Canal Ghost Stories for Halloween!

Chester Walls, Shropshire Union Canal, Cheshire

The Shropshire Union Canal is the perfect choice for a route that plunges you into some of the prettiest scenery in the English countryside. But it’s also a great way to visit the picturesque city of Chester, which is home to an ancient ghost story that will delight those who encounter it.

It’s said that the city walls of Chester are guarded by the ghost of a Roman Centurion who was cut down by Celtic invaders when they learned of his night time meetings with a local lover and ambushed him so they could gain access to the city through the exit he used. It’s thought that the ghost still paces endlessly between the Northgate and amphitheatre ruins, following the route he took to try and sound the alarm following the attack.

Chester is a highlight in any Cheshire holiday, and exploring the region by narrowboat is one of the best ways to explore the landscape. Check out narrowboat holidays in Cheshire or explore the itinerary for a Four Counties Ring canal boat holiday. 

Bridge 39, Shropshire Union Canal, Staffordshire

If you’re traversing the Shropshire Union Canal and want another ghostly tale to add to your itinerary, then one of the spookiest canal stories is attached to the unassuming, double-arched Bridge 39 near Norbury, which houses one of the UK’s shortest telephone poles. 

This bridge is said to be haunted by the ghost of a drowned boatman who appears as a shaggy black-haired creature with huge eyes, known to locals and boaters as ‘The Monkey Man’. The ghost was famously spotted in 1879 when a cart driver passed over the bridge in the evening and was ambushed by the terrifying creature, who was said to have jumped onto the back of his horse and ridden off with it.

Another sighting was reported almost 100 years later, and the legend of this mysterious shaggy figure is still circulated today. To visit the spot yourself and risk being visited by ‘The Monkey Man’, find out more about Staffordshire canal boat holidays and the different routes available for a trip, including this section of the Shropshire Union Canal. 

Betton Cutting, Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire

Yet another haunting canal story on the Shropshire Union Canal! It’s clear to see why this is such a good spot for a spooky October holiday, especially since the town near to both of these tales has quite a paranormal reputation as well.

The canal system around Market Drayton is home to two ghoulish residents, so you’ve got multiple canal ghost stories to uncover when you visit. The first is a shrieking spectre that causes suspicious boatmen to rush through Betton Cutting in order to try and avoid a terrifying sighting of the spine-chilling ghost.

The second story is much less scary, and tells of a friendly ghost at Tyrley Middle Lock who closes the lock gates behind night-time boaters. This helpful presence is invisible, but if you dare to make the trip down this portion of the canal at night, you might receive a ghostly helping hand!

You can cruise Shropshire from our narrowboat hire base in Cheshire and uncover the mysterious canal stories along the Shropshire Union Canal.

Burgedin Lock-Keeper’s Cottage, Montgomery Canal, Montgomeryshire

In Wales, you can encounter a tragic canal ghost story along the Montgomery Canal, which is a notable route for its Special Area of Conservation and impressive collection of wildlife. But if you are cruising down this canal, don’t spend too long navigating the locks at Burgedin, especially as you pass the old cottage that is built there.

The Lock-Keeper’s Cottage on the Montgomery Canal is said to be haunted by the angry ghost of a Welsh princess who was imprisoned alive behind a brick wall as a punishment for trying to run away with her love. She faced a slow death alone in the cottage, and it is said that her ghost still roams the basement and can be seen by the fireplace. Staff who have used the cottage as a waterway office have also reported that objects have been moved when nobody was in the building.

Black Prince doesn’t offer cruises on the Montgomery Canal, but you can explore our other Welsh canal boat cruises and visit the Llangollen Canal or Trent & Mersey Canal. 

Church Eaton, Shropshire Union Canal, Staffordshire

Our final canal ghost story once again takes place on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire. Our canal boat hire base in Stoke-on-Trent gives you access to the city’s rich history of pottery, but once you set out on the route, you’ll be plunged into incredibly peaceful countryside with only wildlife (and potentially ghosts) surrounding you.

The hamlet of Little Onn near Church Easton was home to an RAF airbase during the forties, which was one of the busiest pilot training schools in the country at the time. A vanished American pilot who was downed during the Second World War is said to haunt the Shropshire Union Canal at the scene of his crash near the hamlet, with many sightings reported by locals. 

To explore this ghostly location, find out more about Staffordshire canal boat holidays and discover plenty of cultural, historical and rural experiences along the way. 

Summary

Canals are beautiful places, surrounded by natural scenery and connecting many of the UK’s best towns and cities together. But they can also be quite spooky, especially if you’re the only boat around, so it’s no wonder that many people have reported ghostly sightings and chilling experiences whilst they’ve been on board!

For a Halloween holiday with an authentic eerie atmosphere, try a canal-boat break this October from one of our 9 canal boat hire bases in the UK.