Pengethley Manor is said to be home to two ghosts – one young girl and one old lady. In 1816, the hotel was nearly burnt down in a fire. The family that was living there at the time had a little girl named Harriet, and tragically, she became trapped in the fire and then died. She is said to haunt the main building of the hotel, regularly playing tricks on guests and staff alike in an attempt to regain some of her lost childhood.
The old lady has often been seen walking across the ruins of the burnt part of the hotel – perhaps she lost someone she loved in the fire? She’s also been seen in the reception area of the hotel and sitting in the corner of the library – always wearing the same black dress.
A number of other ghostly goings-on have been reported by staff and guests alike, including loud footsteps in empty corridors with no-one in the hotel, furniture rising a number of feet above the ground, and bumps and noises in the night.
Brief History
The first known owner of the hotel was John Powell, who purchased the estate in 1583. In the 1820s, most of the old part of the hotel was burnt down in a devastating fire. It was then rebuilt by the then owner, Thomas Symonds. The same family owned the estate until the death of Caroline Symonds in 1947.
The house was then purchased by Gwynne and Blanch Nicholas in 1948 when it was converted into a hotel. Aside from running the hotel, Mr and Mrs Blanch also looked after a smallholding of Guernsey and Jersey Cattle. They also produced milk and butter for use at the hotel. After this, the hotel changed hands again before being bought by Mr and Mrs Wisker in 1986. The couple made a number of changes to the hotel, including adding 14 courtyard bedrooms and the vineyard. Since being planted in February of 1993, the hotel has produced some outstanding wines. The hotel then changed hands again in 2007, when it was bought by American family practitioner Dr John Hagmann. Since purchasing the hotel, Dr. Hagmann has made many improvements to the hotel, the most noticeable of which was the decoration of the public areas in 2009.
About
Pengethley Manor is a stunning Georgian country house set in 15 acres of stunning countryside. It’s a great spot for exploring the surrounding areas, including the Wye Valley, Herefordshire, the Black and White Villages, the Malvern Hills and the Welsh Borders. The hotel has 25 en-suite bedrooms, comprising of a mix of standard and superior rooms, some with four-poster beds, separate lounge areas, and Jacuzzi baths.
There are a number of ground floor bedrooms, with one bedroom having disabled access. Some of the rooms are also suitable for families. Every room has been individually designed and decorated and many of the rooms are furnished with fine antique furniture. There are two eating areas at the hotel – one a Georgian Restaurant overlooking Pengethley Park, one a Bistro bar. The restaurant offers an a la carte dinner menu with a distinctly Italian feel, and the bar serves light snacks, including soup, grilled paninis and chips. The hotel also offers a full wedding package as well as a number of conference rooms and training rooms.
Features
- AA Rosette award-winning restaurant
- Wireless internet for all customers
- Colour television in every room
- Telephone, hairdryer and radio in every room
- Tea and coffee making facilities
- Full room service menu
- Writing desk
- Ideal location for visiting local cider, Perry and cheesemakers
- Ideal location for visiting a number of local places of interest and cities
Room Tariff
- Bed and breakfast, standard room, based on two people sharing, available from £60.00pp.
- Bed and breakfast, standard room, single person occupancy, available from £79.99.
- Bed and breakfast, superior room, based on two people sharing, available from £80.00pp.
- Bed and breakfast, superior room, single person occupancy, available from £115.00.
- Dinner, bed and breakfast, standard room, based on two people sharing, available from £75.00pp.
- Dinner, bed and breakfast, standard room, single person occupancy, available from £94.00.
- Dinner, bed and breakfast, superior room, based on two people sharing, available from £95.00.pp
- Dinner, bed and breakfast, superior room, single person occupancy, available from £130.00
Things to do
Pengethley Manor is close to a number of places of interest, including market towns, black and white timber villages, historic churches and castles. There are a number of cider shops, museums, country parks and family-friendly petting centres. There is also a butterfly zoo, birds of prey centre and a number of soft play centres within easy reach.