British ghosts don't just appear on Halloween

From Correspondent Richard Blystone

LONDON (CNN) -- Britain has apparitions the way other countries have apple trees. (37 sec. /1.5M QuickTime movie)

That's because, compared with the New World, Britain has a much longer and deeper history. And the has United Kingdom has had plenty of time to cultivate spooks and goblins.

British ghosts don't limit their appearances to haunted houses.

Britain's literature includes haunted castles, haunted highways, mail boxes, public toilets and a haunted frozen chicken.

Consider the Drury Lane Theater. Over three centuries, it has collected an entire cast of ghosts, actors, actresses, children and old staff members.

"You've also got the man in gray, you've got this little child ghost, you've got a lady that walks around underneath the stage. We still haven't found out who she is," said tour supervisor Alex Keir.

And there's Grimaldi, the famous 19th Century clown, who loved the Drury Lane Theater so much he still chills out down there.

"Many actresses and actors have said they've felt him pushing them, kicking them, tripping them up, slapping them on the back," said Keir.

But there's a mystery within a mystery about the "Man in Gray", who was murdered after a card game 150 years ago and entombed behind a London bar.

"He's seen with a gray tricorn hat on, a gray frock coat and riding boots," said Keir. "He actually sits on a Friday afternoon in Row D, Seat 1 and watches the rehearsal."

Related sites:

• Ghostwatcher
• The Other Side

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