The Mallard in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, has been the site of some of Ghostly Gatherings’ most chilling and consistent paranormal activity, writes EMMA SAUNDERS
The Mallard pub in London Road, Hemel Hempstead, has given us some of the clearest, strangest activity Ghostly Gatherings has ever encountered – and that’s saying something.
One night I stood watching Helen, one of my team, chatting away when her hair suddenly lifted clean into the air, as if someone had taken hold of it and pulled. No draughts, no fans – nothing to explain it.
Another time, during a Ouija board session, two young guests suddenly complained of back pain. When we checked, both had fresh scratches in the shape of the number one. At that exact moment, the planchette slid to ‘1’ on the board.
I’ll be honest, they were young girls – perhaps they’d done it without realising. I always try to debunk what I can. But visible scratches are rare in my experience, and this is one of only two times I have seen it happen in all my years with Ghostly Gatherings.
That was February 2022, our first time at The Mallard. We had been called in by Zanna, the bar lady, after their CCTV picked up a man walking across the car park when there was nobody there.
Zanna is a believer, and after that night she became part of the Ghostly Gatherings team. She now helps us run the Mallard events.
The pub stands on the site of an old posting house on the main A41 into London, where travellers would stop to rest and change horses.
Next door – where we now run part of our events – used to be a Harvester test kitchen and offices, but before that it is thought to have been the old stables. It is a site with layers of history, and you can feel it.
When we gained access to that building in May 2024, the energy changed immediately. Upstairs in the offices, EMF meters went mad, and a board session gave us a couple of names.
One tiny office felt so heavy you just wanted to get out. On the stairway, one of my team actually saw a young girl. In the kitchen, a figure stepped into a laser grid – you could clearly see his arm.
Outside, we ran a vortex experiment and caught the image of a little girl in a frilly hat holding a teddy. We have named her Molly, and she has appeared in more than one investigation since.
By October 2024, that side office still felt oppressive. We heard tapping, a rem bear triggered, EMF meters went off repeatedly, and another vortex run seemed to capture Molly again.
May 2025 was quieter, but still worth noting. In the bar, the Ouija board moved in slow circles for one group, giving an age – six – which could match Molly.
Upstairs in the Innovation building, the name Rachel was called out from a corner. Another team had a strong spirit box session where name after name came through.
A cat ball lit up in one of the smaller offices, and that same horrible storage room still made people uneasy. Downstairs, one board session gave us Mary – aged 29 in 1806, on her own – while another came up with Elsie Becks, which we still need to research.
Norman, our ‘army man’ who has appeared before on the Hexcom, made an appearance too.
What makes The Mallard special for me and my Ghostly Gatherings team is the consistency. The pub has its lively moments, but the building next door gives you those heavy, unsettling pockets of energy that make people stop in their tracks.
Over the years here we have had visual phenomena, physical touches, recurring names, and guests who have gone from curious to wide-eyed in minutes.
You cannot force a haunting, but The Mallard rarely leaves you empty-handed. Every visit adds another piece to the story – and I am certain Molly, Norman, and whoever else is there will have more to share with us next time Ghostly Gatherings comes calling.
Have you experienced anything unusual at The Mallard? Share your story in the comments below!
