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About 200 years ago a merchant ship sank in foul weather off the Kent coast. There were many such incidents in those days, but in this particular case the only survivor was the Captain who, more dead than alive, managed to drag himself over the stinking mudflats and marshland towards lights which he could see, gently twinkling, in the far distance. After what must have seemed to be hours of crawling and struggling through the glutinous mud where every step was an effort, he arrived , thankfully, at the house. With a final push he banged several times on the heavy oak door and then heard an upstairs window being opened.“Begone you villain” he was told with uncompromising harshness. The window slammed shut. The Captain sunk to the ground in dismay. Overcome by exhaustion, he slept.
He never awoke and his body was removed the next day.
Since then his revenge has been remorseless. In what is now a secluded pub, his spirit re-appears with terrifying frequency. If you are sitting at the bar and you suddenly smell tobacco, tar and other nautical odours, and if the wind is whistling and crashing around the building in what must be a repeat of the fatal weather conditions of centuries ago, you might see this apparition.
He brings an aura of silent menace, of pent up anger, to visitors and regulars who are enjoying a quiet drink. He appears, glowers at everyone and then just disappears. But his real revenge is on the staff ... he appears soundlessly when least expected and his looks and chilly presence terrify all whom he surprises. He is even rumoured to have appeared in the bedrooms of the owners and stare malevolently at them before disappearing. The sense of evil and anger has not diminished over the years.
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| The Shipwright's Arms, Kent |
The place? The Shipwright’s Arms in Hollowshore, Kent. Go and visit for yourself, and you might be (un)lucky enough to meet “Harry”.
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