Stockwell Ghost
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A supposed ghost that created a great sensation in Stockwell, London, in 1772. The author of the strange noises was Anne Robinson, a servant. Cp. COCK LANE.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Stockwell Ghost” mean?
A supposed ghost that created a great sensation in Stockwell, London, in 1772. The author of the strange noises was Anne Robinson, a servant. Cp. COCK LANE.
Is “Stockwell Ghost” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.