Cassiobury Park

During the English Civil War, Lord Arthur Capel, a devout Royalist who lived in a (now demolished) house on the estate, was captured and despite a futile escape attempt from the Tower of London, was executed by Oliver Cromwell. His ghost is said to appear on the anniversary of his death (March 9th); some say that he has long hair and a moustache while others claim that his phantom lacks a head. Capel's son Arthur similarly met a grisly end when he was arrested after being accused of involvement in an attempt to murder King Charles II. His body was found with its throat cut on 13th July, 1683 in the Tower; it is not known if he was murdered or if he committed suicide. His phantom is also said to return to the area of his old home, supposedly on horseback on the anniversary of his death.

Another ghost connected to the area relates to the Grand Union Canal, which passes through the park. Jack O'Cassiobury was a black servant who was employed by a wealthy woman who lived beside the canal in the 18th century. She didn't like people on barges to get so close to her home so she intructed Jack to harrass them, until one day a man swung at him and he fell in the canal and drowned. His ghost is said to stalk the canal ever since.

Link: Watford Observer

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