The Phantom Coach
The ghostly sounds of a phantom coach approaching The George Inn, echoing the building's historic role as a coaching inn
Hatherleigh, Devon
The George Inn in Hatherleigh carries a paranormal legacy that spans centuries, with reported sightings documented both before and potentially after the inn's rebuilding in 2010. The most frequently witnessed apparition is that of a phantom monk, seen walking on the ground floor in the area traditionally known as 'The Mad Monk's Bar'. This spectral figure appears to go about his business as if still performing duties from a bygone era, his presence adding an otherworldly dimension to the inn's welcoming atmosphere. Complementing the monk's appearances, witnesses have also reported sightings of a young female ghost on the upper floors, though these encounters are considerably rarer and more elusive. Intriguingly, the inn's paranormal activity also extends beyond visual manifestations - the sounds of a phantom coach approaching the inn have been documented, creating an auditory experience that harks back to the building's historical role as a coaching inn. The relationship between these documented hauntings and the inn's dramatic history - including the devastating fire of 2008 and subsequent rebuilding - remains a subject of local speculation. Many believe that paranormal activity is tied to the location itself rather than specific building structures, suggesting that the spiritual energy accumulated over 570 years of continuous hospitality may persist regardless of physical reconstruction. Whether these documented spirits have returned to the rebuilt inn remains an open question, adding an element of mystery to any visit.
Phantom Monk, Young female ghost
The air in The George Inn feels heavy with history, a palpable sense of the past that clings to its ancient walls and low-beamed ceilings. This atmosphere is most pronounced on the ground floor, in the cosy confines of a bar that bears a strange and telling name, 'The Mad Monk's Bar'. It is here that the inn's most famous ghost makes his regular, silent patrols. Countless guests and staff members over the years have reported the unnerving sight of a monk, clad in a traditional habit, walking calmly through the room. He pays no mind to the modern patrons, his focus seemingly on a task or a path from a time long forgotten. He is a classic residual haunting, an echo of a life replaying itself over and over. He doesn't interact, he simply exists, a phantom going about his otherworldly business, his quiet presence a chilling reminder that you are never truly alone in the inn. His appearances are frequent enough that he has become an accepted, if unsettling, part of the inn's character. Upstairs, however, a very different and far more disturbing story unfolds, though much less frequently. The encounters here are fleeting, shocking, and deeply personal. Witnesses have caught glimpses of a young woman, completely naked, her form appearing for a moment before vanishing. Her vulnerability and the infrequency of her appearances make her a more tragic and mysterious figure than the monk below. Who was she? Was she a guest who met a terrible end, a spurned lover, or a victim of some forgotten crime within these very rooms? Her story is lost, but her spectral image serves as a startling, sorrowful mystery. The two hauntings, one a steady, predictable presence and the other a rare, shocking vision, create a complex paranormal tapestry. They are two distinct echoes from the inn's deep and layered past, their stories separate but forever bound to the historic building they continue to inhabit.
The ghostly sounds of a phantom coach approaching The George Inn, echoing the building's historic role as a coaching inn
The documented spirit of a monk who walks the ground floor of The George Inn, particularly in the area known as 'The Mad Monk's Bar'
The documented but mysterious spirit of a young naked woman seen on the upper floors of The George Inn, far less frequent but more startling than the phantom monk
First established around 1450, rebuilt in 2010
Historic Inn and Courthouse
The George Inn has a remarkable and resilient history spanning over five centuries. First established around 1450, this ancient inn originally served as both a courthouse and hostel for the monks of Tavistock Abbey, who owned the village and surrounding moorland. The building has witnessed countless historical events, from the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII when the entire village was sold to the Arscott family for £14 1s 6d, through to its role as a vital hub for travellers and the local community. The inn's most dramatic chapter came in 2008 when a devastating fire completely destroyed the historic thatched building. However, demonstrating the community's deep connection to this beloved establishment, The George Inn was sympathetically rebuilt in 2010 using traditional methods and local materials wherever possible. This rebuilding ensured that while the physical structure is new, the essence and character of the historic inn were preserved. The site itself holds over 570 years of continuous hospitality history, and many believe that the spiritual energy and memories accumulated over centuries remain tied to this specific location, regardless of the physical rebuilding. The inn's paranormal reputation appears to be connected to the site rather than merely the building structure, with reported hauntings potentially continuing due to the location's long association with human activity, emotion, and the countless souls who have passed through its doors across the centuries.
Traditional vernacular, reflecting 14th Century origins
Sightings of a monk walking on the ground floorSightings of a young, naked female ghost upstairsSounds of a phantom coach approaching the inn
The Mad Monk's Bar (ground floor), Upstairs guest areas, Exterior approach to inn
Multiple guests and staff have reported sightings dating back decades, with documentation from local paranormal researchers.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-28 to 2025-08-30 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near the mad monk's bar (ground floor) for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
5 Market Street, Hatherleigh, Devon, EX20 3JN, United Kingdom
Phone: 01837 811755
Status: Operating
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