The Quiet Woman.
The Quiet Woman Inn is a charming pub located in Earl Sterndale, near Buxton in Derbyshire, England. The Quiet Woman Inn is an old fashioned, unchanging country local in the picturesque Peak District countryside.
The Quiet Woman Inn has a rich history dating back over 400 years. The Heathcote family ran the pub for 300 of those years. Joseph Heathcote, an Innkeeper, was associated with the pub until his death in 1811. The last Heathcote to manage the pub was likely Herbert Heathcote, who continued until the 1920s.
The pub’s legacy continued through various landlords, including the beloved Ken Mellor, who sadly passed away in August 2020. Ken’s tenure left an indelible mark on the Quiet Woman Inn, making it a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike.
The pub’s sign features the cryptic phrase; “Soft Words Turneth Away Wrath.” Beneath this inscription is an image of a headless woman. The story behind the sign adds intrigue: Legend has it that a former landlord’s wife, known as “Chattering Charteris,” incessantly nagged her husband – even in her sleep. Driven to the brink, the landlord took drastic action and cut off her head to silence her forever. The sign serves as a reminder of this eerie tale and adds an air of mystery to the pub.
The Quiet Woman Inn is rumored to be haunted. Visitors have reported strange occurrences, including whispers heard in empty rooms, cold spots that defy explanation and apparitions glimpsed out of the corner of the eye. Some believe that the restless spirit of the headless woman still lingers within the pub’s walls. Whether you are a sceptic or a believer, the pub’s ghostly reputation adds to its allure.
N.B. The pub is now closed, whether for refurbishment or change of ownership is not known.
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