As the capital city continues to plunge into the depths of spooky season, I thought I’d take it upon myself to point you in the direction of yet another of London’s haunted hotspots. I mean, we’ve certainly got enough of them kicking about, haven’t we? Today’s hair-raising hangout comes in the form of the Morpeth Arms; a Pimlico pub with a rather gruesome backstory. So, if you fancy spending an eerie evening inside a historic boozer with a few alarming anecdotes up its sleeve; look no further, folks.
The history of the Morpeth Arms
The Morpeth Arms set up shop in 1845, primarily as a watering hole for the wardens of the nearby Millbank Prison. The prison had not long become a transfer facility and a holding depot for criminals that were being deported to Australia. The tunnels and cellars beneath the Morpeth Arms were used to hold these Australia-bound convicts until their means of transportation was ready, but many of the prisoners perished before making it on board.
Millbank Prison was demolished in 1890, but the pub (and its underground tunnels and vaults) have survived to tell the tale. And, as I’m sure you can imagine, a fair few haunted happenings have been reported as a result.
The Morpeth Arms nowadays
Londoners shouldn’t be fooled by the pub’s fairly unassuming exterior. The Morpeth Arms is now a Grade II listed building, and it’s brimming with both history and mystery, with the remains of the former prison cells still found in the pub’s cellar to this very day. Over the years, the bar staff have reported eerie events and mysterious occurrences that have taken place. So much so that the manager has had to install a CCTV camera to keep an eye on the ghostly goings-on.
Alongside its haunted history, the Morpeth Arms also boasts some rather intriguing links to the MI6. On the second floor of the pub, you’ll find a tongue-in-cheek ‘Spying Room’. The surreptitious space offers some rather impressive views of the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service and a whole host of binoculars for punters to do some people watching. The 1920s-themed room is also said to have been frequented by its fair share of MI6 workers over the years. But I suppose that’s something we’ll never know for sure.
Despite it’s haunted history, the Morpeth Arms is a surprisingly invited spot, serving up a decent array of pints and pub grub. And it’s well worth adding to your ever-lengthening list of pubs in London to visit.
đź“ŤYou’ll find the Morpeth Arms at 58 Millbank, SW1P 4RW.
🚇 Nearest station is Pimlico.