The haunted London pub home to celebrity ghosts including a bloodthirsty judge

With Halloween just over a month away, you might be on the hunt for some spine-chilling places to go to get into the spirit. Fortunately for lovers of ghosts and ghouls, London is believed to be one of the most haunted cities in the world, with many pubs playing host to the sort of stories that will have your hair standing on end.

The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping is no exception - and was once a notorious hangout for smugglers, pirates, and criminals. Originally dubbed 'The Pelican', a pub has been standing on this site since the 1500s. Its riverside location made it an easy spot for smugglers and pirates to drop by, not to mention local thieves targeting the boats moored nearby.

In its early days, the pub earned the nickname 'Devil's Tavern' due to its unsavoury reputation. While it was certainly a hit with the criminal community, the adjacent riverbank would prove to be the final resting place for some.

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Back in the 17th century, numerous criminals met their end along the riverside, a grim piece of history now marked by a noose and gallows outside the pub. But the history of the Pelican isn't all dark and dreary. It was also the site where the first fuschia plant in the UK was sold, reports the Mirror.

The Pelican's fortunes took a turn for the better in the 19th century. After a fire ravaged the property, it was rebuilt and renamed. The new name was inspired by a cargo ship called The Prospect that regularly docked on the riverside and hailed from Whitby.

The Prospect of Whitby is said to be haunted by several infamous ghosts, including Judge John Jeffreys, known as 'the Hanging Judge' for his harshness and seeming eagerness to see people hanged. He gained notoriety after overseeing the Bloody Assizes, which resulted in 144 hangings and the transportation of between 800850 people to the West Indies. Many others died from 'gaol fever' before they could stand trial.

Elizabeth Gaunt suffered a particularly horrific fate, being burned alive. She has since been remembered as the last woman to be executed for a political crime. Judge John Jeffreys passed away in the Tower of London in 1689, following his arrest after the Glorious Revolution. It's believed that his ghost now haunts the Prospect of Whitby.

Another famous spectre said to haunt the pub is Mary Frith, also known as Moll Cutpurse, a notorious 17th-century pickpocket and madame.

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