A haunted old building, Back when my sister married Steven Carol (fat Steven) and his Father George was the Landlord under BASS you used to get a smell in the house part of roast beef cooking when no one was cooking any, my mother saw a gentleman and thought that it was a living person only to when she mentioned him be told other's had seen him frequently and he was a Ghost (Not a bad one though apparently, well it was licenced to serve spirits -- had could not resist but the ghost part is true. And in another story I was told was also linked to the Building though I can not verify this bit and so it could be bunk or a story told to children back when I was a young boy a man stopped me and two of my companions as we were playing around down around the Tawd (a river that flows through the town, often sadly more like an open sewer full of industrial effluent though they did try to clean it up at one point) near to the old stone arched bridge, this man told us a tale about the White Lady of the Tawd an urban legend and also about some Witches that had once lived were the Waste Heap from the old mines (we knew of as the Camel Humps because if it's undulating topography and the path we used to ride our bicycles along) though the witches are another story. Now he told us this about the white lady and that there had been an even earlier stone bridge and the story went like this. At the time the Toby Inn was known as Skelmersdale Hall according to him but and the young heir had just married his sweetheart but on the way back to the estate the river was in full flood and the old stone bridge was already partially collapsed. Now the Groom impatient to get home with his bride ordered the coach driver to cross over the already collapsing bridge anyway hoping to get home and likely out of the storm that was blowing wind and heavy rain but rather predictably as the Coach crossed the bridge it washed out from under them and the river being in full flood was quite deep due to the storm and rain (it is usually only about three or four feet at it's very deepest and averages about just one foot in dry weather so when not in flood is really more of a broad stream at that point but when we have heavy rain it can turn into quite the torrent over six feet deep even on occasion and turn into a very rapid and treacherous river). The Coach went over onto it's roof, the Groom made it ashore but his young bride was trapped in the overturned coach and drowned, the ghost he explained was NOT a Lady but the haunted ghost of the Groom whom is seen by the river looking for his lost love. Like I say just an urban Legend but I can vouch that the Toby is definitely haunted.
Wow that's great thank you for all the great history. I have lived in skelmersdale all my life since 1972. I use to drink in the Toby and knew both Ste and George, and still chat with Ste today. I've not heard of the ghosts in the Toby, although I have no doubt it's haunted given its history. It's just a shame the way it's been left now to rot. I wish I could get access to do an investigation for paranormal activity, as that's what my wife and I do in our spare time. Thanks again for all the history, much appreciated. Hope you liked the video. Del 👍
Brilliant footage
Thanks Ben, I'm glad your enjoying them. I have another local landmark coming up in the next couple of days. Which was built in 1798.
A haunted old building, Back when my sister married Steven Carol (fat Steven) and his Father George was the Landlord under BASS you used to get a smell in the house part of roast beef cooking when no one was cooking any, my mother saw a gentleman and thought that it was a living person only to when she mentioned him be told other's had seen him frequently and he was a Ghost (Not a bad one though apparently, well it was licenced to serve spirits -- had could not resist but the ghost part is true.
And in another story I was told was also linked to the Building though I can not verify this bit and so it could be bunk or a story told to children back when I was a young boy a man stopped me and two of my companions as we were playing around down around the Tawd (a river that flows through the town, often sadly more like an open sewer full of industrial effluent though they did try to clean it up at one point) near to the old stone arched bridge, this man told us a tale about the White Lady of the Tawd an urban legend and also about some Witches that had once lived were the Waste Heap from the old mines (we knew of as the Camel Humps because if it's undulating topography and the path we used to ride our bicycles along) though the witches are another story.
Now he told us this about the white lady and that there had been an even earlier stone bridge and the story went like this.
At the time the Toby Inn was known as Skelmersdale Hall according to him but and the young heir had just married his sweetheart but on the way back to the estate the river was in full flood and the old stone bridge was already partially collapsed.
Now the Groom impatient to get home with his bride ordered the coach driver to cross over the already collapsing bridge anyway hoping to get home and likely out of the storm that was blowing wind and heavy rain but rather predictably as the Coach crossed the bridge it washed out from under them and the river being in full flood was quite deep due to the storm and rain (it is usually only about three or four feet at it's very deepest and averages about just one foot in dry weather so when not in flood is really more of a broad stream at that point but when we have heavy rain it can turn into quite the torrent over six feet deep even on occasion and turn into a very rapid and treacherous river).
The Coach went over onto it's roof, the Groom made it ashore but his young bride was trapped in the overturned coach and drowned, the ghost he explained was NOT a Lady but the haunted ghost of the Groom whom is seen by the river looking for his lost love.
Like I say just an urban Legend but I can vouch that the Toby is definitely haunted.
Wow that's great thank you for all the great history. I have lived in skelmersdale all my life since 1972. I use to drink in the Toby and knew both Ste and George, and still chat with Ste today. I've not heard of the ghosts in the Toby, although I have no doubt it's haunted given its history. It's just a shame the way it's been left now to rot. I wish I could get access to do an investigation for paranormal activity, as that's what my wife and I do in our spare time. Thanks again for all the history, much appreciated. Hope you liked the video. Del 👍
Is fat steven the one who owned bargain booze?
Now burned to the ground to make way for more housing. Very sad day.