Famous Hauntings

On this page, we list some of the widely documented and famous hauntings of Lyme Regis and the surrounding area. Some are rather more substantially evidenced than others. We try to make this clear…

  • WHERE: The Royal Lion in Lyme Regis
  • WHAT: A Cloud of Ectoplasm
  • WHY: Possibly linked to historic public executions in the adjacent streets

Most people expect a pint of cider and a packet of salt and vinegar in a Dorset pub. Few expect the unsettling experiences that have been reported over the centuries The Royal Lion Inn, most notably the appearance of a mysterious cloud of ectoplasm. This has been seen drifting through a in the pub corridor by several witnesses. One woman described the eerie mist as a “damp fog going right through you, turning you to jelly.” Alongside these sightings, many guests have reported hearing disembodied footsteps drawing near, only to be enveloped in a sudden chill as the invisible figure passes by. The cause of these strange and disturbing occurrences remains unknown. However, some believe they may be connected to the inn’s darker past. Public executions once took place near the site, and it’s thought that the spirit of one of these unfortunate souls now haunts the corridors of the old hotel, wandering in search of rest.

For more information: https://www.haunted-britain.com/royal-lion-lyme-regis.htm

  • Where: Haye Lane, Uplyme (formerly Dog Lane – reasons will become clear)
  • What: The ghost of a black dog
  • Why: Guarding treasure…

The story behind The Black Dog Inn near Uplyme traces back to a local legend of a black dog said to be a (canine) spirit guarding hidden treasure. The legend of Colway Manor centres around an old man, his loyal black greyhound, and a tale of hidden treasure. The man, once a seafarer, lived a quiet life by the hearth with his faithful hound. Rumours spread through Lyme Regis that the man had a hidden fortune, and one night, a gang of thieves broke into the manor. They brutally beat the old man, demanding he reveal the treasure’s location, while the greyhound, locked in the kitchen, could only howl in distress. The thieves eventually found a chest of gold beneath the floorboards and fled. But their escape was short-lived, as the greyhound, having broken free, tore them apart in the woods. Years later, another old man bought the manor and encountered the ghostly greyhound. The spectral canine became his silent companion, appearing each night by the fire. One fateful evening, robbers attacked his home but the the greyhound once again saved the man’s life, just as it had for the previous owner. As the man’s fortunes waned, he returned home one even somewhat the worse for wear and waving a poker as he chased the dog, it vanished through the ceiling. The farmer struck above his head and a hidden box fell from the attic. It was full of gold coins dating from the reign of Charles I. Using the treasure, he bought a house and turned it into a pub, naming it the Black Dog in gratitude and honor of the mysterious hound. Though the dog never returned to the house (perhaps a failure to guard the treasure with enough vigour). Instead, it was reported to have moved nearby to haunt the former (nearby) Dog Lane, now Haye Lane. Sightings of the dog were reported as recently as the 1950s.

  • WHERE: The Bull Hotel in Bridport
  • WHAT: Multiple spirits including Wadham Strangeways
  • WHY: Possible medieval graveyard under the building

For centuries, disembodied voices have been heard in this historic pub, particularly in the toilets. Many believing the hotel was built over a medieval graveyard (evidence is sparse). One of the spirits said to haunt the building is Wadham Strangeways, who met a tragic fate during the Duke of Monmouth’s landing at Lyme Regis in 1685. As Monmouth and his men attempted to raise support against King James II, Strangeways took refuge in the hotel. Unfortunately, during a skirmish, a stray bullet struck him, and he died shortly after.

Another figure, thought to have been killed around the same time, is also said to appear in a sealed room within the hotel (even sparser evidence). In addition, a middle-aged woman has been seen in the reception area, seemingly deep in conversation with an unseen companion. Finally, the voice of a child—with no child present—has been heard in the lounge. David Hume would surmise a ventriloquist but with all the circumstantials this looks like better than the run of the mill haunting rumours.

  • Where: The Lyme Regis Boys Club
  • What: ‘Sam’
  • Why: A link to a previous death during World War II

This story has a more recent and credible flavour to it. The scene is Lyme Regis Boys Club in 2005. A two year old girl had come along with her parent to collect her brother. During the evening, she was seen talking to ‘someone’ but with no-one present. When she was asked who she had been talking to, she replied “Sam”. A psychically aware parent stayed behind after everyone had left and documented the room where Sam had not been with a digital camera. And… yes, you guessed it, in the resulting image, a child-like figure appears in front of the curtains as if floating and running into the room. This was before the days of GenAI but not before the days of digital image manipulation. However, in its defence, the Boys Club building has a long history going back to a time when it was occupied by the American Army during World War II. The Boys Club took over in 1978 and was further refurbished in 1993. US forces who died overseas however were a long way from home. Enough to prompt a psychical lingering?