The Bucket of Blood

The Bucket of Blood pub in the small Cornish village of Phillack earned its macabre name from a horrifying incident in the 19th century. The landlord went to draw water from the pub’s well and brought up a bucket filled with blood instead of water. Upon investigation, the body of a murdered man was discovered at the bottom of the well, having been thrown there after a violent altercation. The victim’s spirit, along with other restless entities, has haunted the establishment ever since, creating an atmosphere thick with supernatural dread that has earned the pub a reputation as one of Cornwall’s most haunted locations.

Visitors and staff report seeing the apparition of a man with a bloodied head near the location of the old well, which has long since been sealed. His ghost appears confused and angry, sometimes pointing accusingly at patrons before vanishing. The pub experiences frequent poltergeist activity including glasses being swept from tables, doors slamming violently when no one is near them, and the sound of furniture being overturned in empty rooms. During the night, people passing by the pub have heard screams and the sounds of a violent struggle coming from within, only to find the building empty and locked when investigated.

The paranormal activity intensifies during the winter months, particularly around the anniversary of the murder. Witnesses have reported being overcome with feelings of intense anger and aggression while inside the pub, emotions that dissipate immediately upon leaving. There have been accounts of shadowy figures seen moving past windows, unexplained cold spots that move through rooms, and the disturbing phenomenon of water in glasses turning red like blood when left unattended. The pub’s dark history and its gruesome name serve as a constant reminder of the violence that occurred here, and locals believe the spirits of those who died violently in and around the building will never find peace.