THERE will be few places across the UK with spookier names than Dead Woman’s Ditch and Cut Throat Lane in Somerset.

But residents of Scarr, near Taunton, and Witches Walk, in Bridgwater, will say there’s nothing sinister about their neighbourhoods.

Several other locations across the county – including Axe Road, in Bridgwater and Stonegallows, in Taunton – may also conjure up ghostly thoughts.

But none sound as chilling as Dead Woman’s Ditch, in Over Stowey on the Quantock Hills. Legend has it that it is associated with the Murder of Sarah Walford by her husband John in 1789. But the name predates the murder, appearing on an earlier map. In 1988 the body of Shirley Banks was found at the site and John Cannan was found guilty of her murder.

Analysis by the Royal Mail, whose database covers more than 29.5 million addresses, shows that 748 towns and cities around the UK are home to at least one Halloween themed- house name, while 255 feature a spooky street name.

Somerset County Gazette:

Dead Woman's Ditch

Cemetery came top for both street and house names, featuring on street signs in 360 postcodes and in 516 house names across the UK. Grave (55), hanging (46) and hallows (39) were also popular choices.

London is home to both Warlock Road and Spirit Quay. Hell Pit Lane in Melton Constable stands out while Residents of Dorking will be well aware of Spook Hill. Pumpkin Hill in Slough adds flavour to proceedings.

Steve Rooney, head of Royal Mail’s Address Management unit said: “Halloween is a big deal across the UK so we wanted to find out whether the public interest was reflected in street and house names.

“Given the variety of fantastic examples we found, Brits clearly aren’t too scared by the thought of a spooky address.

“We hope everyone celebrating Halloween this year has a frightfully fun night!”

The UK’s scariest road names:

  • Ghost House Lane, Beeston, Nottinghamshire
  • Devil's Dyke Road, Brighton
  • Blood Hill, Somersham, Suffolk
  • Warlock Road, Paddington
  • Black Cat Drive, Northampton
  • Gallow’s Hill, Warwick
  • Hallow Road, Worcester
  • Witches Walk, Bridgwater
  • Ducking Stool Court, Romford
  • Headless Cross Drive, Redditch
  • Crucifix Lane, Camberwell
  • Bats Lane, Winterbourne St Martin, Dorset
  • Cemetery Road, Sheffield
  • Dead Lane, Colchester, Essex
  • Hanging Hill Lane, Brentwood, Essex
  • Hell Lane, Wakefield
  • Broomstick Lane, Botley
  • Stake Lane, Farnborough
  • Elm Street, Manchester
  • Dark Lane, Bedworth