A pub landlord has launched an investigation to find out whether his new inn is haunted.Local legends say the Cross Gaits Inn, Blacko was used to imprison some of the famous Pendle witches and that the ghost of a woman with a dog has been seen sitting by the fire.
Andrew Duxbury, 36, took the reins of the Beverley Road pub in June and said he has been told by different regulars that some of the witches had been held in the pub's cellar.
The witches were hanged after being suspected of murdering 17 people in and around the Forest of Pendle.
Mr Duxbury closed the pub on Monday for a refurbishment and he has used this as a chance to investigate the pub.
He was hoping to find a trapdoor down to the cellar when the carpets were lifted, but there was no access to any rooms below ground. It appears the cellars may have been filled in with concrete.
But Mr Duxbury is undeterred and is continuing to scour the pub and history books to learn about its ghostly past.
He said: "A few of the locals have told me that there was some kind of holding cell for witches in the pub's cellars.
"They say witches used to be held there before transported to Lancaster Castle."I don't know if any of the Pendle witches were held down there.
"The locals tell me there were shackles and chains down there.
"I am disappointed we can't go into the cellar. It appears to have been filled with concrete."
He added: "I wanted to refurbish the pub because it was dated.
"And I thought it was a good opportunity to see what was down there."
He said the thought of ghosts did not scare him.
Mr Duxbury said: "I have been told there is the ghost of a woman with a dog who sits by the fire.
"I haven't seen her yet, but during winter time when the fire is on, it is said to be cold where she sits.
"I'll have to wait and see."
Pub Haunted Pendle Witches
Pub Haunted Pendle Witches
