A ghostly Bricklayer

Haunted by a dust covered bricklayer.

Location: South Black Lion Lane, W6 9TJ

Description: Tainted with the haunted brush much like many public houses in London, this pub in Hammersmith has a rich quirky history.

Now called the Black Lion, in the 1700s it was named the Black Swan and made famous by the literary cases of the author Sir Alan Patrick Herbert (1890 - 1971), or as he was commonly known, A. P. Herbert - in particular his writings named 'The Water Gypsies'.

Now this boozer has a rather unfortunate ghost story. Two hundred years ago, Francis Smith, an excise officer, decided to investigate the supernatural goings on nearby and lay in wait for the ghost, gun at the ready. In the dead of night the ghost appeared. He fired, killing a dust covered bricklayer, by the name of Thomas Milward. His body was then taken to the Black Lion inn...and a ghost was born.

Tours: The Great London Ghost Tour

Themes: Ghost Ghost Theme