IT'S not every day you walk into an ancient and 'haunted' country pub with a gravestone, a priest hole and a strange arcane symbol in the same fireplace.
But The Old Chestnut Tree in Lower Moor, near Pershore, has been standing since the reign of Henry VIII so it is only to be expected that it has a few secrets, not to mention skeletons, in the proverbial closest.
However, the landlady does not believe there are any bodies concealed inside this beautiful, timber-framed 16th century pub nestled in an idyllic village just a short drive from Worcester.
The sign outside says the pub dates from 1537 but a carving upon a beam inside shows 1547, a decade later, and the year of King Henry's death.
"I'm reliably told there is no body here but I haven't checked. Most people don't notice the gravestone even when they're sitting next to it," said licensee Amanda Caton.
Ms Caton, 41, runs the pub with partner, serving soldier, Alex Sheridan, 36, and confesses she hasn't performed any excavations of her own, a prudent decision in a grade II listed building.
The gravestone, from 1766, and some of the stones for the fireplace may have been taken from Pershore Abbey - so she has been told.
But Ms Caton says there is much more she would love to know about the pub, piecing together as many fragments as she can from speaking to locals in the hope she can unravel its many mysteries.
A priest hole or hide is also found in the fireplace - a place where Catholic priests could escape the pursuivants who hunted them after England's break from the Mother Church during an age soaked with fear, paranoia and, a little later, gunpowder.
Another strange feature is a curious design which resembles a coiling serpent and looks like something you might see carved into the prow of an Anglo-Saxon boat or Viking longship.
She has heard that Oliver Cromwell stayed nearby on the eve of the Battle of Worcester but said she was keen to hear from local historians who could shed more light on the history hidden within these crooked and creaking timbers.
What she can say is there are reputed to be at least three ghosts - two children and a dog - which are believed to be benevolent rather than malign spirits.
"We have seen things out of the corners of our eyes - nothing concrete but spooky things. There's apparently a ghost dog. Customers have told me about chairs moving by themselves. I still feel really at home here. It's a warm and friendly place."
She also said customers had reported seeing two child ghosts who had crept up on paranormal investigators who had visited the pub recently while others say the pair play 'hide and seek'.
Indeed, one customer said he has known seven landlords - and every single one had reported seeing the ghost of a small child.
However, he said none were 'scared' which at least hints that these spirits harbour no ill intent, a far cry perhaps from another ancient Worcestershire pub not far away.
The Fleece Inn at Bretforton has witch circles or marks by two fireplaces, possibly medieval in origin, designed to stop witches or other malign spirits penetrating the pub's defences.
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A paranormal night took place at the Old Chestnut recently, courtesy of On the Edge Paranormal and the hope is that other, similar nights can take place. They helped corroborate some of the stories Ms Caton has been told by customers.
It was her partner Alex Sheridan's childhood local and the couple took over the running of the pub in June last year. The pub had been empty from Christmas 2022.
"It has a special place in his heart," said Ms Caton who is expecting Mr Sheridan's child (their first together) in September.
Despite the spooky shenanigans, there is nothing insubstantial about the pub's Sunday lunches where beef, turkey and gammon are served with seasonal veg and chef Paul's gravy between noon and 5pm. The sharing platter has also proved popular with customers.
Live music is also featured with some this weekend and the Vintage Trio playing on May 24 between 8pm and 11pm. The pub is open between noon and late daily but is closed on Mondays and open later (from 4pm) on Tuesdays.
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