Haunted Trees

Haunted Trees of Bath

The Haunting of Trees

On our Bath Ghost Tour, we visit three very special trees. The first of these is haunted in its own right, with visitors describing chilling experiences beneath its branches. One marks the spot of long-forgotten atrocities, the tree acting as a marker for these dark deeds. The final tree was used to stage unofficial executions; miscreants being strung up from its branches.

But why should trees be associated with hauntings? Why might a tree become haunted? Are there any intrinsic features of trees that lead to frightening stories becoming attached to them — particularly in a historic city like Bath, so rich in ghost stories and folklore?

The Place of Trees in our Psyche

Trees have always been part of our landscape. They are significant structures, especially in a time when people lived more rurally. Forests are dark and foreboding places, frequently associated with danger and the unknown in folklore and ghost stories. Solitary trees can project an eerie and uneasy atmosphere. They stand proud of the landscape, towering above all other structures or natural features. Even the grandeur of a hill, rising from the plain, is enhanced by the presence of a tree topping it.

The recent destruction of the tree at Sycamore Gap showed the place in the public psyche that a striking and well-positioned tree can hold.

The Ash Tree by M. R. James

It is therefore unsurprising that such visible landmarks would have ghost stories and other tales of the macabre associated with them. M. R. James, the famed English writer of ghost stories, wrote The Ash Tree in 1904. This is the tale of a tree cursed by a witch. Upon felling the tree, terrible horrors were identified, arguably the least of which was the body of the suspected witch herself. The story is horribly unsettling and well worth seeking out, and remains one of the most influential haunted-tree stories in English literature.

Bath’s Hanging Tree on the Ghost Tour

In Bath, on our ghost tour, the first stop after Bath Abbey itself is the tree which stands in Abbey Green. It is a London Plane, a magnificent specimen allowed to reach its true splendour in a space that could have been designed around it.

In years gone by, the branches of this tree were used for lynching and mob executions. Such events were not uncommon in the past in Britain, and it is said that such trees never have anything growing beneath them. This is certainly the case with this wonderful tree, which remains one of the most unsettling stops on our Bath Ghost Tour.

The Devil’s Tree

In Somerset County, New Jersey, stands the Devil’s Tree. Rumours abound regarding its history, with some stories suggesting that local KKK members used the tree for appalling acts for many years. It is subject to a curse, with anyone disrespecting the tree (sometimes by damaging it, but often by urinating on it) soon falling prey to misfortune. One story claims that it will always remain free from snow, even if the landscape surrounding it is covered, a recurring motif in accounts of haunted places worldwide.

The Wych Elm

The Wych Elm in Hagley Woods, not far from Stourbridge, UK, is another tree with dark tales associated with it. In 1943, a group of three young boys found a human skull in a hollow tree. The victim had apparently died from asphyxiation and remained unidentified, although local people named her Bella. Former President of the Folklore Society, Margaret Murray, claimed that evidence pointed to the murder having been prompted by witchcraft. This was dismissed by the authorities, but the rumour persisted.

The story, and the way rumour and speculation wove it into the local folklore of the area, is an interesting example of the way these stories sometimes originate and, despite having no real evidence or information, the air of unease remains around the area to this day. As long as the tree persists, so does the story.

A Paranormal Experiment on the Bath Ghost Tour

On our Bath Ghost Tour, we visit one last tree, where we carry out a paranormal experiment. In this instance, the haunting predates the tree, with the tree effectively becoming a focal point because of the space it occupies. In our experiment, we encourage guests to photograph a volunteer standing below the tree. The effects we sometimes see include orbs, misty patches and human faces seeming to appear in the branches of the tree itself. This is not to mention the general atmosphere of tension and potential that surrounds this spot, something frequently remarked upon by those taking part in the tour.

In an instance like this, the full range of possibilities is represented. Some strange-looking photographs have prosaic explanations. Some can be attributed to lens flare, still more are the result of pareidolia. Pareidolia is the phenomenon whereby human beings notice a shape, often a face, in a random collection of shapes. This can be particularly striking amongst the branches and leaves of a tree. The human mind looks for patterns and danger. It is an evolutionary advantage to notice these, even in situations where they are imagined. I often say to our guests that, in a situation like this, the pictures will raise more questions than they answer.

Why Trees Might Be Haunted

I have touched on the fact that forests are dangerous places to people and therefore places in which they can become uneasy. But the solitary tree, especially in winter, when it is unadorned, can be a natural spectre in the landscape. Often pale in colour, with room to hide behind it, a tree can evoke fear in all of us. Are they haunted? Are we hard-wired to notice and respond to them? Are they ghosts in themselves, representing older times? Our lives are short compared to trees, and generations of children may play in the same branches. Perhaps it is that age and history that spooks us most.

Many of these stories, and the trees themselves, can be encountered on our Bath Ghost Tour, where folklore, history and atmosphere meet after dark.