Skip to main content

Bolton's Bloodied Hands Haunting

Ye Olde Man and Scythe Public House, Bolton, Greater Manchester Unknown Medieval

Ye Olde Man and Scythe Public House in Bolton has a reputation for being one of the town's most haunted venues. A woman once discovered her hands were covered in blood as she left the pub, with no explanation for the mysterious liquid. It was as if she'd been handling something gruesome, but she hadn't. This bizarre incident was just the beginning of a series of strange occurrences that would plague the pub for years to come.

Digging deeper into the pub's history, it's clear that Ye Olde Man and Scythe has been a Bolton landmark for centuries. The spirit of Geny, an eight-year-old girl, is said to be responsible for a string of mischievous events, including tugging at people's skirts, pinching them, and moving items around. A phantom dog is also reportedly seen running around chairs in the museum room, while a Roman soldier may be haunting the beer garden. These sightings and experiences have been reported by multiple witnesses over the years, adding to the pub's ghostly reputation.

Historical Context

The pub dates back to the medieval period, with a rich history in Bolton.

Location

Location Details

Location Type
Public House
Activity Types
Visual Audio Tactile
Witness Credibility
Multiple Witnesses
Threat Level
Harmless
Accessibility
Public Access
Date / Era
Late twentieth century (blood story), and 2000s (Geny)
Postcode Area
BL1

Nearby Haunted Places

Apparition 0 mi

The Crying Child of Churchgate

Churchgate Public House, Bolton

Churchgate Public House in Bolton is said to be haunted by the heartbreaking cries of a child. The story goes that a woman was thrown out of the pub on a freezing winter's evening, pregnant with her employer's child. Tragically, she died in the cold, and now her child's wails can be heard echoing through the building. It's a sorrowful tale that has led to reports of paranormal activity, including sightings of a dog running upstairs, only to vanish into thin air.

Public House Victorian
Read Full Story
Poltergeist 0.1 mi

Bolton Pub Poltergeist

Old Three Crowns Public House, Bolton

The Old Three Crowns Public House on Deansgate in Bolton has been at the centre of a bizarre and unexplained phenomenon. It's here that patrons and staff have reported hearing the sound of running footsteps and breathing, which can only be described as unsettling. An engineer working in the cellar had a particularly harrowing experience when he felt an icy hand pass over his shoulder and turn a nearby tap, which was enough to make him refuse to return to the area. It's clear that something strange is happening within these walls.

Public House Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.1 mi

The Ghost of Minnie Stott

Bradshawgate, Bolton

Bradshawgate in Bolton is a hub of paranormal activity, and one of its most fascinating ghost stories is that of Minnie Stott. In 1987, a teenager working for a nearby garage witnessed a strange mist forming into a human-like shape at the top of a set of steps. The teenager was understandably shocked when later shown a picture of Minnie Stott, a young woman who was brutally murdered in the 1940s, as that was the figure she had seen manifest. This chilling encounter has left many wondering about the connection between the living and the dead.

Street World War II
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.2 mi

Mysterious Hand on Bottom

Albion Hotel, Bolton

At the Albion Hotel in Bolton, a rather unusual and unsettling experience has been reported by the female owner. She felt something grab her bottom as she climbed into the bath, leaving her with a sense of shock and unease. This bizarre incident is just one of several strange occurrences that have been linked to the hotel, with reports of a mischievous ghost also playing around with the beer pumps. It's not clear what might have prompted these actions, but they have left a lasting impression on those who have experienced them.

Hotel Victorian
Read Full Story
UFO 0.2 mi

Bolton's Bizarre Light Bulb Heads

Alleyway in town, Bolton

Deep in Bolton town centre, a strange encounter took place back in November 1926. A local lad had slipped out of his house to play hide and seek with his friends on a chilly autumn night. While searching for them, he stumbled upon something that would leave him shaken. In a back yard, he spotted three figures clad in grey rubber suits and what can only be described as fishbowl helmets. Their faces were pale and shaped like upside-down pears, with slits for eyes and mouth. The boy was so startled that when these peculiar beings moved towards him, he turned and ran back home as fast as his legs could carry him.

Alleyway Interwar
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.2 mi

Bolton Theatre Ghost

Octagon Theatre, Bolton

The Octagon Theatre in Bolton is home to a gentle ghostly presence, that of Vida Swift, the theatre's former wardrobe mistress. Vida met her untimely demise while carrying out her duties, and it's said that her spirit has lingered, unable to rest. She has been spotted wandering the corridors and can often be seen frequenting the stage control box, perhaps ensuring that the show always goes on.

Theatre Modern
Read Full Story