The Didsbury parsonage is A Grade II listed building, next to the original village green of Didsbury and is probably the second oldest building in Didsbury after St James’ Church. This is a new venue that has not been explored before. Why not come and join us.

You can read all about the history of the parsonage here: https://www.didsburyparsonagetrust.org.uk/history-of-the-parsonage

For booking details visit: https://www.didsburyparsonagetrust.org.uk/haunted

Leasowe Lighthouse, situated in Moreton on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside, England, stands as a significant historical landmark. Constructed in 1763 by The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, its purpose was to guide ships safely to the Port of Liverpool. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the oldest brick-built lighthouse in the United Kingdom. However, its operational days came to an end in 1908, rendering it obsolete.

The final custodian of the lighthouse was Mrs. Williams, a notable figure as the sole documented female lighthouse keeper of her time. Initially assuming a temporary role while her husband was ill, she officially took over after his passing, cementing her place in maritime history.

Over the years, the lighthouse has garnered a reputation for peculiar occurrences. Visitors often report hearing footsteps on the staircase and the faint sound of a woman’s voice. Additionally, objects seem to move around the building, reappearing on different floor.

During our visit, we were greeted by Steve, a lighthouse volunteer, who guided us through the available floors. We set up cameras at various points and conducted temperature readings in each room. The ground floor served as a base room, providing a space for breaks and discussions.

Our first investigation stop was the second-floor room, where we deployed cameras, EMF meters, cat balls, and REM pods. With the lights off, the REM pod activated continuously, signalling potential paranormal activity. A medium in our group sensed the presence of a young boy, coinciding with a noticeable temperature drop. The Alice box, a device for spirit communication, yielded relevant words, including names associated with the previous lighthouse keeper and her family. Moreover, a child’s voice briefly echoed through the room, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

In the picture below notice the wooden stand to the left of the door. This picture was taken just before the REM pod started to flash. The camera flash was on for this picture

Now look at the picture below. Taken from the same position while the REM pod was going off. This picture taken with no flash. Could this be one of the spirits?

After a break, we proceeded to the third floor, where a table decorated with a family tree awaited. Here, cat balls illuminated on command, and guests experienced intense emotions, including tears and trance-like states. A cat ball rolled over the name “Mary” on the family tree, prompting further indications of her presence, such as flashing movement detectors and relevant words on the Alice box.

Throughout the night, we encountered other phenomena, including groans and footsteps on the staircase. Overall, it was a remarkably eventful and memorable experience.

Beneath the grandiosity of Chester Town Hall lies a history steeped in darkness, a history that sends shivers down the spine of anyone who dares to explore its haunted depths. This iconic building has been witness to some of Britain’s most notorious criminals and has become the epicenter of paranormal activity. Join us on a spine-tingling journey as we unveil the eerie hauntings of Chester Town Hall.

A Dark History

Chester Town Hall’s history is marred by the presence of infamous criminals Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, the Moors Murderers. During the tumultuous months of April and May in 1966, they were held in the Town Hall’s cells as they awaited their trial at Chester Assizes, now known as Chester Crown Court. The very thought of their presence in these cells is enough to unsettle even the bravest souls, and many who have worked within these confines have reported feeling an eerie unease.

Chester Town Hall has garnered a reputation for being a paranormal hotspot, with whispers of unexplained noises, shadowy figures, and bone-chilling cold spots. Given its dark history, it’s no surprise that the spirits of the past might still linger, making it a magnet for ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts.

The Hauntings:

1. The Cells: The cells, where Hindley and Brady once resided, are said to be particularly active. Many have reported feeling a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, as if the very walls remember the dark deeds of the past. Ghostly encounters in this area have included strange sounds, eerie apparitions, and an overwhelming feeling of dread.
2. The Courtroom: The disused Victorian magistrates’ courtroom has its own share of ghostly tales. From murmured conversations of unseen entities to a sudden drop in temperature, there is ample evidence for those seeking the supernatural.

The Paranormal Investigation

For the brave souls who joined the ghost hunt at Chester Town Hall, the opportunity to explore these haunted areas was unparalleled. Participants gained exclusive access to the cells, courtroom, and other paranormal hotspots, allowing them to delve deep into the mysteries that surround this historic building. It was a chance to interact with the spirits that may still reside within its walls and unlock the secrets of Chester Town Hall’s dark past.

The Experience of a Ghost Hunt at Chester Town Hall: As part of Haunted Rooms UK’s paranormal investigation team, we were the first to lead an investigation at Chester Town Hall, making it an exclusive opportunity for our guests. The investigation began at 7 pm with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Chester Town Hall’s rich history, including its Roman origins and time as a hotel before the courts were built, provided a fitting backdrop for our paranormal exploration. In addition to the presence of Myra Hindley, stories of Roman soldiers, cavaliers, monks, and bound prisoners added to the intrigue.

During the investigation, we held vigils in the upstairs halls, using various paranormal equipment. Participants experienced unusual phenomena, including table tipping, glass divination, and the human pendulum, which provided a direct connection with the spirit world.

On the ground floor, we explored the courtroom and the main stairwell, where some groups reported encountering a spirit that did not want their presence known.

However, it was the cells, located underground beneath the courtrooms, that sent shivers down everyone’s spine. A glass divination session turned eerie as a deceptive spirit twisted answers and tried to draw a pentagram with the glass, leading to a sudden shutdown of the session. Participants were left astonished by their experiences.

Conclusion

Chester Town Hall’s haunted past and the paranormal investigations that take place there offer a unique and spine-tingling experience. The building’s dark secrets and unsettling history come to life during these ghost hunts, providing participants with unforgettable encounters with the supernatural. If you’re seeking a thrilling and chilling adventure, join us on a journey to uncover the mysteries of Chester Town Hall’s haunted halls, where the spirits of the past continue to make their presence felt. Dare you explore the depths of this haunted historic building and unveil its dark secrets?

Nestled amidst the serene landscape of Borwick, Lancashire, England, Borwick Hall is a living testament to the captivating history of the 16th century. As a Grade I listed treasure, this manor has silently observed the ebb and flow of centuries, transforming itself into a residential outdoor education and conference center, meticulously preserved by Lancashire County Council.

Beyond its historical allure, Borwick Hall harbours enigmatic tales of the supernatural. Visitors who dare to cross its threshold have recounted eerie encounters that send shivers down the spine. Reports include unexplained temperature drops, doors mysteriously slamming shut, late-night wails echoing through the corridors, and an unsettling sensation of being watched.

Among the spectral inhabitants of Borwick Hall are the enigmatic apparitions of a man who strolls the hallways, only to vanish into thin air, and a woman clad in white, believed to be the spirit of a tormented soul who met a tragic end.

The Legend of the “Starved Girl”:

The most haunting legend revolves around the tragic tale of the “Starved Girl.” Her story is one of heartbreak and cruelty, born from her resistance to an arranged marriage due to her deep affection for a gardener. As a heart-wrenching punishment, she was locked away in the peel tower, forgotten, and eventually met a slow, agonising death by starvation.

Even in the afterlife, her spirit is said to roam the hallways, yearning to share her woeful story and find solace. In one room, a scent of roses often lingers, believed to be a poignant offering by the girl to mask the odor of her decaying flesh. The records brim with sightings of her ghostly manifestation, leaving an eerie mark on this historic manor house.

The Apple Tradition:

Another captivating tradition is intertwined with Borwick Hall, a ritual that unfolds on snowy New Year’s Eves. It harks back to a tale of an old lady seeking refuge from a blizzard at the hall. Sir Robert, renowned for his hospitality, welcomed her and received an apple with a peculiar warning as a token of gratitude.

Legend dictates that keeping the apple above the fireplace for a year would bring good fortune, but any attempt to remove it would unleash disaster. Astonishingly, even today, visitors knock on the door, offering apples to keep this intriguing tradition alive.

Ghost Hunting at Borwick Hall:

As the sun sets on the manor, the atmosphere transforms. On Friday evening, our six group leaders and 35 intrepid ghost hunters embarked on a sleepover ghost hunt, venturing into the depths of Borwick Hall. The results in some instances were spine-tingling.

Intriguing phenomena were witnessed. Cat balls flashed inexplicably, sometimes at command, being moved by unseen forces. EMF meters flickered in response to ghostly presences passing close by.

In one chilling instance in bedroom 8, a human pendulum experiment led to guests being pushed backward and forward in response to a series of questions. The room’s temperature abruptly dropped, casting a dark shadow and leaving many with an uncomfortable sense of being watched.

The spirit talkers came into play, unveiling a clear picture of events with remarkably accurate responses to questions. While sightings were fleeting – flickers, glances, and shadows – feelings of unease and shared emotions filled the air.

However, there’s no need to fear; Borwick Hall’s activity appears in bursts, offering an ideal starting point for novice ghost hunters. For the seasoned investigators, the hall’s history and myriad sightings promise an intriguing and eventful experience. With a plethora of rooms to explore, from the main reception to the courtroom, the monk’s room, the library, and a labyrinth of corridors, Borwick Hall guarantees an unforgettable night of exploration.

Pontefract

Would you spend the night here? This isn’t a place for the faint hearted. If you have not heard about this location watch the film when the lights went out.

After a recent visit for Steve to this location where he hosted a paranormal investigation and safely got a group of ghost hunters through the night. This venue was an overnight stay, yes they slept there, or tried too. This is what Steve had to say.

What’s my honest slant or opinion on that house, how did I feel going in and how did I feel when leaving.

I have been apprehensive about going to this venue, on arrival I didn’t feel any easier. We let ourselves in and was shown around by the neighbour who is the key holder, and the stories he told us were chilling, trust me, the film doesn’t capture the full events at that house. We checked out the kitchen dining room, there is an awkward unnatural energy coming up from the ground in front of the fireplace, this is the energy spot where the manifestation first started all those years ago, and the presence of that energy is still there, as a medium I felt very uncomfortable here.

Moving through to the lounge there is an unease about this room, immediately you get the feeling you are being watched, in 1633 this is the spot where the gallows were that executed the Black Monk of Pontefract of otherwise known as Fred or Father Michael, or as the papers called him…. Mr Nobody.  Also in this living room, under the fireplace is a 7 meter well, now concreted over, but with inscriptions carved into the stones all the way down to the water level, a circle with a cross in it, a circle with a dot in it, a water sign 3 wiggly lines and others. We left the lounge to enter the hallway and stairs, this is where the entity (Fred) dragged the daughter up the stairs by the hair, and this is really where I didn’t want to be.

At the top of the stairs, I got the feeling we were not welcome here, we shouldn’t be here, and we needed to leave immediately and yes, I was scared.

The bathroom, the room next to this (Diane’s Room) reputedly to be the most haunted bedroom in Europe, next to this is the Pritchard’s bedroom with very scary china dolls, and next to that the box room full of baby’s toys. We set up an array of cat balls that light up if touched, EMF meters that measure electromagnetic currents and an infra-red trail camera that can pick up movement and film, even in pitch darkness.

Then the arrival of our guests, safety talks, what to expect, anticipations and possible outcomes were discussed, while all the time footsteps and banging coming from an empty upstairs. We held a circle and put on spiritual protection before commencing with the vigil.

So, what happened, well I can definitely say the whole night was as scary as hell, Steve and myself are accomplished mediums and for myself personally, that place scared me. We had calling out sessions, tried a human pendulum (more about that, it’s that that’s freaked me out) and lots of other stuff.

We were confronted a few times by a foul smell, the only way I can explain it is a rotting sulphur smell.

Ok, through the night and into the early hours, normally at a venue, I have to pull the activities out of the venue, sometimes being polite to the spirits other times being slightly aggressive towards them but all the time I am in control, and I am playing them. Not the case here, he played me, he played us, he knows exactly what he is doing.  You are the ones being controlled and not the other way around. If we were downstairs, he was upstairs stamping around, running across the floor, opening and slamming doors, when we went upstairs to investigate it started downstairs, so back downstairs and he was up to it again upstairs and this went on all night.

Later we tried the human pendulum, this is where we all stand in a very tight close circle with a volunteer standing in the middle, questions are asked and the person in the middle is pushed by the spirit, usually forwards for an answer to yes and backwards for no. Not in this case, everyone in that circle was pushed, all at the same time, and quite aggressively and this went on for 20 to 30 minutes, time and time again we were pushed, but the energy that was pushing felt malevolent, evil and dark. Eventually we had to stop, he stared to affect my voice, and I couldn’t stop him, so much so I was getting worried. My voice had changed to a deeper pitch, and it didn’t sound like me, the more I tried to force him out the more he did it, but he did it with ease and I could not stop him.

At the end of the vigil we talked about where we were all sleeping, 2 guys and a load of women, I get it, you girls need your privacy each choosing a room to bed down in. Where did they all end up, in the lounge with me. What happened in there, well we didn’t get much sleep, the knocks bangs doors opening, whistles (yes whistling) taps running, lights flashing on and off in other areas of the house, faces spearing at the frosted glass, someone constantly going up and down the stairs and everyone was in the front room, definitely no one else in the house.

By 4.30 am we gave up, and also everyone in that room had got to the stage where we dare not go out of that room, I was busting for a wee but really didn’t want to leave that room to go to the loo, turns out most of the room was in the same boat ending In a convoy or us going off to relieve ourselves, with the foolish thought of it’s safer in numbers. The loo is situated next to the coal bunker where Mr Pritchard was attacked all those years ago, it’s the fastest wee I’ve ever had.

6am came, and we decided enough was enough, we wrapped it up and our guests left after closing down the protection. Steve and I packed the car and checked the house over to make sure all was OK before leaving. As I drove off, the temperature outside was 2°. I pointed the car home, and with great relief, the more miles I put between myself and that house the better.

Fred is still there, as is Emma. Fred is waiting, he is playing us all, he is gaining strength again and God help the person he finally unleashes on. Is that house haunted, yes and by something not nice at all, people should not go into that house. But they will, I probably will but with trepidation, won’t want to go back in a hurry, if you want to be scared, truly scared have a go here, but please be bloody careful because Fred is very powerful…… that place has creeped me out.

Blackpool

This isn’t the first time we have visited this venue. This was the first ghost hunt I ever attended. It was a fairly quiet night, although we did experience a few things that were difficult to explain.  But that’s another story. 

On this occasion we started the night at 9.00pm with five team members; Steve, Gareth, Alex Steve and myself, along with 30 ghost hunters.  

After a short introduction from Steve (the team leader) about the venue we split up into 3 groups. 

The Regent is a large venue with a balcony area that is currently used as a cinema, a downstairs floor and cellar, the second floor and coffee shop and the top floor.  The groups rotated so that each one spent around 90 minutes in each area. 

So what happened?  Quite a lot, although slightly different experiences for each group. 

The cellar

I led a small group of hunters down here. This is a dark (no lighting at all) damp cellar where there has been plenty of activity in the past.  With movement detecting lights we had a spirit communicating. We had one light set for yes and another for no. Plenty of questions were asked and the lights regularly provided a response. Not only did I personally see something moving in the darker corners of the room but one hunter reported the feeling of someone breathing on her neck (and there was no one behind her).

The ground floor

Meters were actively moving showing signs of energy in the room. One hunter used lights to talk to a spirt which resulted in cards falling off bookshelves. One hunter reported a young girl following her round the floor, which she did manage to capture a photo of. 

The second and third floor

These were not as active on this occasion. One group did perform the human pendulum and got some good results from this but apart from that there was just a little activity through light meters and cat balls moving themselves. 

The balcony

This area did see plenty of activity. From an Ouija board, balanced on a glass, slowly spinning around (only four people touching the board with their fingernails making it impossible to cheat). Lights, moving cat balls and strange noises were constant and witnessed by all groups. The projector room (just a small room above the balcony) had doors slamming and opening on command, people feeling ill and light meters flashing away. 

Finally, the stairs leading down from the balcony to the back exit was visited by one group using a spirit box (a device that picks up the verbal communications of spirits) which responded with scarily accurate answers of names, dates, and other information which all related to the building. 

Overall, this is a great venue. Nothing frightening, just plenty of playful activity that couldn’t be easily explained away. 

If you are thinking of trying a ghost hunt for the first time, this is a great place to start.