The Ancient Ram Inn

The Ancient Ram Inn is located within the market town of Wotton-under-Edge, which is within South Gloucestershire, England. It's been referred to as Wotton's oldest house, and it's commonly said that builders of the local St. Mary's Church originally lived here before it became home to a priest. The building is made from timber and stone, and it has no running water. It's also been said that the space between the roof was used as a hiding spot by two highwaymen. However, it seems there is plenty of misinformation about this property with some sources claiming it to have been built during the 1100s and with others claiming the much later date of the 1400s.

Since the 1960s, this location has served as a paranormal hotspot for investigators and enthusiasts. It's said the location is built on an ancient pagan burial ground, and that it's located on two ley lines which are thought to enhance the activity here. Most hauntings here revolve around what is known as 'The Bishop's Room'. Demons such as an incubus and succubus have been reported, as has poltergeist activity such as people and furniture being thrown. Banging has been heard on the windows, crying has occured through the building, and various female apparitions, monks, and dogs have been seen.

History

The official website for the Ancient Ram Inn describes it as "an 800-year-old Grade II listed former inn", which would date the location as having been built around the year of 1200. It has been claimed by sources that the building dates to the 11th or 12th century, also known as the 1000s or 1100s. It's most commonly said from sources that the Ancient Ram Inn dates from the 12th century also known as the 1100s. More specifically, the location is said to date from the year of 1145; a date not too far off the official website's claim. The sources which claim this year for the build date also say that the slaves and freemasons who built St. Mary's church opposite the Inn were lodged here. They go on to say that the location then served as a priest's house before it was later converted into an inn. I have found that sources say 1154 is the date from which the local vicar inhabited the Ancient Ram Inn. This vicar is said to be the first recorded vicar and went by the name of Gerinus.

However, the earliest fabric present in the Ancient Ram Inn dates from the last decade of the 15th century, also known as the 1400s; not the 12th century, also known as the 1100s. Dendrochronology sampling has confirmed that the primary phase of construction for the Ancient Ram Inn took place after timbers were felled during the winter of 1495-96. There is also no evidence to support the claim that the location was a vicar's house aside from the proximity the location has to the church. The earliest fabric of St. Mary's Church dates from the 13th century, also known as the 1200s, and so the church pre-dates the Ancient Ram Inn. This means that, unless there was a previous building on the inn's site, the workers who built the church couldn't have possibly stayed in the Ancient Ram Inn as it hadn't been built yet.

Also, I've found that slavery seemed to have been mostly absent from England by the opening of the 12th century, also known as the 1100s, and so slaves couldn't have resided here either. Major construction projects during the time the Ancient Ram Inn was built would have required monetary payment for the services of skilled stonemasons. There are, however, deeds to a property which date back to 1350. These deeds are currently located in the Gloucestershire Records Office, and they say that the tenement was transferred from Maurice de Bathe to Peter le Couk. These deeds are in reference to a previous structure which existed on the site as the current Ancient Ram Inn dates from the 1400s, not the 1300s. As no information is given in the deeds regarding the professions of either Maurice or Peter, we don't know if they were masons or vicars. The deeds also read 'The Ancient Ram Inn dates to Time Immemorial' which simply means the Inn dates from the distant past, but this quote has been used to say the Inn could date from beyond 800 years ago.

It's thought that the building was originally a single-storey, three-bay house featuring services, a hall, and a parlour with a later outbuilding. It's also thought that the Ancient Ram Inn was probably built as a domestic house and textile workshop in the years of 1495-96. This is suspected due to the wool trade which was present in Gloucestershire during the late medieval period, plus there are tenter hooks which are linked to a series of wool merchants from the 16th century, also known as the 1500s. These hooks are proof of the location's significance to the local wool trade. The building's deed for 1532 also indicates that the location had been in the possession of cloth makers.

It's said that, during the year of 1532, Thomas Hycks of Tortworth granted the property to 'John Gower, George Simondes, Thomas Byshuppe, John Hewes, William Coldwell, Richard Smyth, Thomas Colman and Galfred Bruton, all of Wotton-under-Edge, yeomen, on behalf of and in the name of all the parishioners'. It's possible that the names listed were all of trustees who may have operated the building as a church house for the parish during this time. The church house function is only presumed due to the Ancient Ram Inn's close proximity to St. Mary's Church. The building was later remodelled during the mid-to-late 16th century, also known as the 1500s. Further alterations were made to the building between the 17th and 20th centuries, also known as between the 1600s and 1900s. The Mayflower Barn, located next to the Ancient Ram Inn, dates to the 18th century, also known as the 1700s.

During the year of 1724, the Ancient Ram Inn was being used as a Horse Pool House. By the year of 1820, the building was in use as a public house; plus, the location is referred to as 'The Ram' in the deed of 1820. The title deeds state that, in the year of 1905, the building was transferred to the Coombe Valley Brewery by the Trustees of Wotton-under-Edge General Charities. Then, during the year of 1912, the property passed to Arnold Perrett and Co. Ltd who became a subsidiary of Cheltenham and Hereford Breweries. This company later became known as West Country Breweries, and this is the same company who would later sell the Ancient Ram Inn to John Humphries during the year of 1968.

It's been said that the Ancient Ram Inn was privately owned from the year of 1930; however, sources such as 'Haunted Happenings' have also said the location was bought by Maurice de Bathe during 1930, and that he then restored the property. From what I've found, this seems incredibly incorrect as Maurice was a figure from the year of 1350, not 1930. The Ancient Ram Inn later gained a Grade II listing on the 23rd of June 1952, and this listing was most recently amended on the 16th of May 1996. The Ancient Ram Inn closed as a pub during the 1960s and was bought by John Humphries. There has been a fair bit of contradiction regarding the year of purchase and the year that Hunphries moved into the building. Some sources have said the last pint was pulled during 1968, and once it closed John bought the location from the Brewery. However, other sources have said it as during the year of 1965 that the Ancient Ram Inn closed as a pub.

It's been said that John turned the location into a bed-and-breakfast during the year of 1968 and that he bought the property during 1968 for £2,600. Other sources have said he bought the property during 1967 and that he and his family moved in during the year of 1968. Due to all of this contradiction, there isn't a definitive date I trust as to when the pub closed, when John bought it, or when he and his family moved in. All we know for sure is that these three events happened somewhere between the years of 1965 and 1969; sources just can't seem to agree on exactly when, however I have found quotes from John and his daughter which say that John moved into the property during 1968. John himself was apparently trained to be a Baptist minister and is said to have often carried a Bible with him.

Since the 1960s, the Humphries family have hosted paranormal events at the Ancient Ram Inn. On the 15th of June 1997, a group of ghost hunters from Swindon were given permission to tear up parts of the concrete floor while searching for an entrance to a sealed cellar. Instead, they are said to have found the grave of a woman and child. It's been said that Bristol Museum analysed the broken iron shards which were found in the grave and they conceded that they may indicate a ritual sacrifice had taken place with an iron dagger. It's also said that these ghost hunters were involved in a car crash on the way home, and that John Humphries has said he doesn't think that was a coincidence. I've found a slight variation of this saying that Bristol University discovered evidence of pagan sacrifice when, during an excavation, a grave was discovered with the remains of a woman and child which both had knives found in their remains.

Diviners have claimed that there is a secret tunnel to be found, but apparently John didn't want to investigate this more as he didn't want to further disturb the spirits present. During 2002, John Humphries spoke with Cotswold Edge. Following this conversation, Cotswold Edge said the following: "There is a continual stream of visitors, both young and old whom John willingly welcomes and regails with tails of 'ghostly goings on'... He knows that highwaymen regularly stayed there and plotted their next attack and believes that a secret passage runs from the house to the church which was used in the days when the pub was a church house where the priest lived".

During 2013, an article for the Daily Mail quoted that it cost £25 per person to stay in a room at the Ancient Ram Inn. Now, however, the location only runs ghost events and tours for £50 to £100xper person for what will be a roughly four hour long session. It's been said that the location is no longer suitable as a bed and breakfast due to it being 'too dangerous'. This could be due to the overall stability of the building as apparently the back of the attic is inaccessible due to it's unstable floor. Now, only ghost hunters, mediums, and people interested in the paranormal visit here. As for the secret tunnel leading to the church, it's suspected that this would be located in the bar area; if it exists at all.

It has also been said that, while renovating the basement, John accidentally dug up a grave with several child skeletons at the foot as the staircase. It's been said they were possibly the victims of a ritual sacrifice and that the broken knives were still in their bodies. I don't know for sure if this information is a twisted version of the 1997 grave story, or a seperate event; however, due to the similarities I do have suspicions that the events are the same. It's also been said that John found a 500 year old mummified cat in the walls of the inn. John Humphries later died on the 12th of December 2017 at the age of 89, and it's been said that he dedicated his life to restoring, preserving, and protecting the Ancient Ram Inn. John Humphrie's daughter, Caroline, has taken over the Ancient Ram Inn since his death. When she was younger, the attic of the inn was her bedroom.

Hauntings

First, it's important to address the ley lines and ancient pagan burial ground. It's been said that the Ancient Ram Inn lies on two ley lines, although one source has said it lies on three lines. A ley line is a straight line that runs through several places of geographical and spiritual significance. These places are typically prehistoric burial grounds and mystical places such as stone circles, although ancient churches and cathedrals are also included with these places. One of the ley lines which passes through the Ancient Ram Inn also passes through the center of stonehenge, and it's said that the energy of stonehenge feeds the paranormal activity in the places on that line. The other ley line can apparently be traced through Glastonbury Tor.

The Ancient Ram Inn is also apparently built on a 5000 year old pagan burial ground. Some people claim that this burial ground dates to neolithic times, but others say it's early medieval. However, there seems to be nothing in the archaeological record for a cemetery in the location of the Ancient Ram Inn. No reputable database has referred to the discovery of a pagan burial ground in the area of the Ancient Ram Inn.

The Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Rev John Yates, is said to have tried and failed to exorcise the Ancient Ram Inn. He has been quoted in the Western Daily Press saying: "It was the most evil place I have ever had the misfortune to visit". During the July of 2003, the Ghost Club paranormal investigation team visited the Ancient Ram Inn and photographed a number of orbs above John Humphries' head while in the men's kitchen. When asked why he would buy a haunted house, John Humphries has been quoted in the source 'Paranormal Connections' as having said the following:

“I knew nothing of the hauntings when I bought the place. It wasn’t until the first night, when I felt a pair of cold, hairy hands pulling me out of bed, that I knew something strange was going on at the Ram. My daughters regularly saw a large black cat like creature and I have since found out that this animal – an evil incubus – features in many paranormal situations. Several of our visitors have been thrown out of chairs and others have felt icy hands in bed”

Caroline Humphries has also been interviewed about the Ancient Ram Inn, and in the Stroud Times she is quoted to have said: “The deeds go back to 1350 – it says it was built in ‘time immemorial’ in 1145, so that was before records began so we don’t know when it was built,” said Ms Humphries. “My dad moved in in 1968 and I think the activity started then. He said it started on his first night in bed, above what is now the grave, and his wrists were pulled backwards through the wall.” Caroline has also told the One Show presenter, Joe Crowley, about the Inn and in a BBC article she is quoted as saying: "We ran a bed-and-breakfast and some of the guests used to leave in the middle of the night, saying it was haunted... We got more business because of it. Although there wasn't such a thing as ghosts hunts back then, people used to come because they were inquisitive about it."

The source Spirit Shack has included a quote from Caroline which discusses how the location came to be a paranormal hotspot. This quote reads as follows: “It became a paranormal event location by accident, really. Some of the guests had experiences there, which you cannot explain, although Dad suspected it was haunted, so then it kind of evolved into an event location for paranormal activity.” The Gazette has also included a quote from her saying: “The local medium said there’s spirits that came with this bed, and there’s a lady in here that’s looking for her lover, but the spirits won’t let her leave the bed”

As for what actually haunts the location, the 'Men's Kitchen', which is said to be on the pagan burial ground, is said to be where the sound of a baby crying can often be heard. People have been thrown up the stairs by invisible hands on the steep staircase to the first floor, and during the year of 1999 a photo was taken by Julie Hunt which seemingly shows a white mist, around the height of a human, ascending the staircase. Mike Driscoll, from UK Paranormal, has reported that he has been shoved down the staircase on three different occasions. It has also been reported that a human face appears on the grandfather clock.

In the kitchen, it's said an eighteen year old man was forcefully thrown against a wall by an unseen force during a ghost hunt. This activity is also said to have happened to John Humphries once too. Apparently, a young couple once ran from the kitchen in panic when they saw the spirit of a woman rise up from the floor. It was after this that a woman and her baby were found buried in the same spot. Another woman is said to be buried behind the bar which is adjoined to the kitchen, and she has apparently appeared many times to Humhries' daughter as 'Elizabeth'. It's been said that Elizabeth told John's daughter that she was murdered by a highwayman. It has been said that a thirteen year old girl was killed by a highwayman in the attic. It's also been said that Elizabeth was a name they got from a medium who visited.

The Bishop's Room, which I've found some sources refer to as 'The Bishop's Inn', is said to be the most haunted room of the building. The Ghost Club report has said the Witches' Room is the most supernaturally charged space in the Inn, so, as I've found so few records of hauntings attached to the Witches' room, I'm inclined to believe the Witches' Room could be a different name for the Bishop's Room. This is purely speculation from me though, and so could be wrong. It's been said that a medium who tried opening the door to the Bishop's Room was once lifted off the ground and flung across the corridor. This is reported to have happened to multiple people, and the bed is said to levitate. The atmosphere inside this room is said to be oppressive and disturbing. One visitor has said the following about the atmosphere of the location: "The atmosphere was awful... I can only describe it as pure filth; dark and heavy".

Two monks have been seen shimmering in one corner of the Bishop's Room. Witnesses in this room have also heard the screams of a man who was apparently murdered here by having his head thrust into the room's fireplace. A shepherd and his dog have also been seen near the door of the Bishop's Room. It's said that people who spend the night in this room attract the lustful attention of either an incubus or a succubus. It's been said that the incubus and succubus are reasons why the Inn is no longer fit as a bed and breakfast. An incubus is a male servants demon who takes advantage of female visitors and feeds on female hormones as they crawl in bed with them. A succubus is very similar, but they feed on male hormones instead. Apparently some people have jumped from the windows to escape from these demons. John Humphries shared his room with these demons until his death, and he is said to described the activity of the Bishop's Room as being 'rather a lot for one room'.

It's believed that devil's worship occured in the Bishop's Room, and that there are nine spirits in total here. Another of these spirits is a small Cavalier King Charles dog which is often seen in the corner of the room. More spirits reported for this room include a dark monk, bishops, and nuns. Another spirit in this room is that of a young woman who apparently appears from the ceiling upside down and hanging by her legs. A Roman centurion has appeared on horseback through the wall's of this room too, and this event is said to have terrified two working plumbers. During the year of 1999, Mike and Julie Hunt both reported cold spots, dancing lights like fireflies, and a hooded figure behind the dressing table in the Bishop's Room. John has apparently claimed that tame dogs will attack their owners in the Bishop's Room, and two investigators who spent a night here had to visit a vicar to be exorcised. There are also reports of furniture flying about the Bishop's Room on it's own.

It is said that an innkeeper's daughter was murdered in the attic during the early 1500s. This could possibly be the same as the thirteen year old girl who was allegedly murdered by a highwayman here. People sleeping in the Bishop's Room have reported hearing the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor above their heads in the attic. The sound of a dog panting has also been reported to occur in the attic. Another story says that a woman from the 15th century, also known as the 1400s, was sentenced to death because she was accused of witchcraft. To try and escape, she is said to have stayed in the Inn only to be found the next day and burned at the stake. Her spirit is said to haunt the location, and it's reported that her spirit doesn't mean any harm; although, she doesn't like being called a witch. Her spirit is said to reside in what is known as 'The Witch's Room'.

A black cat apparently haunts the Witch's Room, and it's thought they may be either the witch's cat or the spirit of the 500 year old mummified cat which John had found in the wall. It's believed that cats were hidden like this in walls to bring good luck or to ward off negative spirits. The ghost of a young girl is apparently often seen behind the window of the Witch's Room. People who see her have said she's waving. In the sitting room, it's been said that the spirits of former owners reside here. It's though that the grave of several child skeletons which was found at the foot of the staircase is responsible for the childlike crying which can reportedly be heard through the entire building. Since stuffed animals have been placed everywhere, it's said the crying has lessened but never completely stopped.

Rosie is one named spirit here, and she is reportedly the spirit of a young girl who has been seen floating through the hallways. There is speculation that pagan rituals which may have occured on the site opened a portal in this location for dark energy. One example of this is thought to be that when John first stayed here, he is said to have been pulled from his bed by an unseen force. Apparently his bedroom was also terrorised by a poltergeist which would bang on his window. It's said the bed dragging stopped when John placed a crucifix in his room, but the banging on the window only moved to a different room.

Apparently, Humphries' wife and daughter refused to stay at the Ancient Ram Inn and moved to another house, leaving John to stay here alone; although, he apparently never thought about leaving the Inn. I've also found that there was a time where John tried hanging a picture of the pastor John Wesley in the stairwell. Following this, doors which had been closed for years swing open and slammed shut, plus banging is said to have occured on all of the windows. Apparently, John's daughter's dog didn't enter the stairwell while the painting was up; and so, the painting didn't stay up for long.

The Mayflower Barn is said to be haunted by a 7ft tall dark figure. This figure is said to be both violent and aggressive towards men, but favours a certain type of female. A shadow is reported to appear in the doorway of the barn as though it's protecting something. Sources have said many people believe the diversion of the streams on the property surrounding the church's location unleashed the evil spirits that have been used in local pagan ceremonies. Other hauntings at the Ancient Ram Inn include a groom who was killed in a motorbike accident on his wedding day, a young boy called Peter, and John Humphries himself.

Summary Of Hauntings

1. John Humphries

2. Peter, a young boy

3. Rosie, a young girl

4. Elizabeth

5. An incubus: Bishop's room

6. A succubus: Bishop's room

7. A poltergeist: Bishop's room

8. A black cat: Witches room

9. A 'witch': Witches Room

10. Former owner's murdered daughter

11. A roman centurion: Bishop's room

12. Screams: Bishop's room

13. Crying

14. Banging on windows

15. A shepherd: Bishop's room

16. A shephard's dog: Bishop's room

17. A small cavalier king Charles dog

18. A white mist

19. A groom

20. 2 monks: Bishop's room

21. Bed levitates: Bishop's room

22. Bishops: Bishop's room

23. Nuns: Bjshop's room

24. A dark monk: Bishop's room

25. People thrown: Bishop's room, men's kitchen

26. A young woman, from ceiling upside down hanging by legs: Bishop's room

27. Sound of something heavy dragged in attic: Bishop's room

28. A woman: men's kitchen

29. 7ft tall dark figure: Mayflower Barn

30. Human face on grandfather clock

31. Cold spots

32. Dancing lights like fireflies

33. Hooded figure: Bishop's room

34. Tame dogs attack owners: Bishop's room

35. A dog panting: attic

36. Spirits of former owners: sitting room

My Thoughts

A really important detail to mention first is that it has been said that John Humphries has been accused of being a con man. Having read everything about the location, I can really see how this could be the case. I suspect that this location has one of the highest summary of haunting's segments in an article I've written, and it seems like a fair bit of both the hauntings and history can be traced back to John Humphries. It seems to me that there is a distinct lack of credibly history about this location, and that the Humphries family have been peddling the story that the Inn is far older than it's material indicates. This leads me to question that if one thing they've said is possibly false, then what else have they said which is possibly false?

I don't think its any coincidence that all of the stories around the location being haunted, and of burial grounds and ley lines, all seem to date from after John Humphries took hold of the building. Caroline has even said that they gained business for the Ancient Ram Inn due to the stories it gained of being haunted. So, my suspicion is that John may very well have had an experience but then likely capitalised on it. Business improved, stories became warped, and then 'experiences' became more extreme. The tales about finding skeletons beneath the building, and how this has seemingly propelled the hauntings and created activity including banging on windows, all reminds me far too much of the history regarding the Fox Sisters.

In summary, the Fox Sisters manufactured a haunting in their house at a young age. This gained them fame as psychic mediums who could communicate with spirits through knocks and taps, and bones were found beneath their house which were used as an attempt to prove their legitimacy. History indicates that everything around their paranormal encounters was a hoax, including the bones, and that's something I can't help but think of with the Ancient Ram Inn. I would love nothing more than for it to be extremely active and haunted, but it all seems too extreme and fanciful. The history is clearly wrong, and for me it's an immediate red flag that there are seemingly no sources which discuss only the history of this location. If you search for this location, you will always find the hauntings due to how publicised they are.

This publicity seems like the driving force of this location, and so I'm incredibly skeptical of anything that has been widely reported to haunt here. So, do I think the Ancient Ram Inn is haunted? Yes. As I always say in articles where I've been this skeptical, I believe everywhere with human connection is incredibly likely to be haunted. However, I do not believe that all of these places are actively haunted, and I do not always believe these places are actively haunted by the spirits said to haunt them. So, in the case of the Ancient Ram Inn, I would say it is haunted. I also believe there will be a couple of active hauntings here. After all, places with this kind of reputation would probably die out fast without a real haunting unless the owners were using clever tricks to make the location seem more actively haunted than it was.

So, I believe the Ancient Ram Inn will be haunted, and I believe it will be actively haunted. I do not believe there will be demons here, and I'm skeptical on the stories around the burial grounds. I do think past owners, such as John Humphries, will be here. I think you'll probably have wool merchants haunt the location, and I think the animal spirits will also be legitimate. I would love to visit this location myself to see if I can really push it and get a response from any of the alledged 'demons' or negative spirits present.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading the article! I'm really glad to have finally written about this location as I feel this is one of the buildings people would point to first if asked which places are haunted. I was hoping for more history, and more legitimacy, but I feel this article has highlighted the purpose of this database quite well. The next article will hopefully be published on Friday the 26th of December and will document some folklore. The following article will be published on Monday the 29th of December and will document a haunted location in Nottinghamshire.

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