Comments for David Castleton Blog – The Serpent's Pen

Comment on The Vampire of Croglin Grange – a Genuine & Ancient British Bloodsucker? by David Castleton

David Castleton — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:55:59 +0000

In reply to Neil Mitchelson. Wow, thanks for that contribution, Neil. Sounds like a fascinating and terrifying experience. Maybe the Croglin Vampire wasn't 'dealt with' after all.

Comment on The Vampire of Croglin Grange – a Genuine & Ancient British Bloodsucker? by Neil Mitchelson

Neil Mitchelson — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:58:53 +0000

David, your article is excellent, but I’ve a couple of points to make – the bat legend is linked to Renwick churchyard which is a mile or so south in a neighbouring village. Also I’ve something more spooky to add to the legend – thirty years ago I lived in a single story house not far from croglin, in a neighbouring village and had a similar experience. I was woken by pressure on my chest and shoulders and opened my eyes to find a pale and gruesome creature which looked like a gargoyle had one knee on my chest, both hands on my shoulders and was leering over me as if to bite me, I heard a noise at the window and could see a second creature climbing in. I was paralysed by fear, but managed to get control of myself and moved my right hand to defend myself. In that moment both creatures vanished. In the morning there were two small puncture wounds on my neck. It sounds like fantasy or a dream but I swear it is the truth. It may be a sleep paralysis experience as the window was undamaged but the marks on my neck had not been there the previous evening.

Comment on Cleopatra’s Needle – London & New York’s Cursed & Haunted Egyptian Obelisks by David Castleton

David Castleton — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:42:13 +0000

In reply to Laurie Zeno.

Thanks, Laurie – and thanks for the information about Queen Victoria’s portrait buried beneath Cleopatra’s Needle!

Comment on England’s Top 10 Gibbets, Gallows & Places of Execution by David Castleton

David Castleton — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:40:46 +0000

In reply to Fiona. Hi Fiona, you could maybe try court records - I think they are available online.

Comment on Cleopatra’s Needle – London & New York’s Cursed & Haunted Egyptian Obelisks by Laurie Zeno

Laurie Zeno — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:38:13 +0000

Very interesting article. If I may, I have one observation that you may already know. The portrait of Queen Victoria, likely an enamel on porcelain since this was the medium he used that initially impressed the Royal Family, was created by Louis Aime Augustin Le Prince. He was an early pioneer of the motion picture camera. He went missing in September of 1890, just before he was to demonstrate his single lens camera to the public at the Morris-Jumel House (also a very haunted location!). No trace of him has ever been found and since the family could not prove his legacy until he had been missing for seven years, credit for the invention went to Edison in America and to the Lumiere Brothers in France.

Comment on England’s Top 10 Gibbets, Gallows & Places of Execution by Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:54:46 +0000

My Scottish mother told me one of our ancestors was hanged for stealing a sheep, but I don’t know any other details. I imagine it might have been around the time of the Highland Clearances, as my mother’s clan was McDonald., and they were highlanders. I don’t suppose there is any way I can find out more about him?

Comment on London Underground’s 7 Most Haunted Stations by Gavin

Gavin — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:18:08 +0000

Not sure how I landed on your blog, David, but it’s been fascinating reading for the last 20 mins. Having lived and worked in London for all of my adult life, I am fascinated by all things ‘haunted’ or just a bit weird 😂 Thanks for the tip about Ghosts on the Underground btw.

Comment on Was Lord Byron England’s 1st Vampire? John Polidori & the Birth of the Literary Bloodsucker by Dina

Dina — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:27:09 +0000

Hello!
Thank you for this rich and beautifully written material. I’ve just read Polidori’s The Vampyre having watched Henry Russell’s Gothic and got really interested in the history behind it. And the history is way deeper and darker than I imagined. These people weren’t just making up stories, their lives were literally a gothic novel itself.

Comment on Was Lord Byron England’s 1st Vampire? John Polidori & the Birth of the Literary Bloodsucker by Kellie

Kellie — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:06:49 +0000

Thank you, David this was a fascinating and wonderfully accessible article. I really enjoyed reading it, and I’m sure I’ll be referring back to it many times. I’m currently researching the “Derby Dracula” and exploring the lineage of the iconic Dracula image we recognise today, particularly how Hamilton Deane transformed Stoker’s folkloric monster into an alluring aristocrat a trajectory that ultimately carries through to Anne Rice’s Lestat

Comment on London Underground’s 7 Most Haunted Stations by David Castleton

David Castleton — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 17:55:07 +0000

In reply to Andrew Downey.

Hi Andrew, that ‘Ghosts on the Underground’ documentary really creeped me out too – not something that’s easy to do. So glad you enjoyed the article. All the best, David.