In the 1860s, a humble cottage on Old John Street—now part of Belfast’s Royal Avenue—became the centre of chilling paranormal reports. Residents described violent poltergeist activity: crockery and furniture were thrown across rooms, and the backyard was repeatedly found in a state of total disarray. One young girl claimed to see an elderly woman pacing a back room, muttering to herself, before vanishing without a trace.

Frightened by the relentless disturbances, the family vacated the house. It remained boarded up for years, its haunted reputation discouraging anyone from moving in.

In May 1882, during sewer and pipe-laying works on the street, workers discovered human remains buried beneath the property. Authorities confirmed the bones belonged to an elderly woman who had likely been interred there years earlier. The remains were reburied in the Union Graveyard, and reports of supernatural activity abruptly ended—leading many to believe the restless spirit had finally been laid to rest.