David and the Cromwell Spirits

The Legend

The Cromwell Hotel stands on ground steeped in English Civil War history. A foundation stone dated 1667 remains visible in the fireplace of Cromwell’s Bar, a silent witness to over three and a half centuries of human drama. The spirits that walk these corridors are not singular but many - an angry male presence, a watchful female figure, and the distant laughter of children echo through rooms that have served travellers since the age of horse-drawn coaches.

The History

Before this building became a hotel in 1925, it served as the farmhouse of John Thurloe, secretary to Oliver Cromwell himself. Thurloe was one of the most powerful men in Interregnum England, running an extensive spy network and overseeing matters of state security. His connection to the site gives the building a direct link to one of the most turbulent periods in British history.

The property’s transformation from working farm to coaching inn to modern hotel has created layers of history within its walls. The cellar and old stables - areas where staff have encountered a shadowy figure dressed in 17th-century clothing - date from the building’s earliest incarnation. These spaces would have witnessed the daily routines of farm workers, stable hands, and servants across generations.

The Hauntings

The paranormal activity at the Cromwell Hotel operates across multiple locations with distinct characteristics in each space.

In the Fairfax Room, investigators have captured a clear, audible sigh during EVP sessions. The room’s namesake, Thomas Fairfax, commanded the New Model Army during the Civil War - whether this connection is coincidental or meaningful remains unknown.

The Naseby Suite experiences regular disturbances: wardrobe hangers rattle without explanation, televisions and lights switch themselves on and off, and cold spots materialise without any apparent source. Named for the decisive 1645 battle, this suite carries the weight of its historical associations.

Room 112 and Room 117 have generated specific incident reports from multiple investigation teams. REM pods and cat balls activate in these spaces, and guests report objects moving position overnight. In a small office adjacent to the Fairfax Room, a bell once rang in a completely empty room - witnessed by staff who found no one present when they investigated.

The cellar produces consistent reports of a male figure wearing clothing from the 1600s. His appearances are brief, usually caught in peripheral vision before fading into shadow.

Witness Accounts

One staff member experienced a deeply unsettling encounter when she witnessed the figure of a woman standing directly over her. The female apparition appeared solid enough to be mistaken for a living person before the witness realised no one should have been in that location.

During paranormal investigations, multiple team members have independently and simultaneously identified a male presence by the name “David.” This occurred during both Ouija sessions and direct communication attempts. The spirit associated with this name displays an angry, forceful personality - investigators have felt physical sensations of touching and pressure during attempts at contact.

Children’s voices and laughter have been heard in areas of the building where no children were present. These sounds are sporadic and unpredictable, adding another layer to the hotel’s spectral population.

Unexplained smells drift through corridors without identifiable sources. Some witnesses describe these as pleasant, others as unsettling - the nature of the scents varies between accounts.

Investigation and Evidence

Spectrum Paranormal conducted a detailed investigation of the property, capturing EVP evidence and recording what they describe as intelligent responses through spirit box sessions. Their findings documented EMF spikes in historically significant areas and poltergeist-type interactions with their equipment.

Ghostly Gatherings runs regular investigation events at the Cromwell, with their teams building a substantial body of documented activity. Their records include table-tipping sessions that produced movement, light anomalies captured on camera, and consistent activation of detection equipment across the Naseby Suite, Fairfax Room, and Bourchier Suite.

External cameras monitoring the main front door have captured unexplained phenomena, and an orb was observed and photographed in one of the hotel’s bathrooms during a controlled investigation.

The volume of documented incidents across different investigation teams, combined with ongoing staff and guest reports, has established the Cromwell Hotel as one of Hertfordshire’s most actively haunted locations.

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This ghost story is part of the haunted history of Cromwell Hotel. Book a stay to experience the paranormal atmosphere for yourself.