It’s Halloween and there are scary happenings around town. As William Shakespeare once said, “Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.”
But you don’t have to worry about any witches this Halloween. Not when there are enough ghosts lurking around in the shadows. Did you know, there are haunted spots in Newcastle? That’s right, there are spooks within our town, the lingering ghosts of those seeking peace within the afterlife…apparently.
Here are three of the most haunted spots in Newcastle to add some flavour to the ever-growing celebration of the truly American holiday, Halloween:
Fort Amiel Museum
As a base for the British forces during bygone days, Fort Amiel was a hive of activity during the formation of South Africa. The base saw the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu War. A period of upheaval when armies sought victory.
Therefore, it is only logical that there are a number of ghosts lingering on the old base. One such ghost is a black dog. Captain Perrin, an old quartermaster for the English forces brought his beloved pet dog during the wars, as he could not bear to be anywhere without it.
However, in the Battle of Amajuba in 1881, Captain Perrin died. It is said his dog awaits his return to this day and its spirit can occasionally be seen walking the grounds of the museum.
But the ghostly canine is not the only spectre. Believe it or not, Newcastle also sports its own headless horseman. The ghostly apparition of an English soldier can be seen riding his horse around Fort Amiel, searching for both his head and vengeance.
Then there is the old English Magistrate who haunts Fort Amiel Museum, searching for the town’s keys. He was apparently forced to hand the keys over to the Boer forces when they conquered Newcastle for a brief period in 1897.
Disgraced by his actions, he now seeks redemption by hoping to find the keys.
Panty Valley
No this is not the title of some sordid movie. Rather, it is a reference to the N11. Fort Amiel Museum Curator, Louis Eksteen, claims that during the 1960s and 1970s, a serial killer lurked in Newcastle.
“He would kill women and hang their underwear in the trees along the road for people to see,” claims Eksteen.
By hanging scores of underwear, the name of Panty Valley was born. It is said his victims haunt the long stretch of road, seeking justice and revenge.
Carnegie Art Gallery
While Carnegie Art Gallery is now a place of culture and art, it was once a magistrate’s office with a public gallows.
Eksteen claims in the 1800s, an innocent man was hung. His ghost now haunts the area, searching for a release from his eternal haunting.
Be sure to visit one of these three haunted locations this Halloween, and see if you can witness a ghostly spectre lurking in the shadows.
