The Ancient Ram Inn: England's Most Haunted Building
The Ancient Ram Inn, built 800 years ago, is the most haunted building in England.
It possesses a genuinely chilling aura so menacing that many local people won't walk past it at night.
This uniquely historic, ancient-looking inn also happens to be the oldest building in Wotton-under-Edge, a small village about 40 minutes from Bristol.
The winding oak staircases, drooping beams, ancient cobwebs, flagstone floors, inglenook fireplaces and creaky old floorboards will be sure to heighten or frighten the senses.
The building dates from around 1145, and the inn's original use was to house the masons and other builders employed to construct the neighbouring church.
It was later, in 1154, taken up as the dwelling of the first recorded vicar; Gerinus.
There are no later records of vicars or reverends living in the inn, so it is believed that the local town vicarage was built in the late 1100s.
John Humphries bought the building when it closed as a pub in 1968, and opened it as a guesthouse shortly after.
The inn has a collection of chilling ghost stories - Mr. Humphries himself had some unpleasant encounters with his paranormal housemates.
The very first night he stayed over, he was pulled from his bed by the arm by an unseen force.
His bedroom was also terrorized by a poltergeist who kept banging on his window.
The bed-dragging stopped when John Humphries placed an enormous wooden crucifix in his bedroom. The banging on the window never truly ceased, because that simply moved on to another room.
Current owner Caroline Humphries says that after some guests had reported strange experiences, the guesthouse "kind of evolved into an event location for paranormal activity".
It now claims to be the "most haunted building in Britain", with Humphries reporting that the building is home to around 20 ghosts.
The location has been visited by a range of paranormal investigators and television crews - paranormal researchers have described a history of murders on the premises.
Mike Driscoll, from the group UK Paranormal, even reported being shoved down the stairs by a poltergeist on more than one occasion.
On the first floor is The Ram's most haunted and terrifying room, the Bishop's Room.
A medium pushing open its door was once lifted off the ground and flung across the corridor. The atmosphere inside is oppressive and disturbing.
A ghostly cavalier has been known to materialise by the dressing table and stride purposefully across to the opposite wall.
Two monks have been seen shimmering in one corner.
Witnesses have heard the terrified screams of a man who was, reputedly, murdered here by having his head thrust into the fire.
A phantom shepherd and his dog have been seen near the door, whilst those who spend the night in the room have often attracted the lustful attentions of either an incubus or a succubus.
The Bishop’s Room is also a notoriously scary room, the stories surrounding this particular room are many.
It is supposed to be the most haunted part of the building, and during the Ram’s time as a functioning inn many guests would refuse to stay in the room – others unwittingly checked into the Bishop’s Room, only to run out screaming in the middle of the night.
There were reports of furniture flying about the room on its own; and one time a medium was thrown down the corridor on attempting to open the door.
Fortunately, not all the ghouls are evil at the Ancient Ram Inn!
There are some good spirits, too! Like the spirit of a 15th century woman who was sentenced to death because she was accused of witchcraft.
She tried to escape her destiny by taking refuge in a room at the inn. Unfortunately, she was discovered, and she was burned at the stake.
She doesn’t mean any harm even though she doesn’t like to be called a witch.
Her spirit still lingers in what today is called “The Witch’s Room,” a black cat also haunts this room.
It might have been the witch’s cat, but it might also be the 500-year-old mummified cat Mr. Humphries found inside a wall. Having a dead cat inside your wall was looked upon as a lucky charm.
The ghost of a young girl is often seen behind this room’s window.
She’s waving to everyone who sees her. Also, the spirits of former owners like hanging around in the sitting room.
The attic is haunted as well…
Sounds of something heavy being dragged are heard from up there. Supposedly, a former owners’ daughter was murdered here by hanging about 500 years ago.
Caroline Humphries used the Attic as her bedroom.
You cannot go all the way to the back because of its unstable floor.
One recent visitors, writing on TripAdvisor, said: “We had a Great ghost hunt at the ram with surprising findings.
”We loved how it had been largely untouched and had kept that old rustic feel. We did ouija board and ended up chatting to a little boy who was buried on the site for a good 15 mins.
”As a sceptic this was just an amazing experience.”
Visitors to the Ancient Ram Inn who aren’t interested in ghosts will still be able to see some very interesting things at the property.
This includes Britain’s oldest wooden frame window.
It’s also home to the earliest surviving board for the game ‘Nine Men’s Morris,’ which was carved into a stone inglenook dating back to 1540 (pictured below)
Today’s owner of The Ancient Ram Inn, Caroline, regularly holds open days for people to come and visit the building and learn about its fascinating history.
She has also regularly hosted film crews who have come to film ‘England’s most haunted house.’
If you’re brave enough, you can also stay the night.
The Ancient Ram’s available to hire whole/half days & nights (excluding Fri & Sats) for 1-10 people.
Select a date on their official website for tickets to Fri/Sat overnight, Sunday Afternoon Ghost Tours (over 18s only) & Open Days (any age + dogs!).
You can also call 07394 633 807 to book your overnight stay.
The building is the oldest structure in the historic town of Wotton-under-Edge, which sits within the Cotswolds Area of Natural Beauty.
During your stay at this spooky building, there’s so much to explore in the local area.
Wotton under Edge lies on the Cotswold Way National Trail.
The town has several pubs and a hotel, and a range of takeaways and restaurants.
The beautiful town is surrounded by hills and woodland and is an excellent base for walking in the Cotswolds.
There are plenty of walks around Wotton under Edge including a walk to North Nibley and the Tyndale Monument.
This tower was built in honour of William Tyndale, the first person to translate the bible into English.
A climb up the spiral steps to the top provides spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and River Severn.
If the tower is locked, borrow a key from the village shop in North Nibley.
The heart of Wotton-under-Edge has been well preserved and the main street has been called a ‘department store’ within a street, due to the variety of independent shops along its length.
The Heritage Centre provides an insight into the town’s history, as well as tourist information.
Nearby is Newark Park (pictured below) operated by the National Trust as a heritage attraction within walking distance of the town, along with the Neolithic long barrow on a prominent position atop Blackquarries Hill.
Grade 1 listed, it’s a secluded estate with glorious views, providing country house hospitality, garden strolls and woodland walks.
It’s well worth a visit if you’re exploring the area.
Would you stay at The Ancient Ram Inn during your visit to Wotton-under-Edge?
Let us know in the comments below!
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If you’d like to visit, the address is: 8 Potters Pond, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7HF.
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