CCTV has captured footage of a flickering ghost standing by the bar of a pub in the centre of my hometown.
Manager Tony Dooley discovered the spectre after heading downstairs in the early hours of the morning on Valentine's Day and stumbling upon a broken glass lying on the floor.
Thinking he had been burgled, he rushed to check CCTV footage - only to discover the figure flickering mysteriously by the bar.
The recording then shut off - for no apparent reason - at 6.18am.
The Ye Olde Man And Scythe, on Churchgate in Bolton, Greater Manchester, dates back to 1251, making it the fourth-oldest pub in Britain.
Exactly 400 years later, in 1651, James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, was beheaded outside the pub for his part in the Bolton Massacre, the only massacre of the English Civil War, which the Royalists perpetrated on the Parliamentarian-supporting town in 1644.
Stanley had his last meal inside the pub, and the very chair he sat on, and the very axe used to chop off his head, are displayed inside a glass cabinet inside the pub.
His ghost is said to be one of 25 which haunt the Ye Olde Man and Scythe and many strange happenings have occurred in the pub over the years.
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, is also the ancestor of the former Governor of Canada, Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, who founded the Stanley Cup.
Could it be the 7th Earl of Derby's ghost captured on camera?
Is this proof of a ghost in 750-year-old pub? (Or was it down to spirits?)
Spooky intruder captured on CCTV at Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton
Footage shows 'ghost' floating by bar after apparently smashing a glass
Historic pub dates back to 1251, making it one of Britain's oldest premises
It is reportedly haunted by ghost of James Stanley, seventh Earl of Derby
Psychics previously discovered at least 25 spirits (of the ghostly variety) present on premises
By Sophie Jane Evans
17 February 2014
Most pubs are used to disturbances on their premises, but they are usually not of the supernatural kind.
However, staff at one of Britain's oldest pubs believe they have caught a ghost on CCTV - and claim it has smashed a glass on the floor.
The spooky intruder was spotted floating by the bar at the 763-year-old Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
A ghost? This spooky figure was caught on CCTV at Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is believed to have smashed a glass on the floor of the premises, which is one of the oldest pubs in Britain
Watch the video: [FULL] Ghost Caught On Camera At Ye Olde Man and Scythe | Ghost is Caught on Pub CCTV in Bolton - YouTube
Manager Tony Dooley discovered the spectre after heading downstairs on Friday morning and stumbling upon a broken glass lying on the floor.
Thinking he had been burgled, he rushed to check CCTV footage - only to discover the figure flickering mysteriously by the bar.
The recording then shut off - for no apparent reason - at 6.18am.
'I came down and saw a glass smashed on the floor so I was instantly suspicious and went to check the CCTV and found it has stopped working,' said Mr Dooley. 'We checked the footage and it revealed this figure.
Discovery: Manager Tony Dooley discovered the spectre after stumbling upon the broken glass lying on the floor of the pub. He rushed to check CCTV footage - only to discover the figure flickering mysteriously by the bar. The pub, which dates back to 1251, is the fourth-oldest in Britain and is renowned for its ghostly occurrences
Parts of the pub were rebuilt in 1636
'To be honest I was a bit concerned - I’m a bit of a sceptic when it comes to ghosts but you become more of a believer when you see things like that.'
The pub, which dates from 1251, is the fourth-oldest pub in Britain and is reportedly haunted by the ghost of James Stanley, the seventh Earl of Derby.
Spiritual presence: The pub, which dates from 1251, is reportedly haunted by the ghost of James Stanley (pictured), the 7th Earl of Derby, who was executed outside the pub in 1651 for his part in the 1644 Bolton Massacre during the English Civil War
The 7th Earl of Derby's execution outside the Ye Olde Man and Scythe pub on Churchgate, Bolton, in 1651. 241 years later, his descendant founded the Stanley Cup
Churchgate today. The Ye Olde Man and Scythe is between the monument and the car in the picture
The royalist, whose family originally owned the inn, is believed to have spent the last hours of his life there before he was beheaded in 1651 toward the end of the Civil War.
The chair he sat in before he was executed is still in the pub today - leading some to believe his spirit also remains on the premises.
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians were also killed outside the pub during the Bolton Massacre in 1644.
With such a bloody history, the premises has long been considered a hotspot for paranormal activity - with psychics previously finding it to be haunted by at least 25 spirits.
Among these are believed to be a woman who hanged herself in the cellar several centuries ago, as well as an eight-year-old girl and a phantom dog.
'There have always been rumours it is haunted and we have had psychic readings done here in the past,' said Mr Dooley.
'Occasionally you hear things and wonder if it is just the building settling down or whether it is something else.
'It is the fourth-oldest pub in Great Britain so it’s had its fair share of deaths and whatnot.'
Mr Dooley added that he hoped his customers would not be put off by the spirits of olde - saying: 'There is a well-known haunt in Bolton and people are quite receptive of it.
'But you can’t help but get all spooked out when you see something like this. It can make your hairs stand on end.'
A ghostly orb appears in this photo of the chair that James Stanley sat on to eat his last meal, and the very axe used to behead him, both of which are displayed inside the pub
Read more: Is this proof of a ghost in Ye Olde Man and Scythe pub in Bolton? | Mail Online
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Manager Tony Dooley discovered the spectre after heading downstairs in the early hours of the morning on Valentine's Day and stumbling upon a broken glass lying on the floor.
Thinking he had been burgled, he rushed to check CCTV footage - only to discover the figure flickering mysteriously by the bar.
The recording then shut off - for no apparent reason - at 6.18am.
The Ye Olde Man And Scythe, on Churchgate in Bolton, Greater Manchester, dates back to 1251, making it the fourth-oldest pub in Britain.
Exactly 400 years later, in 1651, James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, was beheaded outside the pub for his part in the Bolton Massacre, the only massacre of the English Civil War, which the Royalists perpetrated on the Parliamentarian-supporting town in 1644.
Stanley had his last meal inside the pub, and the very chair he sat on, and the very axe used to chop off his head, are displayed inside a glass cabinet inside the pub.
His ghost is said to be one of 25 which haunt the Ye Olde Man and Scythe and many strange happenings have occurred in the pub over the years.
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, is also the ancestor of the former Governor of Canada, Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, who founded the Stanley Cup.
Could it be the 7th Earl of Derby's ghost captured on camera?
Is this proof of a ghost in 750-year-old pub? (Or was it down to spirits?)
Spooky intruder captured on CCTV at Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton
Footage shows 'ghost' floating by bar after apparently smashing a glass
Historic pub dates back to 1251, making it one of Britain's oldest premises
It is reportedly haunted by ghost of James Stanley, seventh Earl of Derby
Psychics previously discovered at least 25 spirits (of the ghostly variety) present on premises
By Sophie Jane Evans
17 February 2014
Most pubs are used to disturbances on their premises, but they are usually not of the supernatural kind.
However, staff at one of Britain's oldest pubs believe they have caught a ghost on CCTV - and claim it has smashed a glass on the floor.
The spooky intruder was spotted floating by the bar at the 763-year-old Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
A ghost? This spooky figure was caught on CCTV at Ye Olde Man and Scythe in Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is believed to have smashed a glass on the floor of the premises, which is one of the oldest pubs in Britain
Watch the video: [FULL] Ghost Caught On Camera At Ye Olde Man and Scythe | Ghost is Caught on Pub CCTV in Bolton - YouTube
Manager Tony Dooley discovered the spectre after heading downstairs on Friday morning and stumbling upon a broken glass lying on the floor.
Thinking he had been burgled, he rushed to check CCTV footage - only to discover the figure flickering mysteriously by the bar.
The recording then shut off - for no apparent reason - at 6.18am.
'I came down and saw a glass smashed on the floor so I was instantly suspicious and went to check the CCTV and found it has stopped working,' said Mr Dooley. 'We checked the footage and it revealed this figure.
Discovery: Manager Tony Dooley discovered the spectre after stumbling upon the broken glass lying on the floor of the pub. He rushed to check CCTV footage - only to discover the figure flickering mysteriously by the bar. The pub, which dates back to 1251, is the fourth-oldest in Britain and is renowned for its ghostly occurrences
Parts of the pub were rebuilt in 1636
'To be honest I was a bit concerned - I’m a bit of a sceptic when it comes to ghosts but you become more of a believer when you see things like that.'
The pub, which dates from 1251, is the fourth-oldest pub in Britain and is reportedly haunted by the ghost of James Stanley, the seventh Earl of Derby.
Spiritual presence: The pub, which dates from 1251, is reportedly haunted by the ghost of James Stanley (pictured), the 7th Earl of Derby, who was executed outside the pub in 1651 for his part in the 1644 Bolton Massacre during the English Civil War
The 7th Earl of Derby's execution outside the Ye Olde Man and Scythe pub on Churchgate, Bolton, in 1651. 241 years later, his descendant founded the Stanley Cup
Churchgate today. The Ye Olde Man and Scythe is between the monument and the car in the picture
The royalist, whose family originally owned the inn, is believed to have spent the last hours of his life there before he was beheaded in 1651 toward the end of the Civil War.
The chair he sat in before he was executed is still in the pub today - leading some to believe his spirit also remains on the premises.
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians were also killed outside the pub during the Bolton Massacre in 1644.
With such a bloody history, the premises has long been considered a hotspot for paranormal activity - with psychics previously finding it to be haunted by at least 25 spirits.
Among these are believed to be a woman who hanged herself in the cellar several centuries ago, as well as an eight-year-old girl and a phantom dog.
'There have always been rumours it is haunted and we have had psychic readings done here in the past,' said Mr Dooley.
'Occasionally you hear things and wonder if it is just the building settling down or whether it is something else.
'It is the fourth-oldest pub in Great Britain so it’s had its fair share of deaths and whatnot.'
Mr Dooley added that he hoped his customers would not be put off by the spirits of olde - saying: 'There is a well-known haunt in Bolton and people are quite receptive of it.
'But you can’t help but get all spooked out when you see something like this. It can make your hairs stand on end.'
A ghostly orb appears in this photo of the chair that James Stanley sat on to eat his last meal, and the very axe used to behead him, both of which are displayed inside the pub
Read more: Is this proof of a ghost in Ye Olde Man and Scythe pub in Bolton? | Mail Online
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