With Halloween just around the corner, many are turning their attention to the supernatural, seeking out the eeriest places to visit. It’s well-known that the UK boasts some of the world’s most historic universities, some of which date back several centuries. Given their age and storied pasts, it’s hardly surprising that tales of hauntings and paranormal activities abound. But have you ever wondered which UK universities are the most haunted? The Knowledge Academy has, and they’ve conducted an extensive investigation to uncover the answer.
The results of The Knowledge Academy’s study are both intriguing and spine-chilling. Topping the list in joint first place are the University of Liverpool and the University of Bath, both with an impressive spooky score of 8.28 out of 10. The University of Liverpool, founded in 1884, boasts a staggering 275,108 gravestones within a mere two-mile radius, garnering a score of 9.65 in this category. The University of Bath, on the other hand, received high scores for its number of listed buildings and gravestones, making it a strong contender for the title of the UK’s most haunted university.
Coming in at third place is Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, one of the oldest universities among the 64 analysed, with a spooky score of 8.16. Not far behind in fourth place is the University of Kent, which has a notable 33 paranormal reports within a two-mile radius of its campus. And while the University of York may be fifth in the overall spooky ranking, it boasts the second-highest number of paranormal reports, just a tad fewer than the University of Exeter.
The Knowledge Academy’s methodology was both comprehensive and meticulous. They began by establishing a seed list of universities and determining the centroid locations based on the main campus of each institution. The study focused exclusively on campus universities, omitting those spread out or located in multiple areas.
Using a combination of data sources, including Deparkes.co.uk, Wikipedia, various county governments, paullee.com, and findagrave.com, the team gathered information on several factors. These included the average age of each university, the number of cemeteries, gravestones, paranormal reports, and listed buildings within a two-mile radius, as well as the duration they’ve been listed.
Notably, the data for haunted locations was sourced from paullee.com, while gravestone data was obtained from findagrave.com. It’s worth mentioning that the latter is community-driven, so there might be some inaccuracies. After collecting all the relevant data, a PERCENTRANK formula was applied across all variables to determine the final spooky score for each university.
It’s fascinating to think about the rich history and countless stories that are housed within the walls of these ancient institutions. Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or a sceptical observer, there’s no denying the allure of these tales, especially as Halloween draws near.
