The Ghosts of the Mermaid Inn

The Mermaid Inn in Rye is one of England’s most famous and most haunted inns. The building dates from 1156, rebuilt in 1420, and has been an inn for most of its existence. Its ghosts include smugglers, a murdered serving girl, and more.

The Inn

The Mermaid stands on a cobbled street in medieval Rye. The timber-framed building retains its ancient character, with secret passages and a history of smuggling. It has been welcoming guests for centuries.

The Hawkhurst Gang

The Mermaid was headquarters for the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers in the 18th century. They sat with loaded pistols, and no one dared challenge them. Their ghosts are said to walk the inn, still armed and dangerous.

The White Lady

A woman in white appears in a rocking chair in one of the bedrooms. She rocks silently before fading. Her identity is unknown, but she may be connected to a murder that occurred in the inn.

The Dueling Ghosts

Two men have been seen fighting with swords in the main room. They may be reliving a duel that ended in death. The clash of steel has been heard when nothing is visible.

The Secret Passages

The inn’s secret passages and hidden rooms generate their own supernatural activity. Cold spots, unexplained sounds, and feelings of being watched are commonly reported.

Assessment

The Mermaid Inn’s combination of great age, violent history, and continuous hospitality has created one of England’s most consistently haunted buildings. Guests continue to report experiences that add to its reputation.