The Skirrid Inn near Abergavenny has been named alongside the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle as one of the most haunted places in Britain. Time Out magazine previously listed locations worldwide most likely to unsettle visitors, and the historic inn was one of only three UK sites included.
A dark medieval history
The Skirrid Mountain Inn is said to be one of the oldest and most haunted pubs in Wales, dating back to at least 1100. During its medieval past, convicts were hanged in its stairwell. The inn is believed to have served as a rallying point for supporters of Owain Glyndwr's revolt against Henry IV, with legend saying Glyndwr gathered his men in the courtyard before raids on nearby English-sympathetic settlements.
The inn also appears in the Ye Olde Good Inn Guide. Its author, James Moore, suggested it could be one of the oldest surviving pubs in Britain. He said: "As well as being used as a jolly meeting place, it has a darker history. The pub was used as a jail and as a courtroom, where it is believed 200 convicts were executed by hanging over the stairwell."
Ghostly residents and sightings
Reported spirits include a hanging judge who wanders the upper floors, the hangman himself, and several friendlier ghosts such as clergyman Father Henry Vaughn and a barmaid who died of consumption. Pub owner Geoff Fiddler told Wales Online the main resident ghost is a lady called Fanny Price, who died in the 1800s and whose gravestone lies about 300 metres up the road. He described a strong smell of lavender perfume and the crinkling of a dress before she is seen or sensed.
Haunted Happenings hosts ghost-hunting events at the inn, noting that many guests report a sinister atmosphere and feel fearful in some rooms. The pub has appeared on Most Haunted, with host Yvette Fielding calling it her favourite Welsh location for ghostly activity. She said: "When we did an investigation, a lot happened. We had alarms going off, shadows moving, doors opening and closing, with tables being violently thrown."
Landlord's own encounter
Despite the inn's bloody history, Fiddler has had few scary experiences. He described seeing a coachman figure with a tri-cornered hat and a long scarlet coat during the day. He said: "People always asked if I was scared, and for some reason, I wasn't. The thought of it scares me, but in that moment, it was more amazement than fright. It was over in a glance, and over the years, I've tried to convince myself that I didn't see it, but I know I did."
