Mistley (near Manningtree), Essex
The Mistley Thorn’s spectral notoriety comes from its association with Matthew Hopkins. Locals insist that Hopkins’s ghost still stalks Mistley. There are claims that his spirit has been seen in and around the Thorn Hotel – a tall, cloaked figure appearing on moonlit nights. Patrons have described a man in old-fashioned Puritan attire briefly materializing by the bar or in upstairs hallways, then disappearing. Eerie phenomena intensify around the anniversary of his burial (August 12): pub-goers have heard phantom horse hooves outside and doors slamming on their own. Additionally, some believe the ghosts of Hopkins’s victims linger too – the anguished cries of a woman have been reported near Mistley’s old ducking pond across the road. In particular, at the nearby “Hopping Bridge” (where Hopkins once oversaw witch trials), witnesses claim to hear the faint screams of a tortured witch on certain nights. These hauntings, both at the Thorn and just outside it, make this inn a focal point for one of Essex’s most infamous ghost stories – the Witchfinder and his tormented souls.
Matthew Hopkins (the 17th-century Witchfinder General) and **possibly** spirits of accused witches he persecuted
Matthew Hopkins, notorious for his role in the 17th-century witch trials, is believed to haunt The Mistley Thorn. Witnesses report sightings of a man in period clothing and unexplained phenomena attributed to his restless spirit.
Built circa 1723 as a Georgian coaching inn
Coaching inn (18th-century stagecoach stop) with tavern and guest rooms
The current building has stood since the early Georgian era and once served travelers and sailors coming through Mistley’s port on the River Stour. It occupies the site of a former 1600s inn famously associated with Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General. In fact, Hopkins allegedly owned or lived in the original Thorn Inn here in the 1640s and launched many of his notorious witch hunts from Mistley. He died in 1647 and was buried nearby. The inn is thus tightly linked to the dark history of the Essex witch trials. Architecturally, the Mistley Thorn is a fine example of a Georgian coaching house and remains a cornerstone of Mistley’s historic waterfront, directly opposite the twin Mistley Towers built in 1776. Its blend of local history (from witch trials to saltwater spa plans) and hospitality heritage give it a uniquely rich past.
Georgian brick inn with later Victorian alterations. It has a symmetrical 18th-century facade and sash windows facing the River Stour. Inside, some original elements like large hearths and hardwood floors remain, though the décor now marries modern comfort with period style. Its intimate pub dining room features low wooden beams, hinting that parts of the structure incorporate older timbers possibly from the previous 1600s inn.
Guests in the Thorn’s rooms have noted odd occurrences: candles won’t stay lit, as if an invisible breath extinguishes them; personal items like Bibles or crosses have been found moved or flipped (perhaps a jab from Hopkins’ spirit, given his pious facade). Some visitors feel a heavy pressure, an inexplicable sadness, when standing on the old front steps after dark – a sensation locals say is the ‘presence of the Witchfinder’. The pub’s staff have reported temperature drops so extreme you can see your breath, particularly near an antique wooden chair that, according to lore, belonged to Hopkins. On a few occasions, bottles have slid off shelves in the bar without cause. Near the pond across the street, paranormal enthusiasts frequently record high EMF readings and have captured orbs on camera. The combination of indoor and outdoor phenomena – sightings, sounds, cold spots – makes the hauntings here unusually immersive, blurring the line between the Thorn Hotel itself and the surrounding village.
Within the hotel, the upstairs corridors and a couple of the guest rooms (especially Room 1, which faces the river) are where the cloaked figure has been seen. The staircase is another active spot – people have felt as if someone brushed past them on the stairs when no one was there. In the pub’s bar area, the corner by the old fireplace (where Hopkins allegedly sat) feels notably charged; that’s where staff hear the phantom footsteps above and occasionally see a shadow out of the corner of the eye. Stepping outside, Mistley Pond (also called the “Witchfinder’s pond,” directly opposite the Thorn) is highly active around midnight – ghost hunters often focus their equipment there and at the adjacent Hopping Bridge. That bridge, just a few hundred yards away, is considered the epicenter of the witch-related paranormal activity, with disembodied screams or cries reported. Overall, one could map a short “ghost walk” from the Thorn’s bar, up its stairs, then out to the pond and bridge – these comprise the cluster of sites where supernatural activity linked to Hopkins is concentrated.
The earliest written account of Hopkins’s ghost dates to the 19th century, when a Mistley vicar noted villagers avoiding the pond on certain nights “for fear of seeing old Hopkins.” In modern times, the Thorn’s TripAdvisor reviews occasionally allude to something spooky – one traveler in 2014 mentioned “an unexplained chill and sense of being watched, which we only learned later might be the Witchfinder!” The landlord himself has spoken to media about hearing a man’s cough from an empty bar after closing. A local police officer even admitted that while on late patrol he saw what he thought was a person standing by the Thorn at 2 AM; when he approached, there was no one, yet moments later splashing sounds came from the empty pond – he refuses to pass there alone now. During a 2017 Halloween event, a group of guests on the Thorn’s patio suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream carry on the breeze from the direction of the river – every person present fell silent, and they later learned no physical person had been around. Such first-hand stories, shared in hushed tones by locals and visitors alike, affirm that something – or someone – uncanny lingers at the Mistley Thorn.
The Mistley Thorn’s hauntings have attracted considerable interest. The **Essex Ghost Hunters** group has investigated both the hotel and the nearby pond multiple times. They’ve claimed to capture EVP clips of a man’s voice saying “find them” and a woman crying. In 2014, the Thorn was featured in an episode of *Paranormal Lockdown UK*, where investigators spent a night between the hotel and the Mistley Towers across the street. They recorded unexplained banging sounds and what they interpreted as a faint scream on audio near the pond at 3 AM. Every October, the local tourism board runs a “Witchfinder Trail” walking tour that starts at the Thorn – blending historical narration with ghost stories, often ending in the pub for a debrief. The Thorn’s staff cooperates with these events, sometimes sharing their own recent spooky experiences. Though not as commercially famous as some haunted inns, Mistley Thorn is a staple in books and articles about haunted East Anglia, and it remains a must-visit location for paranormal investigators exploring the legacy of the Witchfinder General.
📅 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 within the hotel for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
High Street, Mistley, Essex CO11 1HE
Phone: +44 1206 392821
Status: Operating (boutique restaurant with rooms)
The Thorn is renowned for its seafood restaurant; guests can book dinner B&B packages. No specific ghost tour package is offered by the hotel itself. However, around Halloween the hotel often hosts a special themed menu or a talk on local history/witch lore for guests and diners. (Guests can also arrange private guided "Witchfinder" walks with local historians.)
Limited – The building is historic with most rooms up one flight of narrow stairs (no elevator). The restaurant/pub is on ground level but has a small step at entry; assistance is provided if needed. Parking is free but somewhat limited (small private car park plus street parking). Not fully wheelchair accessible to lodging areas.
Mistley and Manningtree are infamous for witch trial history. Just steps from the hotel is Mistley Pond (aka Witchfinder’s Pond), where Hopkins’s ghost is said to appear. A short walk (0.3 miles) leads to **Hopping Bridge**, where tortured screams have been heard in the night. In Manningtree town (1 mile west), many buildings claim hauntings; for instance, the **Red Lion, Manningtree** (now a private site) was another inn Hopkins frequented and is rumored to be haunted by a ghostly child. A "Walking with Witches" self-guided route connects these sites, allowing Thorn guests to explore the broader supernatural landscape. Additionally, 5 miles away in Essex’s oldest town, Colchester, one can visit numerous haunted locations (should guests wish to extend their paranormal tour beyond Hopkins territory).
Book your stay and experience Matthew Hopkins and other supernatural activity firsthand. Many guests report paranormal encounters during their visits.