The Skirrid Mountain Inn in Llanvihangel Crucorney, near Abergavenny, claims to be the oldest pub in Wales, with origins dating back to 1110 AD. While the current building dates from the mid-late 17th century, an inn has stood on this site for over 900 years, originally serving pilgrims traveling to Llanthony Priory. The inn sits at the foot of Skirrid Mountain, which legend says was split in two by lightning at the moment of Christ's crucifixion. The Courthouse and Execution Site The inn gained its dark reputation as a courthouse and execution site between the 12th and 17th centuries. According to legend, between 180 and 182 criminals were hanged from a single oak beam that still exists over the staircase. Visible rope marks can still be seen on this 900-year-old beam. Unlike traditional gallows, victims were forced off the steps, resulting in slow death by suffocation. The first recorded execution was John Crowther in 1110 for sheep stealing, with the last execution occurring around 1658.
###Historical Connections
In the early 1400s, Welsh Prince Owain Glyndŵr allegedly rallied rebel forces in the courtyard before raiding English settlements during the Welsh Revolt. In 1175, nobleman William de Braose supposedly orchestrated a Christmas Day massacre here, inviting Welsh nobles to dinner before ordering his men to slay them all, though no historical records confirm this event.
###Judge Jeffreys - The Hanging Judge
The notorious 17th century Judge George Jeffreys, known as the "Hanging Judge," is the inn's most famous spirit. Though documentation is lost, legend claims he sat in judgment here during the Bloody Assizes following the Monmouth Rebellion. His malevolent ghost stalks the upper floors, forever searching for people to condemn to death. ###The Resident Spirits
- John Crowther: The first victim hanged in 1110, this sheep rustler's apparition has been witnessed multiple times throughout the building.
- The Hangman: A tall, foreboding black shadow-like mass haunts the upper floors and staircase where executions were performed.
- Fanny Price: The inn's most active and famous ghost. She worked here in the 18th century and died of consumption at age 35. Buried in the adjacent St. Michael's Church graveyard, she primarily haunts Room 3 and appears with the smell of lavender. While usually gentle, one guest claimed Fanny held her head underwater in the bath.
- Father Henry Vaughn: A local clergyman whose friendly, comforting presence watches over the downstairs pub area.
- The White Lady: In 1700, a servant girl having an affair with the lord of the manor was chased into the woods by his wife and found frozen to death. Her spirit appears in a white dress in the courtyard, accompanied by rustling fabric and perfume.
###Paranormal Activity
- The Noose Effect: Guests feel invisible nooses tightening around their necks, with red marks and rope burns appearing that last for days after leaving.
- Physical Phenomena: Overwhelming dizziness, nausea, and fear on the staircase. Invisible presences pass guests. Objects are tugged, including clothing and bedding.
- Poltergeist Activity: Glasses fly off the bar unaided (10-15 per week). A £10 note with stacked coins levitated across the bar. When owners tried to sell the inn, glasses were smashed and thrown during viewings.
- Auditory Phenomena: Phantom footsteps across slate floors, lute music, hushed voices, cantering horses outside, and marching soldiers in the courtyard.
- Visual Phenomena: Dark shadows on stairs, orbs of light, a helmeted soldier on the staircase, moving shadows at windows, faces, and a ghostly cat.
- Environmental Changes: Sudden cold spots and unexplained temperature drops throughout the building.
###Most Haunted Areas
Room 3 is the most active, known as Fanny Price's domain. The staircase with the hanging beam is the most terrifying spot where choking sensations occur. The first floor courtroom (now guest rooms) and prisoner's cell (now storage) remain extremely active. The basement is feared by staff and off-limits to guests.
###Popular Culture
Featured on Most Haunted (Series 2, 2003), Extreme Ghost Stories (Series 1, 2006), Doctor Who, and the film John Carter. The inn regularly hosts ghost hunting events and continues operating as a working pub, offering guests the chance to stay where over 180 executions have left an indelible supernatural imprint.