The Black Monk of 30 East Drive: England’s Most Malevolent Haunting



In a quiet suburb of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, sits a modest semi-detached house that belies its terrifying reputation. Number 30 East Drive looks like any ordinary council home from the outside, but it’s become known as the site of one of the most violent and disturbing hauntings in British history. The entity said to haunt the home is not just a ghost, it’s something darker, malevolent, and deeply chilling. Locals call it The Black Monk of Pontefract.

The Pritchard Family: A Normal Life Interrupted

In 1966, Joe and Jean Pritchard moved into the house with their son Phillip and their daughter Diane. They were a normal family living an ordinary life until the disturbances began. It started subtly. Pools of water mysteriously appeared on the kitchen floor, even though no pipes were leaking. Objects moved on their own. Lights flickered. Then, the activity escalated.

Green foam oozed from taps. Furniture violently shook. Pictures were slashed. And most unsettling of all, Diane, just 12 years old at the time, became the target of a sinister force that seemed intent on harming her. She was dragged up stairs by her hair, slapped by invisible hands, and even thrown from her bed. The family called in priests, paranormal investigators, and even the media, but nothing could stop the entity. The house earned its nickname from sightings of a black-robed figure, often described as faceless or shrouded in darkness, lurking in hallways and standing silently at the end of beds.

The Legend of the Black Monk

The ghost, many believe, is that of a 16th-century monk who was executed near the site of the house for unspeakable crimes, including the murder and assault of a young girl. According to legend, he was buried in an unmarked grave, left to rot in disgrace. The theory goes that 30 East Drive was built near or directly over his final resting place, disturbing his eternal slumber. What makes the case so unsettling is the malevolence of the activity. This isn’t a sad spirit or a misunderstood soul, this is a presence that radiates hatred. It thrives on fear. It’s often described as demonic rather than ghostly.

Witnesses and Investigators

Over the years, the house has been visited by countless paranormal investigators, mediums, and skeptics. Some have fled in terror after a few minutes. Others have endured full nights and walked away deeply disturbed.

Reports continue to this day: guests being scratched, objects flung across rooms, sudden icy chills, unexplained growls, and that ever-present feeling of being watched. Some investigators claim they’ve captured photographic evidence of the monk dark, humanoid shadows that appear in empty rooms. Others have caught unexplained voices on EVP, whispering things that chill the blood.

30 East Drive Today

Though the Pritchard family eventually moved out, the house remains. It has been preserved much as it was in the 1960s and is now a paranormal hotspot. The current owners allow ghost hunts, overnight stays, and even film productions, most famously the 2012 horror movie When the Lights Went Out, inspired by the haunting. But be warned: this is not a tourist attraction for the faint of heart. Visitors have reported being followed home by the entity. Others refuse to ever return. Some say the Black Monk chooses who he torments and once he has your scent, he doesn’t let go.

Final Thoughts

30 East Drive is more than just a haunted house. It’s a story about how evil can embed itself in a place, defying logic, science, and belief. Whether it’s a restless spirit, a demon, or just the powerful echoes of human fear, something dwells inside those walls and it’s not done yet. Would you dare spend a night inside?