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In brief
Built on the foundations of a medieval hostelry used to house pilgrims visiting the nearby abbey, this Georgian beauty is rife with ghostly houseguests eager to make their presence known.
Category
About
Known as the gateway to the south-west, the picturesque market town of Shaftesbury in Dorset is perched on top of a hill, enjoying a panoramic view of the county’s stunning countryside. The town is well-known for its charming and rustic cobbled street, Gold Hill, which is lined with adorable country cottages and with a view from the top, often credited as one of the most enchanting in the country. The location was used in the famous Hovis “Boy on Bike” commercial directed by Ridley Scott and featured in the 1967 film adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s “Far from the Madding Crowd.”
With a captivating history dating back to Saxon times and an abundance of shops, cafes, and restaurants to choose from, visitors looking to discover a historical gem and paranormal hotspot would be hard pressed to find anything better than the beautiful and very haunted Grosvenor Arms on the town’s High Street.
The Grosvenor Arms underwent a major refurbishment in 2013 and today offers visitors beautifully designed and refined rooms that ooze comfort, elegance, and a touch of luxury. There is a cosy bar complete with wood-burning stove and an award-winning restaurant providing all-day service, so delectable meals can be enjoyed any time of day. With plenty of ghostly residents who have no intention of checking out, what more could a ghost hunter ask for?
History
The Grosvenor is just a two-minute walk from the ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey, a 9th-century Benedictine nunnery to which pilgrims once flocked to experience miracles at the tomb of King Edward the Martyr, who was murdered in 978. The popularity of the abbey as a shrine and religious destination created great prosperity for the church and town for many centuries. In the 14th century, Shaftesbury was noted to be the wealthiest town in Dorset.
In 1539, after more than 600 years as a place of pilgrimage, worship, and religious obedience for Benedictine nuns, Shaftesbury Abbey was confiscated by King Henry VIII following his break with Rome. The abbey was the second wealthiest nunnery in England at the time, and its 59 resident nuns received a small pension, which they were expected to supplement with employment.
The Grosvenor Arms mostly dates from the Georgian period but is built on the site of a medieval inn and still retains many parts of its original structure. In 1553 it was trading as the New Inn, but like many inns and taverns after James I was crowned King of England in 1603, the name was subsequently changed to the Red Lion. The new king had ordered that all public buildings, including inns and alehouses, should display his Scottish emblem as a sign of support and loyalty.
In 1820 MP, Robert, 2nd Earl Grosvenor, bought 400 properties in Shaftesbury, including the Red Lion. The building was upgraded, and the trading name was changed to the Grosvenor Arms.
Ghostly activity
Over the years, many unwitting hotel guests, staff members, and patrons have had ghostly experiences at this haunted hostelry.
- A ghostly nun dressed in a grey habit roams the upper floor.*
- The ghost of a young girl likes to attract attention by tugging on the bedclothes of sleeping guests.
- The apparition of a hooded monk has shocked many staff when down in the cellar.
- When discussing the activity on the This is Alfred podcast - Shaftesbury Ghost Stories for Halloween, staff member Charlotte Moody recalled a time when, together with a colleague, she was making up a bed in one of the guest rooms when they heard a distinct knock at the door but found nobody there and the corridor empty. Charlotte also described seeing a black mist in the building and witnessing a trinket box mysteriously launched across a room from a chest of drawers, landing on a bed. She also said that many staff had seen ghostly apparitions in the bar area.
* Read our blog post, "So, why would a nun haunt a Georgian hotel?" for further discussion on this ghostly visitor to the Grosvenor Arms.
Location
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High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JA, UK
Access
Please note that while there is a lift to the first floor and some of the rooms have walk-in showers, due to the age of the building, the rooms are not suitable or adapted for wheelchair users.
The bar and restaurant have level areas that are accessible to wheelchair users and are open to non-residents.
Region
A full record of any articles, websites, webpages, books, or other materials that have assisted us in the research and presentation of this listing can be found below.
www.grosvenorarms.co.uk
https://www.shaftesburyabbey.org.uk/museum
‘Shaftesbury Abbey’ – Wikipedia – Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaftesbury_Abbey
‘St Edward the Martyr’ (2023). Available at https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05323a.htm
‘House of Benedictine nuns: The abbey of Shaftesbury’ A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, (1908)Available at https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/dorset/vol2/pp73-79
Hale, R. (2018) ‘The Hauntings of Grosvenor Hotel.’ Available at https://www.spookyisles.com/grosvenor-hotel-shaftesbury/
George, M. (2020) ‘Five Haunted Hotels in Dorset.’ Bournemouth Echo, 30th October. Available at https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18832435.five-haunted-hotels-dorset/
‘Halloween Special – The Secrets of Shaftesbury’s Most Haunted Places.’ (2021) Available at https://thisisalfred.com/community/halloween-special-the-secrets-of-shaftesburys-most-haunted-places/
The appropriate copyright attributions for any images and videos included in this listing can be found below.
Images of the interior and exterior of Grosvenor Arms Hotel used on this page are provided with permission of www.grosvenorarms.co.uk. All rights to the images are reserved by www.grosvenorarms.co.uk.
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