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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaron Curran

'White lady' haunts Merseyside town according to legend

One part of Merseyside is allegedly haunted by an array of ghosts, including one known as the "white lady".

Over the years, St Helens has seen several ghostly sightings at a variety of locations. Willow Park is a popular walking spot as well as a place where many families come to feed the ducks and take in the scenery, in Newton-le-Willows.

However, there is an alleged dark history surrounding the park. A popular urban legend in the area is that the spirit of a bride who drowned in the large lake still haunts the grounds of the park, known as the "White Lady".

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The story goes, that the lady's husband drowned her in Willow Lake, and her spirit has not left the park and can be seen or heard around the area at night.

ECHO reader John Jones said: "My late dad Derek Jones reckons he saw the white lady when he was younger about 12 I think. Over 60 years ago at Willow Park."

Mill Street, close to St Helens town centre, was home to military barracks which saw many soldiers stationed there during both World Wars. The barracks were opened in 1861, and are regarded as one of the most haunted spots in the UK, with ghost hunters Simply Ghost Nights previously exploring the grounds.

Reports of a man called Jack harassing female visitors, and of a three-legged black dog named Bruce, searching for its master are both common. The ECHO previously looked into the barracks in 2021 and spoke to people who had experiences at the premises.

Samiee Janee Donoghue said: "We spent the night here with a paranormal team, I didn't see anything and was disappointed but apparently there's a three-legged dog, and there's a set of stairs in there where numerous people have been pushed down them."

The Hollows is an area separating Newton-le-Willows from nearby town Golborne. The road has seen many people left terrified as a result of seeing something "supernatural" in their rearview mirror when driving through.

Linda Spencer said: "I drove down the hollows many years ago, it was dark, I looked in my mirror and saw a black shape on the back seat! I froze, put my foot down until I reached civilisation and legged it out of the car. On inspection there was nobody there…it really scared me..."

While Jan Cliffe said: "Driving down the Hollows late at night, fog appeared as if from nowhere lots of weird horse-like shapes then drove out of it into clear again, checked rear view mirror and all was clear behind."

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