In the 12th century, historian William of Newburgh documented a chilling account that has since become one of England’s most infamous vampire legends. According to his writings, a former master of Alnwick Castle did not find peace in death. Instead, he was said to rise from his underground tomb at night, stalking the streets and spreading fear and disease among the townspeople.
As panic spread, the locals took drastic action. Suspecting supernatural forces at play, they exhumed his shallow grave and made a shocking discovery—his corpse was unnaturally bloated, and when pierced with a spade, fresh blood gushed from the body. To the medieval mind, this was irrefutable proof of vampirism. Determined to end the terror, the townspeople removed the body from Alnwick, took it beyond the town’s borders, and set it ablaze.
This eerie tale remains one of the earliest recorded vampire stories in England, blending history with folklore in a way that continues to captivate and unsettle those who hear it.
