Strand House consists of two ancient buildings joined together—the front house dating from around 1425 and the rear malthouse from the 1300s. Originally a farmhouse, the property served many dark purposes throughout the centuries: possibly operating as a medieval brothel in the 15th/16th centuries, a hospital inhabited by monks in the 16th century, and most notably as a parish workhouse from the 17th through 19th centuries. By 1777, parliamentary reports recorded 24 inmates residing within these walls—paupers, elderly, and children who couldn't pay their rent, trapped in desperate poverty. Many witnesses believe these tortured souls never truly left. The building stands on what was once Winchelsea's bustling quayside when the sea reached up to its current car park. After the port silted up in the 15th century, the lowland areas became marshland—ideal for smugglers and their dangerous trade. A smugglers' tunnel still exists at the rear of the house, reportedly leading up to the Armoury in Winchelsea. In 1780, an armed clash between Excise men and smugglers erupted in the adjoining meadow, likely ending in bloodshed and death—events that may explain some of the supernatural activity experienced by guests. The workhouse closed in 1835 when the Rye Poor Law Union was formed, and the building operated as a working farm into the 20th century. It was converted to a guest house in 1922 by two sisters who named it "The Old Poor Houses." The building's historical significance was recognised by JMW Turner, who sketched it around 1817. Today, this Grade 2 listed building welcomes guests who may encounter the spirits of its troubled past—from suffering workhouse inmates to violent smugglers to wandering monks—all still lingering within its ancient walls, their presence felt most strongly in the quiet hours of darkness.
Paranormal Activity
The full-blown apparition seen at the bottom of the stairs has been witnessed by multiple guests who have stayed at the property under different owners over the years. The phantom footsteps that circle beds in the dead of night suggest restless spirits still walking their nightly rounds—perhaps monks from the hospital era, or the workhouse master checking on inmates. Guests report many uncanny experiences, with the building's tremendous history and atmosphere creating an environment where the veil between past and present feels particularly thin.