Mistley (near Manningtree), Essex
The Mistley Thorn's spectral notoriety stems from multiple tragic events connected to its history. The dominant presence is Matthew Hopkins, the infamous Witchfinder General who owned the original inn in the 1640s and conducted his brutal witch trials from this location. His ghost appears as a tall, cloaked figure in Puritan dress, particularly around the anniversary of his burial (August 12). The hotel is also haunted by a Georgian-era serving girl who continues her eternal duties, walking the corridors and maintaining the rooms as she did in life. Most tragic is the spirit of a young boy who was killed when pushed under a horse's hooves during a fight in the inn's stables - his presence is felt in the rear areas of the building. Additionally, the spirits of Hopkins's victims linger nearby, with phantom screams heard from Hopping Bridge where witch trials were conducted. These multiple hauntings create an unusually active paranormal environment that extends from the hotel to the surrounding village landmarks.
Matthew Hopkins (the 17th-century Witchfinder General), The Serving Girl (Georgian-era hotel staff), The Trampled Boy (stable accident victim), and spirits of accused witches
Over the years, many tales have emerged of encounters with the Witchfinder’s ghost. One oft-repeated story describes a guest who, looking out an upper window towards Mistley’s Swan Basin pond on a clear full-moon night, saw a figure in a black cloak and broad-brimmed hat standing by the water’s edge – the classic image of Hopkins. The figure reportedly turned and the guest could discern a pale, gaunt face before it vanished into mist. Inside the Thorn, staff locking up have heard heavy booted footsteps on the empty upper floor, as if someone were pacing with authority. In the dining room, a particular corner table is avoided by some servers after multiple sightings of a shadowy man sitting there briefly (always that same table). As for the witches’ presence: in the quiet hours, especially around October, people have felt a sudden rush of cold air and despair near the entrance – some attribute this to the spirit of a condemned witch pleading her innocence. One chilling legend says that on nights with a full moon, Hopkins’s ghost marches from the Thorn towards the river, and at the same time the phantom screams of a woman echo from Hopping Bridge – reenacting the hunter and his victim’s final confrontation. These detailed narratives have turned the Thorn and its environs into a supernatural tableau vivant of the 1640s.
Matthew Hopkins, the notorious self-appointed 'Witchfinder General' who owned the original Thorn Inn in the 1640s, is believed to haunt The Mistley Thorn Hotel. His brutal witch-hunting campaign that led to over 200 executions has left an indelible mark on this historic site.
A ghostly serving girl who once worked at the Georgian coaching inn continues her eternal duties, walking the corridors of The Mistley Thorn Hotel as she has for centuries.
The spirit of a young boy who was tragically killed when pushed under a horse in the inn's stables during a fight continues to haunt the rear areas of The Mistley Thorn Hotel.
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 travellers 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.
Multiple types of paranormal activity affect different areas of the hotel. Hopkins's presence manifests through sudden temperature drops, candles extinguishing without cause, and personal religious items being moved or disturbed. The serving girl's gentle presence is detected through soft footsteps in corridors during early morning hours, rooms being mysteriously tidied overnight, and the faint scent of lavender and beeswax polish. The trampled boy's tragic energy creates overwhelming feelings of fear and sadness in the rear courtyard, accompanied by phantom sounds of horses and cries for help. Staff report tools being moved in service areas and the sensation of being watched by unseen eyes. Near Mistley Pond across the street, paranormal enthusiasts frequently record high EMF readings and capture unexplained images. The combination of indoor and outdoor phenomena creates an immersive paranormal environment that extends throughout the hotel and surrounding village landmarks.
Within the hotel, the upstairs corridors show the highest activity with Hopkins's pacing footsteps and the serving girl's gentle presence. Guest rooms facing the river (especially Room 1) frequently experience Hopkins's manifestations. The main staircase is active with brushing sensations and temperature drops. The pub's bar area, particularly the corner by the old fireplace where Hopkins allegedly sat, registers intense spiritual energy. The rear areas of the building, including service corridors and the courtyard where the stables once stood, are dominated by the trampled boy's tragic presence. Externally, Mistley Pond directly opposite the hotel is highly active around midnight, whilst Hopping Bridge serves as the epicentre of witch-related paranormal activity with regular reports of phantom screams. The entire area forms a concentrated supernatural landscape spanning from the hotel's interior through to the surrounding historical landmarks.
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 traveller 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.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-30 to 2025-09-01 • 2 adults
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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.
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