The Drunk Tank Ghost of Aldermaston

In the shadow of The Hind’s Head pub in Aldermaston stands a small, red-brick building that holds within its walls one of Berkshire’s most poignant ghost stories. This Grade II listed lock-up, with its distinctive domed roof and studded door, witnessed a tragedy in 1865 that would mark the end of its function and give birth to a haunting that persists to this day.

The Final Prisoner

The winter of 1865 was particularly harsh, and on one fateful evening, a local man found himself worse for drink and causing a disturbance in the village. As was customary in Victorian times, he was promptly marched to the lock-up behind the inn to sober up overnight. The small cell, measuring approximately 7.5 feet by 6 feet, was enclosed by a heavy studded door with an iron grille - a stark reminder of the building’s purpose as the village jail.

What should have been a routine overnight detention became a devastating tragedy. In the bitter cold of the night, the imprisoned man attempted to light a fire to warm himself in the cramped confines of his cell. Whether through desperation, intoxication, or simple misfortune, the flames quickly got out of control. Trapped within the locked cell, he was unable to escape the inferno he had unwittingly created.

The Tragic Discovery

When morning came and the village constable arrived to release the prisoner, he was met with the horrifying sight of the cell’s charred interior. The man had perished in the flames, his attempt to find warmth in the cold lock-up becoming his final act. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the small community of Aldermaston, and the authorities immediately decreed that the lock-up would never again be used to house prisoners.

This 1865 incident marked the definitive end of the building’s role in local law enforcement. Where once it had served as a place of temporary detention for minor offenders and those who had imbibed too freely, it now stood as a silent monument to a life lost in the most tragic of circumstances.

The Haunting Begins

According to local accounts, it was not long after the fire that strange occurrences began to be reported around the lock-up and the grounds of The Hind’s Head. Witnesses have described catching glimpses of a shadowy figure moving about the area where the old jail stands, particularly during the colder months when the tragedy originally occurred.

The manifestations are said to be subtle yet persistent. Staff and visitors to the pub have reported an unexplained warmth emanating from the vicinity of the lock-up, as if the ghostly prisoner is still attempting to ward off the bitter cold that drove him to his desperate act. Others have detected the faint scent of woodsmoke in the air around the building, despite no fires being lit in the area.

A Residual Haunting

Paranormal researchers who have examined the case suggest that the haunting at The Hind’s Head represents what is known as a residual haunting - the psychic imprint of a traumatic event that replays itself at the location where it occurred. The ghost is believed to be trapped in an endless cycle, perhaps still attempting to escape the flames that claimed his life over 150 years ago.

The tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the harsh realities of Victorian justice and the vulnerability of those who found themselves on the wrong side of the law. What was intended as a night’s sobering detention became a death sentence, and the man’s spirit appears unable to find peace in the aftermath of such a traumatic end.

Historical Significance

The lock-up itself has considerable historical importance beyond its ghostly reputation. Built of red brick with its distinctive domed roof, it was designated as a Grade II listed building in April 1967, recognising its architectural and historical significance. The structure had served the community since at least the 16th century, when it was used to detain Francis Parkyns during a local dispute.

The 1865 fire death was not the building’s only brush with tragedy, but it was certainly the most defining moment in its history. The decision to cease its use as a detention facility following this incident reflects the impact the man’s death had on the local community and authorities.

The Legacy Continues

Today, the lock-up stands as part of The Hind’s Head’s rich historical tapestry, open to visitors during Heritage Days. The building serves as a tangible link to both the village’s past and to the ghost story that emerged from one of its darkest moments. The inn itself, dating back to the 17th century, continues to operate as a pub and hotel, its guests and staff living alongside the memory of the tragedy that unfolded in its grounds.

Those who encounter the drunk tank ghost describe not a malevolent presence, but rather a sorrowful one - the spirit of a man who paid the ultimate price for seeking warmth on a cold winter’s night. His story serves as both a cautionary tale and a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Victorian justice system, ensuring that his memory lives on in the folklore of Aldermaston.