Holywell, St Ives, Cambridgeshire
Haunted by the ghost of Juliet Tewsley, a lovelorn girl from the 11th century whose grave lies under the inn’s floor.
Juliet Tewsley (Residual Haunting)
A young woman from the 11th century who died by suicide on 17 March 1050 after a tragic love affair. She is buried beneath the inn’s bar.
Allegedly founded 560 AD (with a 17th-century structure)
Village tavern and ferry crossing inn
Claims to be one of England’s oldest pubs. Built near an ancient ferry crossing on the River Great Ouse, it has served pilgrims and locals for centuries. Notably, part of the inn sits atop a medieval grave said to belong to a young woman named Juliet Tewsley.
Whitewashed thatched inn (Grade II listed), with a cross-wing dating to the 1600s
Annual manifestations on March 17 (the death anniversary) are the most famous: patrons have felt an unexplained chill or seen a wispy female form. Throughout the year, other mild activity occurs – cold spots around the bar, sudden emotional heaviness, or on rare occasions a pale face glimpsed in an upstairs window when no one is upstairs.
The main bar area, directly above Juliet’s grave, is the focal point of the haunting. The adjoining snug and the area by the old fireplace also carry an eerie atmosphere on quiet nights.
Multiple guests over decades have reported a similar experience on mid-March nights: waking at midnight to a translucent woman in old-fashioned dress standing by their bed or floating near the bar, then disappearing. In 2021, two visitors claimed a photograph taken on St. Patrick’s Day showed a faint outline of a woman by the ancient slab. Staff have heard what sounds like faint crying or a whisper of the name “Tom” when locking up alone.
The Old Ferry Boat’s story has been featured in paranormal books and local media. In 2021, _Cambridgeshire Live_ highlighted it as a “haunted pub with a grave under the bar”. Ghost hunting groups occasionally include it on regional investigation tours, especially on March 17. Any findings remain mostly anecdotal, preserving the inn’s folklore charm.
📅 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 the main bar area for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
Holywell Front, Holywell (St Ives), Cambridgeshire, PE27 4TG, UK
Phone: +44 1480 463227
Status: Open
Known for **Juliet's Night** on March 17th, attracting ghost hunters and the curious.
Historic building with low-beamed ceilings. Specific accessibility should be confirmed directly.
Golden Lion Hotel (St Ives, nearby) , Houghton Mill (St Ives, nearby), Hinchingbrooke House (Huntingdon, nearby).
Book your stay and experience Juliet Tewsley and other supernatural activity firsthand. Many guests report paranormal encounters during their visits.