Spider Gates Cemetery is a small Quaker Cemetery located in Leicester, Massachusetts which is known as the eighth gate to hell. It has so many stories and legends around it that it is one of the most frequently visited spots in the state. However, it can be difficult to find with so many scarce details around its location. Luckily, you can just click the directions tab to the left here and get the map of the trails beginning. If your driving, just look for the large yellow entryway on Manville street(pictured below).

One you reach the entryway, park on the side of the road and take a trip down the path. Its a beautiful trail labeled with hundreds of “do not trespass” signs. About 3/4 of a mile down the trail, the cemetery will be on your right.

Spider Gates Cemetery (officially known as Friends Cemetery) was created in the early 1730’s by a group of Quakers who believed the land possessed special powers. They used the land to not only bury their dead, but worship and perform various incantations. Custom gates resembling a spider web were created to mark the entrance to the grounds. In truth, these gates were added to the mid 1950’s out of respect for tragedy that struck the grounds and an ancient greek story signifying life after death. In 1943 a young boy who was feeling took his life by hanging himself on a tree within the cemetery. This tree still stands and can be seen directly to the the left as you enter the cemetery.

The boy, who was of greek decent, was an artist and gifted at creating paintings and drawings of all kinds. In hope that his soul would come back to life, his family donated the gate entrance to signify the story of Arachne:

This myth tells of Arachne, the daughter of a famous Tyrian purple wool dyer in Hypaepa of Lydia. Due to her father’s skill with cloth dyeing, Arachne became adept in the art of weaving. She became so good at the art that she considered herself to be a greater weaver than the goddess Athena, and challenged the goddess to a weaving contest. In the end, Arachne’s weaving was flawless and she won the contest, but in a final moment of anger, Athena destroyed Arachne’s tapestry and cursed Arachne to live with extreme guilt. Out of sadness, Arachne hanged herself. Taking pity on her, Athena brought her back to life transformed as a spider, to live her life weaving her web.

Others refer to the main gate as the Eighth Gate to hell, saying that if you pass through, the gate will take your soul to meet the devil himself. Regardless, when you pass through the gate and walk to the middle of the cemetery, you will find a barren patch of land where no grass will grow. Its four corners are marked with cement blocks. This area is known as the Alter and is where the original worshiping house used to stand. According to legend, the house was used for satantic worship; to call upon various ghosts, demons, evil spirits and more. Being a place of sacrifice, nothing will now grow on this land.

Moving toward the back of the cemetery, find the headstone belonging to Marmaduke Earle. It’s hard to miss because of a barren circle around his grave. This circle is a result of all the attempts to contact him. As the legend goes, If you walk around Marmaduke’s gravestone 10 times at midnight and say Marmaduke speak to me, kneel down and put your head on the grave stone and listen he would speak to you. Hundreds of visitors have said to hear the moans. Further note another ancient Greek custom with all the coins on the graves, said to be payment of the ferryman’s toll across the River Styx.

The last legend surrounding the cemetery speaks of a hidden cave where the body of a young girl was found. Most attempts to find this cave end in disappointment as there really are no caves, at least not ones big enough to hide a body. Furthermore, there is no proof that a girl was ever found. However, about a mile from the cemetery is a small cave, once used a root cellar, where a 6 - year old boy was beaten and dumped into the river. This occurred in the early 1980’s.

Spider Gates Cemetery is a good day trip to explore a few legends and get close with nature and the local spirits.

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Dawn

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I was at Spider Gates today. It really has a heavy vibe . Before entering the gates I felt a heaviness in my chest and a very strong headache came on suddenly. Ive been to many places in Ma. This surpasses my exspectations of beautiful place with a large very present audiance.
1 year ago
Maria rivera

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1 year ago
Anonymous

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I suppose I would say for those who knew force fed shovelhead BFD and Worcester Mass and seven hills cycles back in those days I had a crazy lifestyle I’d say at least 18 years ago I was down there with a friend after pat from was arrested which was the lead singer I was down there with a backup singer dose many of you know him George he lives in Lynn Massachusetts now I hope he’s doing well I know this to be a fact cuz I went there with him we never went down the path we stayed at the gate the yellow one at the top of the hill overlooking the airport it was approximately 2:30 a.m. it was the day after Halloween night which would be that morning these are the true facts that happened to us and I am known as BG we are at the top of the gate I made what noise sounds like a fish a cat loudly sort of like a baby’s cry scream loud I’m an average Hunter so I know the noise three times after that happened two minutes later we heard both of us little girls laughing giggling loudly flawlessly as if it being 2:30 3:00 a.m. who in the heck would be down there girls ranging from the age of 7 8 9 10 11 years old young girls lots of them I see at least 10 15 young girls laughing hello we both looked at each other awh incomplete shock we heard knocking noises on branches as if something was running through the woods breaking 5-in trees snapping them in half if that didn’t top it off I then heard with him dose a noise of a man he howled sort of like a hunting howl you would hear on a recording louder than I’ve ever heard of my tire life it was just echoing throughout your brain we both heard it then heard a woman’s voice intense moan elevated to attend on a 10 scale loud and extended flawless voice without flaw absolutely amazing incident completely paranormal it was insane it doesn’t get any bigger than that that took my curiosity from a non-believer I kind of believed in the app afterlife I’ve had my experiences so I felt something dose was a non-believer of ghosts like yeah right folklore sure whatever hauntings big joke to this day after that night that morning he will never ever not believe again so that’s the truth of my story we went back to following day it’s an absolutely beautiful place we had no experiences happen to us whatsoever we explore the property it was gorgeous gorgeous cemetery trying to figure out where these noises came from it was far right to the cemetery where the cemetery is it was off to the right kind of like in the middle of the woods past the cemetery where those voices came from anyhow that was my experience and good luck there at night time I’ll give $1,000 to anybody who chooses to spend the night in a tent with a camera on you cash give me 500 up front 500 bucks after you give me the videotape if you last the night I promise you you won’t
2 years ago
Reynessa

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I went last night on November 7th , 2020 last night was super scary as me and my friends pass the gate . As soon as anyone passes the gates your on the dead’s side . Me and my friends heard things well we was walking in and it was night time . I felt as if there was people around me . We went more in and we heard footsteps walking towards us no there was nobody there and the foot steps were loud as if the person was right in front of us . It’s not a myth this is real life !
2 years ago
Mawee

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Me and friend was looking at the revolution war tomb stone and we both heard a noise between us in day light. It’s awesome and quiet. I want to enjoy myself there but afraid I scare people if I sit there enjoying the peace.
2 years ago
Joyce G.

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Hello all,
So I’m not sure if this trend is still active, but I drove an hour and 10 minutes to go to the Spider Gate Cemetery.
I stayed for almost 2 hours and I didn’t see anything unusual and I walked around quite a bit. I was kind of disappointed because I believed all the hype, but it could have been because I went in the day time and not at night, since I live about an hour and 10 minutes away I didn’t want to go at night. Also being that I live far out I don’t want to be caught trespassing. I did take some pics with my iPhone and I didn’t have any issues with them, I also did a video where I asked if anyone wanted to speak with me and again there was nothing. Even though I didn’t see anything usual I don’t regret going, the place is really beautiful and it’s a good walk if you want to just walk around and explore, but nothing out of the ordinary for me….
3 years ago
Melissa J Carter, DassilentwitnessProductions

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To whomever took the photo of the tree: I am assuming that you pixelated the photo under the tree to appear as though there is a little boy hanging under the lowest branch. If not it is either pareidolia or there is an apparition under that tree. (The outline is evident in the pattern it creates over the leaves.)
3 years ago
Shawn

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Earle Marmaduke??? Earle is the last name, you idiot! No moans, no hangings, no devil worship, no bare spots, no dumped bodies. This is all pure fiction, and written at a second-grade level.
3 years ago
Greg H

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Not only is this story poorly written, filled with spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors, but there isn’t an ounce of truth to it. It is truly one of the most peaceful places, and worthy of visit for a calming walk through local history. Thanks, though, for the laugh. This write-up is as lame as they come! Get over yourself!
3 years ago
Cheryl

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What a joke! I love your disclaimer of telling people not to trespass, but your story does just that! I grew up here and lived very close by. My parents and grandparents all born and raised. All your stories are false, nothing more than drunk and high teens telling ghost stories! You are encouraging people to go there, who knows what others have done by not respecting the souls of those who rest there. Those who decide to go, realize you are trespassing! Be polite don’t disrespect this place, leave it better than you found it.
3 years ago
Cindy l Guntor

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Peaceful place to visit say no more People have imaginations!
3 years ago
Mawee

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Was with a friend and we indeed heard a moan between us in day light. I like this place cause it’s hidden.
4 years ago
Ruben

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I know for a fact something is up with this place I live in Leicester and went a few times and had things happen I can’t explain I definitely heard something right in my ear so that debunks the possibility of it being a cow as people tend to use as an excuse also seen a figure in the woods twice and both times resulted in me leaving. Haven’t been there at night yet excited to do so just waiting to have the proper equipment on hand
4 years ago
Lindsey

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Absolutely nothing in this story is true. You got the location right but literally everything else is false. I don’t know where you got any of this misinformation but your research “skills” are sorely lacking.
4 years ago
Neil

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Live nearby my whole life. nothing haunted about the cemetery. The moans people hear at night are the 50-75 cows mooing that live in the pasture about a quarter mile thru the woods. Their mooing at night echoes thru the woods by the cemetery.
4 years ago
GhostMa04

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I have spent MANY DAY time hours here walking & taking so many pictures. I have only gone 2 times after dark and didnt stay. The feelings I get after dark are really scary. The 1st time I ever went I felt a pressure on my chest as if someone was giving me a bear hug inside or sitting on my chest & my friend felt the same thing. The feeling disappeared as soon as we got a ways away from the cemetery, it just stopped as fast as it started. I did get a few great pictures out of thousands taken and they are amazing!! I think this is a fascinating place to go and I love it & respect it 100% as it IS a used to this day resting place for souls. May they all rest in peace & I thank them for the pictures 🙂 I was told to NEVER drink from the lake there or the negative would follow me & I would need help from a witch or warlock to get it away from me. If the pond part is true or not IDK but I know from experience & for a fact that the land (not just the cemetery) is really haunted 🙂
5 years ago
Paul

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It’s a lovely old cemetery full of local history. Been there many times. Haunted by nothing.
5 years ago
Ashlee ross

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This place is literally 20 mins from my house and really nothing special to be honest the only interesting part to me were the gates themselves
5 years ago
Jonathan A

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My father was the landscaper for the cemetery for many many years. I used to work with him and have been to the cemetery 100s of times. I have seen things and experienced this there that can’t be explained!!! Stuff I don’t even want to talk about.
5 years ago
ron s,

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I don,t believe any of those story.
5 years ago
Jeremiah Leighton

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A couple of friends and myself took a trip there just a bit beforr 9/11.
The one thing I did not read about in this article were the thirteen trees growing in a circle to the rear left, if I remember the spot right.
All four if us walked the perimiter of the stone wall, starting at the main gate. Including the gate, we each counted the other old entrence ways, and each only counted seven.
But until now, I had no idea that the alter was/is considered a gate.
We did, however, fund the cold cellar just off the trail.
I think I may have to return to explore once again with my 35mm camera.
Thank you for the further information.
On a side note, I know that yhe psyche tends to create ideas and images as the mind is chemically inspired. Drama and mayhem follows.
I saw and felt no such thing and find it rather anoying to hear that people are dabling in rituals that disrespect any historical landmarks.
Spider gates, as one.
If you go there and intend on partaking in such things like rituals or magic of some sort, be aware that others have already done so. And mixing yours where others have already dabbled and most likely made an unclean mess of it, did not leave a clear atmousphere.
Take out what you brought in and leave nothing but respect
5 years ago
David Southwick

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My mother and father are buried there. My grandfather and grandmother are buried there. Uncles, aunts, their grandparents, great grandparents, back to the late 1700’s are buried there. This article is nothing but lame lies and people “hearing” things over the long history of a beautiful place.
We celebrated many Memorial Days there as children and adults. It’s as beautiful and serene a place as a burial place for the dead could be. I used to live up the road on the corner of Mulberry and Earle Streets. The Worcester Airport took our home in 1960 when it expanded that runway. My home was burned by the fire department, a home built in the late 1700’s. I lived near that cemetery and often visited it. Still visit.
Stories like this pathetic article go on and on. The Friends Cemetery, Spider Gates, is an example of a beautiful resting place for people dear to me. Please don’t trash it with lies and made up gossip. Enjoy it as we did as children, as a place in the woods near the Worcester reservoirs that is kept beautiful in memory of those who lived in our ancestry, those recently passed, and those who wish to respect all life.
6 years ago
Michael J Collette

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Back in the late 80’s a bunch of us went to the Spyder Gates, it was about 9:30 or 10:00 at night, full moon and oddly dark. Lit a small fire and I looked up at the sky and saw a star twinkling, so I said, star light, star bright, first star I see tonight , I wish I may I wish I might see the boogy man tonight!
Well I was leaning against a stonewall, and suddenly everyone else started freaking out, as well as screaming. They pointed at me and I turned around. I saw a person on a motorcycle and he was pointing at me. We all freaked out, no noise from the motorcycle and he didn’t say jack! We covered the fire and ran to the car. I fell like I was tripped, and the motorcycle kept driving towards me, I got up as fast as I could and jumped in the car. As soon as we hit pavement the motorcycle vanished…. and so did the specter!
I’ve never forgotten that night, and I’m sure my friends that were with me haven’t either. The weirdest part was that no noise from an engine was heard.
6 years ago
Steve

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Remember partying there as a teenager.
6 years ago
Phil Stone

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This is total nonsense and completely disrespectful. The cemetery is an active cemetery under the care of the Worcester Friends Meeting. Cemetery policy is posted on the website. Treat this sacred place with the same respect you would the cemetery where your family members are buried.
6 years ago
Anonymous

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I’m from Leicester. Everyone around here knows that pretty much everything in this article is false. They’re all just urban legends.
6 years ago
Chris

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My GF and I traveled here last weekend late at night. The place is amazingly beautiful and the trail there adds to the suspense. We arrived and went through the gate. Its amazing how quiet it is. We immediately found the grave of Earle and tried out the legend. 10 times around and around. I got down on a knee and placed my ear on the grave…and I swear to god that I heard something. I’ve never had anything like this happen before. It was like a low moan or growl that wasn’t just the wind. We left pretty quick after that.
7 years ago
Amanda

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Talk about a creepy place!!!! We visited here last week. We heard strange voices in the woods and loud bangs all around. We found Earle but weren’t brave enough to try and communicate. After some time we thought we saw shadows in the woods so we left.
7 years ago
Marlene

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As young teenagers back in the day, we would pile up in cars and hang at Spider Gates,, a famous Hangout, well on the way back out of there someone threw a wine bottle out at the other car, hit a girl on the forehead and cut it, we got her to the hospital and honest to god there was a cut cross bleeding from her forhead
7 years ago
1. Sami
  
  That girl is my aunt! How crazy.
  6 years ago
Anonymous

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Everything that is within this story is a complete fabricated lie, except where it’s located. People like this just absolutely want a scare story so the make up crazy stories. The gates are rays of the sun, no one has ever hung themselves there, the Quakers did not practice spells or incantations. It’s an old cemetery that at times can feel eerie . That’s the real story from Someone who’s lived in town awhile.
7 years ago

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Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

Spider Gates Cemetery : Leicester, Massachusetts

Spider Gates Cemetery : Leicester, Massachusetts

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