Located in the small Northumberland town of Alnmouth, the Schooner Inn has for many years advertised that they have over 60 ghosts, and that such notables as King George II, Charles Dickens, John Wesley and Basil Rathbone have stayed there. However, in 2005 it came to light that most of these hauntings had been made up, as were the claims of famous visitors.
It is claimed that the Schooner Inn was twice voted the Most Haunted Hotel in the UK by The Poltergeist Society of Great Britain. There’s just one problem. The Poltergeist Society of Great Britain does not, and has never, existed. This is a completely bogus society, and was the first clue that tipped off a reporter that something fishy was going on.
King George III would not have stayed at such a disreputable inn. Alnwick Castle, home of the Duchess of Northumberland, Elizabeth Percy, was only 5 miles away from the Schooner Inn. Elizabeth was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte. This is the most likely place for King George to have stayed had he been in the area.
Charles Dickens – There is no evidence that Charles Dickens ever visited Alnmouth. As a matter of fact, it appears that he made deliberate attempts to never go anywhere near the area. I suspect that Charles Dickens was linked to Alnmouth for one reason, the fact that his first love, Maria Sarah Beadnell, had lived at Alnmouth. What the myth-makers failed to take into account were historically documented facts. Dickens fell deeply in love with Maria, but her love in return is questionable. According to those who knew the couple Maria played hot and cold with Dickens, keeping him dancing to her tune while she also took every opportunity to belittle and insult him. In spite of the bad treatment he received at her hands, Dickens had still hoped to marry Maria, but her parents were not happy with the match. Dickens wrote of how deeply insulted he felt when, upon telling her of his feelings, she called him a “boy.” The relationship soon ended and in 1845 she married Henry Winter, a London sawmill owner. Sometime around 1855 Henry Winter went bankrupt. It was during this time that Maria, after over 20 years of no contact, decided to write to Dickens, now a famous and successful author, to ask for his help in attaining employment for her husband. Dickens declined. Henry Winter decided to try a new career, becoming a vicar. While Henry studied Maria approached Dickens about meeting secretly, which it is believed they did sometime in 1855. Dickens was very disappointed in how old and frumpy looking Maria was. After this meeting Maria hotly pursued Dickens, but he had no further interest in her. He saw her one last time when he and his wife had dinner with Maria and her husband Henry. Not too long after Henry received his first assignment as a vicar, which moved him and Maria out of the London area. About 1866 they moved even further away when Henry was assigned to be vicar in Alnmouth, Northumberland, where the Schooner Inn is located. After that last meal with Maria in 1855 Charles Dickens made sure to avoid having contact with her, including turning down invites to visit her in Alnmouth. He dodged her “affections” until his death in 1870. So no, Dickens most assuredly did not stay in Alnmouth, or anywhere within close vicinity, of Maria Beadnell Winter! The letters between them are quite interesting and can be found here: Charles Dickens and Maria Beadnell; private correspondence.
John Wesley – There is no evidence that John Wesley ever stayed at the Schooner. His journal shows us that he was staying at Alnwick when he decided to visit nearby Alnmouth to do some preaching. This was on September 14, 1749. He described Alnmouth as a seaport town famous for all kinds of wickedness. He also made this note:
“Hence I rode to Alnmouth, and laboured to awaken a stupid, drowsy people by preaching in the most convincing manner I could. For the present they seemed to be deeply affected; God grant it may continue!”
The next day he set off from Alnwick for Widdrington.
Basil Rathbone – A previous owner of the Schooner has also claimed that Basil Rathbone stayed at the Schooner. I find absolutely zero evidence that he was ever in Alnmouth. Even the filming of “Sherlock Holmes Faces Death,” which was set in Northumberland, was filmed entirely at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.
Hans Schmidt (John Smith) – Another story, that was printed in The Journal, Newcastle, 25 June 1999, makes claim that a Hans Schmidt (John Smith) was executed as a spy on the hotel’s grounds. If this account were true, certainly the London Times would have also printed the story? A German spy in the little village of Alnmouth during WWII would have been big news. A search of the London Times editions for 1944 turn up nothing for a Hans Schmidt, except for in one instance in the Memoriam section of the news, dated 2 May 1944. It mentions a woman named Sylvia Page-Blair, passed away 2 May 1942, and her father Hans Schmidt, who passed away 16 February 1944 in Zurich, Switzerland. Searches of the Newcastle Journal and North Mail, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and the The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post (London) also provide nothing about this claimed story.
“Parson Smyth” is another ghost alleged to haunt the Schooner Hotel. Research into old parish registers and census records has failed to yield up this name.
Claims of murders, suicides and family massacres – An in-depth search of old newspapers, chronicles and other sources do not provide any evidence that these horrific deaths happened at the Schooner. However, it was indeed used to carry out coroner inquests on deceased persons due to the size of it’s public room.
Is the Schooner haunted? – As someone who did participate in investigations at the location, including one that I conducted for my own team, I can say that yes, the Schooner is haunted. However, we do not know by whom, or the circumstances of how they died.
Here are the names of some who were connected to the Schooner Inn, and could be considered as candidates who may haunt the old place.
Breakdown of Innkeepers in Alnmouth
1828 – 1829
Pigot & Company
William Brown – the Schooner
1841 Census:
Isabella Jamieson – age 55
William Brown – age 40 – the Schooner
George Rutledge – age 40
1851 Census:
Isabella Jamieson listed in this census, but doesn’t state if she is an innkeeper
William Gowans listed as a mason. Must have bought the Red Lion after 1851
George Rutledge is now listed as an Ag. Labourer
Strangely enough, there are no innkeepers listed in the 1851 census for Alnmouth!
1855
Slater’s Directory
Jane Brown – The Schooner
1861 Census:
George Tate – age 45 – Schooner Inn
James Middlemiss – age 60 – Sun Inn
William Hood – age 57 – Anchor Inn
Archibald Dickson – age 62 – Northumberland Arms
William Gowans – age 37 – Red Lion
1871 Census:
George Tate – age 53 – The Schooner
Henry Lamb – age 23 – Red Lion
William Hood – age 61 – Anchor Inn
James Middlemiss – age 71 – Sun Inn
1881 Census:
Ann Middlemiss – age 40 – Sun Inn
Ely Walker – age 40 – Hope and Anchor Inn
Eli Bailey – age 45 – The Schooner
Henry Rutter – age 45 – The Red Lion
1891 Census:
Thomas Binks – age 50 – The Schooner, at Front Street
George Gowans – age 25 – The Red Lion, at Front Street. George was the son of William, who was also still living at this time.
Joseph Hedley – age 41 – Hope and Anchor, at Front Street
George Middlemiss – age 55 – The Sun Inn, at Front Street. Brother of Ann, who was the innkeeper in 1881. She was living with her brother in this census.
1901 Census:
William Purdue – age 60 – Hope and Anchor, Front Street
George Gowans – age 35 – The Red Lion, Front Street
John Waugh – age 50 – Sun Inn, Front Street
Thomas Binks – age 60 – The Schooner, Front Street
API Reloaded 