Spring-heeled Jack

Spring-heeled Jack is a figure from English folklore that emerged during the Victorian era. The first reported sighting took place in 1837. Later accounts surfaced across the United Kingdom, with many concentrated in suburban London, the Midlands, and Scotland.

Numerous theories have been proposed about the nature and identity of Spring-heeled Jack. The legend became widely popular at the time, fueled by stories of his eerie appearance and his astonishing ability to leap great distances. These tales inspired several fictional works.

Witnesses who claimed to have encountered him described a terrifying figure with a devilish face, clawed hands, and glowing red eyes. One report stated that beneath a black cloak, he wore a helmet and a tight-fitting white outfit resembling an oilskin. Many accounts emphasized his demonic appearance, though some described him as tall and slender with the look of a gentleman. Several reports claimed that he could exhale blue and white flames and had sharp metallic claws. At least two individuals said he spoke fluent English.

In the early 1800s, London saw numerous reports of ghostly figures haunting its streets. These apparitions were often described as pale, human-like entities that targeted lone pedestrians. Stories of these figures helped shape a distinct ghost lore in the city, which some researchers believe laid the groundwork for the later emergence of Spring-heeled Jack.

One of the most notable of these earlier apparitions was the Hammersmith Ghost, reported in 1803 and 1804, with a return in 1824. Another was the Southampton Ghost, said to have assaulted people at night. This spirit reportedly shared several traits with Spring-heeled Jack, including the ability to leap over houses and a height of over ten feet.

The first official sightings of Spring-heeled Jack occurred in London in 1837. The final widely accepted sighting was recorded in Liverpool in 1904.

According to later accounts, in October 1837 a young servant named Mary Stevens was walking to her place of work in Lavender Hill after visiting her parents in Battersea. While passing through Clapham Common, a mysterious figure sprang at her from a dark alley. He restrained her tightly, kissed her face, tore her clothing, and touched her skin with hands described as "cold and clammy as those of a corpse." She screamed in terror, prompting the attacker to flee. Nearby residents responded quickly and searched for him, but he vanished without a trace.

The following day, a similar figure attacked again, this time near Mary’s home. He leapt in front of a moving carriage, causing the driver to crash and suffer serious injuries. Witnesses claimed the figure escaped by jumping over a nine-foot wall while laughing in a high-pitched, eerie voice.

As the strange sightings continued, word spread rapidly. The newspapers and public soon gave the mysterious figure a name: Spring-heeled Jack.