HISTORY:

The Skirrid Mountain Inn is situated in Llanvihangel Crucorney. It is reputed to be the oldest Public House in Wales and it's history can be traced back as far as the Norman Conquest.
The Skirrid Mountain Inn stands in the shadow of the Skirrid Mountain, sometimes called the Holy Mountain, which, according to legend , broke in two at the time of the crucifixion of Christ during a violent storm.

In the forecourt of the Inn Owain Glyndwr rallied his troops before marching on to Pontrilas.
Halfway up the magnificent square spiral staircase stands the cell, now used as a store room, where many a prisoner spent his last night before being sentenced to death by Bloody Judge Jefferies.

The hanging was carried out from a beam placed across the joist of the slab on which the bodies were placed may still be seen at the well of the stairs.

The Skirrid Inn claims to have some of the finest oak beams in the country, made from ship's timbers and containing the original peg holes.

The stone structure is original as also are some of the windows and a door-way.
The old mounting-stone, standing in the forecourt, has been used by many of England's past Kings.

The last person to be executed here was hanged on the instructions of Oliver Cromwell; the crime - sheep stealing.

The skirrid Inn is the oldest Public house within the borders of the Principality of Wales and among the foremost claimants to the title of the oldest Public House in Great Britain.  Many of the contenders listed in the Guinness Book of Records are not original structures, being newer buildings on old foundations or have been extended or restored over the centuries.  The Skirrid Inn however has stood for nine centuries.

The main rivals for the title of the Oldest Inn in Great Britain are Nottingham's "Trip to Jerusalem" ( 1070), the "Fighting Cocks" at St. Albans (11th century structure on an 8th century site), the "Godbegot" at Winchester (1002). The "Bingley Arms", Bardsay near Leeds is recorded as the Priests Inn (AD 905), while "Ye Old Ferry Boat Inn" at Holywell Cambridgeshire claims an origin as early as AD 560.

HAUNTINGS:

The inn also doubled as a courthouse before the 1850s, and a place of execution. There have been reports of customers feeling an invisible rope being slipped over their heads before being tightened, and the presence of a woman has also been felt.