“Ivy” the Green Lady
Intelligent Haunting 17th century
The sorrowful spirit of a 17th-century nursemaid and chambermaid to Oliver Cromwell’s family, who became his mistress.
Most Active Areas:
Room 13 (Cromwe... Adjacent corrid...
The Golden Lion Hotel
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
Early 1600s (17th century) 4-star 25-30 Rooms
2 Ghosts
The Resident Spirits
View All County GhostsHaunted by two notable ghosts: a female known as the Green Lady (nicknamed “Ivy”) and the spirit of Oliver Cromwell himself.
Known Ghosts:
“Ivy” the Green Lady (Intelligent Haunting), Oliver Cromwell (Intelligent Haunting)
The Green Lady’s tale is one of heartbreak: she was the nurse to Cromwell’s children and became his mistress, but, despairing that she could never be openly part of his family, she hanged herself in what is now Room 13. Ever since, her green-clad apparition (hence “Green Lady”) is reported in that room – opening and closing doors, tugging bedcovers off sleeping guests, and emitting a sorrowful gasp or sob. The hotel staff even eliminated the number 13 on the door after her suicide, hoping to discourage fear. Oliver Cromwell’s ghost is also reputed to appear in his former bedroom; guests hoping to encounter him have sometimes felt sudden cold spots or a stern presence watching them in that suite.
Meet Each Spirit
Oliver Cromwell
Intelligent Haunting 17th century (Died 1658)
The specter of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England (1653–1658), who stayed at the Golden Lion during the Civil War.
Most Active Areas:
Cromwell’s form...
Historical Background
Building Age
Early 1600s (17th century)
Original Purpose
Coaching inn and tavern
Historical Significance
Oliver Cromwell reputedly used the inn as his local headquarters during the English Civil War. The inn has hosted travelers for centuries and retains original features from its coaching days.
Architecture
17th-century coaching inn with timber frame and courtyard
What Guests Experience
Reported Activity
Doors in Room 13 found ajar or slamming on their own, beds mysteriously stripped of sheets by unseen hands, and an intermittent apparition of a woman in a green dress drifting in hallways. In Cromwell’s room, unexplained temperature drops and the faint scent of pipe smoke have been noted.
Most Active Areas
Room 13 (also referred to as Cromwell’s Room) is the epicenter of paranormal events, followed by the adjacent corridor and an upstairs bedroom believed to have been Cromwell’s quarters.
Witness Accounts
Guests in Room 13 often wake to find their blankets pulled off without explanation. Several have reported waking to the sight of a hazy female figure standing near the foot of the bed before vanishing. Staff cleaning the Cromwell room have felt as if someone unseen was present – one housekeeper refused to work alone there after hearing heavy bootsteps on the floorboards when no one else was around.
Paranormal Investigations
The hotel’s hauntings are well-known; paranormal groups have occasionally held overnight vigils. Local lore about “Ivy” is documented in regional ghost guides. The hotel embraces its history, sometimes sharing the ghost stories with curious guests.
Quick Ghost Access
Book Your Stay
Price Range: Moderate
Rooms: 25-30
Spirits: 2 Ghosts
📅 Sample dates:2025-06-06 to 2025-06-08 • 2 adults
Dates and guest count can be changed on booking sites
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms room 13 (also referred to as cromwell’s room) is the epicenter of paranormal events for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Contact Details
Special Packages
Not explicitly advertised, but their haunted reputation is a known feature.
Accessibility
Historic building, it's advisable to check specific accessibility needs directly with the hotel.
Other Haunted Sites Nearby
The Old Ferry Boat Inn (Holywell, nearby), Houghton Mill (St. Ives, National Trust), Hinchingbrooke House (Huntingdon, nearby).
Ready to Meet Our Ghosts?
Book your stay and experience “Ivy” the Green Lady and the other spirits firsthand. Many guests report paranormal encounters during their visits.