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Bournemouth’s Hotel Celebrity has a chilling legacy, serving as a home for both the living guests and the ghostly apparition of a young girl named Nell Hyde.
In the heart of Bournemouth is the historic Hotel Celebrity, formerly known as Durlston Court. This property has earned a reputation not only for its services, but also for the apparition that seems to inhabit its walls: the ghost of the young Nell Hyde.
History of Hotel Celebrity
The story of this terrifying event began with James Hyde, a disgraced prodigal son, who returned to England in 1874 with his young wife and two daughters.
They settled in Swanmore Villa, a place in Dorset that would later become Hotel Celebrity. Disaster struck in 1892 when James’ wife and eldest daughter succumbed to tuberculosis.
The most poignant event, however, occurred in 1893 when the youngest daughter, Nell, died in frightening circumstances, making her restless spirit a permanent resident of the hotel.
The pursuit of hotel celebrity
The infamous story of the terrifying Nell is terrifying.
In the freezing winter of 1893, 12-year-old Nell was trapped in the basement of the hotel by a falling pile of wood.
Her cries for help were muffled by the thick door and concrete ceiling. She spent hours in icy darkness before being discovered.
Despite her father’s desperate efforts to save her, she died prematurely.
Ghostly sightings of Nell began on the anniversary of her death.
Servants and guests reported seeing her ghost walking through the hotel corridors and disappearing into her old bedroom.
Over time, these accounts have given Nell Hyde an important place in Bournemouth’s haunted folklore.
Numerous ghost-hunting groups and mediums have visited Hotel Celebrity to seek evidence of her presence.
Many have identified Nell as a young girl, just 12 years old at the time of her untimely death.
The ghostly sightings have continued over the years, adding to the hotel’s eerie reputation.
One particular part of the hotel seems to be a focal point for paranormal activity: the old elevator shaft.
This room was once part of the room where Nell died. During the conversion to an elevator shaft, several strange accidents and incidents occurred.
Jack Hancock, father of the famous comedian Tony Hancock and the man who approved the hotel’s renovation plans fell seriously ill and died just four days after the hotel reopened.
Many believe that Nell’s ghost took revenge on those who dared to disturb her space. Several of the hotel’s owners, including the Hancock family, suffered financial ruin following the renovations, leading many to question whether Nell’s ghost had cursed the establishment.
Hotel celebrity today
Today, Hotel Celebrity is a unique amalgamation of history, mystery and otherworldly stories. Despite its disturbing history and chilling sightings, the hotel continues to draw guests and offers a thrilling glimpse into the paranormal for those brave enough to visit.
Spooky Isles founder and editor David Saunderson has stayed at the Hotel Celebrity twice. “Hotel Celebrity leaves out leaflets for visitors to learn about the ghost and marks the ghostly event with a sign near the elevator. I didn’t feel anything there, but the hotel has an old world charm: it feels like an old hotel from the fifties. You can imagine it’s more haunted than most people.’
Nell Hyde’s story serves as a chilling reminder of the hotel’s dark past, casting an ethereal shadow over the bustling activity within its walls.
The story of her untimely demise and subsequent terrifying events add a unique layer to Hotel Celebrity’s charm, making it a must-visit location for anyone interested in the supernatural.
Whether or not Nell Hyde’s ghost still roams the hotel’s corridors remains a mystery.
However, the myriad tales of ghostly sightings and grisly occurrences ensure that her memory lives on, echoing through the corridors of Hotel Celebrity and making guests’ spines shudder.
Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or just a curious traveler, a stay at Hotel Celebrity promises to be an experience like no other.
Have you seen a ghost in Hotel Celebrity? Tell us about it in the comments below!
