Eight Authors Write Ghost Stories Inspired by Heritage Sites Across England

If you’re planning to get away from it all this Summer, and fancy getting in some early spooks before October rolls around, then you’ll want to check out Eight Ghosts: The English Heritage Book of New Ghost Stories. The book contains eight spooky stories that have been written by eight different authors, each inspired by English Heritage sites.

The authors include the likes of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon, and author of The Essex Serpent, Sarah Perry. Each author was given an historic site, and challenged with writing a ghost story set within the walls of said site. Locations include York Cold War Bunker, Dover Castle and Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall.

The book also includes an essay written by Andrew Martin about the traditions of English ghost stories and how they’ve been passed down through the ages. The book was commissioned by the English Heritage charity and proceeds will go towards site conservations throughout the country.

Bronwen Riley, Head of Content at English Heritage, said of the book: “The castles and stately homes of England have long inspired ghostly myths and legends, after all, white ladies, cursed souls and headless apparitions all need somewhere fitting to haunt. We wanted to challenge today’s writers to use these buildings and come up with a new twist on the English ghost story. Our writers have risen to this challenge magnificently.

“Many of the sites in our care have provided the setting for great poetry and prose including a number of ghost stories. But this is the first time that English Heritage has commissioned creative writing and this collection has partly been inspired by our new role as a charity and our desire to look at these wonderful old buildings in new ways. And by buying Eight Ghosts, the reader can help ensure that these sites will continue to inspire story tellers and ghost hunters for generations to come.”

The authors contributing to the book are as follows:

Kate Clanchy – Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland.
Stuart Evers – Dover Castle, Kent.
Mark Haddon – York Cold War Bunker, North Yorkshire.
Andrew Hurley – Carlisle Castle, Cumbria.
Sarah Perry – Audley End House and Gardens, Essex.
Max Porter – Eltham Palace and Gardens, London.
Kamila Shamsie – Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire.
Jeanette Winterson – Pendennis Castle, Cornwall.
Andrew Martin – Essay.