Crumlin Road Gaol, Northern Ireland

This former prison, also known as the Crum or HMP Belfast, has a dark and bloody history that spans over 150 years. It was built in 1845 as a Victorian-era jail that could house up to 550 inmates, including men, women, and children. Over 25,000 prisoners passed through its gates, some of them famous figures like Éamon de Valera, Martin McGuinness, Michael Stone, and Bobby Sands. The jail also witnessed 17 executions by hanging between 1901 and 1961, as well as countless deaths by disease, suicide, and violence.

The Crumlin Road Gaol closed in 1996 and remained abandoned for years until it was restored and reopened as a museum and tourist attraction in 2012. Today, visitors can explore the jail's various wings, cells, tunnels, and execution chamber, and learn about its history and stories. But they might also encounter some of its ghostly residents, who are said to haunt the place with their presence.

Many paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have visited the Crumlin Road Gaol and reported a range of eerie phenomena. Some of the most common sightings include a man walking down the C wing and disappearing, a woman in a long dress crying in the D wing, and a child running around the basement. Other reports include hearing doors slamming, footsteps, voices, screams, and whispers throughout the jail. Some visitors have also felt cold spots, touches, pushes, and scratches from unseen hands.

One of the most haunted areas of the jail is the basement drop cell, where the condemned prisoners were hanged. Here, visitors can see the original noose and trapdoor that were used for the executions. Many people have reported feeling a heavy atmosphere of sadness and despair in this area, as well as seeing shadows and hearing noises. Some have even claimed to see the apparition of a man hanging from the rope.

The Crumlin Road Gaol is not for the faint-hearted, but it is a fascinating place to visit for those who are interested in history and the paranormal. The jail offers daily tours that cover its history and hauntings, as well as special events like paranormal investigations, ghost walks, and Halloween nights.