‘Visited our chef every night!’ Chilling ‘Hammersmith ghost’ haunts famous London pub

The Black Lion – formerly known as The Black Lyon – has sat on the north bank of the River Thames between Hammersmith and Chiswick in London for “well over” two centuries. It is home to a world-famous skittle alley and many flock there to watch the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race each year. However, it is also shrouded in mystery, attracting tourists from across the globe thanks to its resident ghost. Adjacent to the pub is Black Lion Lane, where a spectre – ‘the Hammersmith ghost’ – is said to have lurked since 1803.

He then proceeded to fill his blunderbuss, akin to a shotgun, with ammunition and fired.

Unfortunately, he mistakenly shot a bricklayer, Thomas Millwood, who had been dressed in white.

His wife – speaking at the Old Bailey murder trial – told the court she had warned Mr Millbrook against dressing in white as he had been mistaken for the apparition once before.

Smith was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death: however, he was later handed one year of hard labour instead after the ruling was revoked.

The court case was complicated and later set a legal precedent in the UK, namely that someone could be held liable for their actions even if it was as a result of a mistaken belief.

But this was not resolved until 180 years later at the Court of Appeal.

But speaking to Express.co.uk, Jolanta Mroczek – who manages the pub with her husband, Tom – said: “We have not heard about the ghost for a while now.

“Previously, the chef that used to live in one of the rooms claimed that the ghost visited him each night.”

However, she told Hammersmith and Fulham council that a friend had also seen the ghost.

In 2018, Ms Mroczek said: “She was standing in the hall and saw someone run past her but there was no one there.”

The Black Lion pub can be found at 2 South Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith, London.