Hidden Newcastle: The Vampire Rabbit

The Vampire Rabbit of Newcastle lurks behind St Nicholas’ Cathedral. It has been perching above a doorway in Cathedral Buildings for over a hundred years.

I have lived in Newcastle Upon Tyne for many years, but the city still has many surprises. Recently I heard rumours that there was a  vampire rabbit in the centre of the city.

In all my years of living here I had never encountered this mysterious beast. We bravely decided to go in search of it. The vampire rabbit lurks behind St Nicholas Cathedral.  You find it by going down a small partly cobbled street and there it is.

It perches atop an ornate doorway, ready to hop down on unsuspecting passers-by. The vampire rabbit’s fangs and claws drip with blood as it sits there menacingly. His eyes stare balefully at the cathedral. Yet as you move about, they seem to follow you.

Read more: Newcastle Cathedral Church of St Nicholas

The Vampire Rabbit of Newcastle

Even though I have been past many times, I had never seen the Vampire Rabbit sitting there.

Perched above a doorway at the back of Cathedral Buildings, near Newcastle Cathedral, is a rather strange-looking creature. With its long ears, sharp teeth and fierce expression, it’s easy to see why it has become known as the Vampire Rabbit.

It’s one of those curious little details that you can walk past for years without noticing. Once you know it’s there, though, you’ll probably find yourself looking up every time you pass.

The creature may actually be a hare rather than a rabbit, and nobody knows for certain why it was placed there. That mystery has inspired plenty of theories and local legends over the years.

Cathedral Buildings, Newcastle

The Vampire Rabbit sits above a doorway at the rear of Cathedral Buildings, overlooking the churchyard of Newcastle Cathedral.

Cathedral Buildings were built in 1901 and designed by the architects Oliver, Leeson and Wood. The main frontage faces Dean Street, but the mysterious creature is tucked away around the back, on Amen Corner.

Fanciful curved windows and elaborate white ornamentation contrast with pink paintwork making the building stand out. The building contains a mixture of offices, shops and restaurants, giving no hint that a sinister grotesque lurks behind.

Although it’s often called a gargoyle, the Vampire Rabbit is actually a grotesque. Gargoyles are designed to carry rainwater away from buildings, while grotesques are decorative carvings.

It’s certainly an unusual decoration for a building beside a cathedral, and nobody seems to know exactly why it was put there.

Why is the vampire rabbit there?

There are many theories about why the Vampire Rabbit sits there, but the truth is that no one really knows.

One theory is that architect William Wood created it as a reference to Sir George Hare Philipson, a local doctor and Freemason. The suggestion is that the carving may have been a tribute or perhaps a private joke, but there is no firm evidence to explain its meaning.

There may also be a connection with Freemasonry, as Wood was involved in founding the University of Durham Masonic Lodge. Whether this had anything to do with the mysterious carving remains uncertain.

Another possibility is that the creature is actually a hare rather than a rabbit. Hares have long been associated with spring and renewal, and some believe the carving may have a symbolic meaning.

There is even a theory connecting it with Thomas Bewick, the famous North East engraver, who frequently featured animals, including hares, in his work.

Over the years, the rabbit’s appearance has changed. Its red claws and fangs certainly make it look more menacing, although we don’t know whether that was the original intention.

Nowadays, the scary bunny overlooks a car park, but this area was once part of the cathedral’s graveyard. According to local legend, the rabbit was placed there to frighten away grave robbers. It’s a wonderfully sinister explanation, although there’s no evidence that this was why the carving was installed in 1901.

We may never know why the Vampire Rabbit was put there, but that only adds to its mystery.

Where can you find the Vampire Rabbit in Newcastle?

The Vampire Rabbit is tucked away on Amen Corner, behind Cathedral Buildings and opposite the eastern end of Newcastle Cathedral.

To find it, walk around the cathedral towards St Nicholas’ Churchyard. At the far end of the churchyard, look across towards the ornate doorway on the opposite building. The Vampire Rabbit is perched above it, watching over the little passageway.

Alternatively, if you’re walking along Dean Street, look for the steps leading up towards the back of Newcastle Cathedral. The Vampire Rabbit is above a doorway just to the right of the top of the steps.

It’s easy to walk past without noticing it, so remember to look up!

While you’re exploring, keep an eye out for the bust of Thomas Bewick on the building nearby, another little detail that’s easily missed.

The Vampire Rabbit lives on

Newcastle’s mysterious Vampire Rabbit has become such a local legend that it even has a cocktail bar named after it.

The Vampire Rabbit bar opened on Collingwood Street in 2024, taking inspiration from the strange carving hidden near Newcastle Cathedral.

In October 2026, the bar unveiled an enormous replica of the Vampire Rabbit above its entrance. With glowing red eyes, long ears and bloodstained fangs, it’s a rather more dramatic version of the original stone creature.

It’s fascinating to think that a mysterious carving from 1901 is still inspiring new stories more than a century later.

What other mysteries is Newcastle hiding?

Discovering the Vampire Rabbit makes me wonder what other oddities the city is hiding. Whilst I’ve explored many of Newcastle’s well-known attractions, like the Quayside and the Great North Museum, there’s something particularly fascinating about stumbling across a place with a mystery behind it.

Do you have any strange carvings, hidden curiosities or local legends in your city? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

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