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Ghosts – how many do you want? It is well documented that the dolphin is haunted by at least six ghosts – hardly surprising when you think that there has been an inn on the site since the middle ages, indeed there is a list of landlords going back to 1432 displayed in the hotel today. When you think of the goings on in hotels today, just imagine the stories that the six ghosts could tell. But who were they? In the mediaeval vaults under the oldest part of the building C1250 This area is ‘haunted’ by two ghosts An older man called ‘Tom’ who we believe to have been a manual worker at the dolphin – maybe a cellar man who looked after the barrels of wine, which would have been stored there throughout the centuries, when Southampton was famed for importing wines from our French neighbours Sadly a young lad, who remains nameless accompanies Tom – who was he? What part did he play in the history of the dolphin? On the new ground floor C 1890 This area is haunted by our most famous ghost. Molly – this is the ghost that we know most about. Molly was a chamber maid and as with many servants would have lived in the hotel. She fell in love and was spurned, tragically she took her own life in the old stable block. Molly has been seen by many people over the years, but a notable sighting was made by an American Serviceman in the mid 1990s who saw her top half walk across his room (her lower half being below the floors surface). Investigation showed that the new block which was built in 1890 was built on the site of an old stable block, which presumably had different floor levels – maybe he saw Molly walking to her death. In the Assembly Rooms on the first floor C 1750 This area is haunted by just one ghost. A portly gentleman in Georgian attire called Beau. Maybe Beau was attending one of the famous assemblies that were held at the dolphin in the 1700’s and early in the 1800’s – without a doubt the most famous attendee was Jane Austen who danced here on her 18th Birthday. Beau is seen to gaze wistfully out of one of the large bay windows above what is now Bleu Grill on the high street – you may even see him from the street if you look closely. In the first floor bedroom corridor C1890 Again this is haunted by just one ghost A Victorian lady – our very own ‘grey lady’ – this is our most seen ghost in recent times and as recently as June 2004 was seen and ‘felt’ by Kerry James, the hotels marketing manager. Flowing dresses and ribbons – maybe she was staying before boarding one of the many ships that left our port in those days. And that leaves just one ghost A mischievous chap who seems to make himself known in more than one place – so if you’re staying and your hear a door slam or you wake up to find a previously closed wardrobe door wide open or maybe a sock goes missing - then you’ve probably been visited by him! Or maybe they are all a result of another type of spirit all together……… Tel: 023 8033 9955 Fax: 023 8033 3650 email: enquiries@thedolphin.co.uk |
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