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The Former Landlady

Residual Haunting • 18th century

The spirit of an 18th-century landlady who was so devoted to the Bell Hotel that she continues to care for guests and staff even after death. Her presence is felt through unexplained perfumes and a sense of maternal care.

👻 Residual Haunting 📅 18th century 🏰 Bell Hotel

The Story

This benevolent spirit is believed to be that of a landlady who ran the Bell Hotel during its heyday as a coaching inn in the 18th century. Historical records suggest she was known for her exceptional care of travelers and dedication to the inn's reputation. Her ghost manifests primarily through the sudden appearance of period perfumes - particularly rose and lavender scents - that appear in empty rooms with no natural explanation. Guests and staff report feeling watched by a caring, maternal presence, especially in times of distress or illness. Some have glimpsed a woman in 18th-century dress in their peripheral vision, always seeming to be checking that everything is in order, much as she would have done in life.

Historical Evidence

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The 18th century was indeed the Bell Hotel's golden age as a coaching inn, when a caring landlady would have been essential to the establishment's success. The consistent reports of rose and lavender perfumes align with scents commonly used by women of that period. The maternal, caring nature of the encounters matches the historical role of an innkeeper's wife in providing comfort to travelers.

Where to Encounter This Spirit

🔥 Most Active Areas

Guest bedrooms throughout the hotel
Main bar and dining areas
Kitchen and service areas
Original coaching inn reception areas
Upstairs corridors and landings

👁️ Common Sightings

Sudden appearance of rose or lavender perfume
Peripheral vision glimpses of woman in period dress
Sense of maternal care and protection
Feeling of being gently watched over
Comfort during times of distress

Paranormal Investigations

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Paranormal investigators often report encounters with this caring female presence during their stays at the Bell Hotel. The spirit seems particularly active when investigators are experiencing difficulty or stress, leading many to describe her as a 'guardian angel' of the inn. Her presence is considered a positive aspect of the hotel's supernatural activity.

🏰 Stay at This Haunted Hotel

Bell Hotel

Thetford, Norfolk

Experience The Former Landlady's haunting firsthand by staying at this historic 15th century origins (over 500 years old), with documented inn existence since 1493 hotel.

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