Bedford Public House Ghost
The original Bedford Hotel was built in the 1870s. In 1876, the pub building housed the coroner's inquest into the notorious unsolved murder of Charles Bravo, a resident and lawyer who was poisoned, possibly by his wife. Charles Delauney Bravo was a British lawyer who was fatally poisoned with antimony in 1876. The case is still sensational, notorious and unresolved. The second inquest concluded with a verdict of wilful murder by person or persons unknown. No one was ever charged, and the case remains unsolved.
During the Coroner's inquest, the lurid details of Florence's past affair with Dr James Manby Gully, a married man thirty-seven years her senior, became a topic of intense fascination. Gully was a suspect, but although he testified at the inquest, nothing further came of the case. In 1923, Sir Harry Poland QC stated that "Dr. Gully was in no way implicated."The Bedford Pub was the location of the inquest, and some say it is haunted by Charles himself. Sightings of a shimmering grey figure have been seen in the ballroom, which was once the billiards room. In one incident an entire piano fell off a stage by itself at around midnight after a jazz concert. Some say the event was caused by an angry ghost who didn't like the music. The Bedford in Balham is one of London's most iconic pubs - a historic Grade II listed venue famed for its live entertainment and vibrant spirit.
The Bedford Public House dates back to the Victorian era.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Grey Haired Man Haunting
Cathles Road, SW12
Cathles Road in south London is home to a rather restless spirit, known as the Grey Haired Man. This ghostly presence was said to haunt a house along the road, causing quite a commotion for the tenant who lived there. The Grey Haired Man's antics were so loud and unsettling that the tenant eventually fled, leaving behind a trail of unpaid rent and a court case to follow. It's not hard to imagine the fear and frustration that came with living alongside such a boisterous phantom.
The Phantom Railway Guide
Between Wandsworth Common and Victoria Station, SW18
Wandsworth Common, a sprawling green space in south London, has been a shortcut for travellers heading to Victoria Station for centuries. But one commuter's journey took a strange turn in the 1890s. A man, seeking to avoid the busy roads, cut across the common, only to become disoriented. Just as he was starting to worry, a fellow traveller appeared, claiming to be headed to Victoria Station as well. The stranger kindly offered to guide him through the common, and they eventually boarded the same carriage at the station. Their conversation was pleasant, until the stranger mentioned being robbed and stabbed on a train between London and Brighton. Then, in an instant, he vanished, leaving the other passenger stunned.
Mother Marnes Haunting
Ye Olde Gatehouse Public House, N6
Deep in the heart of Highgate, the historic Ye Olde Gatehouse Public House is said to be haunted by the restless spirit of Mother Marnes. This phantom presence is believed to be the ghost of a woman who met a tragic end, murdered many moons ago for her money. Locals and visitors alike have reported catching glimpses of Mother Marnes as she meanders around the building, often accompanied by her loyal pet cat. Her presence is a poignant reminder of the darker history that lies beneath the surface of this charming pub.
Ruth Ellis Nightclub Ghost
Caesar's Nightclub, SW16
Caesar's Nightclub on Streatham Hill has a reputation for being one of London's most haunted venues. Staff have reported encountering a mysterious female presence, believed to be the ghost of Ruth Ellis. She seems to make her presence known by giving many staff members cold shivers while they're working alone. It's not just the chills that are unsettling, but also the unexplained echoing footsteps that can be heard down empty corridors. These strange occurrences have led to Ruth being named as the shady female form that haunts the nightclub.
The Grey Ghost of Wandsworth
Wandsworth Prison, SW18
Wandsworth Prison, a foreboding Victorian-era jail, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Annie, a spectral presence clad in grey. Prisoners and staff have reported catching glimpses of her drifting listlessly around the corridors, her ethereal form a poignant reminder of the prison's complex history. Despite the lack of concrete information about Annie's identity or the circumstances of her death, her ghostly presence has become an integral part of the prison's paranormal folklore.
Whistling Stone of Clapham
Clapham Common, SW4
Clapham Common, a sprawling green space in south London, is home to a rather eerie phenomenon known as the Whistling Stone. This unsettling occurrence was said to take place on the common, where a peculiar whistling sound was heard emanating from a stone. The tune was reportedly quite sad, and one story behind the haunting suggests it was created by a murdered pedlar. The stone itself was eventually removed around 1900, but the legend of the Whistling Stone has lived on.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Bedford Public House

Fox Connaught
Newham, London

The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel
Dartford, Kent

The Ostrich Inn
Colnbrook, Berkshire

Great Fosters Hotel
Egham, Surrey