Willington Mill

This was once regarded as the most haunted building in the north of England. The mill was owned by George Unthank and Joseph Procter, who lived at the adjoining house with his wife and children.


Built in 1800 near the River Tyne at Willington, there were rumours of 'evil doings' during the construction but there have been other stories of haunting on the same site for 200 years.

The family, including Mr. Procter's brother, had experienced numerous unearthly sounds and sights including heavy footsteps and thumping from the upper floor (which was not used). Mrs. Procter underwent the alarming experience of having her bed lifted during the night and feeling a cold pressure on her eyes.

The family were slightly reticent to share their experiences until, in 1840, Edward Drury asked to visit the house accompanied by his friend Dr. Hudson. The events that followed that night are told in a letter to Joseph Procter. At first they only heard some noises but around 1.00 a.m. a door opened and the figure of a woman in grey approached - some accounts reveal that she was without any eyes. One hand was pressed against her chest and the other pointed towards Dr. Hudson who had fallen asleep. Mr. Hudson screamed and fell upon his friend but then remembered nothing for three hours afterwards.

A certain Mr. Howitt also undertook investigations and found accounts from a number of witnesses who had seen a bareheaded man in a flowing robe, like a surplice, at a window. He appeared to glide backwards and forwards about three feet from the ground. This male figure was known to neighbours as 'Old Jeffrey'.

The family left the house in 1847 and the ghosts apparently left with them. However, Strange tales of the North Country by C.T. Oxley suggests that the disturbances may have continued, and a tenant in 1874 reported having seen an animal shaped liked a cat in the furnace room which wriggled like a snake and disappeared into the wall!!!

The Procters moved to Gosforth and a story was told that one of the servants there reported that when she first arrived her case was locked but the contents were scattered about the room. The old cook told her that the ghost did this to every new arrival. Perhaps the ghosts went with them.

In Catherine Crowe's book The Night Side of Nature, which was originally published in 1848, she collected and researched stories of hauntings, apparitions and other cases of the supernatural and paid a visit to the mill herself. The book includes the letters of Edward Drury and other witness accounts.
Some of the mill buildings still exist and form part of the Rope works.