The Ancient Ram Inn
Continuing our “Ghost stories” day 5 we look into one of the most haunted buildings in the UK the infamous Ram Inn. I have been lucky to investigate this amazing venue upwards of 20 times, and I have certainly got my own experiences and have witnessed paranormal activity first hand in the ancient ram inn. But before we dive into my own case, let’s look at where it all started!
Often called the most haunted house in Britain, this uniquely historic, ancient-looking inn also happens to be the oldest building in Wotton-under-Edge, a small village in England It is known as one of the most unique properties in the region and has its fair share of strange history and mystery, plus a host of unique residents. The Ancient ram inn has a rather interesting past with multiple former “lives” to tell. Before the building’s constructed in 1145, the site was home to a multi-millennia Pagan burial ground that lies on the Ley Lines, which trace directly back to the ancient and mysterious site of Stonehenge. This connection gives rise to legend that the strange paranormal happenings documented on the property relate to its unique past. The building that stands today was constructed in 1145 as the home for slaves, masons, and other workers building the St. Mary’s Church nearby. Streams on the grounds had to be diverted around the church’s site, which, according to many, opened up the portal for the dark energy once used in rituals performed by Pagans in the area. After the masons and other workers moved out, the house became home to a priest. Later, it was made into an inn and public house. In 1968, however, someone new bought the Ancient Ram Inn and made it his home. John Humphries bought the place in the late 1960s to preserve it from destruction. The first night he stayed on the property, he says he met the spirits that make the Ancient Ram Inn one of the most haunted spots in England. He claims that demonic forces grabbed him by the arm and dragged him across the room from his bed. Since that time, he’s found evidence of ritual sacrifices and devil worship on the inn’s grounds. Even more horrifying? He’s come across the skeletal remains of children he believes were stabbed with daggers. The ghostly spirits never discouraged Humphries from maintaining his residence there. Though his wife and daughters left him at the inn, he remained, preserving the building. Night after night, the spirits returned, but Humphries stuck it out for more than 50 years until his death in late 2017. Who Haunts This House? There are several entities believed to haunt the inn-turned-home. Perhaps the most famous is a witch that was burned at the stake in the area during the 1500s — the height of witch-hunting. The woman fled from potential “trial” by government-sanctioned witch hunters and took refuge in the Ancient Ram Inn. She was soon captured, however, and burned at the stake. Of course, she lives on in legend. The room where she hid has been dubbed The Witch’s Room and her spirit is believed to be haunting it to this day. There are also stories of the former innkeeper’s daughter hanged in the attic, the spirits of ritually murdered children, exorcisms, and other dark, haunting events in the millennia-old inn. Orbs of these spirits have been photographed by paranormal investigators and the curious. Strange lights have terrified visitors hoping for a peek into the afterlife. The Bishop’s Room is considered the most haunted in the Ancient Ram Inn. This is where bishops stayed in days past and the room is supposedly haunted by the spirits of several bishops today. Dark monks and evil spirits including the spirits of these bishops are said to be seen here on the regular. Even a Roman Centurion has appeared on horseback riding through the walls toward plumbers who were minding their own business. An incubus and succubus supposedly haunt the room that John Humphries selected for his sleeping quarters, mistreating those brave enough to stay overnight.
Jordan’s First hand paranormal experiences
The amount of paranormal activity I have seen at the ram has been off the scale! I’m going to go through just a few incidents that stay with me to this day.
On a day investigation at the Ram myself and another paranormal investigator had a small group of about 8 people and we were doing a vigil in the barn, and for about 45 minutes we had no activity. Until one man yelled out in pain and asked me to take him outside, he claimed his back was hurting and asked me to take a look as we believed it could be a scratch. (I’ve seen many scratches caused by the paranormal but nothing like this) the man lifted his top up to revel 3 scratches bleeding very badly. You could tell it had just happened as the blood was still dripping from his back. (Before the incident occurred we were doing a human pendulum experiment which requires everyone to hold hands. We were doing this for around 20 minutes. At no point did I see him or anyone else reach for his back) the man explained to me he didn’t believe in the spirits at the ram and told them to do their worst when he first walked into the building, after a long conversation and first aid was applied we came to the conclusion the man had provoked a spirit which lead the spirit leaving its mark, interestingly we don’t normal see 3 scratches, it is usually just 1 or 2 but whenever we get 3 scratches like the man had received, especially bleeding we put it down to the spirit trying to mock the holy trinity “The farther, The son, The Holy Spirit. Safe to say upon leaving the building he was very scared and shaken up and apologised for provoking the spirits, something he claimed he would never do again.
Another incident that occurred was with myself and fellow After Dark host Vicky, we were in the back room (the old bar or graveyard room) and we both witnessed poltergeist activity. We were calling out for spirits when sudden one of our objects fell over, very forcefully, it happened to be a teddy bear. Which Vicky said the spirits could keep if they could knock it over! And the spirits did what we asked. After all the guests had gone home, myself and Vicky did a security walk of the building to ensure nobody was still inside. We both were calling out “hello” and “is anyone here” to which we heard a little girl response as clear as day saying “Hello” we both looked at each other in disbelief, almost like we didn’t want to acknowledge what happened in case the other didn’t hear it. But we could both tell by the look in one another’s eyes we certainly heard the spirits response, something that gives us the chills just thinking about to this day. One of the most incredible pieces of activity I have ever seen also happened in the bishops room, supposedly where the Incubus & succubus haunt. I was again in the room with 8-10 people when a young lady said she felt she was being touched on her thy, to with her boyfriend laughed. I asked her if she was feeling ok? She requested to get some fresh air so myself her and her boyfriend went outside. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone tried to touch her.
I returned to the room later in the night with a separate couple, the female was a strong believer in the paranormal, whilst her husband thought “it’s a load of rubbish” (something I hear more often than not). They decided to do a spirit box in the room, for 5-10 minutes we got nothing but the usual sweeping sound. Until a little boys voice started to come through. The female was very excited whilst the man remained sceptical. Myself and the female asked numerous questions but we didn’t get a response, I asked the gentleman to ask something. (He looked at me a laughed) and said “ok, if their is a little boy here how old are you?” The voice replied with 6, the man looked taken back, I asked if everything was ok and he ensured me it was. I said the spirit must like your voice and encouraged him to keep asking questions. He asked the spirit for its name, a clear voice came through on the spirit box and the couple turned very pale and looked each other, (yet again I asked if everything was ok) the man turned to me and said he had a little boy who was 6 years old with the very name that came through on the spirit box, who died 13 years ago. (I could see the couple starting to become quite distressed so I asked if they would like me to turn it off) I didn’t get an answer, I assumed it was cause they were both feeling very emotional, so I moved forward to turn of the spirit box and the man stopped me and asked “what do you want? Are you who we think you are” too which the silence seemed to go on for minutes, until we heard “Daddy”. At that point as you can imagine the man was very upset and decided he needed to leave. Him and his wife thanked me and I showed them out. To this day the voice of that little boy stays with me!
Conclusion
Without a doubt in my mind “The Ancient Ram Inn” is haunted by numerous spirits! Some of those being friendly children! But also spirits with me a more sinister agenda. I have witnessed poltergeist activity, attacks, grown men crying in fear. Sceptic’s turned to believers. A big credit too the paranormal community is Caroline Humphries the daughter of John Humphries that allow teams like ourselves the privilege of investigating one of the most haunted locations I have ever visited.
Ghost stories Day 5
AFTER DARK PARANORMAL UK
Jordan Knight
R.I.P John Humphries
