These are some of the most haunted places in Greater Manchester
From a skeleton that reportedly refuses to be buried, to a mischievous, goblin-like creature who is thought to creep amongst the trees, these spots in Manchester have got some really spooky stories.
If you’re looking for a real fright this Halloween, be sure to check out these frightfully spooky places in Manchester.
From well-known haunted spots like Ordsall Hall in Salford, to some lesser-known spooky haunt, we’ve rounded up some of the most terrifying places in Greater Manchester below.
Keep reading to discover some of Manchester’s most haunted hot spots, perfect to get you in the spirit for Halloween.
Ordsall Hall
Salford
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Many ghostly tales surround Orsdall Hall, which dates back to the Tudor times. There are three main ghosts that haunt the manor house: The White Lady, who has been spotted repeatedly; Cecily, who is a young girl, is said to roam the hall; and Sir John Radclyffe, the former occupant of the hall.
You can tune into their ghost cams between 5 pm – 8 am – or if you’re feeling brave you can attend a ghost night there.
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Barnes Hospital
Cheadle
The hospital was originally opened in the 1870s and was used to treat soldiers in the Second World War. It can definitely be said that the hospital has seen a lot of deaths in its time, which we expect leads to the ghostly activity reported here.
Nurses have reported the feeling of being watched, another nurse was delighted to see one of her patients walked up and down the stairs ready to go home only to find out he died the previous night.
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More recently the bell in the tower has rung excessively by itself and the shapes of patients sitting in their rooms have been seen.
Barnes Hospital & / Credit: Flickr | Geograph
Ryecroft Hall
Audenshaw
Things certainly do go bump in the night at Ryecroft Hall which once used to be a morgue during the war. It dates back to the mid-1800s and visitors have witnessed items being thrown across rooms, a Victorian child wandering around the hall and mysterious apparitions.
The cellar seems to have the most activity with screams and cries being heard from this dismal area. Many believe the grand staircase is haunted by a girl who fell to her death there too.
Boggart Hole Clough
Blackley
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Just three miles outside Manchester city centre lies the beautiful and very ancient woodland of Boggart Hole Clough. Covering 170 acres of dense woodland, the forest has roots dating back to the Bronze Age.
The name comes from the Boggart which is a mischievous, goblin-like creature who is thought to creep amongst the trees. Boggarts have the ability to make objects disappear and even make dogs unable to walk. Boggarts also have a strong penchant towards children and the cases of missing children here has been numerous since the 18th century.
Bramall Hall / Credit: TripAdvisor
Wardley Hall
Salford
Built back in 1500, this manor house is as haunted as they come. The hall is oddly home to the skull of a Benedictine monk who was hung, drawn, and quartered in 1641.
The monk is thought to be St Ambrose Barlow and his skeleton apparently refuses to be buried. It was once thrown into the moat after many unsuccessful burial attempts but this resulted in a terrible storm believed to have been caused by the spirit himself.
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Greengate Brewery
Middleton
This brewery has been visited by the Most Haunted team and made some pretty spooky discoveries. Previous workers have reported strange things like the feeling of someone being behind them, equipment being moved, and some spooky figures being seen in certain areas of the brewery.
The spirit of a lady is often seen sitting in the boardroom, a woman in a dark dress is seen floating down the halls and a man in a white cloak can disappear through cracks in doors.
Bramall Hall
Stockport
This Tudor manor house dates back to the Middle Ages and is haunted by The Maid of Bramall Hall. She has been spotted haunting the bedrooms of the hall and is a regular visitor to the residence.
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The chapel on the grounds has had reports of sounds of a child crying, the Paradise Room is said to be the most haunted room and is nicknamed ‘The Ghost Room’ due to its priest’s hole.
Other sightings have been a man on horseback and ghostly servants.
Smithills Hall & Ring O Bells Pub / Credit: Geograph | Manchester History
Smithills Hall
Bolton
As one of the oldest spots in the North West it is a prime destination for ghost hunters.
Sightings include a preacher who was executed in 1554. The Green Room where he was questioned is particularly active. He stamped on the floor as a gesture to his faith and left a footprint. The room has since had a massive amount of poltergeist activity.
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There is also a story that the footprint bleeds every year on the anniversary of his death. Other sightings and hearings include horses, soldiers, orbs, sudden drops in temperature and the smell of burning wood.
The Ring O’Bells Pub
Middleton
Gin and vodka aren’t the only spirits making a name for themselves in this pub. Named as one of the most haunted places in the UK, it is brimming with strange happenings and ghostly goings-on.
The site has foundations dating back to the Saxon period and is said to sit on land that was once an ancient Druid temple. The practise of dark rituals and even human sacrifice makes the site home to many unhappy spirits.
The resident spirit, known as the Sad Cavalier likes to move glasses along the bar, stomp heavy footsteps makes odd-sounding moans and grunts, and even throws rocks at the landlord or regulars.
Featured Image – Visitor Manchester
Boroughs
Thousands of elderly and disabled people to get free 24-hour bus travel across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled people in Greater Manchester are set to benefit from round-the-clock bus travel for free.
Currently, as part on an ongoing pilot scheme, people with a Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)-issued concessionary travel pass have free unlimited travel on Bee Network buses between 9.30am and midnight during the week, and all day on weekends and public holidays.
The rule was lifted in August on a trial basis for a month, meaning older and disabled residents in Greater Manchester had access to unlimited free bus travel any time between the allocated hours.
During the August trial, more than 100,000 journeys were made by older and disabled people – with up to 6,000 people a day making use of the pilot.
But now, after proving to be a huge success, the pilot is being extended even further, so that 400,000 eligible residents will now get free bus travel 24-hours a day, seven days a week, starting from 1 November.
If you travel with a TfGM-issued concessionary travel pass, from 1 November you’ll be able to use it on #BeeNetwork buses before 9.30am as part of a second month-long trial.
As well as free early-morning bus travel, during the trial starting in November, eligible residents will be able to board the Bee Network’s night buses for free too.
TfGM says allowing concessionary pass holders to travel at any time will ‘better connect’ them to healthcare, leisure, and retail opportunities.
“The last trial in August was a brilliant success, which saw more than 100,000 journeys made by our older and disabled people before 9.30am,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
“We are now carrying out this second trial, at a busier time of year, to see whether we can safely remove the restriction permanently and help our older and disabled people to get to work, go shopping, and get to medical appointments.
“We want the Bee Network to be the best public transport system possible and this means it needs to support all of our residents and communities to make the journeys they need to make and use the bus more.”
Featured Image – TfGM
Boroughs
Didsbury favourite Rustik adjust plans to close after overwhelming support
Danny Jones
Didsbury favourite Rustik recently announced that they would soon be closing, seemingly for good, after more than a decade, but after a fortunate twist of fate, there looks to be a sliver of hope, and like they could be staying open after all.
The beloved neighbourhood cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but the independent Irish eatery confirmed that they were due to shut down permanently by the end of last month.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
To no surprise whatsoever, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution, which has also helped lead to a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
Updating their followers via social media on Monday, 13 October, Rustik wrote: “We Need You More Than Ever […] We know it’s been quiet since we closed our doors — and honestly, it’s been a tough time behind the scenes.
“So many of you reached out, checked in, sent kind words, and we’ve felt every bit of that love. Thank you. Truly. When we said goodbye, we weren’t sure what the future looked like. But due to unexpected changes and plans falling through, things have come back around… and now, we’re reopening.
“It’s not easy to say this, but like so many in hospitality right now, it’s tough. We know we’re not alone in this — many small businesses are facing incredibly difficult decisions. But instead of closing the chapter, we’ve decided to give it one more shot. With everything we have.
“So, we’re reopening this Wednesday, 15 October, with a brand new brunch menu and the same Rustik heart you’ve always known. For now, we won’t be open in the evenings — but that might change. What matters most is that our doors will be open again, and we can welcome you back.”
Not only is this obviously brilliant news, but Burton Road favourite is also offering guests a 20% discount off the menu until Halloween (31 Oct) – their way of not only encouraging new customers to come through their doors, but also as a thank you to all their loyal patrons over the years.
Again, the return of late dining and their usual full programme of nighttime events still looks uncertain, but for now, they’ll be “serving coffee and brunch Wednesday to Sunday, 9am–4pm, and hoping to see as many familiar (and new) faces as possible.”
They signed off by adding: “This is a fresh start, but we can’t do it without you. If you’ve ever loved what we do, now is the time we need you most. Your support, your presence, even just sharing this with someone who might pop in – it means everything. With love, gratitude, and a little bit of hope — The Rustik Team.”
This positive turn of events comes just a few weeks after what fans thought was the endgame for the West Dids community cornerstone.
Posting across all of their accounts on 17 September, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
Expressing their gratitude after the best part of a decade in the south Manchester suburb, they touched upon the post-COVID recovery period, rising business rates, supply chain costs and many of the same challenges that other hospitality venues have cited as reasons for the initial decision.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
We sincerely hope the talk of closing proves to be merely a blip and that this next chapter signals the start of an incredible new era for Rustik, and as for you local foodies, we urge you to meet the further call for support and visit them during this crunch period.