifying creatures with glowing eyes frightening local residents and anyone brave enough to walk by the gates at night. Various ghosts and entities have been sighted including a vampire, a man in a top hat, bells ringing in the disused chapel, a shrouded figure and a demented old woman with long gray hair to name a few. Due to the restoration efforts of the ‘Friends of Highgate Cemetery’ the place is looking quite well these days, with the ghostly sightings decreasing significantly in numbers.

Resurrection Cemetery, Chicago, USA

One of the better known haunted cemeteries. Where to begin at this truly creepy location? So many ghosts, the most famous one has to be 'Resurrection Mary' also known as Bloody Mary Smith. She is a young girl thought to have been murdered on Archer Avenue and has been spotted in one form or another over the last 90 years, always dressed in black and usually asking for a lift to the cemetery. Whether just conversing with her or giving her a lift, she vanishes into thin air. There are many other ghosts inhabiting this site, all of them happy to interact with mourners and join in the ceremonies. Many EVP’s have also been captured here with names and conversations clearly being heard when there is no one around. There’s reputed to be a vampire buried in Resurrection who starts scratching his coffin when the sun sets.

Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland

This huge cemetery, also known as Prospect Cemetery, dates from around the middle of the 1800’s and is resident to many of Ireland’s famous citizens including Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera, Brendan Behan and Constance Markiewicz. There are nearly 1.5 million burial sites here including the sad and very eerie ‘Little Angels’ children’s plot, thought to contain over 50,000 children and babies. One of the best known apparitions is that of a Newfoundland dog who often appears at the grave of John McNeill Boyd. After Boyd drowned, the dog refused to leave his owner’s grave and slowly starved to death. This dedicated pet is seen waiting faithfully at his grave. Other encounters include glowing figures and the sounds of children playing. This is one of the largest haunted cemeteries in the world. If you visit, just be sure you know the way out…

Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Australia

This large cemetery was officially opened in 1875. Stories abound of unexplainable foul smells, fluctuations in temperature and sounds of people talking. There are also rumoured accounts of bodies here which have not decomposed. The crypt of the infamous Mayne family is located here and there are repeated reports of sounds coming from within it, including objects being thrown and voices raised in anger. Many visitors report feeling deeply sad after spending time here, for no apparent reason. One of many haunted cemeteries throughout Australia.

The Catacombs, Paris, France

Not strictly one of the world's haunted cemeteries, but we had to include it anyway! In the 1700’s the engineers and planners of Paris decided to tackle the overcrowding problem by disinterring millions of the Parisian dead and relocating them to the Catacombs. The moving of corpses continued until about 1870 and since then the Catacombs have been the location for many activities including bizarre picnics and gatherings of the French nobility, to families living there, and members of the French Resistance and German military using it during World War II. The main paranormal activity reported frequently is the sighting of shadow groups of people silently following tour groups around. Many photographs and EVP’s have been captured in the Catacombs. A lot of tours are ended early with visitors feeling ill, claustrophobic and overwhelmed by the eerie atmosphere. Many foolhardy souls venture in alone, certain they know the way out. Many have never been seen again.

Old Western Graveyard, Baltimore, USA

Another darkly atmospheric cemetery, with catacombs, home to many illustrious residents including Edgar Allan Poe and more than a dozen generals from the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War amongst others. The majority of ghostly tales from here revolve around the catacombs which are situated under Westminster Hall, which is also believed to be haunted. Most tell the story of people being buried alive and still trying to get help. However, the most intriguing ghost of the Old Western graveyard is that of Edgar Allan Poe who has been seen many times especially around January 19th – his birthday. He is said to be completely in black, with matching fedora hat and black scarf to cover his features. He also carries a walking cane with a silver cat’s head on top. There are numerous reports of people talking to him and catching glimpses of his dark figure. There is also a story about a skull buried here, simply known as the Screaming Skull of Cambridge, which is said to have belonged to a murdered minister. If you hear it’s screams, legend has it you will go insane