The Phantom Black Dog
Warner Hotels - Littlecote House
Berkshire
Unknown
A large black dog that appears solid sitting on the Jerusalem Staircase at Littlecote House, but hands pass straight through it when touched.
Understanding This Spirit Type
Animal Spirit
The ghost of a deceased animal, such as a cat, dog, or horse.
What is an Animal Spirit?
Animal spirits are the ghosts of deceased animals. Sightings or experiences can include visual apparitions of pets or other animals, unexplained animal sounds (barks, meows, purring, hooves), the sensation of an animal brushing against someone's legs, or even the feeling of an animal jumping onto a bed. These hauntings are often associated with beloved pets that had a strong bond with a person or place, or animals that experienced a traumatic end at the location.
Documented Animal Spirit Spirits (4)
Spectral Cat
The Blue Boar Hotel
Essex
Undocumented
Reports of a ghostly cat haunting the Blue Boar Hotel have circulated, with sightings suggesting a feline presence that cannot be physically accounted for.
Phantom Black Dog
Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel
Kent
Uncertain (Folklore, possibly Victorian origin)
A ghostly black dog, often Labrador-sized, roams the halls. It nudges people, brushes past legs, or is felt jumping on beds. Unlike some black dog omens, this one seems friendly, possibly an echo of a beloved inn dog from Victorian times or a companion to the Cavalier ghost.
The Black Dog of Leeds
Leeds Castle Stable Courtyard Bed & Breakfast
Kent
Medieval (Associated with 15th Century)
A spectral black Labrador-like dog with curly fur, the Black Dog of Leeds is a famous omen. Its appearance is said to herald misfortune or death, a legend tied to Eleanor of Gloucester's imprisonment for witchcraft. Though rarely seen, its legend is a cornerstone of the castle's haunting.