Beyond the Veil Magazine

The Beast of Shooters Hill

Issue #50: February 1983

Shooters Hill, the high ridge that separates Greenwich from Eltham in southeast London, has long been associated with mystery. Highwaymen once prowled its roads. Ancient burial mounds dot its slopes. And now, residents report something more disturbing: a large, cat-like creature stalking the remaining woodlands.

Reader Reports

Mr. Dennis Atkinson of Woolwich writes:

“I was walking my dog through Oxleas Wood on a November evening, just before dark. The dog stopped, growled, and refused to go further. Through the trees, perhaps fifty yards away, I saw a large black animal. It was the size of a large dog but moved like a cat, low and smooth.

“It looked at me. Even at that distance, I could see eyes reflecting what light remained. Then it turned and disappeared into the undergrowth.

“My dog would not enter those woods for weeks afterward.”

Mrs. Patricia Reeves of Blackheath describes an encounter from last spring:

“I was driving along Shooters Hill Road just after midnight. Something ran across the road ahead of me, illuminated by my headlights. It was a large cat, sandy-coloured, with a long tail. It was the size of a German Shepherd but unmistakably feline.

“I slowed the car, but it had vanished into the darkness. I sat for several minutes, wondering if I had imagined it. But I know what I saw.”

Mr. Jonathan Cross of Eltham reports tracks:

“After heavy snow last winter, I found prints in my garden that backed onto Shepherdleas Wood. They were large, rounded, with no visible claw marks. I know cat prints from my own animals. These were cat prints, but far larger than any domestic cat could make.”

The History

Shooters Hill has never been entirely tamed. Though surrounded by London’s suburban sprawl, pockets of ancient woodland survive on its slopes: Oxleas Wood, Shepherdleas Wood, and the grounds of Severndroog Castle.

These woods are dense and, in places, remarkably wild. It is possible to stand within them and hear nothing of the city that surrounds them.

The area’s name is said to derive from the archers who once practised on its slopes, or from the highwaymen who “shot” travellers on the old Dover road. Either way, it has always been a place of violence and mystery.

Ancient burial mounds on the hill suggest that our ancestors considered it significant. Some researchers connect big cat sightings to places of ancient sanctity.

Possible Explanations

Escaped Exotic Pets: Before the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976, keeping exotic animals was less regulated. Some owners may have released big cats rather than comply with new requirements.

Established Population: If cats were released in the 1970s, seven years might allow for an established, breeding population. Big cats are secretive and rarely seen even where they are known to exist.

Misidentification: Large domestic cats, particularly black ones, might appear larger than they are in poor light. But witnesses consistently describe animals far larger than any domestic cat.

Hysteria: Once reports begin, imagination might transform ordinary animals into extraordinary ones. But the witnesses we have spoken to are matter-of-fact and reluctant to embellish.

The Investigation

This publication has received multiple reports from the Shooters Hill area over the past two years. The consistency of descriptions is striking: large, cat-like animals, usually black or sandy-coloured, seen in or near the remaining woodlands.

We encourage residents of the area to report any sightings or evidence. Photographs, plaster casts of prints, or any other physical evidence would be particularly valuable.

If there is a big cat on Shooters Hill, it represents no known danger to humans. Big cats are shy creatures that avoid contact with people. But its presence would be remarkable: a wild predator surviving in the heart of Greater London.

The ancient hill keeps its secrets. But somewhere in those remaining woods, something may be watching.

All correspondence will be treated confidentially.