The Bull Poltergeist

While The Bull Hotel is renowned for its historical ghosts—Richard Evered and the Phantom Maid—the inn also experiences a distinctly different type of paranormal activity that has puzzled investigators and terrorised staff and guests alike. This phenomenon, characterised by objects moving of their own accord, sudden temperature fluctuations, and inexplicable physical disturbances, represents classic poltergeist activity that has persisted at The Bull for decades.

Peter Underwood’s Investigation

The Bull’s poltergeist activity gained serious attention when it was investigated by Peter Underwood, one of Britain’s most respected paranormal researchers and former president of The Ghost Club. Underwood, author of over 50 books on supernatural subjects and investigator of hundreds of reportedly haunted locations, recognised The Bull’s phenomena as representing genuine poltergeist activity worthy of detailed study.

When Underwood arrived at The Bull to investigate reports of increasingly disruptive supernatural events, he was met by Colonel Dawson, the hotel’s owner and landlord at the time. The Colonel described a series of extraordinary incidents that had been plaguing the establishment, creating an atmosphere of unease among both staff and guests.

According to Dawson’s account, the troubles had begun when a young woman came to live and work at the hotel. Her presence seemed to coincide with the onset of the most dramatic paranormal activity The Bull had ever experienced. This correlation between a specific individual and poltergeist phenomena aligns with typical patterns observed in poltergeist cases worldwide, where the activity often centres around a particular person, frequently a young adult undergoing emotional or psychological stress.

The Physical Manifestations

The poltergeist activity at The Bull manifested in spectacular and often frightening ways that went far beyond the subtle appearances of the hotel’s more traditional ghosts. Unlike the gentle presence of the Phantom Maid or even the occasionally intimidating appearances of Richard Evered, the poltergeist phenomena were characterised by violent, attention-seeking behaviour that seemed designed to disrupt the normal functioning of the hotel.

Flying Objects and Projectile Phenomena

The most dramatic and frequently reported manifestations involved objects being hurled across rooms by invisible forces. Plates and glasses would leap from tables and bars, sailing through the air before crashing against walls and shattering into fragments. These incidents occurred not just occasionally, but repeatedly, creating significant financial losses for the hotel and genuine fear among those who witnessed them.

Bottles of alcohol stored behind the bar would be pushed or thrown from their shelves, sometimes with enough force to shatter against the opposite wall. The phenomena seemed particularly focused on the bar areas, perhaps because these were the spaces where staff spent most of their time and where the poltergeist could have the greatest impact on daily operations.

Witnesses described objects moving with trajectories that defied simple explanations such as vibration or settling. Glasses would fly in perfect arcs across rooms, whilst plates would lift vertically from surfaces before being flung horizontally with considerable force. The intelligence behind these movements suggested something more complex than mere random physical disturbance.

Temperature Anomalies

Accompanying the physical phenomena were dramatic temperature changes that occurred without any apparent natural cause. In the presence of the young woman who appeared to be the focus of the activity, temperatures would drop several degrees within moments, creating an uncomfortable and unnatural chill that penetrated clothing and seemed to affect people at a visceral level.

These temperature drops were not gradual cooling that might be explained by drafts or heating system malfunctions, but sudden, localised changes that created distinct cold spots within otherwise warm rooms. Staff members reported feeling these chills as a warning sign that poltergeist activity was about to intensify, learning to recognise the sensation as a precursor to more dramatic manifestations.

The temperature phenomena added an extra dimension of discomfort to the already unsettling experience of witnessing objects moving without explanation. The combination of physical cold and psychological fear created an atmosphere that many found almost unbearable, leading some employees to avoid certain areas of the hotel during periods of high activity.

Ongoing Activity and Modern Manifestations

Unlike many poltergeist cases that eventually fade as the focus individual matures or leaves the location, The Bull’s supernatural disturbances have continued well beyond the original outbreak investigated by Peter Underwood. This persistence suggests either that the initial poltergeist activity somehow became embedded in the building itself, or that the hotel’s combination of historical trauma and ongoing human activity continues to provide the energy necessary to sustain such phenomena.

Contemporary Witness Accounts

Modern staff members and guests continue to report incidents that bear all the hallmarks of classic poltergeist activity. Glasses are still pushed from bars by unseen hands, furniture moves without explanation, and the sudden temperature drops continue to unsettle those who experience them. These ongoing manifestations suggest that whatever force created the original disturbances remains active within The Bull’s ancient walls.

Recent incidents have included wine glasses sliding across tables during dinner service, chairs moving away from tables whilst diners are briefly absent, and bottles falling from seemingly secure positions on shelves. Staff members have learned to work around these disturbances, often treating them as an accepted, if unwelcome, part of working in such a historic and haunted establishment.

The consistency of these reports, spanning decades and involving dozens of different witnesses, provides compelling evidence that The Bull’s poltergeist activity represents genuine unexplained phenomena rather than hoaxes or misinterpretation of natural events.

Patterns and Triggers

Careful observation by staff and management has revealed certain patterns in the poltergeist activity that provide clues about its nature and possible triggers. The phenomena appear to be more frequent during periods of high stress or emotional tension, whether caused by busy service periods, staff conflicts, or particularly demanding guests.

Certain areas of the hotel seem more prone to disturbances than others, with the main bar area and Moody’s Bar experiencing the most frequent incidents. This concentration around the hotel’s social centres suggests that the poltergeist feeds off human emotional energy and activity, becoming more active when surrounded by strong feelings and intense interactions.

The activity also appears to be more common during evening hours, particularly during the busy dinner service when emotions run high and the pressure on staff is greatest. This pattern aligns with typical poltergeist behaviour, which often peaks during times of heightened human activity and emotional intensity.

Scientific and Paranormal Perspectives

The Human Element

From a parapsychological perspective, The Bull’s poltergeist activity exhibits many characteristics consistent with recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK), the scientific term for poltergeist phenomena. The original focus on a young female employee fits the typical demographic profile for poltergeist agents, who are often adolescents or young adults experiencing emotional or psychological stress.

The theory suggests that individuals undergoing significant life changes or psychological pressure may unconsciously project psychokinetic energy that manifests as moving objects, temperature changes, and other physical phenomena. In the case of The Bull, the stressful environment of working in a busy hotel, combined with the building’s already charged atmosphere due to its historical hauntings, may have provided the perfect conditions for such manifestations.

However, the persistence of the activity long after the original focus individual left The Bull suggests that the phenomena may have become independent of any specific person, taking on a life of their own within the building’s psychically active environment.

Environmental Factors

The Bull’s long history of trauma and emotional intensity may have created what some researchers term a “thin place”—a location where the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds has become permeable. The combination of Richard Evered’s violent murder, centuries of human drama played out within the inn’s walls, and the ongoing emotional intensity of hotel operations may have created ideal conditions for various types of paranormal activity.

The building’s Tudor construction, with its massive oak beams and traditional materials, may also play a role in retaining and amplifying psychic energy. Some theories suggest that natural materials, particularly aged wood and stone, can act as recording mediums for emotional and psychic imprints, creating environments where supernatural phenomena are more likely to occur.

Living with the Poltergeist

Staff Adaptation and Management

The Bull’s management and staff have developed pragmatic approaches to dealing with their supernatural co-resident. Rather than allowing the poltergeist activity to disrupt operations, they have learned to work around the phenomena, treating them as an unusual but manageable aspect of working in a historic building.

Staff training now includes informal guidance on dealing with paranormal incidents, emphasising the importance of remaining calm during manifestations and not allowing fear to escalate situations. Experienced employees often mentor newcomers, sharing strategies for managing their reactions to unexpected phenomena and maintaining professional standards even when glasses are flying across the room.

The hotel has also made practical adjustments to minimise the impact of poltergeist activity, such as using more durable glassware in areas prone to disturbances and ensuring that valuable or dangerous items are securely stored away from the poltergeist’s apparent reach.

Guest Relations and Transparency

The Bull’s approach to discussing the poltergeist activity with guests reflects a careful balance between honesty and hospitality. Staff members are trained to acknowledge the hotel’s supernatural reputation when directly asked, but not to volunteer information that might unnecessarily alarm guests who are simply seeking accommodation.

For guests who express interest in the paranormal aspects of their stay, staff can provide information about the various phenomena reported at The Bull, including the poltergeist activity. This transparency has actually enhanced the hotel’s reputation among paranormal enthusiasts whilst maintaining its appeal to conventional travellers who appreciate its historical significance.

The Poltergeist Legacy

The Bull’s poltergeist represents a fascinating addition to the hotel’s already impressive collection of supernatural residents. Unlike the historical ghosts whose stories are rooted in specific past events, the poltergeist embodies the ongoing psychic energy of the building itself, demonstrating that paranormal activity at The Bull is not merely an echo of the past but a living, evolving phenomenon.

Peter Underwood’s investigation and documentation of The Bull’s poltergeist activity has contributed to the scientific understanding of such phenomena whilst establishing the hotel as a location of genuine paranormal significance. The combination of historical ghosts and ongoing poltergeist activity makes The Bull unique among haunted hotels, offering visitors the opportunity to experience both residual hauntings from the past and active supernatural phenomena in the present.

For those interested in the paranormal, The Bull’s poltergeist adds an element of unpredictability and excitement to any stay. Unlike historical ghosts who appear according to their own ancient patterns, the poltergeist’s activity suggests that visitors might witness genuine supernatural phenomena during their visit, making each stay at The Bull a potential adventure into the unknown.

The persistence of this activity over decades, combined with its investigation by respected researchers like Peter Underwood, establishes The Bull’s poltergeist as one of the most credible and well-documented cases of ongoing paranormal activity in England. Whether viewed as genuine supernatural phenomena or as fascinating examples of unexplained physical effects, the poltergeist activity at The Bull continues to intrigue visitors and researchers alike, adding another layer to the rich tapestry of supernatural experiences that make this Tudor inn one of Suffolk’s most remarkable destinations.