The Tower of London

Over the past 1000 years, the Tower of London has seen more than its

fair share of murders, executions, tortures and poisonings. It's little

wonder therefore that a few of its victims should remain there in death.

On the 12th February 1957 a guardsman came face to face with one of the

ghostly residents at the foot of the Salt Tower. It was 3.00am when

something struck the roof of the sentry-box in which he was sheltering

from the rain. Stepping out, he looked up to see what it was, and saw a

shapeless white ghost on the top of the tower. He shouted, bringing out

the guard captain and the duty warder. They both searched the Tower,

but could find nothing. Is it a coincidence that on 12 February 1554

Lady Jane Grey was beheaded on Tower Green, which lies less than 200

yards away from the Salt Tower?

One of the best known ghosts is that of Anne Boleyn, who also lost her

head on Tower Green. She is now said to carry her head under her arm on

the eve of a death. A sergeant serving with the Artist's Rifles was on

duty the night before several spies were due to be executed during the

First World War. He claimed that the night before Carl Lody was

executed, he saw the ghost of Anne Boleyn in a silk dress and a white

ruff.

Anne has also been seen in the Tower Chapel. One night, a guard captain

and a sentry set off on their rounds, but when they reached the chapel

they both noticed lights coming from inside. The captain sent for a

ladder and climbed up to a window to look within. He found the interior

lit with a blue-white light, and a ghostly procession of men and women

in Tudor costume could be plainly seen walking down the central aisle.

At the head of the procession was the spirit of Anne Boleyn. Suddenly

the light faded and the chapel was left in complete darkness.

It's not only ghosts of people that visit the Tower. In 1816 a sentry

was walking his beat in front of the Jewel House when he saw a dark

shape moving on the steps of the building. He approached the figure

just as the moon came out from behind some clouds, revealing a huge bear

lunging at him. Paniced, he struck out at the bear with his bayonet but

the blade simply passed through the bear, which then engulfed him. He

was later found (unconcious?) by another sentry and died shortly after.

by John