In July 2018 whilst visiting the UK from New Zealand, I took the opportunity to visit one of the oldest and most haunted pubs in the city of Salisbury.
The Haunch of Venison is a very unique pub which an amazing atmosphere and history. The beer is good too! The pub has featured in CAMRA’s (Campaign for real ale), good beer guides over many years.
The first record of the Haunch of Venison is circa 1320, however it hasn’t always been a pub. It was once used to house craftsman that were working on the Cathedral spire. The building may have then been used as a brothel for a time after this.
To the right as you enter the pub is the ladies snug also know at the “Horsebox”. The “Horsebox” is said to have been used by Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower during the planning of D-Day landings back in 1944. The panelled bar counter has a pewter top, one of only six in the entire country. Also above the bar is a rare wooden carved elevated arch with seven origin gravity-fed spirit taps fitted in 1909, for which only five remain in the country. The marble tiles on the pub floor originate from the Cathedrals’ Chorister area and were fitted when the heating system was changed in the Choristers. There are no dispensers on the counter and hand pumps are affixed to the bar back-fitting, which also has drawers, apparently also very rare. There are reputedly secret doors, with a hidden bar accessible only through and underground staircase, and a trap door in the floor which leads into a tunnel which in turn leads to St Thomas Becket church located behind the pub.
The Haunch of Venison is probably most famous for its mummified hand. At the top of the first set of stairs under the fireplace is a former bread oven. This bread oven houses a smoke preserved mummified hand. The original hand was found in the fireplace when the building was being remodeled. At that time it was placed in the oven on display. The hand has been stolen a few times over the years the last time being in 2010, however it has always been returned. I believe the hand which sits securely behind bars in the oven may now be a replica due to the thefts.
The story behind the hand is that that it is from an 18th century demented whist player who had it chopped off for cheating. He is now thought to roam the pub looking for his hand. His presence is often accompanied by the smell of freshly turned earth. He is believed to be responsible, open and closing doors, hiding objects, moving glasses across tables, turning on and off taps and electrical items. Numerous people have reported seeing the man and the manageress of the pub, who lived on the top floor, is reported to have awoken in the night to see a ghostly man standing by her bed with his arms crossed.
Another ghost seen wandering the pub is that of a black haired woman, wearing a long white Victorian dress. She is believed to be looking for her son whom she sent on an errand to the pub to buy some bottles of drink, he then vanished never to be seen again. The smell of roses often accompanies her presence.
(this story was also written for Haunted Auckland)
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