The Highwayman Inn: Devon’s Gothic Fantasy

The Highwayman Inn is unlike any other haunted pub in Britain—because it was designed to be spooky. Created in the 1950s and 60s by eccentric artist Buster Jones, it is a Gothic fantasia of salvaged church fittings, coffins, gravestones, and bizarre objects. But somewhere along the way, the theatrical became real. Genuine ghosts now walk among the fake ones.

The History

Buster Jones’s Vision

John “Buster” Jones took over a roadside inn and transformed it into a Gothic masterpiece:

• Pews and confessionals from demolished churches
• Authentic gravestones
• Coffins and funeral equipment
• Gallows and execution memorabilia
• Suits of armor and taxidermy

Jones continued adding to his creation until his death in 1994.

The Transformation

What began as theatrical decoration became something more. Staff and visitors reported experiences that couldn’t be explained by the props. Real hauntings began to occur.

The Hauntings

The Woman in White

A genuine ghost not among the props:

• A woman in white Victorian dress
• Seen in the upstairs rooms
• She predates Jones’s renovations
• Possibly connected to the original inn
• Her presence is unexpected and genuine

The Soldier

A man in military uniform appears:

• World War I or II era
• He seems confused by his surroundings
• The Gothic decoration disorients spirits
• May have connections to the area’s military history

Buster Jones Himself

The creator has been seen since his death:

• Walking among his creations
• Adjusting and inspecting objects
• He seems pleased with his work
• A creative presence lingering on

Attracted Spirits

The Gothic atmosphere may draw spirits:

• The religious artifacts attract activity
• The coffins and gravestones create energy
• Spirits seem confused between real and fake
• The boundary has become permeable

Poltergeist Activity

Objects move and sounds occur:

• Beyond what props could explain
• Items that aren’t animated move
• Voices in empty rooms
• Temperature drops in warm areas

The Paradox

The Highwayman presents a unique situation:

• Built to seem haunted
• Became genuinely haunted
• Staff distinguish between theatrical and real
• Some experiences are unquestionably supernatural
• The intention may have created the reality

Modern Activity

The Highwayman continues to attract attention:

• Paranormal investigators study it
• The distinction between design and haunting interests researchers
• Staff have genuine experiences
• The Gothic atmosphere never fades
• It remains one of Devon’s strangest sites

Visiting

The Highwayman Inn is open to visitors and offers an experience unlike any other pub. Its Gothic interior must be seen to be believed—and its genuine ghosts experienced to be understood.

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Buster Jones built a fantasy of Gothic horror from salvaged coffins and church fittings. He created a stage set for hauntings—and real ghosts accepted the invitation. The Highwayman Inn is where theatre became reality.