THE WHITE HART INN
HOLYWELL HILL, ST.ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE
GHOST DINNER & TOUR
RECORDED PHENOMENA: Multiple Hauntings
DATE: March 2010
ACCOUNT: 1st Hand accounts
PRESENT:
Maggie (G.P.S. Founder Member & Lead Investigator)
Pauline (St.Albans Ghost Tours)
David
I had first visited THE WHITE HART, as part of a Tour with Pauline King of St.Albans Ghost Tours. We had only stayed at the premises a short time, during which I picked up one spirit outside the building, and another on the first floor. For my second visit, we went as part of the Hotels regular ‘Ghost Dinner & Tour’ events.
This, I felt, would give me greater opportunity to look around.
During the Dinner itself, I could sense nothing in the area, as had been my previous experience. The only slightly strange occurrence being that our candle (located on a window ledge next to us) did flicker violently at times throughout the evening. I checked (subtly!) for any draughts that could explain this, but could find nothing. I also looked around at other peoples tables during these times, and didn’t notice the same occurrence. Later in the evening our candle went out completely! – However, I wouldn’t necessarily conclude this was anything of a paranormal nature.
After the dinner came the tour, and myself, Pauline (of St.albans Ghost Tours) and her husband David set off with high hopes of what we might find in the ‘hidden’ parts of the Hotel. As usual, I had done no prior research, and had told both Pauline and David not to tell me anything about the area, it’s history, etc.. The only information I had, was provided by the Tour Guide. – Quite often the information I got, although similar, was not the same, or conflicted.
These are MY findings for the evening, and may not necessarily reflect the content of the Tour, or the explanations given by other sources.
THE CELLAR.
One Cellar was reported to have been the sight of a violent murder.
I felt that the murder in question hadn’t happened in that particular cellar, but in the ‘upper’ cellar, before you reached this one. The victim was lured down from the top of the building under false pretences, and I believe by the time they reached the first cellar, they knew something was wrong, and tried to make their escape. I also believe they were cornered (there was one particular corner I was drawn to) and this is where they were attacked. It was a particular vicious attack, and there were more than one attacker – a group of males were involved, although only one actually delivered the fatal blow. They all picked up the body by its arms and legs and threw it into the lower cellar ‘for the rats to enjoy!’ – there was no bad feeling about what they had done!.
I had the impression that this ‘group attack’ was fuelled by anger, but wasn’t pre-meditated to any great extent. It’s the sort of attack that happens when a group get together, and things ‘get out of control’ – especially if alcohol was involved prior to it. I think they sat together, voicing their opinions in secret whispers, but encouraging each other to its eventful bloody outcome. At least two of the males involved were related, and I suspect these to be father and son.
THE CELLARS
Aside from this one attack, I didn’t sense much more in the cellars. Without spending more time in them, it’s difficult to say what else may reside there.
STAIRCASE & FIRST FLOOR (to ladies toilets)
The staircase is where, on my previous visit, I had sensed the presence of a child. When I returned, again, it felt cold, even on the lower stairs near the bar. The child that haunts this particular place is not overtly sad or happy, Like any child – their moods change quickly. I definitely feel they only haunt the staircase and first floor landing area. I didn’t feel them anywhere else on the tour. Later in the tour I took some photos of the staircase, and the door leading to the first-floor hotel rooms. On one picture there is a clear, bright ‘orb’ which has movement to it. (Quite often orbs in pictures seem still, which is why people claim it as camera flash) The movement in this orb contrasts with rest of the picture. If it had been a case of the camera shaking, causing the ‘flash’ orb to shake, then the photo would have appeared blurred. In this photo, only the orb seems to be moving, and blurred.
I wonder if the fact that the ladies toilet is there has any bearing? – Does this child haunt this area because of the ladies walking through there? – It seems that this ghost is very ‘stuck’ on this location. It would be interesting to research what this area has been previously, and why it may hold some significance to her.
On the stairs by the toilet, there is a window, a place I believe this girl likes to look out of. If I were the hotel manager, I would try leaving small gifts on this window ledge – I believe she would appreciate it!
THE ‘COURTROOM’
The next room where I felt ‘something’ resides. My first feeling on entering the room was: Hangings!! – The feeling I get when visiting the scene of hangings is unmistakable – the throat constricts, and you simply ‘know’ this happened there! Another cold, unwelcoming place. And, despite its possible uses, as a function room, or communal area, it seems a place that people quickly walk through on their way somewhere else. If it has indeed, seen hangings, then some of these were for the most trivial things, and included children and those who were completely innocent of any wrongdoing. I had the impression that being poor was enough to get you hanged. – If you were accused (even wrongly) – your sentence was assured. – It was a court ran by the rich and influential, as much to keep the poor in their place, as opposed to a place of justice.. I kept seeing a boy, of about 10, standing there, head bowed hands tied in front of him – a sad urchin type in ragged clothes and bare feet. He seemed to be alone, as though no-one was there to defend him.
I believe that the ghosts of those tried, and the judges themselves still haunt this area.
After the tour we went back to this room, and the heavy light fitting could be seen swinging quickly. This was seen by 4 of us in the room, and I took some photos of it. After getting the photos developed, a very large orb can be seen in the picture, directly on the light fitting itself, and smaller ones can be seen around the room. In one picture there are several on the thick wooden beam, and one of them is a bright red colour – different to all the other white ones.This room, has undoubtedly some form of Paranormal Phenomena attached to it. A direct result – I believe of the misery it bought to so many people.
For other pictures of the WHITE HART
see our PICTURE GALLERY PAGE
TOP OF THE BUILDING – Rooms, toilet and corridor.
This particular area is very, very cold. – Other people in the group noticed the change in temperature here, and I asked the people with me if they noticed it in one area more than another. The general feeling was that the area between the radiator (in the middle of the corridor), and the toilet (at the end of the corridor) was extremely, and unnaturally, cold compared to the rest of the building. Between these two points, there is a hotel room (one of two located in the corridor). This room, according to our guide, has been the scene of some recorded Paranormal Activity in the past. I would not like to speculate on what lies beyond the door (it was closed, so we could not enter) but the area in the corridor is definitely a place of ill-feeling, and home to an (evil??) entity intent on malevolent behaviour. A male haunts here, and one you would not wish to meet in life anymore than in death!
I do believe there is a link between the murder in the cellar, and the ghost in this corridor. The room itself is so out of the way that anything could take place there, and go (relatively) unnoticed. – It would be interesting to research whether this was once a Private area, or - if it were letting rooms – was it rented out to one particular person for a great length of time? I get the feelings of secrecy, secrets and deceit. – I also think, that even now, this person doesn’t want people around there.
I also had the strong impression of ‘groups’ of people in the corridor and using the rooms, - again, in secret. The top of this building, I believe has many secrets lying behind its doors.
OTHER
The White Hart Hotel, over the centuries has seen many things, and many people, but it seems that only the sad, malevolent, tortured ghosts remain behind. At some places in the hotel there seems to be groups of spirits, while in others there seems to be a singular spirit – all seeming to date from different times and eras throughout the Hotels history.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the premises haven’t witnessed some form of ‘Poltergeist’ activity. – I do believe that some ‘spirits’ here make their presence known in a variety of ways, and most of this activity could be unwanted, and even frightening to the unwary guest.
Once again, Pauline is doing further investigation on the history of this Old Inn, hopefully she can substantiate some of our findings.
