Humans are not the only species to leave a spiritual presence in the world of the living when they pass. Animal ghosts are often reported to have shared their ethereal presence across the world. As one of the oldest historical settlements, it will come as no surprise that London has its fair share of other worldly creatures.

The Wailing Dolphins

Where: The Peacock Theatre, Kingsway, WC2A
Who: A pair of performing dolphins.
When: The dolphins have been heard wailing by stage hands and staff when they are below the stage of the Peacock Theatre. Many audience members have also reported hearing a baby like wail.
Why: As part of Paul Raymond’s raunchy review shows in London in the 1970’s, dolphins were trained to take part in the performance, often in order to remove ladies underwear. The Dolphins were kept under the stage in a tank that would be then lifted on to the stage for performances. Sadly the Dolphins died from neglect in their under stage tank, or prison as it would become. The dolphins must have died in distress, a distress that would be channelled long after their death.
Weird Rating: 8/10 – Pretty strange! Ghost Dolphins? Who would have thunk it?
Spooky Rating: 7/10 – Ladies hold on to your undies!

The Half Plucked Chicken

Where: Pond Square, Highgate, N6
Who: Possibly the chicken that was the demise of Sir Francis Bacon. It is said that Sir Francis caught pneumonia whilst attempting to stuff a chicken with snow in the street in order to experiment with the concept of frozen food. Both Sir Francis and the unlucky chicken died as a result of the experiment and bird is said to sill be seen running half plucked around Pond Square in Highgate before disappearing.
When: The ill-fated chicken experiment took place in the 17th Century, however the chicken has been seen a number of times throughout history, most notably by a smooching couple in the 1970’s. The canoodling pair thought they were drunk on love when they saw a wild chicken running around and eventually disappearing into a wall.
Why: The chicken must have died in relative distress and the hands of batty Sir Francis Bacon, one can only assume that its distress left a spiritual imprint in the area.
Weird Rating: 10/10 There is certainly something strange in the neighbourhood!  The ghost of a half plucked frozen chicken… like ….what on earth?!
Spooky Rating: 6/10 Very freaky, only a little spooky! There is no sign that the chicken is out to harm the living, but it is still pretty darn weird!

The Scary Bear

Where: The Martin Tower of The Tower of London, a medieval castle that was used as a prison for centuries, EC3N
Who: A mysterious but vicious bear.
When: Night guards have seen or often heard a bear whilst on duty. On security guard was scared so badly by the phantom bear that he dropped dead of fright.
Why: Two bears have lived at the tower in the past. Henry III was given a bear as a gift by the King of Norway in the 13th Century. The other was part of the menagerie kept at the tower until 1835, when the animals were moved to what is now London Zoo in Regents Park.
Weird Rating: 6/10 I saw a bear! Where? There on the Stair. Where on the stair? Right there! A ghostly bear is weird at the best of times, but I suspect the bear has it’s reasons.
Spooky Rating: 10/10 run far, far away! The scary bear already scared one person to death, this is one angry ghost with claws and teeth worth steering clear of.