In its heyday the Tameside Hippodrome would’ve been a hive of activity, it’s even got a plaque from Sir Ken Dodd outside. Unfortunately, like a lot of Ashton it’s seen better days and since closing some years ago has started to fall apart.

The ghost reported to haunt the theatre has been nicknamed Ernie and appears in the shadows of the upper balcony. He’s said to beckon anyone over who catches sight of him, but upon approaching he vanishes into the ether. The actor Jack Douglas claims to have seen Ernie when he appeared in Cinderella here in 1978. Ghostly footsteps have also been heard on the stage which, according to legend, belong to someone who hung themselves in the theatre.

Sources and Further Reading

• Whitaker, Terence W. North Country Ghosts and Legends. Grafton, 1988.
• Howarth, Ken. Ghosts, Traditions and Legends of Old Lancashire. Sigma Leisure, 1993.