By Suzie Hosier

Although only acquired by the Arlington Place Hotels group in 2003 the George Hotel at Swaffham’s reputation as a local landmark is long established. So much so, that it seems that one of its oldest residents is reluctant to leave the place.

Known affectionately as ‘The Green Lady’ there have been numerous tales about spooky goings on concerning the ghost of a woman roaming the hotel. On an appropriately foggy February night I went to investigate.

The George Hotel, Swaffham.

Located in the heart of Swaffham, The George is believed to date back to the early 18th Century, where it was run as a coaching inn. A century on, it is listed in White’s Norfolk (1854) as a Commercial & Posting Inn, under the charge of licensee WM Boyce.

In the 1930’s it became prominent in catering for large shooting and coarsing parties. Although updated and extended over the years the old part is still intact, although the old stables have long since been replaced by their modern day counterpart, the carpark.

It appears The Green Lady frequents much of the original old wing, with ‘incidents’ of her walking around reported in what are now the lounge area, kitchen, corridors and even certain bedrooms.

‘Encounters’ seem to vary - some people claim to have clearly seen a lady in an old fashioned green dress, sometimes carrying a pan, whilst other experiences have been more of a more physical nature.

Operations Manager Helen Brumpton has worked at the hotel for nine years, and although most of the staff are soon made aware of their spiritual resident, she initially took a somewhat sceptical view – but not for long.

Recounting her personal experience she tells how she felt a strong tapping sensation on her back at a time when there was no-one else around, and remembers a woman in the bar recalling the very same feeling at an earlier date.

Subsequently she has heard of similar incidents including a waitress having her shirt tugged on in the kitchen, and the wife of a couple sitting in the lounge who became increasingly irritated with her husband incessantly patting her on the back – only he wasn’t!

Chef Anouska Wilburn recalls her personal experience, which is one of the most recent encounters: “I was alone going through the kitchen fridge one afternoon when out of the corner of my eye I saw a shadow passing behind me - I came over all cold and goose-bumpy. I felt quite spooked when I realised there was no one else around, so much so that I ended up running out of the kitchen.”

Over the course of my conversations with the hotel staff I was struck by one thing – was it co-incidence, or why was it that all the adult experiences seemed to be by women. Could it be that women are generally more receptive to the whole paranormal and psychic phenomena, and that men look for logical and practical explanations in everything, or does The Green Lady hold a certain affinity with the female gender.

I mention adults, but I was intrigued to hear some very powerful children’s evidence. As a strong believer that children have the purest and most open minds until corrupted by adult logic (remember those tales of supposed imaginary friends), I heard how our lady in green has also been witnessed by several youngsters, including being seen by the children of an American couple who told their parents they’d seen a lady in green in the night trying to fill a bowl up at a sink in their bedroom.

Unfortunately, despite her regular contact with staff and guests, no one seems to know exactly who she was, and why she still haunts the hotel. Her presence is generally felt to be friendly, so hopefully her story isn’t too macabre. If you can help shed more light on the mysterious Green Lady of Swaffham, we would love to hear from you.

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