Whitburn: the village full of ghostly goings-on ...
Sunderland Today (UK)
5/23/05

Ghost Hunter finds a place with an apparent plethora of paranormal
activity (or is that just a spot with a set of over-active imaginations
among its residents?)

GHOSTHUNTER took himself to Whitburn on a sunny Sunday just recently and
was very glad that he did.

He went in search of what rumour had told him was one of the most active
ghosts in the area, and found rather more than he bargained for.
The first port of call was the welcoming Jolly Sailor pub (somehow,
quite a few of GhostHunter's expeditions start at pubs).

Even before entering the pub, GhostHunter thought that he might be
staying awhile. Having ordered his meal, it seemed time to start
investigations. Martin the landlord was later happy to chat about the
pub's ghostly resident.
Now, GhostHunter had heard that the pub was haunted by a dramatic Green
Lady.
According to the story, the ghostly lady was remarkably active for a
ghost. She dated back to the 1770s and had a tragic history. It seems
that she lived in the pub, which at that time was an inn catering to the
passing coach trade.
She fell in love with one of the coach drivers who passed regularly and
stopped often. He seemed to fall for the girl and soon a serious romance
was blossoming.

The girl began to pay diligent attention to her bottom drawer,
collecting all the linen and such that she would be needing when married
and set up in her own home.
And she bought a fine green dress, dreaming of entertaining the Whitburn
society at her new home in this very special dress.
Sadly, things did not turn out well.
The coach driver one day brutally cut off the romance, announcing that
he was to marry a better catch in the shape of a wealthy young lady from
Newcastle. His romance with the innkeeper's girl had been nothing more
than a bit of fun when away from home.
The poor girl was distraught. She took to her room, refusing to eat or
to come out. She wasted away and within a fortnight was found dead on
her bed.

Ever since, the girl's ghost has walked the pub, wearing her prized
green dress, as if entertaining the good folk in the way she had once
dreamed.
Did Martin know anything of this story?
"Oh yes," he replied, "our Green Lady. She's been haunting this pub for
over a hundred years that I know of. And the pub is almost 300 years
old, so she has probably been around longer.
"Lots of people have seen her, and she pops up at least once a month."
He indicated a small statue in the restaurant. "That's her," he said.
"One of our regulars who saw her the other day confirmed that the little
figure is the image of our ghost."
GhostHunter inspected the little statue with interest. It is not often
you get to see a ghost in quite such solid form.

"Of course," Martin continued, "she's not our only ghost. Oh no. There's
the old boy who is seen upstairs. He doesn't turn up so much, so I can't
tell you a lot about him. I've never seen him myself.
"When we took over the pub a couple of years ago, we were told that he's
a former landlord from way back before the war. But I can't say for
certain. Friendly chap, apparently.
"And then there is the cellar. I'm not sure if you could say it is
haunted as such.
"Nobody's ever seen a ghost down there. But it is a real spooky place.
About 50 years back a drayman delivering beer was killed when a barrel
fell on him, I've been told.

"Now most of the time it is fine down there. You just go down and do
whatever task is necessary. No trouble. But other times, well, there's a
real atmosphere, like you are not welcome, as if something down there
doesn't want you about.
"Our cleaner won't go down there: flat refuses to even put a foot on the
stairs."
Other customers were arriving to join GhostHunter in sampling the
delicious meals on offer. Reluctantly, GhostHunter let Martin get back
to work.
There had been no chance to ask about the other ghost of Whitburn ...
Lunch over, GhostHunter set out toward the churchyard in search of a
phantom that hit the local headlines last in the 1950s.

A man walking home from night shift was startled when passing the
cemetery to see a white light bobbing around the gravestones.
As he peered over the churchyard wall, the light became more solid,
taking on the shape of a human face, though without any details. Then
the light flicked off and was gone.
When the account became public, others told of their experiences. They
had not wanted to speak up before, in case people thought they were mad
or simple.
All reported seeing the strange light weaving among the gravestones,
though opinions differed on just how large it was and what it did. One
man reported that the light was accompanied by an unearthly scream. Very
unnerving!.

Reinforced by his splendid meal, GhostHunter braved the churchyard. Of
course it was bright sunlight at the time, but it was still worth a
look.
The 13th-century church has long been a landmark to sailors off the
coast. GhostHunter found a lady walking her dog past the churchyard. Did
she know anything about the ghost reported some years earlier? She
laughed.
"Why, bless you," she said. "That old tale. That's a story made up to
entertain visitors and such."
She pointed towards one of the gravestones
with a curved top.

"See that stone there? It is highly polished. When a car goes past the
top of the lane its headlights reflect off that gravestone. It can look
unearthly, I grant you. But a ghost? No. It's just a story."
She laughed again. "You've wasted your time, I'm afraid."
But GhostHunter did not think so. His trip to Whitburn had been most
enjoyable.