Dan Pounds has been telling Lincoln’s ghost stories since 2011. It is often his listeners, though, who give him the shivers.
Guests share their own encounters as he guides them through the uphill streets. Their stories still take him by surprise.
Dan spoke to Spooky Isles about castle hauntings, Greestone Steps and what visitors can expect on Lincoln Ghost Walk.
Dan’s involvement began while he was working for the local tourism board. He accompanied a group of visitors on the walk and met Margaret Green in person, having previously spoken to her by telephone.
They were walking away from what he remembers as Browns Pie Shop after a story about the ghost of a mischievous little boy. Dan offered to help with the walk if Margaret ever needed assistance.
He recalls her suggesting that he return when the weather improved in March and join a few walks to see whether he liked it.
The weather did little to encourage him: it rained throughout his two weeks with the team. He persevered.
“The appeal for me was the mixture of the supernatural, performance and interacting with the public. I get to meet people from all over the world and it’s a different experience every time.”
Tables in Lincoln Castle’s prison hall
“I’m fascinated with Lincoln Castle,” Dan says. “There’s a host of life stories that have played out within those walls.”
One account he shares concerns two security guards checking the main prison hall at night.
“Two security guards witnessed market stall tables popping up into the air like they were being thrown by an unseen force when they were checking the main prison hall in the dead of night.”
Dan says the frightened guards left without staying to investigate.
He also mentions a lesser-known story about a spectre said to run up the staircase of the castle’s observation tower and push people over. This is one account he would particularly like to learn more about.
Greestone Steps and visitors’ stories
Years of guiding have not made every location feel familiar and comfortable. Dan singles out Greestone Steps as a place that can give him a sense of foreboding.
Dan says guests have described sensations of being pushed, pulled or pinched.
“I feel bad for them, but they appear to be genuinely excited about the experience.”
He also receives photographs which visitors interpret as showing orbs or other unusual features.
“We have several ‘hot spots’ around the walk, and we encourage guests to take photos of the buildings and elements of those environments,” he says.
Dan credits the person leading the research with responding to local people who approach the team for help, support and advice. Their experiences can become part of the walk, with permission.
“We always ask permission before we use any of these experiences on the walk.”
He explains that when visitors from different parts of the world describe similar experiences at the same locations, the team investigates the stories further. Some of that material then finds its way into the walk.
The city offers more material than a single evening can accommodate.
Dan describes an uphill area full of small back streets, hidden places and buildings with stories to tell. That abundance helped prompt the introduction of an alternative Thursday route.
Joining Lincoln Ghost Walk
The route Dan guides has remained largely the same since he joined. The alternative walk has brought a new option, but the approach remains rooted in history and supernatural storytelling.
Some early visitors expected jump scares. Dan says the guides explain at the start that this is a different kind of experience.
He describes the walk as family friendly. Allow about 75 minutes outdoors around uphill Lincoln.
“It’s a walking and talking outdoor event.”
New students and people who have moved to Lincoln sometimes join to get to know their new home. Returning with their own guests gives them a chance to share stories they might otherwise have missed.
Standard walks leave the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Square at 7pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays.
Advance booking is not required for the standard public walks. The operator asks visitors to arrive 10 minutes before the start.
Check Lincoln Ghost Walk’s website for current prices and seasonal arrangements. Ask the operator about access requirements before joining.
Explore more haunted places in Lincoln, or find other walks in our Events Guide.
