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Hi, Everyone:

I have always been interested in the story of the Highgate Vampire. For those unfamiliar with the Highgate case, it is the story of an alleged vampire which haunted Highgate Cemetary in England from the late sixties to mid-seventies (although reports of unusual disturbances continued until the early eighties). Information on the Highgate story and books on the case can be found at www.gothicpress.freeserve.co.uk.

Of course, I cannot say one way or another if the story is true. However, I have read the Highgate Vampire book and find the legend interesting.

I was hoping to get others' thoughts on Highgate and what you make of the case. Thanks, everybody!

I have read much of the online material havent read the book yet I saw bits of the interview with one of the authors...No one could say what happened really seemed rather to be some mass hysteria going on..Ive seen the photo's as well....I'm not sure if the case was valid or not......

The only controversy about this story is the fact that the strange occurences going on was wittness by one man... mostly just him. In the end of it's big hoopla, I believe this man was found in said cemetery with a few dead bodies. It is possible that this man was the one committing the murders.

You could be referring to David Farrant (who is now president of the British Psychic and Occult Society), who served time in prison for grave desecration. If I remember correctly, Farrant confessed to digging up coffins and moving them to a different location in Highgate Cemetary.

That be the one! ;)

...Highgate caught my curiosity a few years ago. after spending many many days combing thru the net digesting everything i possibly could on Highgate, i came to the conclusion that it is a fantastical story, mostly hype and fiction, and that it made for a good read! oh, if only it were true...but, alas...

I myself have been to highgate and it is beautiful there and if i was condemed to eternal night then i'd defintly habit that place

I'm torn wether to believe it or not, it seems very far fetched from what I've read on it. But who knows, it could have happened, Highgate is a very odd place.

like the story beat theres some truth there maybe sumthin sifnigant happened there and thats why he kept on coming back to the same place like his sire was killed there or his headstone lays there

Sean Manchester is the one who headed the investigation and was for the most part the sole witness to it all. Lovely story but it leaves alot of loose ends and speculation.

OK I am not sure if I whole heartly believe it yet there are some of it that does catch ny attention, it just is alot of unanswered stuff also about it.

This caught my atention, were did this take case?Sounds a very interesting mistery to me.I'll see if i can found out someting about it.

just let times answer !!!!

Thanks for the story..I will research it

Not sure if i do believe it...

Thx for the link...i will see more about it....

actually,for those whom are interested,if you own the 2 disk underworld,on the second disk there is an interview with david and he does have some interesting insights ,maybe worth checking into,Be Well....

Definitely a story for a rainy day. But it does sound a little over the top.

I have not ever heard of it yet thank you for the info and the Link. I will check it out sounds very interesting

This case will give place to many more discussions...

It will never end...no matter who says what...

I wouldn't doubt that the case is true considering many vampires tend to travel englad.

Thanks for the info on the second Underworld disc, HellsGuardian. I had no idea it contained a David Farrant interview. Could be worth checking out for sure.

I have heard some of Farrant's theories regarding the Highgate Vampire, one of them being that it was possibly the Mothman (another interesting legend which I have found fascinating), a huge moth-like creature reportedly seen in the U.S.

you are most welcome,i came across it by accident,also there is a special that runs either on the History channel or possibly on Discovery channel around every Halloween,check your local listings,it pretty much rehashes the same information,but every now and then they add something new...Be Well...

Awesome - I'll be sure to look for that, thanks!

Interesting case, but having met the Reverend Shaun Manchester who supposedly 'killed' the vamp in question, I think he had 1 too many joints and a large bottle of absinthe, and was away with the fairies.

I love the tale though, anyone heard of Springheeled Jack? he fascinates me too!

^^^ Yes I've heard of Springheeled Jack.

I don't know much about the Highgate vampire, but it sounds like sumthin i'd be interested in. Plz. message me with the info.

Yes, I've heard about the vampire of Highgate. I had forgotten about it, so thanks for refeshing my memory. I have to read up on it.
I visisted Highgate Cemetary in the 80's while in England. It's an absolutely fantastic place. Anything could be possible there, they have consercrated and unconsecrated ground. The tombs are beautiful and majestic. Anyone who lives in the region should visit it. Take the tour -- very interesting. They also let you wander about. It's one of my very favorites places in the world.
Thanks for this post!

I think the Highgate Vampire is a great story - and you could believe anything about Highgate Cemetary, there's a definite scary atmosphere about the place - but it's become too much of an urban myth to be sure what's real and what isn't about the case.

I agree with Legend, Highgate does have a certain atmosphere that would give one's imagination a head start.

If there were vampires from myths and lore existing today I doubt that they would be living in a cemetery. They would be after the living not the dead and more than likely trying to blend in as much as possible.

But it certainly is a good story.

i have watched the various interviews and read most of the stuff by rev manchester and other people and i cant draw a concousion as to weather there was any truth be hind it

Ah the highgate vampire. Yes I know the story well. However, having only the internet and books to rely on, with no onsite investigation, I'm not really sure at this point what to believe. I will say that the evidence strongly points to it being a hoax, but I could be wrong...

Ive been to Highgate and the place is very creepy but I dont think anything of the vampire story i think it was just made up to stop young kids from vandalising the place.

Yes, ive heard of it/seen a lot of stuff on tv. Pretty neat. Would be cool to visit that cemetery sometime.

For Elvy:

I have been a comrade and colleague of the Right Rev'd Seán Manchester (whose Christian name, incidentally, you misspell) for most of my life and was part of the principal team investigating the mysterious case of the Highgate Vampire.

Seán Manchester feels that he has not met Elvy and wonders where and when this alleged "meeting" was supposed to have taken place. If this response is ignored I shall naturally assume Elvy's allegation was not intended to be taken seriously and leave it at that.

For everyone:

Seán Manchester has been on hundreds of radio and television programmes (there are three major television documentary films coming up in a couple of weeks, see link below) and has frequently explained that vampires cannot be "killed" because the supernatural agency is demonic and the corporeal host, of course, is already dead. Exorcism does not "kill" vampires. It removes them from the possessed shell, ie corpse. It is the demonic agent which is exorcised, ie cast out, albeit not "killed."

I will gladly answer queries about the Highgate Vampire investigation.

Link to forthcoming television vampire documentaries featuring Seán Manchester:

www.gothicpress.freeserve.co.uk/Television.htm

i also wanted to mention to you there is also some good coverage in "the vampire book".encyclopedia of the undead(J.Gordon Melton) if you could find a copy it may be worth a looksie,Be Well

I believe there really is a vampire there at Highgate, perhaps an older of my kin. I think that it would be wise to stay away from the cemetary, for vampires are often very territorial with their living spaces, as any entity would be.


Mr. Manchester seems to talk like he has killed it, but perhaps the ghost or effigy of the vampire still remains at Highgate. For what other creature but an immortal could linger long after supposed destruction?

I don't know much about the Highgate vampire, but it sounds very interesting. I would love to go there one day! Just to see if I could sense/feel any presence.

For HellsGaurdian69:

Dr Melton crossed the Atlantic in December 1993 to visit Seán Manchester in North London, England. This meeting is referred to on page 38 of The Vampire Hunter's Handbook. Dr Melton wrote sympathetically about the case in The Vampire Book: Encyclopedia of the Undead which was published in the following year. There are a couple or so minor errors, but it is otherwise accurate.

For Macabre:

When Seán Manchester finally expelled the primary source of the infestation at Highgate he was in the minor order of exorcist. In later years he entered holy orders and is today a priest and bishop.

As previously explained, vampires cannot be "killed" but they can be prevented and cast out by means of exorcism. This is what happened in the Highgate case.

Seán Manchester led the thirteen year investigation from beginning to end. There was more than one vampire for him and the Vampire Research Society to confront. In early 1974 he tracked the principal source of the contamination, known as the Highgate Vampire, to a derelict neo-Gothic mansion on the Highgate borders. Here he employed the ancient and approved remedy. No vampire has been sighted in or near Highgate Cemetery and its environs since that time. Photographs of the corporeal shell of the Highgate Vampire appear on page 144 of The Highgate Vampire. This is a full account with photographs from the case file in a quality hardcover edition with illustrations throughout. Updates on the Highgate Vampire and other cases can be found in The Vampire Hunter's Handbook written by the same author. These books plus CDs of archive recordings can be ordered online at:

www.gothicpress.freeserve.co.uk/Bookshop.htm

The Vampire Research Society still has members living in the vicinity of Highgate Cemetery and they know of no recent sighting from any credible witness.

My thanks,I have become more than a little intersted as of late,I shall dig deeper,Be Well

I have read different things on the web regarding this and believe it to be true. plus there is research that seems to back of the truthness in it all. very interesting to I might add.

Olwen Posted: 16:38:50 - Sep 26 2006:

"Ive been to Highgate and the place is very creepy but I dont think anything of the vampire story i think it was just made up to stop young kids from vandalising the place."

Made up by whom, Olwen? All mention of the Highgate Vampire is banned by those who have run tours of the graveyard which is the only way you will get to see it as it is otherwise not open to the public and has not been for over thirty years.

Young children did not vandalise the place. That was done in the past by lead thieves and by Satanists who were responsible for some really horrific desecration and vandalism. These were all adults. Nothing seemed to stop them.

Following the vampire panics in 1970, nocturnal security patrols were present which made Highgate Cemetery less attractive for the vandals and diabolists.

Vamp3434 Posted: 02:59:56 - Aug 22 2006:

"I have always been interested in the story of the Highgate Vampire. For those unfamiliar with the Highgate case, it is the story of an alleged vampire which haunted Highgate Cemetary in England from the late sixties to mid-seventies (although reports of unusual disturbances continued until the early eighties)."

The haunting is actually believed to have existed from the early 19th century. We first heard of contemporary reports from persons still living in mid-1965. Contact with witnesses willing to co-operate in an investigation did not occut until early 1967. The case was formally opened in 1969 where a full-time investigation was embarked upon by a small team.

The primary source, ie the Highgate Vampire, was exorcised in early 1974.

A secondary sources was also successfully exorcised in the autumn of 1982 and the case file was closed.

This secondary source was beyond Highgate and did not involve its famous graveyard which can be visited only under supervision as part of a guided tour where any mention the vampire is certainly frowned upon. Details of which can be found at the following link: