2026 Continually Creepy Cannock Chase Map

Continually Creepy Cannock Chase Ben Cunliffe and Richard Pursehouse This is fifth annual roundup map of ‘otherworldly’ and unexplained stories to prepare the unwary visiting Cannock Chase, and includes, witches, a ‘ghost bomber’ from WW2, UFOs, ghostly cyclists, the 'black-eyed child' a wolf-like supernatural dog plus a black cat sighting, and a possible ‘sighting’ of a Sasquatch/ gorilla. Cannock Chase and its environs have many tales of strange events and sightings, and a global reputation for a variety of ‘weird’ happenings. Numerous times since the 1960s and into the 21st Century, there have been sightings of UFOs - Unidentified Flying Objects - including in the 1970s a Great Wyrley lady seeing a triangular object hovering over Cannock Chase (possibly linked to the ‘Dudley Dorito’ sightings?); in the 1970s and more recently at the same location - Marquis Drive Visitors’ Centre - a bright green ball or light. Similarly, in 1998, near Brocton Golf Course a fluorescent blue flash appeared behind a car for a few seconds. At Stile Cop near Rugeley there have been numerous sightings of ghosts, the Back Eyed Child/ Children (possibly a story linked to the Cannock Chase Murders in the 1960s), ghostly cyclists and strangely-dressed hitchhikers that disappear. Another instance of ‘otherworldly’ apparitions happened on Cannock Chase in the 1990s, with two men dressed as Medieval knights observed by a family on a path, before suddenly disappearing. One story of a witch’s coven or occult practices at Upper Longdon records an animal’s skull nailed to a tree, surrounded by candles. The skull represents a boundary or protection. Wild animals witnessed over the years include the large cat/ black panther near Brocton Quarry and other areas in the early 2000s, a ‘gorilla’ like figure likened to a ‘Sasquatch’ or mountain man has been reported, although another report claimed this could be an off-duty police officer wearing a prop costume from the film ‘Dog Soldiers’. This could also be an explanation of sorts for an experience in 1986 when two people from Penkridge were stopped on the road home by a ‘dogman’ that jumped out in front of them and thumped the bonnet with its fists, scratched the bonnet and then jumped off? Or was it the ultimate, unofficial speed awareness course organised by the same off-duty, vigilante police officer? This story is not to be connected to one from the 1930s of a large ‘wolf like’ supernatural dog near Hanch Hall, Longdon. The dog was said to pace around an old Oak Tree at the crossroads, uttering guttural growls. There is a story of the ‘ghostly bomber’ which could refer to a Royal Air Force Wellington Bomber on a training run from Hixon RAF base, which crashed in mid-July 1944. The bomber was hit by on a bombing run over Cannock Chase Bombing Range, by a flash bomb from another bomber above it. Four of the five crew perished. Two ghostly women feature on the map this year, one at Weetman’s bridge, supposedly a weeping lady, who hovering on the bridge, before plunging into the cold water below. The other ghostly lady has been seen at the German Cemetery, although not at the same time as any of the werewolf sightings at this location. The various locations that Cannock Chase’s Pigman has been sighted, include the German cemetery, Stile Cop, near the Whitehouse on the road between Cannock and Rugeley. Happy ghost hunting !