The Old Landlady

The Old Landlady represents one of England’s most endearing and well-documented inn hauntings, embodying the deep emotional connection that dedicated innkeepers can develop with their establishments. While local tradition suggests she may be Mrs. Matthews from 19th-century census records, her spiritual presence transcends specific historical identification, representing the accumulated care and dedication of all the women who have managed The Angel across its 600-year history.\n\nHer manifestations reflect the qualities of an exemplary innkeeper: vigilance, care, and attention to detail. Witnesses describe her as a woman in her middle years, dressed in period clothing that suggests the mid-to-late 19th century - a grey woolen gown with a white lace cap typical of a respectable inn proprietress. Her demeanor is consistently described as serious but kind, with the bearing of someone accustomed to responsibility and the welfare of others.\n\nThe Old Landlady’s activities mirror those of a conscientious living proprietress: checking on guests (particularly women traveling alone), monitoring the building’s condition, and ensuring the inn maintains its standards. Guests report finding crooked pictures straightened overnight, hearing gentle footsteps in the corridors during the quiet hours, and experiencing the comforting sensation of being watched over by a benevolent presence.\n\nWhat makes her story particularly touching is the apparent selectivity of her manifestations. She seems most active when guests are vulnerable - ill, distressed, or facing difficult circumstances. Several visitors have reported waking from nightmares to sense her calming presence in their rooms, or feeling guided to safety when navigating the inn’s centuries-old corridors in the dark.\n\nThe inn’s staff and regular patrons have developed an affectionate relationship with their resident spirit, treating her not as a frightening specter but as a continuing member of The Angel’s family. This acceptance has created an atmosphere where supernatural encounters are regarded as normal and even welcoming aspects of staying at this historic establishment.