Ghostly sighs and eerie goings-on haunt the historic Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage, writes EMMA SAUNDERS from Ghostly Gathering
The moment that’s stayed with me most from the Cromwell Hotel was in the Fairfax Room.
We were mid-EVP session when, clear as day, a man sighed in the corner. Every one of us heard it.
Seconds like that make you stop dead, because you know it wasn’t one of you – it came from somewhere else entirely.
And at the Cromwell, that “somewhere else” always seems close by.
History of The Cromwell Hotel, Stevenage
The Cromwell has stood in Stevenage for centuries.
It began life as a farmhouse, reportedly owned by John Thurloe, secretary to Oliver Cromwell. You can still see a foundation stone dated 1667 in the fireplace of Cromwell’s Bar, though there’s debate over the exact history.
Today, it’s a smart, refurbished hotel – but behind the polished décor is a building that’s gathered more than its share of stories.
Some of those stories come from staff and guests who have supposedly experienced rooms being left in disarray, hangers rattling in wardrobes, TVs and lights switching themselves on and off.
There are reports of sudden cold spots, children’s laughter, and even poltergeist activity in the cellar.
All of that makes for a colourful reputation, but my focus is always on what I’ve seen with my own eyes.
Paranormal investigation at The Cromwell
Our first time there, in November 2021, we started in the Naseby Suite with a Ouija board.
Someone came through who was known to one of the guests, and the whole atmosphere changed. Kelly – one of my team – turned pale. She’s not a nervous person, but she said she’d been touched, and the energy from this man felt angry.
Later, we moved to the Rump and Wade bar for a human pendulum session.
Within minutes I thought, I’m not liking this. It was heavy in the room.
We switched to a Ouija board, hoping to change the tone, but it went the same way almost immediately. The guests didn’t look comfortable, so I shut the night down early.
Sometimes you’ve got to put safety first.
When we came back in February 2022, the activity was just as strong.
Alongside that unforgettable sigh in the Fairfax Room, a hotel bell rang in the little office next door while it was empty. In one of the far bedrooms, Helen and I both said the same name – “David” – at exactly the same time, and right then an orb appeared in the bathroom.
It wasn’t just in one or two rooms either.
Cat balls lit up, EMF meters spiked – different parts of the hotel came alive throughout the night.
I’ve read all the tales about the Cromwell – the poltergeist mischief, the laughter of unseen children, the cellar stories – and I’ll always keep an open mind.
But it’s the moments I can’t explain away that make this place what it is for me: Kelly’s unease in the Naseby Suite, the oppressive energy in the Rump and Wade, that sigh in the Fairfax, the bell in an empty office, and the name “David” spoken in perfect unison.
The Cromwell’s been standing for over 350 years, and some people say buildings like that soak up every emotion, every event.
Judging by what I’ve experienced here, I’d say they might be right.
Have you experienced anything eerie at the Cromwell Hotel? Share your story in the comments below!
