More Hauntings At Amen Court

In my entry about Mrs. Dyer and her ghostly return I also mentioned that Amen Court is haunted by other things, namely a strange black shape. It is called the “Black Dog of Newgate”. It appears as a somewhat shapeless black form that slithers along the top of the wall and the slides sloppily down into the courtyard where it promptly melts away to nothing.

Legend has it that during the time of King Henry 3rd who reigned from 1207-72, a dreadful famine hit the country and London was badly affected. The criminals who were imprisoned in Newgate obviously were the last thing on peoples’ minds and it did not bother them whether these poor wretches were supplied with any food or not. They were too busy trying to survive themselves. It is said that a scholar was arrested and housed in Newgate prison. He must have dabbled in the occult because he was charged with sorcery. He was a plump man, obviously of some means and the other prisoners were starving. They fell on him, killed him and ate him!

How they would come to regret their actions. Shortly afterwards a terrible black dog with eyes of fire and jowls dripping with blood appeared in the dead of night and took a terrifying revenge. Some prisoners were torn limb from limb by this terrible creature. Screams were heard issuing from the prison. Some prisoners are said to have died of fright. The following night the hound appeared again and prisoners were in a panic when they heard heavy paws on the stone floors and the sound of ghostly panting. So terrified were they that they overpowered their guards and escaped. The hound hunted down each and every one, now matter how far away they fled and killed them. Not until everyone was dead did the hound return to Newgate. Thereafter it always appeared on the eve of executions or if a prisoner was ill, as a harbinger of approaching death.

As previously mentioned, Newgate prison was demolished in 1902 and people thought that would be the last of the hound. They were wrong. It now haunts Amen Court or rather the old wall. People walking through the Court at night have happened to glance at the wall only to see a black shape shuffling across the top and have watched, horrified, as it slithers to the ground of the courtyard before disappearing. It always leaves the stench of death behind it.

Another ghost is also supposed to haunt this Court. Nothing is actually seen but the clinking of chains if often heard. This is supposed to be the ghost of Jack Sheppard who was a very well-known thief and housebreaker. He became something of a national hero as he managed to escape from Newgate prison three times when it was thought escaping once was impossible. The whole country knew of his exploits, ballads were written about him. When he was in the condemned cell he had his portrait painted by famous artists of the day. On his last arrest he was chained so securely and watched so closely that any attempt at escape was impossible but he did plan to outwit the hangman. He obtained a knife probably smuggled in by his lover, Edgeworth Bess. He intended, whilst on the execution cart, to cut his bonds, leap off and disappear into the crowd. The authorities, however, were now wise to his ways and searched him thoroughly. He was deprived of the knife.

Jack was hanged in November of 1742. Thousands turned out to cheer for him, such was their admiration at his daring exploits. He was 23 years old. Afterwards his friends cut his body down and he was buried in the churchyard of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields.

It is said that the ghost of Jack, repeats his escapes, in spectral form, over and over again and that accounts for the sound of clanking chains!

The life of Jack Sheppard was portrayed in the film “Where’s Jack” starring singer Tommy Steele.

On a lighter note - if only I could catch that damned Crazy Frog!!!!!!!!!