Posts Tagged ‘england’

Posted on February 13, 2010 - by Andrew

Did the events of Pendle cast a ghostly curse on Gawthorpe Hall?

Gawthorpe Hall is believed, by some, to be one of the most haunted buildings in Lancaster.

The building is owned by the National Trust today but has been in the possession of the Shuttleworth family for much of history. It began life as a pele tower, build in the 14th century to ward off the Scots, and a Jacobean mansion was added in around the year 1600.  It was Sir Charles Barry who extended the hall significantly in 1850.

The initials “KS” appear often around the house which stand for Kay-Shuttleworth.

Some sources claim that Colonel Richard Shuttleworth played a vital part in the Pendle Witches case of 1612 and others believed to be witches in 1633. Others deny this.

Ghosts of Gawthrope Hall

There are many tales and accounts of hauntings at Gawthorpe Hall. Rachel K Shuttleworth is believed to be one of the entities in the hall – she was the last member of the family to actually live in Gawthorpe and was known as extremely skilled at embroider and lacemaking.

Other people speak of the murder of a young woman at the hall. This murder isn’t just associated with a possible ghost but of a sudden pain in the chest that can strike some visitors.

Some people have suggested that Richard Shuttleworth’s involvement with the Pendle witch trial has had an effect on the hall. Richard Shuttleworth was the son of  Hugh Shuttleworth  and Anne Grimsha and so owned West Close where accused witches Chattox and Anne Redfearn lived.

It is believed that it was Richard Shuttleworth’s servant who accused the women of witchcraft in the first place.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Gawthorpe Hall and seen its ghosts? What did you make of the historic building?

If you feel like visiting Gawthorpe Hall you can do so by booking via the National Trust*.

Disclaimer: Links marked with a star(*) are affilaite links.

Posted on February 6, 2010 - by Andrew

Ghostly body parts at Capesthorne Hall?

Near Macclesfield stands the grand estate of Capesthorne Hall.

The Hall was built between 1719 and 1732 and has been subject to architectual changes over the years – especially after a fire destroyed much of the building.

The history of the grounds go back further than the Capesthrone Hall itself; everything from the passing of Roman Legions (and Roman road may run the building) to myths of Merlin and Arthur. Capesthrone, itself, can trace its history to the Domesday Book.

Hauntings

Capesthrone Hall has a record of ghostly body parts being sighted. A ghostly and disembodied arm, floating outside a window, was sighted by one of the Bromely-Davenport family who own the hall but vanished when the young man reached the window.

On another occassion there are reports of a disembodied head appearing in the grand hall only to vanish when people went to inspect it.

There’s also a common theme of smells being associated with ghosts and spirits in the hall too (some suggesting that the smells are disembodied senses). Some visitors link the distinct smell of a particular hair tonic to the ghost of the late Lord Bromely-Davenport.

The gray lady is another popular haunting story. Tales make mention of a phantom female that makes her way from the grand staircase to the chapel vault.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Capesthorne Hall? Where you able to sense anything? Do you have any stories of suicide, death or murder at Capesthorne that might be linked to the many ghostly tales?

Posted on January 15, 2010 - by Andrew

King of all Witches bids to become a member of the British Parliament

Magus Lynius Shadee has announced his plans to open an occult centre in Cambridge have been paused while he bids to become elected as the city’s MP.

He told press;

“I have withheld the opening of my occult centres and am focusing on the general election,”

“I shall hope to stand as an independent. My manifesto will be very forward, and if accepted, will change many directions for the better – for the human race.”

Shadee, who calls himself the King of all Witches, made the news in October 2009 when he claimed to have summoned a demon to haunt the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs on Hills Road in Cambridge.

It is said he conducted the ritual in the Catholic Church and told press that he did not speak to the priest but conducted an incantation to bring an ‘element’ to dwell within the building.

He described the element as a hunter, something that would attach itself to an individual, drive them insane, make them depressed or end their physical life. Shadee told press that he hoped to convert the local priest.

Police, at the time, said a potential Public Order crime could have been committed and would investigate.

In Pure Spirit

What do you make of Magus Lynius Shadee and his claims? His he doing well – trying to set up an occult centre and run for politics? Or does he cast a shadow over alternative religions with high publicity demon summoning claims in the heart of Catholic churches?

Posted on January 14, 2010 - by Andrew

Police on pagan watch after horse mane weaving incidents

Police in the UK are suggesting that white witches are responsible for a number of incidents which have resulted in horse’s manes been woven together. At first police suspected the practise was being used by organised crime to mark the horses prior to stealing them but none of the marked horses were then stolen.

It is now believed that witches may be engaging in knot magick and are using the closeness of horses to certain Pagan deities to boost the strength of their spells. None of the horses have been harmed by any of the weaving incidents but stables and farmers are becoming bemused and a little unsettled.

The Taunton Vale Harriers Hunt have set up a local horse watch scheme to keep an eye on the animals. The Hunt had used social networking sites to discover that a small group of people had been talking about the use of horses in pagan rituals.

The Telegraph published a story on knot magic yesterday and the Guardian covered it at the start of December in 2009.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Are white witches likely to be responsible for this? Should they be doing it – even if neither horse nor person is being harmed?

Posted on January 12, 2010 - by Andrew

The Brown Lady of haunted Raynham Hall

Raynham Hall is south west of the town of Fakeham, just a few miles away from the silent town that the old RAF base at West Raynham has become, in Norfolk.

The story of ghosts and haunting at Raynham Hall may be one of the most famous in Britain. The Brown Lady is said to be none other than Dorothy Walpole – the sister of the first British Prime Minister Robert Walpole. Robert Walpole (1676-1745), once knwn as Sir Robert Walpole, is widely credited with being the first “Prime Minister of Great Britain” as we know the role today.

The famous photograph taken at Raynham Hall shows a ghost descending the staircase in the hall.

The legend begins in 1713 when Lord Townshend, owner of Raynham Hall, married Dorothy Walpole. She was Townshend’s second wife and, as rumour had it, the ex-mistress of Lord Wharton. Wharton’s reputation was terrible. It was said no lady was safe in is presence.

Dorothy Walpole, the second Lady Townshend, was buried in 1726. It was rumoured that the funeral was a sham, a staged theatre and that Lady Townshend lived on as a hostage in Raynham Hall. Locals said that “Dolly” Townshend was doomed to roam the stairs and hallways of Raynham all by night ever after.

There are mixed reports on how Dorothy Walpole died. Some suggest she starved to death after being confined or confining herself to her room, others suggest she fell – or was pushed – down the grand staircase at Raynham Hall. The same staircase the picture was taken. Was it murder? Was it suicide? There have certainly been deaths at Raynham Hall.

The official papers say tat she died of smallpox.

It is said that King George IV ( at the time still Prince Regent) saw the Brown Lady at Raynham Hall. He is rumoured to have awoken the whole house with the news that “a little lady al dressed in brown, with dishevelled hair and a face of ashy paleness’ who stood at his bed. George IV left that hall immediately.

Later, in 1849, Lucia Stone tried to speak to a lady watching him after he had finished a chess match against Major Loftus (a relative of Charles Townshend) but encountered only a woman, dressed in brown, with no eyes in her skull before she vanished.

In 1936, after the RAF Base at West Raynham had opened, two photographers were active in Raynham Hall. Captain Provand and assistant Indre Shira were talking pictures of the hall for Country Life magazine. It was early evening when Shira notice a misty form on the stairs. Shira alerted the captain so the cap could be taken off the camera while Shira triggered the flash.

The photograph was so remarkable that Shira and the captain quickly got local chemist, Benjamin Jones, to examine the development. It was agreed at the time that the photograph was unlikely to have been tampered with although some people suggested Shira may have tampered with the lens.

 

Country Life is said still to hold the original photograph.

Posted on January 9, 2010 - by Andrew

Is the silent town of RAF West Raynham haunted?

The Royal Air Force station west of the West Raynham village closed in 1990 1996. It had been an active RAF base since 1930.

The base saw action during the war and suffered losses. It is reported that a total of 86 aircraft belonging to the RAF West Raynham were lost in the war. Afterwards Raynham updated their craft with Venoms, Vampire and Meteor jet fighters.

However, earlier this month Living TV’s Most Haunted announced that RAF West Raynham would be the venue of a week long live special. The 2010 series, titled “The Silent Town”, was heavily trailed and the result was a number of internet pranks, suggestions that the filming could be gate crashed as well as unusually high speculation on the internet about the possible haunting.

UK Living told press that they are aware of the Internet chat and have put in place tight security in order to prevent disruption. The venue is also quite hard to find.

Possible ghosts and entities at RAF West Raynham?

Due to the internet pranks around Most Haunted Live: Silent Town there are an unusually large number of recent reports of spirits, murder and suicide at West Raynham. In Pure Spirit has attempted to distil them into something meaningful.

Officer’s Mess

There are reports that a ghost a Polish pilot, who was shot down during World War 2, has been seen in the dining room, walking towards the kitchen and through walls. The entity seems to favour Room 7 in the Officer’s Mess.

Armoury

There are reports that a shadowy figure can sometimes be seen hanging from the rafters in the social club section in the area adjacent to the main armoury. Is this a spectre of a mechanic who committed suicide?

The chapel

The chapel is home of a particularly bitter and angry ghost.  Reports associate a high air force rank to him; perhaps Wing Commander of Squadron Leader (or, less often, Fligt Lieutenant) and the name George of Geoff.

Less common is the suggestion this is the ghost of someone murdered in the base although that has been suggested. A more common alternative is that the ghost is someone who died at the base after receiving wounds they could have avoided if someone else had been honest with them.

The Guard’s Building

It has been reported that the bathroom in the guard’s building can suddenly become feelingly cold.

The control tower

The control tower is said to cast a sinister presence out across the silent town-esq collection of buildings that RAF West Raynham has become.

The control building

Both the control room and the nearby fire station have reports of haunting and paranormal activity.
It is said that a particularly active poltergeist is present in the control room of the control building.

Base Headquarters

It is said that the base headquarters at RAF West Raynham are the centre of a dark power. Strangely (or perhaps not!) the finance room in the building is suggested as the possible source for the feeling.

Visitors to the building who are familiar with the creepy deserted buildings and who are not normally sensitive to spirits or the supernatural

The Sergeant’s Mess

There are a number of areas within the sergeant’s mess in which people have reported feeling the presence of the supernatural.

There is one suggested sighting of a green coloured ghost in the bar area inside the mess. The bar area and boiler room have both been reported as sites of possible haunting by paranormal investors via social sites.

Hanger

It is widely believed that the hanger building is haunted in the silent town remains of RAF West Raynham. Hanger 3, in particular, is rumoured to have been the scene of a secret military experiment that may have made use of British psychics during the war.

Hospital

The hospital houses a number of decontamination stages. Visitors to the building have reportedly heard screams or felt intense pain while visiting these areas.

There are also reports of sobbing from the x-ray room. One internet psychic has associated the area with a woman’s name “Alice” or “Alison”.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Are these reported hauntings nothing more than a reaction to Most Haunted Live: Silent Town coming to of RAF West Raynham? Bare in mind that many of these reports pre-date the show’s announcement.

This post was published before the TV program but if you witness anything odd while viewing the program it would be great if you could share your experiences below.

Posted on December 6, 2009 - by Andrew

Devout Christian jailed for torturing his own ‘witch’ daughter

A father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in Coventry Crown Court, was jailed for 8 years for torturing his own daughter. His partner, who watched the torture, was sentenced for 4 years.

Why did this legally protected man torture his own daughter? He believed she was a witch. She would sometimes talk to herself and he felt he couldn’t always ‘get through to her’.

The girl, who also can’t be named but who is under 16 years old, was beaten with a wooden stick. Her father would stuff cloth into her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Her hands and feet were burned with candle wax and drippings from a melting plastic bag.

The regular churchgoer forced his daughter to drink olive oil, whacked her legs with a cable and stamped on her head before banging it against the wall in an effort to rid of her evil spirits.

The man told the court that he believed his daughter had the power to send him to sleep. The judge refused requests to have the man sent for psychiatric testing.

In Pure Spirit

Isn’t this another horrible story – is religion to blame for this one? Is there something about religion-gone-wrong that can bring out the worst in human nature or will mankind use any handy focus?

Posted on November 9, 2009 - by Andrew

Ghosts at the Toxteth Gaumont Cinema

The Gaumont Cinema by Toxteth – more commonly known as Dingle’s Gaumont Cinema – is situated in a very interested spot.  It has been observed that the haunted theatre’s position on a map of Liverpool forms a triangle if plotted alongside the nearby Turner Memorial Home and the impressive Ancient Chapel of Toxteth.

Toxteth Gaumont Cinema

The odd shape of the cinema is simply due to the curve of the roads the building stands beside. It was built in 1937 to house Britain’s first Gaumont projectomatic system. This is a cinema system that automatically changed film reels and controlled the lights. The issue of light control is interesting as some of the reported hauntings in the old building have featured the lights.

The art deco building was built to replace the Dingle Picturedrome. After the Gaumont theatre was decommissioned it was turned into a bingo hall.

Hauntings at Toxteth Gaumont Cinema

There have been a number of ghost sightings at the cinema; ranging from strange lights to shadowy figures.

It is rumoured that a bingo player lost her life while playing the game – her heart giving out to the drama. One of the popular stories suggests that she still lingers on in the hall trying to claim her winners. Another local story speaks of a suicide; a man who killed himself behind the cinema screen.

Interesting Locations Nearby

The Turner Nursing Home was created by Anne Turner, wife of Charles Turner (the first Chairman of Liverpool Docks which may also be haunted) and mother of Charles William Turner. Anne out lived them both. The home opened  in 1885 and featured work from Sir William Hamo Thorneycroft and the architect Alfred Whitehouse.

The red ashlar home has a large chapel that features octagonal columns and stained glass. Some whisper that the souls of some of the less than sane former inhabitants at Turner may linger still; especially near the chapel.

The Ancient Chapel of Toxteth dates back to around 1604 – nearly three hundred before the Chapel at the Turner – and was originally built by Puritan dissenters from the Church of England but is now owned and used by the Unitarians.

The land which the Ancient Chapel and its graveyard is built one was sold to the Puritan families by the Earl of Derby. The inside of the chapel is dark even in summer.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to any of the locations mentioned above? What do you think? Have you sensed anything other than natural there?

Posted on November 2, 2009 - by Andrew

Does Henry still haunt Layer Marney Tower?

Layer Marney Tower in Essex is an impressive Tudor building. Construction was begun by the first Henry Lord Marney but he died in 1523 before the project was finished.

Layer Marney Tower was inspired by Henry VIII’s belief that a building should reflect the status of its owner. It is said that Lord Henry, 1st Lord Marney’s tomb is the best example of this as it combines beauty, innovation and a lightness of touch.

After Henry 1st, Lord Marney died the ownership of the tower passed to his son John. However, John died two years later. Other owners have included Sir Brian Tuke, Nicholas Corsellis and Quintin Dick.

The Great Earthquake of 1884 damaged Layer Marney Tower but not seriously enough to destroy it completely. Alfred and Kezia Peache, brother and sister, are credited for leading the repair efforts as well as adding to garden to the south of the Tower

Hauntings

It is said that Layer Marney Tower is haunted. A common ghost story is that the ghost of Henry, 1st Lord Marney haunts his home and that he is unhappy the building was not completed to his liking. Some paranormal investigators suggest that the ghost favours one set of stairs in particular.

The gardens of Layer Marney Tower are impressive. Another popular ghost story is that the spectre of a gardener is sometimes seen where graves of small children where found.

It is also suggested that an author of ghost books is actually now a ghost himself and roams the hallways.

Posted on October 31, 2009 - by Andrew

Gallows Hill – where the Pendle witches died

Gallows Hill is part of Lancaster, next to the Ashton Memorial and Williamson Park, and was the favoured execution site of the Hanging Judges until 1800.

The infamous Pendle witches were executed on Gallows Hill. They died in the traditional manner of executions on the hill; first made to stand on a cart, wait while a rope was fastened around their neck and then die as the cart was moved away.

A hanging, done well, kills when the drop instantly breaks the neck of the unfortunate. A bad or deliberately slow hanging leaves the victim twisting on the end of the rope while they are slowly strangled. The death sentence “hanged, drawn and quartered” begins with a slow hanging from which the victim is ‘saved’ before they’re next drawn through the streets and finally quartered.

Ten Pendle witches died on Gallows Hill on the 20th August 1612. Members of both the Demdike and Chattox families where hanged on the hill. Owd Demdike (Elizabeth Southerns), leader of the Demdike family, escaped the executioner by dying in her cell in Lancaster.

Therefore, the names of the Pendle witches who were hanged on Gallows Hill are: Anne Chattox (Anne Whittle), Anne Redfern, Elizabeth Device, James Device, Alizon Device, Jane Bullock, John Bullock, Katherine Hewitt (Mouldheels), Alice Nutter and Isobel Robey.

Jennet Preston, who lived in Yorkshire, was hanged in York.

There’s no record of what happened to the bodies of the Pendle witches after Gallows Hill.

Is Gallows Hill haunted?

On October 29th in 2009 the TV program Most Haunted Live visited Gallows Hill. While the cameras were recording they gave the impression of the presence of some spiritual entities and perhaps the Pendle witches.

Despite some of the Pendle witches actually admitting to witchcraft it is now widely believed that none of them were. Alice Nutter, in particular, was a soft spoken and well off lady and probably guilty of practising the (at the time) unpopular Catholic faith. The Most Haunted crew, however, have allegedly been harassed by entities claiming to be or giving the impression of the Pendle witches before.

It is rumoured that Most Haunted Live may return to Gallows Hill for a live broadcast on Halloween 2009.

 

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Is this site more or likely to be haunted by the ghosts of the witches than Pendle Hill itself?

Did you watch Most Haunted Live? What did you think of the team’s encounter with apparent spirits?