During the Williamite–Jacobite conflicts of 1690, local tradition holds that approximately 1,300 Protestants in the city were imprisoned in several key buildings — Christ Church, St Peter’s Church, and the old Court House. When the city later fell to Williamite forces, these prisoners were released, and the roles were swiftly reversed: Roman Catholic civilians were rounded up and confined in Christ Church.

Folklore claims that around 760 Roman Catholics were locked inside the building during this period of reprisals, but only 26 are said to have survived the harsh conditions. While the precise numbers can vary between historical sources and oral accounts, the story remains deeply rooted in the city’s collective memory — a reminder of how brutal the siege years were for both communities.

It is from this tragic chapter that many of Christ Church’s ghost stories arise. Visitors and staff have long spoken of an unexplained “ghostly wind” that moves through the building even on still days, often accompanied by sudden drops in temperature or the unmistakable sense of being watched. Footsteps, faint voices, and fleeting shadowy figures have also been reported, leading many to believe that some of those who suffered within its walls have never fully departed.