The Small Boy

The Enigmatic Child Spirit

Perhaps the most intriguing and mysterious of the Brook Red Lion Hotel’s resident spirits is the small boy who haunts the Parliament room. Unlike Alice Catherine Millar, whose tragic history is well-documented, or the hooded monk whose heroic death is recorded in local legend, the identity and origins of this child spirit remain shrouded in mystery. What makes his presence particularly fascinating is the unique way he manifests and the specific demographic that most commonly encounters him.

The small boy appears to be a child of perhaps six to eight years of age, though descriptions of his appearance vary depending on the witness and circumstances of the encounter. Some describe him as wearing period clothing that could place him anywhere from the 17th to 19th centuries, whilst others report seeing a more indistinct childlike figure. This variability in description is not uncommon in paranormal encounters, where the observer’s expectations and psychological state can influence perception.

The Parliament Room Setting

The Parliament room, where the boy is most frequently encountered, holds significant historical importance within the Brook Red Lion Hotel. Originally serving as the banqueting hall during the hotel’s medieval period, this space later gained prominence when Oliver Cromwell held official parliamentary meetings within its timber-framed walls. The room’s ancient wooden beams and atmospheric interior create an environment steeped in centuries of human activity and emotion.

During the English Civil War period, when Cromwell used the room for governmental purposes, it would have witnessed intense political discussions, strategic planning, and decision-making that affected the entire nation. The presence of a child spirit in such a historically significant space raises intriguing questions about his connection to these momentous events, though no definitive historical link has been established.

Today, the Parliament room serves as the hotel’s restaurant, maintaining its historical character whilst accommodating modern dining needs. The original features, including the exposed timber ceiling and medieval stonework, create an atmospheric setting that seems particularly conducive to paranormal activity. Many guests report feeling watched whilst dining, though few initially realise they may be under the observation of a centuries-old child spirit.

Unique Manifestation Patterns

What sets the small boy apart from the hotel’s other spirits is his apparent preference for revealing himself to children rather than adults. This phenomenon is well-documented in paranormal research, where child spirits often find it easier to communicate with living children, possibly due to shared innocence, openness, or lack of psychological barriers that adults typically develop.

Parents dining in the Parliament room have reported their children suddenly beginning to laugh, play, or engage in conversations with an invisible companion. When questioned, these children often describe playing with “the boy” or talking to a child who appears perfectly real to them but remains invisible to adult eyes. These interactions are typically playful and positive, with no reports of the child spirit causing fear or distress to his young visitors.

The consistency of these reports across different families, time periods, and circumstances lends significant credibility to the accounts. Children from different backgrounds, with no prior knowledge of the hotel’s haunted reputation, independently describe similar encounters with a child companion in the Parliament room.

Photographic Evidence

One of the most compelling aspects of the small boy’s manifestation is his tendency to appear in photographs taken by guests in the Parliament room. Unlike many paranormal phenomena that seem to avoid technological detection, this child spirit appears to have no such inhibitions. Multiple families have discovered, upon reviewing their holiday photographs, the unmistakable figure of a young boy appearing in shots taken during their meal.

These photographic anomalies typically show a translucent or semi-solid figure of a child, often positioned near dining tables or in the background of family photographs. The consistency of these images, captured by different people using various types of cameras and mobile phones, provides some of the most tangible evidence for the boy’s existence.

Some photographs show what appears to be a child in period dress, whilst others capture a more modern-looking figure. This variation might suggest either different time periods of manifestation or the spirit’s ability to adjust his appearance based on the era or expectations of those present. Paranormal researchers often note that spirits can appear differently to various witnesses, influenced by the observer’s subconscious expectations and psychological state.

Possible Historical Connections

While the small boy’s identity remains unknown, several theories have been proposed to explain his presence in the Parliament room. One possibility connects him to the 1970s fire that tragically claimed lives at the hotel. The CSV data specifically mentions “the sound of panicking children” being heard, described as “a spectral remnant of a fire in the 1970s where people died in the inferno.” This suggests that the small boy might be connected to this more recent tragedy rather than the hotel’s medieval past.

Alternatively, he could be related to the hooded monk’s story. The monk died attempting to rescue children from a fire “several hundred years ago,” and it’s possible that the small boy represents one of those children who perished in that historical blaze. This connection would explain why both spirits manifest in the same building and could suggest an ongoing spiritual relationship between the protective monk and the child he was unable to save.

Another theory proposes that the boy might be connected to the Cromwellian period when the Parliament room served its governmental function. During the English Civil War, many families were displaced, and children often found themselves in dangerous or unfamiliar circumstances. The boy could be the spirit of a child who died during this turbulent period, perhaps while seeking shelter at the inn.

Modern Research and Investigation

Paranormal investigators who conduct ghost hunt events at the Brook Red Lion Hotel consistently report activity in the Parliament room that they attribute to the child spirit. These investigations often employ various detection methods, including electromagnetic field (EMF) meters, digital voice recorders for capturing electronic voice phenomena (EVP), and infrared cameras for thermal imaging.

During these investigations, researchers have documented several intriguing phenomena in the Parliament room. EMF meters often register unexplained spikes in electromagnetic activity, particularly around dining tables where families with children have reported encounters. These spikes sometimes occur in patterns that suggest intelligent interaction rather than random environmental factors.

EVP recordings from the Parliament room have occasionally captured what appear to be childlike voices or sounds, including laughter and whispered words. While the quality of these recordings varies, some investigators believe they’ve captured the voice of a young boy attempting to communicate with the living.

Thermal imaging equipment has detected temperature anomalies in the Parliament room that manifest as small, human-shaped cold spots moving through the space. These thermal signatures are consistent with the size and movement patterns one might expect from a child, lending further credence to witness accounts.

Staff and Guest Testimonials

Hotel staff who work regularly in the Parliament room have developed a familiarity with the boy’s presence that borders on affection. Unlike encounters with Alice Miller, which can be startling, or the hooded monk, which inspires respect, staff interactions with the child spirit tend to be gentle and protective.

Waitresses and restaurant staff report occasionally glimpsing movement in their peripheral vision, usually at child height, when the dining room is otherwise empty. Some describe feeling watched whilst setting up for service, but in a curious rather than threatening manner. A few staff members report having briefly seen a small figure darting between tables during quiet periods, only to find the room empty upon closer inspection.

Long-term employees speak of the boy with genuine warmth, viewing him as part of the hotel’s extended family rather than a supernatural threat. This acceptance and care may explain why the child spirit seems comfortable manifesting so readily in the Parliament room - he has found a place where he is welcomed rather than feared.

The Continuing Mystery

The small boy of the Parliament room remains one of the Brook Red Lion Hotel’s most enigmatic residents. His preference for interacting with children, his photogenic nature, and his playful manifestations set him apart from the hotel’s other spirits. While Alice Miller’s tragic history is documented and the hooded monk’s heroic sacrifice is recorded in local legend, the boy’s story remains unwritten.

This mystery adds to rather than detracts from his appeal. In an age where every aspect of life is documented and recorded, there is something profoundly moving about a child whose story has been lost to time but whose spirit continues to seek companionship and play. His presence in the Parliament room creates a bridge between past and present, reminding us that behind the grand historical events that shaped our nation were ordinary people, including children, whose lives were equally real and valuable.

Whether he is a victim of the 1970s fire, a child lost during the English Civil War, or connected to some other tragedy in the hotel’s long history, the small boy has found his place in the Brook Red Lion Hotel’s supernatural community. His spirit endures as a testament to the eternal nature of childhood joy and curiosity, transcending death itself to continue seeking friendship and play in the ancient halls of this historic inn.