Is That a Ghost You Are Sitting Upon? By Harold Cunliffe
Above: The Ring o’ Bells public House
There are many public houses which claim to have a ghost.
O
ne such establishment, The Ring o’ Bells in Middleton, Manchester is well documented for having the ghost of a cavalier upon its premises. One licensee commented that “having a ghost can be good for trade.” In 1969 a young man was employed to cover the bar during the early evenings to enable the licensee and her husband to have a break before the evening rush commenced. The licensee enjoyed playing a baby grand piano so took advantage of a few hours rest. The young chap would 74
serve the odd customer throughout the evening. His first regular customer would arrive around eight thirty; who was an insurance agent who would spend half an hour with a pint seated at a table where he brought his round book up to date. The “Ringers,” as it was known was famous for having a small bar, measuring only thirty six inches wide. One evening in the run up to Christmas the barman who was alone, noticed that the pint pots which were stored on hooks above the pumps, started to sway. The first dimpled pot would start to sway, followed by the next until all the pots were seen swinging in unison. No matter how often he stopped them, they would start again. What happened next would leave him with
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memories which would last a lifetime. As he was cleaning the bar he noticed a white ball of mist enter the corridor from the staircase. This orb slowly made its way past the bar and rested on the second seat in the small ‘Snug’ which on the left of the bar. Around ten minutes later the insurance agent came into the pub, he was known as Frank. “Hi, it is a bit cold out there, give me a pint,” he said. Then to the surprise of the barman, he proceeded into the same room as the orb, and then sat in the very seat. Having no wish to explain what had just occurred the barman watched with interest as Frank settled down to his bookkeeping. Within minutes the seated man became restless, he moved around in his seat. Then commented, www.lancmag.com
