Bridging the Paranormal in Garstang

During the English Civil war (do you mind if I shoot you, well I do rather) GREENHALG Castle was besieged by Cromwell and his troops.

A member of the Cromwellian force was PETER “Hallelujah” BROUGHTON. A nickname given to him because he would shriek “Hallelujah” as he charged into battle.

In August 1644, Peter was enjoying an evening stroll. He paused at GUBBERFORD BRIDGE to watch the river gently flow over the large rocks below.

His gaze was diverted by a woman dressed in whit walking towards him.

As she drew nearer he was shocked to see that it was his wife who had left him 5 years earlier.

She too recognized him and embraced him.

The embrace was short lived as suddenly, from the bushes a man leapt forward and mortally wounded her with a knife.

The assassin, was a Cavalier by the name of RUPERT ROWTON.

Mr. ROWTON and Mrs. BROUGHTON had met and fallen in love and they married bigamously.

She had also been having a relationship with Captain LORD ALBIN, another Cavalier and on the day of her death had been on her way to meet him at the OLD HOLLY TREE INN.

After she died, the two husbands decided to keep the murder of their shared wife a secret and buried her on the Banks of the WYRE RIVER.

It is said that in August, each year her spirit comes to the GUBBERFORD area in search of her two husbands.

There is another bridge that has a grim tale…

Garstang Bridge is said to be haunted.

A woman was murdered there and extracts her revenge by standing by the road side with a hood covering her face.

When approached she reveals the white skull that is now her face.

And another haunting happens at the nearby St.Michaels Bridge.

Maybe better to wade across the Wyre….