- Image by Joe Penniston via Flickr
The Three Mariners Inn is a popular and historic pub. It’s notable for having a gravity-fed cellar. In the Three Mariners the cellar is above the pub, this means the casks need to be hefted upstairs but it means the beer and ale flows naturally downwards.
The pub is old, perhaps one of the oldest in the city. Before the name Three Mariners it was known as the Carpenter’s Arms; both names likely derive from the pub’s proximity’s to the River Lune and the ship’s carpenters or mariners who may have visited the building since the 13th century.
The pub stands on the cobbled remains of Bridge Lane – a road that would have been very busy until the New Bridge was built in 1788. Even today the pub enjoys a pleasant spot in Lancaster and is near popular tourist attractions such as Maritime Museum, the Priory, Lancaster Castle and the Judges’ Lodgings.
In its 600 year history the pub would have seen Henry VIII close the priory, the trial of the Pendle witches, the burning of Penny Street in 1643 during the civil war, the imprisonment of George Fox – founder of the Quakers – in the nearby castle, the construction of Penny’s hospital, Dalton Square, the Corvell Cross, the Buck Ruxton murders and so much more.
Unfortunately for the pub, the name Three Mariners made the news in 2006 after a vicious murder in the nearby underpass.
Hauntings
It is said that the Three Mariners is haunted. The popular story is that the ghost is in the toilets but people have reported sudden drops in temperatures and strange noises in the cellar as well.
In Pure Spirit
Have you been inside the Three Mariners? Love to hear what you thought of the pub. Do you think it’s haunted?
October 29, 2009 at 3:18 pm
it is definately haunted in the toilets! no doubt about it!
October 29, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Have you been to the pub itself? What was it like?
October 30, 2009 at 10:30 pm
i have been watching this pub on the most haunted show and webcams and i didnt see anything.
January 1, 2010 at 10:38 am
I spent over a year living in Lancaster from 06 and this pub, for me, is easily the best in town. Quiet, earthy, some good ales… I didn't know any of its history or that it was haunted until I read this page. But its history, in retrospect, seems to inspire an atmosphere of cozy conviviality. It's ace. And the gravity-fed pumps now explain the mystery of people going upstairs 'to change the barrel' which slightly mystified me at the time (it must be a headache to get them up there?!)
The toilets are cold… but I didn't equate this with hauntedness, to be honest… just the lancashire temperatures. You never know tho
April 13, 2010 at 11:56 pm
It is definitely haunted. I lived in the pub for a couple of years. I had several very unnatural experiences. Smells – tobacco and violet perfume, noises and things moving that were quite unexplainable.
Carla
May 19, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Carla, I have been talking to the current owner and we are to feature this pub in a new book coming out this yr called Lancaster's Haunted Heritage by Jason Karl and myself – Adele Yeomans. I would love to add your stories to the piece. If youd like to talk to me please email me as soon as possible as Im on a tight deadline
cheers
adele@mainshall.co.uk
May 20, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Hiya, you should let us know when the book is out and maybe (can't promise) I can do a review here at In Pure Spirit – or perhaps send us an excerpt and we can build up some buzz for the book ahead of time!
November 4, 2010 at 1:44 pm
We are thinking of asking the pub landlord if we can conduct a paranormal investigation as we are a small local team of paranormal investigators called Enigma. Does anyone think this would be a good location? If so please contact us at enigma15@live.co.uk or facebook Epi Amber Kate. Look forward to hearing from you with your experiences connected to this building or others. Amber & Kate Enigma
March 21, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I was there just yesterday with my family, we had a delicious meal. My mother commented on the smell of tobacco at one point (pipe) yet no-one else could smell it. My father experienced flickering lights in the lav too and although probably just the electrics, it spooked him a little, lol!
November 6, 2011 at 10:26 am
i went for bonfire night and this is a great pub will defo go back for a visit toilets are defo cold you could see yr breath in front of you just thought because of the cellar upstairs they had to keep it cold.
defo recommend a vist.
anne and family
December 30, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I lived in Lancaster between 1972 and 1976 and the Carpenters as it was then was my local – never a saw a ghost then and nobody ever mentioned one