The Bell Inn
The Bell Inn
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near guest bedrooms (particularly turpin sightings) for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
The Resident Spirits
A multi-layered haunting featuring Dick Turpin as the most famous spirit, the literary ghost of Daniel Defoe by the fireplace, a mysterious Lady in Grey wandering the corridors, and ongoing poltergeist activity throughout the inn.
Dick Turpin's ghost appears as a dark figure at the foot of beds, particularly after a 1962 incident when a new landlord reported strange atmosphere and spontaneous fires in his former room. Daniel Defoe's spirit is seen by the reception fireplace, calmly smoking a clay pipe in period attire, appearing as a peaceful residual haunting of his living habits. The Lady in Grey drifts silently through corridors in elegant period dress, her identity unknown but her familiarity with the building suggesting a deep historical connection. Poltergeist activity includes equipment moving or disappearing from bar and kitchen areas, only to reappear days later in different locations. Staff report feeling constantly watched and seeing shadowy figures in peripheral vision. The restaurant houses a 'cursed table' associated with unusual accidents and reportedly three customer deaths.
Historical Background
Building Age
Former 16th century coaching inn, thought to date back to 1500, with possible origins as early as 1437 based on records of a local innkeeper
Original Purpose
Coaching inn on the Great North Road
Historical Significance
Historic coaching inn on the Great North Road, famously linked to highwayman Dick Turpin who reportedly hid here for nine weeks while being hunted by the law. Also notable as a regular stop for writer Daniel Defoe between 1697-1701, who wrote about Stilton cheese in his 1724 treatise. The inn helped popularize Stilton cheese, adding to its culinary legacy.
Architecture
Historic coaching inn with ivy-clad stone walls and timber beams
What Guests Experience
Reported Activity
Dick Turpin's apparition at bedsides, Daniel Defoe smoking by the fireplace, Lady in Grey wandering corridors, poltergeist activity moving objects in bar/kitchen, staff feeling constantly watched, shadowy peripheral figures, equipment disappearing and reappearing, unusual accidents around cursed restaurant table.
Most Active Areas
Guest bedrooms (particularly Turpin sightings), reception fireplace area (Defoe's ghost), upstairs corridors (Lady in Grey), bar and kitchen areas (poltergeist activity), restaurant (cursed table), main staircase and hallways (general paranormal activity).
Witness Accounts
Staff and guests report consistent sightings of Daniel Defoe smoking by the fireplace, the Lady in Grey in period dress moving through corridors, and Dick Turpin as a dark figure at bedsides. The 1962 landlord reported strange atmosphere and spontaneous fires in Turpin's former room. Kitchen and bar staff document equipment regularly disappearing and reappearing in different locations days later, with an overwhelming sense of being watched throughout their work shifts.
Paranormal Investigations
The Bell Inn’s hauntings have been featured in TV and magazine articles on haunted hotels. Ghost hunting groups have conducted overnight investigations; in one case, a team claimed to record an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) saying “Stand and deliver,” Turpin’s famed hold-up phrase, though skeptics question the authenticity. The inn embraces its ghostly fame to a degree – around Halloween, it sometimes offers ghost-story nights for guests. To date, Dick Turpin’s ghost remains an enduring legend that draws curious visitors from afar.
Experience These Encounters Yourself
Ready to witness the paranormal activity firsthand? Book your stay and join the ranks of guests who've encountered the supernatural.
Check Availability & RatesContact Details
Address:
Great North Road, Stilton, Cambridgeshire, PE7 3RA, UK
Phone: +44 1733 241066
Status: Unknown
Special Packages
Wedding packages available. Sometimes offers ghost-story nights around Halloween.
Accessibility
Offers a Double Room with Disability Access / Accessible Double Room with en-suite wetroom. Disabled access for wedding venue.
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