There have been many articles written on the ghosts of St Annes Castle.

This article appeared in the Courier and details the results of a visit to St Anne's by local psychic Patricia Putt.

More to be added...

I am aware that most of our Customers think I am ‘weird’ by showing so much interest in the paranormal, but living in a building as old as St Annes Castle, with so much history and reported paranormal activity over the years I cannot help finding it not only interesting but I have the ‘need’ to find out just who is ‘with us’ here!

To live in a place where the TV turns itself off and on, CD’s play and stop of their own accord, things go missing and then turn up later exactly where they were left must make the enquiring mind ask many questions.
One of the main questions I am asked by anyone visiting our property is – “Who is it that haunts the Pub?”
To find out some answers for them (and myself) I have joined a Ghosthunting Group who have had several all night vigils at St Annes Castle, and found out some very interesting ‘visitors’ that we have here:-

We have a Gentleman of the name George Harry Benfield, he had 5 children and lived in the Old School House, he was possibly a gunsmith. It appears his first born child, a son named Thomas was his brothers child, and when George found out he tied a piece of rope around Mother and Sons necks, attached the rope to a piece of wood, and turned the wood until their necks broke. The date of the dirty deed – march 17th 1875. (In the week following the vigil the team members did as much research as possible to prove – or disprove all the findings of the night, and we found an Internet site which named a George Benfield, who was tried and hung in Chelmsford in 1875 for killing his Wife and Son.) Ooh er!!!

We ‘have’ a little girl with long blonde curly hair here, she likes cooking and walks around with a mixing bowl, doing her baking.

We ‘have’ a little boy, who plays with the girl, but is not allowed to be seen playing with her by the ‘grown ups’.

The witch that wonders around here has been named as Anne Hughes, further research finds that a Lady named Anne Huwghes from Great Leighs was killed in 1621, accused of being a witch.
One ‘visitor’ we have is a Black cat, who has been seen by myself, Dave, barmaid Lian and numerous Customers – we can only imagine that this may be the witches cat.

We have a Lady called Elizabeth who walks around our bedroom in her Wedding dress, looking out of the window frequently, was she looking for her Husband – was she jilted, we are still researching this.

There are Monks in ‘residence’, possibly a connection with Leez Priory, but these are not friendly Monks, they are up to no good!!!

There is a Gentleman who sits in the bar smoking a pipe – a very strong smell of pipe smoke is frequently smelt.

We have one room upstairs which has a really bad feel, many have ventured into that room and left feeling very nauseas, with the feeling of death and sadness. I hate that room and keep it bolted – only venturing in if I really have to!!!!

If anyone has any History of this Building or Paranormal stories regarding St Anne's Castle, please do contact me.

Pat x x x x