Ghostlore – The Skirrid Inn, Wales’ Most Haunted Pub
The Skirrid Inn. Definitely not a place to hang about at nightfall…
In the south-east of Wales lies the county of Monmouthshire. Its southern border rests against the great Severn Estuary, whilst its northern and eastern edges are next to England. It is considered a predominantly rural area, with its largest town being Abergavenny, sometimes referred to as the gateway to Wales, due to its close proximity to the English border.
Not far from Abergavenny you will find the village of Llanvihangel Crucorney, home to Wales’ oldest and, very probably, most troubled public house. Documents date the place back to the 12th century, but it could be even older. The name of this haunted establishment: The Skirrid Inn.
The Skirrid Inn takes its name from the impressive Skirrid Mountain, an easterly outlier of the Black Mountains in Wales, and part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Skirrid was once a traditional pilgrimage site, as it was believed the mountain was struck by lightning and split in two at the moment Jesus died on the cross.
There are plenty of historical sources for the many ghostly disturbances a visitor might experience. According to legend, the inn was used as a meeting place for supporters of the Welsh revolt against the reign of Henry VI. Later, it was used by the notorious Judge Jeffreys, nicknamed The Hanging Judge. He is said to have ordered over 180 men to be hanged from the oak beam above the stairwell. The marks of the executioner’s noose can still be seen to this day.
The Hauntings
The ghost of the wicked Hanging Judge is said to roam the upper levels of the building, and is considered a very unpleasant entity to encounter. Witnesses describe his spirit as a sinister black mass, large and foreboding, which wanders the dark halls before finally fading from the terrified onlookers’ view.
Some people staying at the inn have reported a choking sensation, along with the feel of rough hemp being drawn about their throats, as though a noose had been dropped over them. It is a horrendous suffocating feeling that can causes panic even in the hardiest soul.
A great many strange noises are reported throughout the inn: heavy boots pacing rooms known to be empty, whispered voices in the shadows, the thud of something dropped from the upper floors. Given the number of deaths that have occurred at The Skirrid Inn, knowing exactly who or what is responsible for all these sounds is nearly impossible.
A landlady from the 17th century is said to have died of consumption in one of the bedrooms. Her name was Fanny Price. She has been seen wandering the public house on cold, dark evenings. Another member of the Price family, Henry - possibly either Fanny’s husband or perhaps her father - has been spotted marching up and down the cobbles by moonlight, stepping in time to the squeaking of the Skirrid Inn’s sign in the night wind. Sometimes his phantom wanders inside to scare guests by banging on the chimney.
Not far from the inn is a stretch of woodland called The White Lady Woods. Here can be found the ghost of a sad young woman wandering amongst the trees with a lonely tread. She is thought to have been the lover of one of the inn’s former owners. The Inn keepers wife stumble upon the pair in the middle of a fruity cuddle and chased the naked girl out into the night, where she eventually froze to death in the woods.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, my friend. I hope you found it enjoyable. If you like folktales or scary stories, why not try out my audiobook Fireside Horror? It is wonderfully narrated by the talented voice actor Aubrey Parsons, and is the perfect thing to listen to as the cold, dark nights draw in. Link below:
Stay Spooky.
Sources
Spirits Behind Bars: The Haunting of Shepton Mallet Prison and the Skirrid Inn – Richard Estep
Abergavenny Chronicle
Amyscrypt.com
thelittlehousofhorrors.com
Wikipedia
