Tuesday 22nd August 2023
As with many allegedly haunted sites, the (by now ‘infamous’) Ancient Ram Inn, in Gloucestershire, is hard to chase up and tie down when it comes to its supposed, ‘ghostly heritage’... This is considerable irony, of course, given it currently stands as one of the most well-known ‘haunted houses’ in the country! Despite this popularity, in recent decades, with the ‘ghost hunting fraternity’, it proves literally impossible to unearth any published records pertaining to the alleged haunting, over a few years old.
On such matter, it was only in the last year or so that I was informed one researcher had made a determined effort to root out historic references to the sites ‘ghosts’ and came to the firm conclusion that the late owner of the site, John Humphries, had most likely ‘dreamed up’ most – if not all – that was being claimed about the property?
I must admit, having seen many reports regarding the building – also TV documentaries and video taken by independent sources, etc – I would most certainly tend to concur with such an appraisal.
Whatever the truth behind the professed ‘hauntings’ (and there are many ghosts and happenings here… allegedly!), The Ancient Ram is clearly one of the most visited locations in this paranormally charged country. Of the small handful of ghost researchers that I have cause to deal with on a personal level, ALL have investigated the property on at least one occasion… one around 15 times and, another, an overnight, charity stay just in recent weeks!
Probably the most enviable investigation of the site that I’ve heard about was conducted by my old friend Wayne Pickrell and members of the Black Country Paranormal Society in 2002. I say ‘most enviable’ in this particular instance, as it was conducted in the presence of the late David Farrant – of ‘Highgate Vampire’ fame – who was one of my childhood heroes and inspirations!
My own, eventual, introduction to ‘The Ram’ came in late May of this year, when John Chance kindly took me with him to an open day that was being held there. Despite knowing it was clearly something of an ‘eccentric location’ in itself, I still wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the place… and certainly didn’t think I was going to ‘fall madly in love with the building’ – as I most certainly did – in no time at all! (It was one of those locations that had me professing a wish to happily ‘move in tomorrow’, given just half a chance!)
With regards to the alleged ‘ghosts’ at the site, it would probably take a sizeable volume to cover most of the reported happenings – even briefly – especially factoring all of the reports and claims supposedly catalogued by visiting investigators and clubs. Even just looking to the original source for the bulk of stories, there were just so many separate tales and legends listed, this source alone would constitute something of a task in itself…
As anyone who has visited The Ancient Ram Inn will know, there are numerous newspaper articles about the place dotted around the interior walls of the property. Sadly, many of these don’t seem to be dated… but there are a handful of ‘older looking’ clippings in certain regions. One – written by journalist Peter Hayward – mentions that 4 ghosts are said to haunt the former pub. One apparition, seen by John himself, was said to be that of a ‘Cavalier’ style figure. He reports that others have also seen this particular phantom… walking through the walls of the property!
The other 3 ghosts are those of a monk, a woman called Elizabeth and a man named Tom. A ‘diviner’, visiting the site, picked up on the Cavalier and young Elizabeth and said that both had been murdered here… and the body of the latter lay under the former bar-room floor, in a bricked up cellar! John had professed a wish to dig up the aforementioned floor, to see if he might unearth access to the basement area in question?
Another article, from the very early 1970’s, mentions ‘diviners’ visiting the site and allegedly unearthing fact after fact pertaining to the building… including the discovery of a fabled ‘secret tunnel’, a flight of stairs (probably leading to the above-mentioned cellar), and the sites of many graves(?) Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, none of these ‘features’ have ever been unearthed, however… so it seems the claims of the dowser could be treated with a pinch of salt. (If anyone does know data to the contrary, however, please do drop me a line, as I’d love to know more on such topics!)
During our visit in May, John Chance did point out the floor of the ‘Barn’ area. He informed me that John Humphries – who he had become friends with, over the space of his numerous visits – had stated a wish to excavate the floor of that chamber, in order to uncover a number of bodies that were buried there!? Needless to say, is this one of the burial sites listed by the ‘diviner’?
Also inside the property are a number of small, hand-written signs and information cards referring to the resident ghosts… though ‘other’ than the spectres initially mentioned. In a bedroom window, at the front of the property – for the attention of pedestrians – there is a card that states: ‘The ghost of a very old lady appears here and moves out of the door onto the landing seen by myself, my daughters and others’. Intriguingly, actually ‘inside’ the same room, fastened to the same window ledge, there is another note which says: ‘The ghost of a crippled child is seen waving to passers by, here’.
On the stairs, another hand-written note refers to a portrait, situated nearby: ‘Hanging on the stairs is a picture of Rev. John Wesley bought a year ago at antique sales. On entering the ‘Ram’ there was a sudden drop in temperature and such a change in the atmosphere no one could stay in the building. It is at this spot a ghost appears of a lady + people are thrown back up the stairs but not since the picture has been hung…’
There are many such note-like references dotted around the property – alleged historic data, paranormal, supernatural, occult references and so forth – though, unfortunately, the casual visitor has no real idea of the validity of what they’re reading, or where the data has supposedly come from needless to say(?) In the room that contains the so-called ‘Witches Grave’, there is a sign over one doorway claiming that the local church stands over a ‘Pagan altar and grove’ and the Ram itself is sited on an ‘ancient British burial ground, dating back to 500 BC’…? The latter claim, it is suggested, is why there is probably so much ‘paranormal activity’ at the property…
Personally, I would suggest a single feature from more recent history as the simple ‘key’ to most of what has been claimed here…
Whatever the validity and true origins of the stories associated with The Ancient Ram Inn, it has to be said that finally getting to see the site for myself – especially casually, without the confines of an investigative situation – FAR surpassed any preconceived notions that I harboured on the site… in a most ‘positive’ fashion, I hasten to add! Ghosts aside, the building itself literally oozes history and it’s quirky, outlandish nature and décor only adds to the overall weird experience in bucket-loads! Really… who cares if the supposed ghostlore is mainly a fiction, as the irregular queerness of the property – with all of its potential bluff and bluster – just carries such an outlandish provenance so well, on its heavy beamed framework…
An absolutely magnificent visit to a fantastic property… only made all the better by the superb company of my lovely guide, John Chance! Once more – thank you very much, John!
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