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The Phantom Highwayman

Residual Haunting • 18th century

The supernatural echo of a highwayman who used the Scole Inn as refuge, whose desperate escape attempts continue to reverberate through the building as phantom horse hooves galloping through the night.

👻 Residual Haunting 📅 18th century 🏰 Scole Inn Hotel

The Story

During the height of highway robbery in the 18th century, the Scole Inn served as a refuge for outlaws traveling the dangerous London-Norwich route. One particular highwayman became so associated with the inn that measures had to be taken to prevent him from bringing his horse inside the building. This ghostly presence now manifests as the sound of thundering hooves galloping through the inn, representing the eternal flight from justice that defined these desperate men's lives. The phantom horse and rider create a supernatural echo of the dangerous times when the inn harbored criminals fleeing from the law. Unlike Emma's tragic story of innocence, the highwayman's ghost represents the guilty conscience and perpetual fear that drove these outlaws to their graves.

Historical Evidence

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Historical records confirm that a gate was placed across the staircase to prevent a specific highwayman from bringing his horse into the inn, demonstrating the real connection between the building and outlaw activity. The London-Norwich route was indeed notorious for highway robbery during this period, making the Scole Inn's role as a criminal refuge historically plausible.

Where to Encounter This Spirit

🔥 Most Active Areas

Main entrance and courtyard areas
Ground floor corridors
Staircase where gate was placed
Rooms facing the old coaching routes
Areas near former stables

👁️ Common Sightings

Sound of galloping horse hooves
Phantom horse and rider sensed but not seen
Feeling of desperate flight and pursuit
Sudden temperature drops near entrances
Sense of danger and urgency

Paranormal Investigations

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The phantom highwayman manifestation is primarily auditory, with multiple witnesses reporting the distinctive sound of galloping hooves when no horses are present. This residual haunting represents the repetitive energy of desperate escape attempts that occurred repeatedly at the inn during its use as an outlaw refuge.