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In brief
The subject of masses of TV programs and unwavering press interest, the famously haunted Stocksbridge By-Pass is plagued by the ghosts of Victorian children and a terrifying cowled figure. With numerous accounts from reputable and down-to-earth Yorkshire witnesses, this eerie highway is not one for the faint-hearted.
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About
Surrounded by beautiful, rolling Yorkshire countryside, and around 10 miles north of the city of Sheffield is the industrial town of Stocksbridge. Dominated by its assembly of steelworks, which have been the town's main source of commercial production since the 19th century, the town is home to a stretch of road that shares the notorious reputation for being both the most dangerous and the most haunted in the country.
The A616 Stocksbridge Bypass was built to link Sheffield and Manchester and re-route traffic away from the regularly gridlocked main Manchester Road, which runs through Stocksbridge and its neighbouring village, Deepcar.
Construction of the single carriageway began in 1987 and required a considerable feat of engineering, which involved cutting through the rugged, heavy rock of the area's banks and hills. Did this process somehow disturb troubled spirits?
Very shortly after work commenced to create the bypass, strange things began to occur that defied explanation and left construction workers and tough, plucky security guards and police officers shaken to the core.
Ghostly activity
- Construction workers building the bypass reported seeing groups of children dressed in old-fashioned clothing playing in an area by the site near Pearoyd Lane. This part of the site had been blocked off to public access. When they went to investigate, the children had mysteriously vanished.
- Two security guards employed to deter vandals and protect machinery also saw a group of young children they also described as wearing Victorian-type clothing. The children appeared to be dancing in a circle, singing the Ring-o-Roses nursery rhyme. Perplexed to see such young children out playing so late in the moonlight, the two men grabbed their torches and went to approach them but were shocked to find the area silent and the children nowhere to be seen. With no knowledge of these earlier sightings, many people travelling through the area once the bypass was opened have also spotted the ghostly children playing on the hillside. They are described as being solidly there one minute and gone the next.
- The same two security guards who had seen the ghostly children went on to have a truly terrifying experience. They were both known as tough, no-nonsense types who had spent many years employed in the industry. Hours into their shift at the construction site, however, both men fled to the local police station in a shaken and deeply traumatised state. Each described seeing the ghostly cowled figure of a monk up by the Pearoyd Bridge area of the site. The phantom figure, which the two agreed had a deeply evil and sinister presence, had disappeared as the watchmen had shone their vehicle headlights on it. Both men were so deeply affected by their unworldly experience that they tried to seek comfort from the local church. Not only did the two unfortunate guards refuse to ever return to the site, but they also gave up security work altogether.
- Given the earlier report by the security guards, two police officers were assigned to check out the construction site. After waiting for some time with nothing of concern occurring, the officers were about to leave when there was a sudden temperature drop and the air turned icy cold. The officers then saw a ghost-like, ethereal figure pushed up against the open window of their police vehicle. Within seconds, the figure had mysteriously appeared at the passenger-side window on the other side before disappearing. As they started the engine and raced out of the area in terror, heavy bumps and thuds were felt on the police car as though being struck with a heavy object.
- Two runners training for a marathon were out jogging on a nearby road shortly after the by-pass was opened when they spotted a figure wearing an old-fashioned hooded cloak fastened with old-style loops. The figure, which was accompanied by an overpowering, musty, damp smell, had no discernible facial features. It appeared to be dragging a large bag that trailed on the ground and seemed to be walking around a foot below the level of the road. After a few seconds, the figure disappeared, leaving the two men deeply shocked.
- What is particularly interesting about the above experiences for any paranormal investigator is that PC Dick Ellis, one of the police officers involved, participated in several TV paranormal programs at the time and was able to relate his experience firsthand. PC Ellis corroborated the accounts and the shocked state of the security guards, as did the owner of the security company who had employed the two men. The owner also confirmed the previously tough characters of the men who had been reliable employees and that neither of them had returned to work after their terrifying encounter. The programs also feature interviews with the marathon runners and other local people who have had their own experiences.
- To this day, people travelling along Stocksbridge Bypass describe witnessing the eerie phantom monk dressed in an old-fashioned habit, often standing in the road or at the side, before disappearing. Lorry drivers taking rest in one of the layby's and often unfamiliar with the notorious reputation of the area are stunned to see the ghostly figure, who is regularly said to smell damp and "of old cellars." Whilst not seeing anything physical, other unfortunate drivers feel the inside of their cars suddenly turn icy cold, and an unmistakable musty smell fills the air.
Video
Location
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Sheffield S36 2BN, UK
Region
A record of any articles, websites, webpages, books, or other materials that have assisted us in the research and presentation of this listing can be found below.
‘Ghost Hunters – Back from the Dead,’ Disc 1 Haunted By-Pass (2007) Produced by Inca [DVD]. England: Delta Music
Ball, L. (2020) ‘Sights of a medieval monk and two ghost children playing keeps Stocksbridge Bypass as one of UK's most haunted roads.’ 22nd October, The Star. Available at: https://www.thestar.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/the-haunted-stocksbridge-bypass-3011812
Coun, A.L. (2018) ‘Ghosts on the Road – Stocksbridge Bypass’ 30th September. Available at: https://www.british-paranormal.co.uk/ghosts-on-the-road-stocksbridge-bypass/
The appropriate copyright attributions for any images and videos included in this listing can be found below.
‘Pea Royd Lane.’ Created by johnthescone 2006. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr. Pea Royd Lane | From across the valley, start out of shot. | johnthescone | Flickr
‘The Stocksbridge Bypass from Underbank Road.’ Created by Wendy North 2008. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. File:The Stocksbridge Bypass from Underbank Road - geograph.org.uk - 921253.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
‘Another pylon across the bypass.’ Created by Steve F 2007. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. File:Another pylon across the bypass - geograph.org.uk - 603902.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
‘A616 Towards Sheffield’ Created by JThomas 2019. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. File:A616 towards Sheffield - geograph.org.uk - 6098766.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
‘Children's Dances’ Painted by Hans Thoma, 1872. Uploaded 2016. License: Public domain Deed - CC0 1.0 Universal - Creative Commons via Wikimedia Commons. Hans Thoma - Kinderreigen (1872) - Ring a Ring o' Roses - Wikipedia
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