Wargrave, Berkshire
The Bull at Wargrave is best known for the sorrowful spirit that haunts one of its upstairs bedrooms, now aptly named 'The Tear Room'. The primary reported phenomenon is the distinct sound of a woman crying, an auditory remnant of a tragedy that is said to have occurred in the 1820s. According to local lore, the landlord of the inn at that time discovered his wife had been unfaithful. In a fit of rage, he threw her out of the hotel and, most cruelly, forbade her from ever seeing their young child again. Overcome with grief and a broken heart, the woman is said to have died shortly after. Her weeping is believed to be a 'residual' haunting, replaying on the anniversary of her forced departure as she packed her belongings. In addition to this prominent story, there have been other, less frequent, reports of paranormal activity within the historic building. The apparition of a tall man wearing a black hat has allegedly been seen by guests and staff. This spectral figure is most often spotted in one of the lounge bars, sitting quietly near the large, open log fireplace. While the crying woman's story is tied to a specific room and a heart-wrenching narrative, the presence of the hatted man adds another layer to the inn's mysterious and haunted atmosphere, suggesting that more than one spirit may linger within its ancient walls.
The Crying Woman, Man in a Black Hat
The most pervasive and detailed paranormal account at The Bull at Wargrave revolves around the upstairs bedroom known as 'The Tear Room'. The story, originating in the 1820s, tells of a landlord's wife who was banished from the inn by her husband upon his discovery of her affair. The ultimate punishment was his refusal to let her see their baby. It is said that on the anniversary of the day she was forced to leave, the sounds of her inconsolable weeping can still be heard in the room as her spirit relives the agony of packing her belongings and leaving her child forever. This phenomenon is described not as an interactive haunting but as a residual one—an emotional imprint left on the very fabric of the location. Guests who have stayed in or near the room have reported being woken by the distinct sounds of sobbing, with no apparent physical source. There are no accounts of a full-bodied apparition connected to the crying woman; her presence is purely auditory, a perpetual echo of her profound sorrow. A separate and distinct ghost story involves the sighting of a male entity in one of the public areas. Witnesses have described seeing a 'tall man wearing a black hat'. This figure is typically seen in the lounge bar, often seated near the grand inglenook fireplace, especially when a log fire is crackling during the winter months. Unlike the crying woman, this spirit is a visual apparition. Accounts suggest he is a quiet and non-threatening presence, simply observing the modern-day patrons of the inn he once may have frequented. Staff and guests have occasionally caught a glimpse of this dark figure out of the corner of their eye, only for him to vanish upon a second glance. The lack of interaction or sound associated with this apparition makes his origins and purpose a complete mystery, leaving observers to speculate on who he might have been and what keeps him tied to the old coaching inn.
The tragic spirit of a landlord's wife from the 1820s haunts The Bull at Wargrave. After being cast out by her husband for adultery and forbidden from seeing her child, she died of heartbreak. Her sorrowful weeping continues to echo through the hotel, particularly in the room known as 'The Tear Room'.
A mysterious tall gentleman in Victorian attire haunts the lounge bar of The Bull at Wargrave. Often seen seated by the inglenook fireplace during winter months, this quiet spirit appears to observe modern patrons with benign curiosity, suggesting a connection to the inn's 19th-century heyday.
15th century
Coaching inn
The Bull at Wargrave is a quintessential 15th-century coaching inn that stands as a historic centrepiece in the village of Wargrave. Its origins are deeply rooted in the medieval history of the area, which itself dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. As a coaching inn, it would have been a vital stop for travellers and horses, particularly given Wargrave's position on the River Thames and its proximity to major routes to London, Oxford, and Windsor. The building's structure, with its wealth of old beams and large inglenook fireplace, reflects its long history of providing shelter and hospitality. Throughout the centuries, it has witnessed the evolution of Wargrave from a medieval settlement to a fashionable riverside resort for Londoners in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The village itself has a rich history, with connections to Queen Edith, wife of Edward the Confessor, and significant events like the establishment of a church in 1121. The inn has remained a constant presence on the High Street, adapting through times of change while retaining its historic character and charm, serving as a social hub for the local community and visitors alike for over 600 years.
Tudor with original oak beams, odd levels, and a large inglenook fireplace.
The sound of a woman crying.Apparition of a tall man in a black hat.
An upstairs bedroom known as 'The Tear Room', and the lounge bar area near the open log fireplace.
Testimonials primarily focus on the two main phenomena. Guests staying in 'The Tear Room' have reported hearing a woman crying, supposedly on the anniversary of her departure from the hotel in the 1820s. Other reports from both staff and guests mention seeing a tall man in a black hat sitting quietly near the fireplace in the lounge bar.
The hauntings at The Bull at Wargrave have been documented in several books on paranormal subjects, including 'Haunted Berkshire' by Roger Long, 'Haunted Taverns' by Donald Stuart, and 'The Haunted Pub Guide' by Guy Lyon Playfair, indicating a history of public interest and informal research into its ghostly tales.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-28 to 2025-08-30 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near an upstairs bedroom known as 'the tear room' for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
The hotel notes special pricing policies for local events such as the Henley Regatta and Rewind festival.
The hotel has a garden and ground-floor dining and bar areas. Specific accessibility information for the accommodation rooms is not detailed and should be confirmed directly with the hotel.
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