The Hostel Stay from Hell

Mr George Smith from Chichester was a graduate chemist so was used to dealing with facts but had experienced something of a paranormal nature while holidaying in Chepstow with his wife and had written his account to Peter Underwood, who had been an author of many books about the paranormal and also a paranormal investigator.

The youth hostel at Saint Briavals, which is in the Forest of Dean, wasn’t too far away from where the Smiths were staying. The youth hostel occupies part of what was once a 12th century castle. It was on the 2nd day of their holiday, and it was a beautiful midsummers day so Mr. Smith and his wife went off walking on the Offa’s Dyke footpath. The footpath of Offa’s Dyke is around hundred and 70 miles and the path dips in and out of the border between England and Wales.

For the 1st ten miles of the walk, it is steep and wooded but you get to see the body of the river below. The couple made their way to St Briavels as they had booked the youth hostel to stay in that night. They were a little disappointed to see that the village of St Briavels had just a handful of houses, a church, and the castle, complete with a moat and drawbridge. The castle had once been owned in 1131 by the then Sheriff of Gloucester, a Milo Fitz-Walter. He had been accused of oppressing the tenants of that area by extracting money for taxes. It was also rumoured that the Countess of Hereford freed the tenants from their debts by baring all, Lady Godiva style.

During the 13th century, the castle was used as a hunting lodge for King John. The castle had been regularly occupied until the youth hostel association took it over.

As the Smiths were walking to the village, they heard the church bell ringing and despite usually liking this sound, the Smiths didn’t enjoy it as there was no tune, just a continuous and monotonous tolling. When they reached the village, the walked past the houses and there were a group of 3-4 people, stood outside each house. They never acknowledged the Smiths, as they were just chatting to one another. Mr Smith said he felt as though he was being watched by these groups of people and sensed them staring.

When they walked over the drawbridge and into the castle, things become somewhat normal again. Other people were staying at the hostel and there was everyday sights and noises but even this could not placate Mr Smith’s feeling of unease.

The Smiths went to bed after they had their evening meal, with Mr Smith going to the men’s dormitory and Mrs Smith to the women’s.

The men’s dormitory was located over the castle’s dungeon, with narrow windows that looked over the road to where the church and graveyard was. Mr Smith, being very tired, fell asleep quickly, only to wake up when the church clock chimed midnight. He looked around from his top bunk and saw that most of the other bunk beds were occupied with sleeping men. He could hear some of them quietly breathing as they slept. He felt very anxious for some reason.

It was then he heard what he thought were late night revellers, perhaps coming from the local pub. As the noise came nearer, the noise of the crowd sounded as though they were singing but Mr Smith soon realised it wasn’t singing, it sounded as though the crowd were chanting. In between the rise and fall of the chanting, he heard strange laughter. The rhythmic chanting felt evil to Mr Smith, and he felt very distressed about it but it was then that strange things started to happen in the dormitory.

The man sleeping in the bottom bunk under Mr Smith started to toss and turn, whilst his breathing became heavier until he almost choked to catch his breath. The man in the opposite bed began talking in his sleep. The words couldn’t be understood, and the talking seem to be turning into an argument. Whilst this was happening, the chanting and laughter outside become more intensified.

Mr Smith felt as though he was in a nightmare and had the feeling as though something really bad was about to happen. He also wondered if anyone else in the hostel had been woken up by this loud commotion. As Mr Smith felt the nape of his neck beginning to rise, along with shivering, the commotion inside and outside just stopped.

Several seconds of silence had passed and Mr Smith made a decision to look out the window to where the crowd noises had come from. He got off his top bunk and as he did this, he heard a massive scream, as though an animal was in great distress. Along with the scream, he heard a crowd cheer and then callous laughter.

Then there was a long, slow scream of a young girl. The scream was heard as though it vibrated the walls of the castle. Mr Smith described the scream as though the young girl was absolutely terrified. The scream was to suddenly stop and ended with a sob.

The screams had literally paralysed him to the spot, but he made himself look out the window. There was a full moon, and he could clearly see that no one, no one at all, was in the vicinity of the hostel or the road between the hostel and church.

Only 2 other people had heard this strange commotion, a young woman, and Mr Smith’s wife. The Smiths left the hostel as early as they could and Mr Smith vowed, he would never, ever return to St Briavels.