Jane K. Marshall
I. Anne Boleyn/Tower of London
Anne Boleyn is said to have spent her last night in the Queen’s House. There she may have written to the King proclaiming her innocence and begging for mercy for the five men accused with her. (Some say the note was a forgery written later to clear Anne of adultery, for her daughter was to become heir to the throne.)
In 1864, a sentry claimed to have seen the ghost of Anne Boleyn coming from the Queen’s House. Two others corroborated his story. For several years afterwards, sentries claimed to see not only the ghost, but the shadow of an axe as well.
II. The Jews and the London Bridge
In 1290, Edward expelled the Jews from England. Many were robbed and killed on boats provided for them. Legend has it that one group saved enough money to charter a vessel of its own. They were tricked by the captain, however, and were drowned in the Thames. Some say the captain was regarded by the King. Others say that he was duly hanged. There are some people, even today, who feel that the turbulence of the Thames, especially near the London Bridge, is that of the ghosts of the Jews venting their ceaseless rage.
III. The Ghost of Pond Square
In 1626, Sir Francis Bacon was driving towards Highgate when it occurred to him that the human body might be preserved with snow. Anxious to test his hypothesis, he bought a hen from a resident, had it killed and drawn, and then filled it with snow.
Unfortunately, Bacon soon became ill and was lodged in Highgate. He never recovered from his illness which ironically was said to have been caused by cold weather. He died a few days later.
Legend has it that the hen has haunted Pond Square ever since in protest of having been killed for use in a refrigeration experiment.
IV. Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane
A widower, Kent, and his sister-in-law, Fanny, took up lodging with a Mr. Parsons in 1760. They could not marry, for the law prohibited it. Fanny became Kent’s mistress and bequeathed her money to him. Soon after this, she heard strange tapping noises which she took to be warnings from her dead sister. Fanny felt her own death was imminent. Parsons’ small daughter, Elizabeth, was said to have heard these tappings as well.
Fanny contracted smallpox and died shortly thereafter. Another sister attended the funeral but was not allowed to view the body.
The child continued to hear the tapping noises. Parsons claimed to be in communication with the ghost of Fanny and was said to have learned that she had died of arsenical poisoning.
News of the ghostly noises spread throughout the city. Many came to hear the tappings, including such notables as Dr. Johnson, Horace Walpole, and the Duke of York. These people were disappointed, however, and the case was eventually seen as fraud. Parsons was sentenced to the pillory three times, and his wife was imprisoned.
Some years later, a boy pointed out Fanny’s coffin to Wykeham Archer who was drawing in the crypt of St. John’s. Archer removed the lid and found the condition of the body to be commensurate with a case of arsenical poisoning.
V. The Ghost of Berkeley Square
In the middle of the nineteenth century, No. 50 Berkeley Square became empty, and neighbors began to hear strange noises emanating from the house. Eventually, people came to believe that the house was haunted by a malignant spirit. One theory maintained that the ghost was that of a violently insane member of an aristocratic family who had been locked in a room and fed through a slot in the door.
A young baronet decided he would spend the night in No. 50 to see what would happen. He was to ring a bell twice if trouble ensued. At one point during the night, his friends heard the bell ring once; they rushed into the house only to find the young man dead with a terrible look of horror on his face.
The following are topics which the teacher may wish to research/review prior to presenting the slide show.
I.
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Anne Boleyn
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A.
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The reign of Henry
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B.
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The Anglican Church
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II.
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Jews/London Bridge
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A.
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Edward’s reign
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B.
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History of Jews in England
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III.
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The Ghost of Pond Square
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A.
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Sir Francis Bacon
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B.
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Medicine in the 17th century
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IV.
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Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane
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A.
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18th century British law
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B.
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Horace Walpole, Dr. Johnson
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V.
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The Ghost of Berkeley Square/treatment of mental disorders—then and now
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