Haunting of The Tron Theatre and Hellfire Club in GlasgowTron Theatre Glasgow has a colourful past. It's been a meeting hall, place of execution, a police station and used by the Hellfire club.
The Tron Theatre, nestled within the Merchant City district of Glasgow, is steeped in a rich and varied history. It has served as a gathering hall, a place of execution, a police station, and even a venue for the notorious Hellfire Club until they burned it down in 1793. Each of these chapters adds to the building's unique character and the intrigue surrounding it.
Staff frequently say they feel watched; a few say they have been touched. Some also claim to have noticed doors open on their very own. There are many sights, too, from two phantom children and a person wearing riding gear to a menacing apparition within the boiler room. The Victorian Bar and the back two rows of the auditorium are probably the most energetic.
History of The Tron Theatre Glasgow
The Tron Theatre Glasgow was the site of St Mary's church from 1484. The distinctive tower you see today dates to the 1590s. It survived the terrible fire in 1793, which is believed to have been connected to the notorious Hellfire Club. The iconic blue clock tower from St Mary's church has been incorporated into the contemporary building.
The Tron Theatre building made history in the 18th century with links to Glasgow's Hell Fire Club, a secret society that conjures up visions of devil worshippers and Satanism. However, it was merely a drinking club for the high-class men of society, started in cities across Europe as an excuse for debauchery and those acts deemed too immoral for polite company. The club intentionally set the Tron Theatre ablaze to test the mettle of its members, adding a layer of intrigue to its history.
Legend has it that the Tron Church was used as a guard house for the city's night watchman. The guards left the building to go on patrol and left a crackling fire to keep the place warm. When the Hellfire Club happened upon the unlocked door and the roaring fire, they decided to party in the guardhouse in their state of intoxication. It is thought that the liquor caused the fire to spiral out of control. The fire decimated St Mary's church, leaving only the tower that we still see today. Another story claims that the drunken Hellfire Club members set the church ablaze on purpose to see which members could stand the heat.
Due to the Tron Theatre's colourful history, it is no surprise that there have been several reports of paranormal activity within the building over the years.
Theatre staff have frequently reported intense experiences, such as feeling constantly watched and even touched. One staff member experienced a chilling sensation like an icy finger across his neck, while another witnessed an office door opening on its own. The building has also been the site of eerie sightings, including two phantom children and a man dressed in full horse-riding gear. In the boiler room, which is on the site of the church's old crypt, a dark apparition with a threatening presence has been witnessed, adding to the building's paranormal reputation.
