The Olde Boars Head in Middleton stands above hidden tunnels once used for rituals and escapes — and is now haunted by witchcraft and whispers, writes GEMMA JOHNSON
Long Street is a busy thoroughfare. Buses chug up and down, rows of traffic line up as it serves as a main route into Manchester city centre.
The Olde Boars Head sits watching the traffic go by, its glorious black timber beams providing a stark contrast to the bright white plaster that lines the outer walls.
The pub has sat on this land since the 17th century. It is a Grade II listed building and thought to be one of the oldest pubs in the country.
It is also rumoured to be the site of hauntings, folklore and witchcraft, so naturally I had to visit.
The first tenant of the building was Issac Walkden. Documents indicate that he was resident in the tavern, as it was referred to then, in 1623.
The building has consistently operated as a public house since then, each of the landlords carefully documented for historical purposes. It is a building rich in stories waiting to be told.
Dark history of The Olde Boars Head, Middleton
A young boy tragically lost his life within one of the chimneys in the building. There have been reports of hair being gently pulled in a child-like way. Could this be the lost boy searching for answers and yearning for human contact? Possibly.
Another reported otherworldly resident is Sam Bamford, a local writer and reformer who was involved in the uprising which led to the Peterloo Massacre in 1819.
Bamford held sessions at The Olde Boars Head where he would share his writings and engage in political debate. The pub was also a popular drinking spot for his ancestors.
Bamford himself acknowledged that he believed in ghosts and spirits. He is rumoured to still visit the pub, making his presence known through cold draughts and even full-bodied apparitions.
Beyond the facade of the public areas of the building lies a myriad of secrets shrouded in mystery with a touch of the macabre.
In the area surrounding The Olde Boars Head is The Ring O’ Bells pub and Middleton Parish Church. Local folklore is that underneath the busy main roads, there is a maze of tunnels connecting the three buildings.
Tunnels that allowed secret rituals to take place away from the eyes of the general public. Tunnels that allowed people and goods to be transported swiftly from one area to another.
There is a trap door in one of the rooms which leads down into a cellar. This is thought to be the entrance to the tunnels, now hidden and inaccessible.
There are lots of different rooms within The Olde Boars Head, each with its own quirky character.
The one of most interest to those in the paranormal is The Sessions Room.
In the 18th and 19th century, this area ran quarterly court sessions where a local judge would visit and help magistrates handle the local crimes.
Behind the bar area, there is a boarded-up door with a metal window frame. It is rumoured that this was the space where those awaiting a court session would be held, the cellar acting as an overflow for those waiting.
Rumours are that there were many women tried within that room, accused of being witches and then transported to other areas to be executed.
The Olde Boars Head is a fascinating building integral to the local community – and they do truly delicious food!
If you are in the area, give it a visit. Maybe you will see Sam.
Have you experienced the ghostly atmosphere at The Olde Boars Head? Tell us in the comments section!
