THE ancient pubs of Worcestershire are saturated with strange and spellbinding stories of kings, ghosts, devils and witches - and one even has its own dungeon.
From weird witch circles to sinister devil carvings, the medieval and Elizabethan pubs of Worcestershire have more than their fair share of supernatural tales, legends, folklore and ancient and arcane mysteries to unravel.
There is even a pub in a churchyard, yards from gravestones, and one has its own dungeon.
The Fleece Inn, Bretforton
Built between 1400 and 1450, The Fleece Inn predates the Wars of the Roses. The pub has peculiar ‘witch circles’ or ‘witch marks’ by fireplaces in the Pewter Room and Brewhouse Room to confer protection against witches and evil spirits.
The pub, owned by the National Trust, is a bastion of English folk music, the Asparagus Festival and other native traditions.
The pub remained in the ownership of the same family until 1977. The last of the descendants was Miss Lola Taplin said to still haunt the place - fulfilling her promise - and has been known to vent her displeasure, including throwing the sandwiches of workmen in a fit of temper.
King Charles House in New Street, Worcester
King Charles House dates from 1577 and began life as a merchant’s house. Nestled within the crumbling remains of Worcester’s medieval walls, it was the scene of Charles II’s escape from the city after his defeat by the Cromwellian forces at the Battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651, the last battle of the English Civil War.
Cromwell’s victory over the Royalists was said to have been secured by a pact with the Devil at nearby Perry Wood. The general’s death mask is a short walk away at the former Royalist HQ, the Commandery in Sidbury.
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The pub contains a magnificent fireplace with demonic motifs from 1634 (removed from Sidbury House). The somewhat sinister carvings show diners and the Devil. Another notable feature is the pub’s secret dungeon (an oubliette) in the floor where it is sometimes said - in jest one hopes - that the skeleton belongs to an erstwhile customer who declined to pay his bill.
The Three Kings Inn, Hanley Castle
This beautiful brick and timber-framed pub dates from the 16th century but with earlier remains, say Historic England.
There are perhaps few pubs in the country which capture the atmosphere of a medieval tavern better than the Three Kings with many quaint and quirky touches to catch the eye.
The pub, which sells local beers, has a small snug with a large inglenook, serving hatch and settle wall.
Nell's Lounge, which has another inglenook and plenty of beams, is reached through the side entrance.
Cardinal's Hat, Friar Street, Worcester
The Cardinal's Hat is said to be the city's oldest pub and lies in one of the oldest parts of the city, close to Worcester Cathedral, Greyfriars and Tudor House where the fabric of the old city is best preserved.
First mentioned in 1497, the Cardinal's Hat with its floor-to-ceiling oak panelling has the atmosphere of a medieval tavern despite its Georgian facade. Its cellars are said to date from the 1300s.
The Cardinal’s Hat was one of many ecclesiastical inns first established to accommodate the many travellers and pilgrims who visited Worcester during the Middle Ages.
The pub is on Friar Street which gets its name from the Franciscan Friary that once dominated the area from the thirteenth century through to the age of Henry VIII who began the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The pub is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl in a flowing white night dress who drifts along a landing.
The Mug House in Claines, near Worcester
The 'Pub in the Churchyard' is an ancient hostelry within the grounds of Claines Church and was once the Church Ale House. The Mug House is at least 700 years old and actually stands within the walls of the Church graveyard on consecrated ground.
The pub is known for its Banks's bitters and strong, traditional atmosphere without games machines or music. The pub is also reputed to be haunted. A few landlords have described hearing glasses smashing without an apparent cause and a dull knocking coming from the beer cellar at night.
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