The Mermaid Inn, Rye: One Of Britain’s Most Haunted Inns
The Mermaid Inn is a magnificent Grade II listed building situated on Mermaid Street in the ancient town of Rye, East Sussex.
Mermaid Street was previously voted as one of the most 'Instagrammable' streets in the UK, and it's no wonder as this delightful historic street has a quintessentially English charm.
The Mermaid Inn was established in the 12th century and it’s has a long, turbulent history.
The current building dates from 1420 and has 16th-century additions in the Tudor style.
However, the cellars of the inn date from 1156, believed to be the year that it was first built.
The inn became popular with sailors who came to the port of Rye, and the port also provided ships for the Cinque Ports Fleet.
The inn also had a strong connection with the notorious Hawhurst Gang, a criminal organisation involved in smuggling throughout southeast England.
This large group of smugglers controlled territory from Kent to Dorset from their base at the Oak and Ivy Inn in Hawkhurst, but they used the Mermaid Inn as a secondary location.
There are a myriad of secret tunnels, including one which ran from the cellars to the Old Bell Inn (built 1390) in The Mint, a street which runs parallel to the north of Mermaid Street.
A revolving cupboard at the end of the tunnel in the Olde Bell would then be used by the gang for a quick getaway.
According to The Mermaid Inn’s official website, an eye witness wrote: “They sat at the windows, carousing and smoking their pipes, with their loaded pistols lying on the table before them, no magistrate daring to interfere”.
By 1770, the building ceased functioning as an inn.
By 1847, it was in use as a house and was owned by Charles Poile; the yard at the back, through which there was a footway leading to High Street, was called the Mermaid Yard.
Today, The Mermaid Inn is presently owned by Judith Blincow and Robert Pinwill, who bought it in 1993.
On the last Sunday of each month, Judith Blincow offers guided tours through the 600 year old building, providing a walk through time.
The inn’s floor plan is like a rabbit warren, large rooms, small rooms, wonky stairs and winding corridors which all added to the charm and quirkiness of the building.
The Giant’s Fireplace Bar is one of the most fascinating rooms in the inn.
A huge, open, log fireplace, possibly one of the largest in England, has a vast beam that spans the whole width, supported on stone piers.
There is also a Priest’s Hole situated in the chimney breast, used in the days when it was a crime to harbour a Roman Catholic – a warm refuge and a safe one!
A priest hole is a hiding place built into many of the principal Catholic houses of England during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law.
When Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, there were several Catholic plots designed to remove her and severe measures were taken against Catholic priests.
Many great houses had a priest hole built so that the presence of a priest could be concealed when searches were made of the building.
The bar inside The Mermaid Inn offers a wide selection of beers, wines and whiskies, with a Bar Menu offering freshly prepared food.
The Bar extends out onto three patio areas offering a sun trap in the summer, when the sun shines!
One of the most haunted inn’s in Britain
This ancient inn was featured in an episode of the Most Haunted TV series, and it has a reputation of being one of the most haunted inns in the UK.
The Mermaid Inn in Rye is allegedly home to numerous spirits.
According to their website, room 16: The Elizabethan Bed Chamber, is a notoriously haunted room.
There have been on many occasions incidents of a duel being fought in the room and the loser then being thrown down the stairs of the secret passage.
The body would have landed in the part of the hotel that is now the Bar.
A night camera was set up by a guest, a short time ago, and movement of swords was picked up, and during the night, the shadow of a “figure” could be seen on the film in the corner of the room.
A week or so later the guest sent in some photographs he had taken of the room and the same shadow of a “figure” could be seen in the corner of the room.
The inn say they've tried from all angles to recapture this shadow on the camera but it has proved impossible.
One late winter’s afternoon, two guests had booked into the Elizabethan Bedchamber and then gone for a walk around the town.
On their return through the car park they had looked up at the window of the Elizabethan Bedchamber to see silhouettes of people against the closed curtains.
Upon returning to the room no-one had been inside.
The barman a few years ago, was tending to the fire when all the bottles on the shelf at the other end of the room fell off.
He handed in his notice the next day.
Recently the inn was sent another story about The Elizabethan Bedchamber, according to their website, it said: “My wife and I are long time clients of the Mermaid, first staying in 1988 in the Elizabethan Bed Chamber).
”As the family grew, we always took the Nutcracker Suite, with the children sleeping in the main room and us in the double bedroom.
”One morning (Christmas Day 2002 I think), my youngest daughter Eleanor mentioned at breakfast that someone had come into the room in the night.
”We knew the door had been locked, and were surprised when she described the person as an old man who walking past the end of her bed in a striped night gown and cap carrying a candle.
”The way she described his clothes clearly showed she didn’t know what a night gown or cap were. Eleanor was a highly imaginative child, but nevertheless maintains to this day that she really saw this man, so you can make of it as you wish…”
Despite the alleged facts that it’s haunted, the Mermaid Inn has excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, one recent customer said: “There is nowhere else quite like it, it’s unique and the experience of staying there was wonderful.
”The service was excellent at every point - checkin, room, restaurant, bar, checkout. Staff were friendly and helpful and knowledgeable about the long history of the Mermaid.
”The room was small but clean and well appointed and exactly as expected from the booking.
”Despite being the such an old building and staying in December every part of the Mermaid was warm and cosy including the bedroom.
”There is parking for guests but it’s very small and the spaces are very tight. I’d recommend paying a few quid to park nearby in one of the overnight car parks.”
Another person added: “We were lucky enough to stay overnight and also have dinner there.
”This c1420 pub is truly amazing, full of history and character with every twist and turn of its corridors. Our very spacious room had a four posted bed and a very nice ensuite.
”Dinner was divine with beautiful china and cutlery, excellent service and the best Pork Belly that we had ever eaten.”
There are 31 rooms, each of different design, spread over several floors.
Eight bedrooms have 4-poster beds - the bathrooms are fitted with modern amenities.
The ceiling has thick and dark teak wood beams while the windows are made of lead frames.
Diamond-paned windows are situated at the back, and apparently, most of the old floors creak.
The exterior of the inn was also used in the post Monty Python film Yellowbeard, alongside its neighboring church square and infamous cobbled Mermaid Street leading to the inn.
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Mermaid St, Rye TN31 7EY.
They are the only hotel in the Medieval citadel of Rye with on site parking – for 15 cars.
Mermaid Street in Rye is up there as one of the prettiest streets in all of England.
A picture-perfect cobbled lane filled with medieval timber-framed houses, Georgian residences, and oodles of history to boot.
It’s truly a wonderful place to explore.
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