Thread by @UniofOxford

With over 900 years of history, there have been many Oxford ghost stories over the centuries. 👻

From headless archbishops to thwarted kings, there are many tales to talk about... here are some of our favourites 👀

#Halloween2022 🧵⬇

Have you heard the story of Archbishop Laud @StJohnsOx?

Laud was executed for treason due to strict religious reforms. He is buried in the chapel and the legend is that he can be heard walking around the library, making a thumping sound as he kicks his head along the corridor!

Obadiah Walker was an English academic and the Catholic Master of @UnivOxford during C17.

Walker was captured and imprisoned for his attempts to follow James II to France. He left prison a broken man, and it is now believed that his solemn spirit haunts Staircase VIII. 👻

Col. Francis Windebank was a Royalist during the English Civil War. As punishment for treason, he was executed against the town wall, adjoined to @MertonCollege.

It's believed that Windebank haunts the site - known as Dead Man’s Walk - and the college library.

📷 | @NPGLondon

Rumour has it that a headless monk wanders the lawn at @magdalenoxford.

A student in the 1980's claimed that her bedroom was invaded by several ghostly monks, singing loudly and accompanied by a strong smell coming from the censers they were carrying. 🎵

It is believed that after being executed for treason in 1649, King Charles I decided to rest his spirit in the city he loved - Oxford - and more specifically, at @ChCh_Oxford.

However, there have also been noted sightings of him in the @bodleianlibs, too. 👀

📷 | @NPGLondon

Wadham was built on the site of an Augustinian friary that fell into disrepair after the dissolution of the monasteries. All the monks left - or did they? 👀

There have been stories of white robed figures walking the grounds of @wadhamoxford. Are these the monks of days gone by?

In the '50's a student staying in the room once inhabited by Thomas Wood at @ExeterCollegeOx heard the unmistakable sound of somebody walking up the winding staircase.

When he (finally) plucked up the courage to take a look, there was nobody there... 👻

📷 | @NPGLondon

Do you know of any other haunted sightings across the city? 🤔

#Halloween2022