Farringdon Underground Station, one of the oldest and most atmospheric stations on the network, is steeped in history and shadowed by a particularly chilling legend. Opened in 1863 as part of the world’s first underground railway, Farringdon stands on ground that has witnessed centuries of London’s darker moments. It is most famously associated with the ghostly screams of Anne Naylor, a young apprentice whose tragic fate has echoed through the tunnels for generations.
Anne Naylor’s story dates back to the mid-18th century, long before the construction of the Underground. In 1758, Anne was a 13-year-old orphan apprenticed to a hat maker named Sarah Metyard and her daughter. Subjected to brutal mistreatment and neglect, Anne eventually died from her injuries. In a desperate attempt to conceal the crime, her employers dismembered her body and disposed of the remains in open sewers near the site that would later become Farringdon station. The murder was eventually discovered, and the Metyards were executed, but the horror of Anne’s ordeal left a lasting impression on the area.
With the arrival of the Underground in the 19th century, reports soon surfaced of strange and unsettling phenomena at Farringdon. The most enduring and widely reported is the sound of a young girl’s screams reverberating through the tunnels late at night. These cries, described as piercing and full of anguish, have been heard by numerous staff and passengers over the decades. The sounds are so distinctive that they have been investigated on multiple occasions, yet no rational explanation has ever been found.
In addition to the infamous screams, other paranormal activity has been reported at Farringdon. Staff working late shifts have described sudden drops in temperature, unexplained footsteps, and the sensation of being watched. Some have reported fleeting glimpses of a shadowy figure, believed to be Anne herself, standing at the end of darkened platforms or moving silently along the tracks. These sightings are often accompanied by an overwhelming sense of sadness or dread, as if the atmosphere itself is charged with the memory of past suffering.
The station’s haunted reputation is further fuelled by its proximity to other sites of historical trauma. Farringdon was heavily bombed during the Second World War, and several air raid shelters in the area were the scenes of tragedy. Some believe that the cumulative weight of these events has created a “psychic residue,” making Farringdon particularly susceptible to paranormal phenomena.
Despite the frequency and consistency of reports, sceptics argue that the station’s eerie atmosphere can be attributed to its age and architecture. The long, echoing tunnels and dim lighting create an environment ripe for unsettling experiences, especially during the quiet hours of the night. However, those who have heard Anne Naylor’s screams or seen her ghostly figure insist that there is something more at work than mere imagination.
Farringdon Underground Station is more than just a historic transport hub, it is a place where the echoes of London’s darker past still linger. In recent years, reports of paranormal activity at Farringdon have continued, though perhaps less frequently than in the past. Advances in technology, such as CCTV and improved lighting, have done little to dispel the station’s haunted reputation.
