Photos of haunted pubs and spooky houses in Havering

This week we have trawled through the borough's history to find some actual ghost stories, haunting photographs and tales of eccentric residents from years gone by.

Settle in for a spooky, weird and wonderful history lesson.

Photos of Havering's haunted pubs, spooky streets and 'curious' houses

The Golden Lion, Romford - c.1965

The Golden Lion in around 1965 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The Golden Lion in High Street, Romford is on the site of Britain's oldest operating public house and, according to the Greene King brewery website, 23 ghosts have been spotted in the pub over the years.

One of these is the "White Lady", who held her wedding reception at the pub byt was murdered in Harold Hill in the 1890s.

Historian Brian Evans told the Recorder in 2004 of the "strange goings on" in the Golden Lion, including people reporting "sudden drops of temperature" and "sightings of eerie shapes".

'Curiosity Shop', Chadwell Heath - 1895

This thatched cottage in Chadwell Heath was known as a curiosity shop after its owner died in 1895 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

This photograph from April 1895 shows a thatched cottage in Chadwell Heath, known as the "Curiosity Shop," which was home to Frances Overington.

Known as an "eccentric character", she was disowned by her family after eloping, and lived in the cottage for more than 50 years.

Before she was found dead in the cottage at the age of 90 in 1895, the cottage was deemed as being unfit for human habitation - and after her death it was briefly preserved as a "curiosity", which visitors could pay to look round.

Fairkytes Arts Centre, Hornchurch - early 20th Century

Fairkytes Arts Centre in the early 20th century (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

This early 20th-century postcard of Fairkytes shows cattle grazing across from the house when Hornchurch was still a village.

There is a much spookier side to the arts centre, however, as a servant girl is said to haunt its attic.

In 2004, the Recorder reported that a spiritual healer who worked at the arts centre was "adamant" he could feel a ghostly presence in the building.

Station Road, Upminster - c.1910

Station Road, Upminster c.1910 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

This postcard view of Station Road shows the area looking north towards the railway station in around 1910.

The haunting nature of the photograph is added to be the ghostly presence to the left of the three girls in the centre.

However, this is just because other children moved as the photograph was taken, says Havering Libraries, leaving behind the faint figures.