It’s no secret that the Black Boy Inn, Caernarfon, is haunted. A quick search online will tell you there’s been several sightings (or just ‘feelings’ in some cases) of something from the spirit world at the inn over the years.
Most commonly, you’ll see stories of the ghostly nun, who was perhaps at one time a ‘bride of Christ’ at the convent that once existed behind the Black Boy Inn. Other stories you’ll come across will include ‘the strangler’, a phantasm that makes its presence known by squeezing the throat of the unlucky victim. Or perhaps you’re aware of the cries of a small child that are sometimes heard here, which cease when comforting words are spoken by the living. Or even an elder gentleman who just likes to sit in the bar and watch the comings and goings in his favourite Caernarfon watering hole – or the ghostly barmaid who likes to revisit her old place of work.
If you’ve never had a personal encounter with one of our long-departed residents, but would like to – well you can, now, in a way, because we’ve bought a stunning piece of work by a talented local artist who has depicted four of the Black Boy Inn’s ghosts on an acrylic painting which now graces the walls of the Coach House.
Glain Roberts painted Ysbrydion in 2017. She says:
“I graduated from Bangor University in 2018, with a Fine Art Degree. During my studies I particularly enjoyed painting with acrylic on canvas.
In 2017 I was given the opportunity to display a piece of artwork based on Caernarfon at the Galeri. I knew that the Black Boy Inn was a significant and historical landmark in the town and had a lot of potential for ideas. I did my research and learned a lot about the building itself and its history, but nothing sparked inspiration in me until I read about the ‘hauntings’ at the Inn. I read that the Inn is haunted by four different ghosts.
I decided to bring all of the ghosts into one picture, situated at the bar. I found it difficult to depict the presence of a ghost in a painting, I wanted them to ‘glow’ in a way.
I felt it was important for me to capture the essence of the pub so that everyone who visited the Galeri knew exactly where it was. I tried to paint as many details of the pub as I could, such as the bar, the old wooden beams, the decorations and my favourite detail, the pattern on the curtains.
This painting is one of my proudest moments, and I am very honoured that it’s hanging up at the Black Boy Inn.”
Have you ever seen or felt something spooky at the Black Boy Inn? If so, please let us know!