Sarah Moore pub, Leigh on Sea

[irishbanshee]

The Sarah Moore pub in Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea is reputedly haunted by the spirit of the sea-witch, Sarah Moore herself.

Sarah Moore was a harelipped woman who had become bitter about her looks and the way she was treated and would hang around at Strand Wharf asking fishermen for pennies. If they refused, she would curse them.

One fisherman was caught in an unexpected storm after being 'cursed' by Sarah. He lashed out at the mast of his boat with an axe and the storm ceased. Sarah was found dead at Strand Wharf with a gash on her head.

The pub was given permission to copy the only known picture of Sarah, for the pub sign, by Sheila Pitt-Stanley; a direct descendant of Sarah and a Leigh historian.

When the pub opened its doors to the public in the mid nineties, many people reported poltergiest activity and lights would flicker when her name was mentioned.

Whether this still happens, I don't know.

[Lauraakafoxy]

Thanks for that Irish, I may look into finding out if they allow investigations.

[irishbanshee]

I wrote to them last year to see if they would give me any info on the place and I got no reply, even though I sent an s.a.e.

There is a woman doing spooky tours of Old Leigh now. Her first two tours sold out, but there are more in May and June. I wonder if she will visit the Sarah Moore?

[Lauraakafoxy]

She may do - I've not heard of anyone doing spooky tours in Leigh before - sounds quite interesting. Will be good for learning local history to

[angie]

Yes, i have heared all about the sarah moore pub, my mum told me about it,when the pub first opened, i am very interested about it because i live in leigh, in fact right near the pub, i also heared the woman known to be Sarah moore, asked people fro money to bye Gin and i heared that a family was cursed and their chrildren were born with hare lips. i have heared stories of leigh also about a witch pond if anyone knows about that please inform me.