Spirits of pubs' past are revealed in new book that charts ghostly goings-on

By Harry-Jay Bellew Ghostly goings on are investigated in a brand new book. A new e-book has uncovered supernatural secrets in pubs and inns across Chronicle Country. Retired journalist Donald Stuart travelled to more than 1,000 towns and villages to collect images and stories for his new e-book, Haunted English Pubs 2013. The Five Bells in Cople, the Crown in Northill and the Kings Arms in Sandy all have their own ghostly tales that feature in the new book. The Ghost Club member toured the whole of England covering 8,000 miles and visiting 1,250 pubs and inns using the train and his bike to research all the tales. The 77-year-old said: Altogether it has taken 10 years to get the book together. I travelled all around the country using my bike and it has all come together in this book, which is a follow on to the one I wrote two years ago. The tale of the Five Bells is of a long-haired sailor who has been spotted on many occasions by the fire place in the 400 year old pub by customers and staff. The Crown in Northill built on an old monastery and Donald Stuart reveals the story of the monks who are believed to haunt the grounds. The building also once belonged to the Order of the Knights and there are reports of robed figures wandering the car park at night. The Kings Arms is also said to be haunted by its past. Its known to be former mortuary, used in the 1880s, and is believed to be haunted by two of its former residents. An older man is thought to haunt the cellar while an un-seen ghost has been said to thrown unused carpenters nails at customers enjoying a drink at the bar. The book includes stories from a further 19 Bedford- shire pubs believed to have their own supernatural stories. Mr Stuart explained: It all started when I was a journalist for over 50 years. One of the first features that I had to write was about a haunted pub in North Yorkshire, and the journey and research has continued ever since then. Believe them or not, the e-book offers a comprehensive account of some of Englands most ancient pubs and their paranormal associations. The book is accompanied by a CD containing 500 photos of the pubs, and costs 6.50 To find out more or to buy a copy of the book visit www.donaldstuartinnbooks.co.uk