Juliet Tewsley

The Legend of the Heartbroken Maiden

According to local folklore, Juliet Tewsley was a seventeen-year-old maiden living in Holywell during the 11th century who met a tragic end on St Patrick’s Day, 1050. The story tells of her passionate but unrequited love for a local forester named Tom Zoul, whose rejection led to her desperate final act. Contemporary accounts vary regarding the manner of her death—some claim she hanged herself from a tree near the inn where Tom would see her body on his way to work, whilst others suggest she drowned herself in the River Great Ouse that flows beside the village.

Whatever the method, the consensus remains that heartbroken Juliet took her own life on March 17th, 1050. Due to the medieval church’s stance on suicide, she was denied burial in consecrated ground and was instead interred in unhallowed earth close to where the Old Ferry Boat Inn now stands. Her grave was marked only with a plain stone slab, reflecting the stigma attached to self-inflicted death in 11th-century England.

The Physical Evidence and Modern Setting

The granite slab that allegedly marks Juliet’s final resting place has become incorporated into the inn’s interior through centuries of building extensions and modifications. Today, this stone can be seen set into the floor of the restaurant area, positioned on the southwestern side of the pub. The slab bears witness to the tale, though its origins remain unverified by archaeological investigation.

Above the gravestone, painted in tall gold lettering on an oak beam near the bar, visitors can read the memorial inscription: “In memory of Juliet Tewsley who died 17th March 1050 AD.” Framed newspaper clippings about the haunting hang on the surrounding walls, testament to the enduring fascination with her story. Staff and guests alike have long observed an unwritten rule: stepping on the grave slab is believed to invite serious misfortune, with tradition dictating that anyone who does so must buy drinks for everyone present in the pub.

Annual Manifestations and Reported Phenomena

The most documented supernatural events occur annually on March 17th, when Juliet’s spirit is said to return to the scene of her despair. Witnesses describe seeing her ghostly form rise from the river at midnight, gliding across the landscape towards her grave within the inn. She appears as a forlorn figure in medieval dress, her features often indistinct and shrouded in an ethereal mist.

Jamie Toms, former team leader and duty manager who lived above the pub, documented several phenomena during his tenure. He reported that the week leading up to March 17th often brought increased activity: lights would pulsate or brighten without anyone adjusting the controls, and guests frequently complained of restless nights if they had unknowingly walked over the grave slab. The establishment has developed its own ritual around Juliet’s presence—lights that refuse to switch off will apparently respond to staff saying “goodnight Juliet.”

Contemporary Encounters and Investigations

Modern accounts from staff and visitors paint a picture of subtle but persistent supernatural activity. Unexplained cold spots manifest around the bar area even when heating runs at full capacity, and guests report feeling watched whilst enjoying their meals. Menus have been found mysteriously moved to the floor, doors slam without explanation, and the sounds of footsteps echo through empty corridors during the night hours.

Connor Button, a team leader at the inn, noted that whilst staff haven’t witnessed full apparitions, paranormal investigation groups regularly detect unusual activity during their March visits. Some visitors have reported photographing faint outlines near the grave slab, though such evidence remains inconclusive. The consistency of reports, however, particularly around the anniversary date, maintains the legend’s credibility among believers.

Historical Context and Scholarly Scrutiny

The story of Juliet Tewsley exists within a complex web of local folklore and historical investigation. Whilst the tale has been passed down through generations, no Norman records have been found to substantiate the existence of either Juliet Tewsley or Tom Zoul. The legend reportedly gained specificity during séances conducted in the 1950s, during which participants claimed to contact the young woman’s spirit. Intriguingly, these sessions produced inconsistent information—initial communications suggested an 11th-century dating, whilst a subsequent séance the following year moved the timeline forward to the 15th century.

Further investigation has revealed that Reverend Alexander George McLennan Pearce Higgins was vocal in disputing the historical authenticity of the story, pointing out the absence of any Saxon records mentioning a girl named Juliet Tewsley in Holywell. However, in a curious turn, Reverend Higgins subsequently wrote a short story that incorporated details from séance sessions, effectively creating a more elaborate local legend than had previously existed.

The Enduring Appeal

Despite questions surrounding its historical accuracy, the story of Juliet Tewsley continues to captivate visitors to the Old Ferry Boat Inn. The pub embraces its supernatural reputation, hosting themed evenings around March 17th that attract paranormal enthusiasts from across the country. The presence of the grave slab provides a tangible connection to the legend, whilst the atmospheric setting of the 17th-century inn—with its low-beamed ceilings and riverside location—creates an ideal backdrop for ghostly encounters.

Whether rooted in historical fact or emerging from collective imagination, Juliet Tewsley’s story reflects broader themes of unrequited love, social stigma, and the persistence of memory across centuries. Her annual return serves as a poignant reminder of past sorrows, whilst the continued respect shown by staff and visitors towards her alleged resting place speaks to the enduring power of folklore in binding communities to their landscape and history.