A Little Hocus Pocus in Cambridge

Cambridge may be famous for its beautiful buildings, clever minds and of course its satchels, but there is a little magical history within its cobbles. With Halloween upon us, we've gathered five of Cambridge's more curious stories. Best enjoyed with a cup of tea, a little imagination and perhaps the lights left on.

Lady Grey of Jesus College

Long before Jesus College opened its doors, the grounds belonged to the medieval nunnery of St Radegund. Legend tells of a young nun who broke her sacred vow of chastity after falling in love with a man beyond the convent walls. Her forbidden romance is said to have sealed her fate, leaving her restless spirit wandering the very grounds where she once lived and died.

Centuries later, a ghostly figure dressed in a long grey habit is still said to haunt the college. Stranger still are the tales from nearby Abbey House, rumoured to be connected by secret underground passages. There, residents have reported glimpses of a mysterious nun drifting through the corridors, sometimes appearing at the foot of a bed, silently watching sleeping children.

One can only hope she was simply checking they had said their prayers.

One of Cambridge's oldest pubs, The Eagle is famously where Francis Crick and James Watson announced their discovery of the DNA double helix. A favourite for a cosy pint and a good Sunday roast, although its history isn't quite so comforting. Behind its walls lurk not one, but two rather unsettling ghost stories.

The Window That Must Never Close

High above the pub sits a window that, according to local legend, must remain open at all times, whatever the weather. The story goes that some 300 years ago, a terrible fire claimed the lives of three children, whose spirits are said to linger within the building. The open window allows them to come and go as they please.

Those who have dared to close it reportedly experienced an overwhelming chill and a suffocating sensation, as though the very air had been taken from the room. Suddenly, a little winter draught doesn't seem so bad.

The Unwelcome Guest at Table Four

If you happen to find yourself seated at Table Four, you may wish to keep a firm grip on your drink.

Legend has it that a Second World War RAF serviceman once frequented the pub and, by all accounts, never left. His mischievous spirit is said to take particular pleasure in knocking over drinks belonging to unsuspecting customers who occupy his favourite table.

These tales have become such a fixture of The Eagle's folklore that they've even sparked discussions on Reddit.

The Star Crossed Lovers

Behind the walls of Corpus Christi College lies a love story worthy of Shakespeare himself.

Legend tells of an 18th-century scholar who fell hopelessly in love with the daughter of a wealthy local merchant. Unfortunately, their families were less than enthusiastic. With their difference in social standing making marriage quite out of the question, the pair resorted to secret meetings within the college grounds. Romeo and Juliet, with a Cambridge scholar in the leading role.

But, as with all good Shakespearean tragedies, things took a rather unfortunate turn. The young woman died unexpectedly, leaving her sweetheart so heartbroken that he took his own life shortly afterwards.

Centuries later, the star-crossed lovers are said to wander the college grounds, occasionally appearing near the chapel where they once dreamed of exchanging their vows. Even a few centuries on, it seems these two are still finding ways to meet in secret.