THE ANCIENT RAM INN

INSIDE THE ANCIENT RAM INN: OUR INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLAND’S MOST HAUNTED INN

BACKGROUND

The Ancient Ram Inn, nestled in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England, is one of the region’s oldest buildings, dating back to 1145. Originally constructed to house masons and other workers building the nearby St. Mary’s Church, the site is believed to have been a Pagan burial ground before the inn was built, adding to its mysterious and haunted reputation.

Throughout the centuries, the building has served various purposes, including as a priest’s residence and later as an inn and public house. In 1968, John Humphries purchased the property to save it from demolition. From his first night there, he claimed to experience paranormal activities, which contributed to the inn’s reputation as one of the most haunted places in England.

The Ancient Ram Inn has been featured in numerous paranormal investigations and TV shows, further cementing its eerie status. The Inn is well-known for its many ghostly residents, establishing it as one of England's most haunted sites. Below are some of the prominent spirits that are said to linger within the inn:

1. The Witch: A notable ghost is that of a woman accused of witchcraft during the 16th century. Seeking shelter in the inn, she was eventually captured and executed by burning at the stake. Her presence is believed to haunt the room where she once hid, known as the "Witch’s Room."

2. The High Priestess: This spectral figure is frequently observed in the Bishop’s Room, startling guests during the night.

3. The Roman Centurion: A ghostly Roman soldier has been witnessed passing through walls, a sight often seen by both visitors and staff.

4. The Incubus and Succubus: These demonic beings are rumoured to assail guests in their sleep, contributing to the inn's eerie reputation.

5. Rosie: The apparition of a young girl, thought to be the daughter of a former innkeeper who was allegedly murdered in the attic, is another common sighting.

6. The Black Cat: A shadowy feline that reportedly interacts with visitors as it moves past them.

7. Children’s Spirits: Previous owner John Humphries asserted discovering the graves of children believed to have been sacrificed ritually. It is said that their spirits linger within the inn.

These accounts of apparitions, sinister energies, and mysterious occurrences have cemented the Ancient Ram Inn as a hub for paranormal investigations and ghost hunts.

INVESTIGATION

The first time we engaged in a paranormal investigation was at the inn. Having watched it on various shows and read about its ghostly inhabitant, we, like many others, chose it as our initial destination. Embarking on our first paranormal investigation at the Ancient Ram Inn was an experience we will never forget. Known as one of the most haunted buildings in England, the inn’s eerie reputation drew us in, and we were eager to see if the stories were true. The Ancient Ram Inn itself has a unique magnetism. Its slightly oppressive atmosphere seems to influence people’s consciousness, making them more susceptible to interpreting events as paranormal. Whether it’s the history of the building or something more sinister, the inn has a way of getting under your skin.

Although our 6-hour investigation at the inn didn't yield many experiences, the few occurrences that did take place piqued our interest and we intend to revisit soon. Very early on, we entered one of the bedrooms and carried out an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) session, but unfortunately, we had no success. However, we did experience a strange occurrence with the temperature. As we entered, the temperature inexplicably dropped to 66.6°F and stayed there. The fact that it stopped at 666 added to the event. The abrupt shift appeared unusual, prompting us to search for reasonable explanations for the occurrence. Failing to discover anything obvious, we exited the room to explore other areas.

Another incident occurred in the barn. After a period of calling out and searching for any form of communication, a few of us began to sense a presence. I could clearly detect a shift in the atmosphere, a sort of weightiness. Was this occurrence of a paranormal nature or simply a consequence of everyone's heightened anxiety? My wife even reported feeling two pokes on their leg, while three EMF meters in the room went off consecutively. An investigator mentioned seeing a shadow in the doorway. I attempted to investigate but found nothing. I suspect this may have been an optical illusion.

During the night, I took multiple photos using my usual procedure. Make sure that nobody moves in or out of the location where you are shooting, stay still, and capture three consecutive images to have strong evidence in case any anomalies are captured. Two photos did capture something, both being the second shot out of the three. I have included three sets for each of these instances below.

Below are the three photos I captured in the witches' room. As mentioned before, I had full control over the environment and did not adjust any camera settings or move while taking the photos. In the second photo, you may notice a white translucent anomaly on the floor beside the bed. I have zoomed in to offer a clearer view.

The phenomenon is open to interpretation and can be explained by natural occurrences. Some people claim to perceive the silhouette of a cat resting on the floor. Given that this is the witches' room and there is said to be a ghostly cat at the inn, could this simply be a matter of suggestion influencing the mind to visualize a cat? The anomaly only showed up in the second out of the three photos, which does bring some intrigue to the image.

Another object I captured on camera was in the staircase area. Once again, I snapped three photos, and in the second one, a orb or light appeared. Adjacent to this, there is a framed picture where, upon closer inspection, a light reflection can be observed bouncing off the protective glass.

I also want to highlight another section in that image that seems to be illuminated only in that specific photo, revealing a lit wall and stairs casting a distinct shadow. This leads me to suspect a potential light source from behind that I was not aware of at the time, considering my usual careful photo-taking procedure to prevent any interference. Nonetheless, in this case, I am inclined to attribute this light anomaly to an unidentified light source, though I felt it was important to share this image.

ELSBETH GRANT

The last event that left an impression on me occurred away from the inn. During the investigation, someone mentioned the name Elsbeth Grant, a name that medium Derek Acorah claimed to have picked up on during an episode of the TV show Most Haunted. Finding the mention of the name amusing due to the questionable legitimacy of Derek Acorah's claims, I decided to challenge Elsbeth to reveal herself, fully expecting nothing to happen.

Later that night, my wife and I, who had accompanied me on the investigation, returned to our hotel room in the early hours to rest. The hotel was situated opposite a large field that led to a wooded area. In the middle of the night, I woke up feeling angry, with the name Elsbeth Grant repeating in my mind. I got out of bed to calm down, walked towards the window, and felt an inexplicable urge to go into the woods. After a few minutes, I managed to settle down and went back to bed.

The next morning, my partner told me she had a terrible dream. When I asked her to describe it, she explained that she was being chased through the woods by a hooded old lady who was trying to scratch her. While this may seem far-fetched, I am typically a very rational and level-headed person. I believe that both occurrences were likely due to a lack of sleep, especially considering our investigation at the Ancient Ram Inn the night before. Nonetheless, I wanted to share this experience as we both had separate encounters that seemed to be somehow connected.

SCPUK CONCLUSION

The Ancient Ram Inn is a place that undeniably draws you in with its rich history and eerie atmosphere. our first investigation there was filled with intriguing and unexplained experiences, from the chilling temperature drop in the bedroom to the strange presence felt in the barn. These incidents, along with the inn’s unique magnetism, have left a lasting impression on us.

During that time, our objectivity was compromised, making us more susceptible to suggestion and getting carried away in the moment. Although the emotions and evidence we gather can be easily explained by our lack of knowledge, I still believe it is important to share the experience. This can help demonstrate how misidentification can occur and how we were collectively influenced by the tension and ambiance. Whether it's due to an optical illusion, a surge of emotions, or a trick of the mind, we might interpret mundane events as supernatural. If we don't approach it with an open mind and a systematic approach, the image of the orb on the stairs would remain just that, leading us to shape the narrative to fit that preconception and disregard any contradictory evidence. Upon closer examination, the evidence offers a simple explanation: a light source from behind, unbeknownst to us when the orb was captured.

Our intention is to revisit the Ancient Ram Inn with improved equipment and a more rational approach. our goal is to fully document and investigate the phenomena more thoroughly. Whether you’re a sceptic or a believer, the Ancient Ram Inn is a place that captivates and challenges your perceptions of the paranormal. I look forward to uncovering more of its mysteries in future visits.