The Davenport Arms, Woodford

I haven't stayed at this pub myself, but my Father did in the early 1960s. He recently told me about his experience. It was rather spooky to say the least! He booked into a room for the night and at first everything seemed fine, however after undressing and putting his suit up to hang in a cupboard and then getting into bed, he was aware of a distinct feeling of uneasiness! He couldn't understand it but knew it had something to do with the cupboard. Eventually he read a book for twenty minutes, simply to relax, then turned the light out. He tried to get to sleep but was now much more aware of the feeling of uneasiness and that the cupboard wasn't right! He turned the light on and went to see if there was anything inside, but all he found were his clothes. He felt very reticent about turning the light off again, but couldn't explain why. He failed to get any sleep at all, and became quite obsessed with the cupboard. In the breakfast room the next morning the landlord came over and specifically asked my Father, out of several guests, if he had had a good night's sleep? My Father then recounted what he had experienced, saying he felt a bit silly admitting such a thing. The landlord's response sent a chill down my Father's spine! He said he had thought of warning my Father about the room and in particular the cupboard, when he had booked in, saying three people out of four experience exactly the same thing! He went on to explain that in an earlier century a maid had been murdered and her body placed in the cupboard by the perpertrator. Apparently it had remained their for some considerable time!

30 Aug 2004 20:57