Sunderland Mysteries. The lady In White

Creswell is a small fishing village overlooking Druridge Bay about six miles north of Newbiggin-by-the-sea. The Baron of Creswell lived in Creswell tower, with his only daughter and his three sons. The Barons daughter was a beautiful girl who was in love and planning to marry a Danish prince, he owned a small fort a few miles north. Unfortunately for the girl her brothers hated the Danish prince and they also hated the thought of her marrying foreign blood. On a day when the prince was due to visit their sister, the brothers decided to hide in the long grass of the sand dunes and wait for the prince. When the prince came riding into view he was singing a love song, not knowing of the terrible fate that awaited him. As the prince got closer, the brothers leapt from their hiding places and attacked the prince. With swords and spears the brothers attacked the prince and caused him some terrible wounds.

As the prince fell from his horse his foot got caught in the stirrups, but he had no time to free himself, as the horse also injured and frightened bolted towards Creswell tower. The prince was left hanging from the stirrups now most certainly dead.

The young girl who could not wait to see her lover had been looking from the top tower, to watch for him arriving. As she stood looking she saw the attack on her lover and it drove her insane. The girl also cursed her brothers and said they would all die a violent death within a year for their terrible deed. Then in her madness and grief she threw herself from the tower, she broke her neck as she landed on top of her dead prince. As for the girls brothers, one was killed fighting the Scots, another was killed while hunting, he was thrown from his horse and dragged by the stirrups breaking his skull. The third and youngest brother was drowned at sea in a capsized boat, all three had died within a year of their sister and her prince.

Since the tragic deaths of the lovers, it is said that a lady dressed in white has haunted the tower. Every year on the anniversary of their deaths the lady in white is seen looking from the top of the tower as if waiting for her prince. According to local people she looks to the north shading her eyes impatient for his arrival. They hear horses hooves and a terrible wail of agony which dies away with an unearthly groan of pain and desperation.

Next the Maid Of Meldon | Mysteries Menu