The Unfaithful Wife of Retford
The West Retford Hotel has a long history of paranormal activity, centred around the ghost of a woman who is believed to have had an affair with the stable boy. This illicit relationship ultimately led to tragic consequences, with the stable boy taking his own life due to the scandal. The woman's fate remains a mystery, but her presence is still felt in the hotel's corridors. Guests and staff have reported seeing her apparition, which seems to be drawn to the area where the stables once stood.
Circa the 1910s, a romantic affair between a married woman and a stable boy at the West Retford Hotel ended in tragedy. The stable boy, unable to cope with the scandal, committed suicide. The woman's ultimate fate is unknown, but it's said that her spirit still roams the hotel's corridors, heading towards the site of the former stables. This haunting manifestation has been reported by multiple witnesses over the years, with sightings typically occurring in the evening.
The hotel has been a local landmark for centuries, with the stables being a key part of its operations.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Mysterious Black Cat Sighting
Just outside the town, Retford
Just outside Retford, on a dark and lonely stretch of road, a woman driving her car at night spotted a large black cat the size of a Labrador as it ran out in front of her car. The creature disappeared into nearby fields, leaving the driver shaken. This sighting was not an isolated incident, as another woman came forward saying she had seen the exact same thing in the same area in the late 1990s.
The Edwardian Barrister Ghost
Town Hall, Retford
Retford Town Hall is home to a rather eerie presence - a lanky figure clad in a grey wig and black gown, believed to be an Edwardian barrister. This ghostly form is said to haunt the main staircase, where it tends to lurkingly appear to unsuspecting visitors. The image of this spectral lawyer is quite vivid, and one can't help but wonder what draws him to this particular spot in the town hall.
The Man in Black Phantom
Little Theatre, Retford
The Little Theatre in Retford is home to a mysterious presence known as the Man in Black. This ghostly gentleman is said to appear wearing a smart suit, adding to the theatre's already rich history. His presence is often accompanied by disembodied footsteps and sudden cold drafts, which can be unsettling for those who encounter him. The Man in Black is a classic example of a residual haunting, where a ghostly energy is imprinted on a location, replaying a moment in time over and over.
The Repressed Masonic Hall Ghost
Masonic Hall, Retford
The Masonic Hall in Retford is a place where the atmosphere can shift dramatically. It's as if the building itself seems to be holding its breath, weighed down by an oppressive feeling that's hard to shake. This was the experience of the Bassetlaw Ghost Research Group when they investigated the hall back in 2002. They reported a heavy, repressive feeling that seemed to permeate every corner of the building, making it clear that something was amiss.
Lion Sighting Retford
Hallcroft Road, Retford
Hallcroft Road in Retford was the scene of a bizarre incident on a January evening in 2008. A bus driver was making his way down the road at around 19:30 when he witnessed a lion cross the road ahead of his vehicle. The driver was so startled by the sighting that he immediately contacted the police to report what he had seen. Although it was a chilly winter's evening, the bus driver was clear about what he had seen - a lion, with no apparent connection to a circus or zoo in the area.
The Elms Ghostly Apparition
The Elms, Retford
The Elms in Retford has been a site of paranormal activity since the 1940s. Back then, the building had been converted into a hospital and one soldier on guard duty reported seeing an elderly woman in a Victorian-style dress gliding across the grounds before vanishing into thin air. This eerie apparition may have been spotted multiple times since the soldier's encounter. The Elms is now a hotel, and guests and staff have reportedly experienced strange occurrences.