Bolling Hall Museum, Bradford

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description and era: The existing building was completed in 1370 and extended in the 1400’s. Before this the Manor consisted of a set of wooden framed buildings. Subsequent modifications have been made through the centuries.
History:
- The first known reference to the Manor of Bolling was in the Domesday Book in 1086. It had been owned by someone called Sindi but by 1086 was held by Ilbert De Laci who was given it by the King for his help at the Battle of Hastings.

- It’s not known how long the De Laci family held Bolling but by 1316 William Bolling is described as Lord of the Manor.

- At the time of the War of the Roses the then head of the family, Robert Bolling, supported the Lancastrians and fought for them. After this he was accused of high treason by Edward 4th. His life was saved by pardon of the King but his land and manor were taken from him. In 1475 he begged for the return of his estates and the king relented.

- In 1446 Robert had betrothed his son, Tristam (then only a boy) to Beatrice Calverley (also under 12 years old at the time). Tristam inherited the estate in 1487.

- Tristam and Beatrice only had one surviving child, Rosamund who then married Richard Tempest in 1497 (Tristam Bolling remarried after his wife’s death and he and his new wife had a son, Edward. However, he was illegitimate and so didn’t inherit the estate, which went to Rosamund).

- Rosamund received Bolling Hall and the adjacent lands as her dowry and after her father’s death succeeded to the estate. Therefore, the manor now passed into the hands of the Tempest family. The extended the house adding the kitchens, cellars, passage, parlour, a suite of bedrooms and the housebody (Yorkshire name for the Great Hall).

- Rosamund and Richard Tempest had 13 children, three of whom died in infancy.

- Richard Tempest was knighted in 1513, became High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1516 and was elected to Parliament in 1529. However, he somehow became involved in the unsuccessful Rebellion of Northern Gentry in 1536, was arrested in London in 1537 and died a few weeks later whilst still in jail awaiting trial.

- Rosamund managed the Bolling Estates until her death in 1553 when she was succeeded by her oldest surviving son, Sir John Tempest. He left no children and so was succeeded by his brother Nicholas.

- At the beginning of the Civil War, the last Richard Tempest fought for the king and Bolling Hall was the Royalist Headquarters for the siege of Bradford in 1643. However, Richard changed sides a year later and was later fined £1,748 for his part in the war placing him in severe financial difficulties.

- In 1649 Richard Tempest sold the Manor to Henry Savile. In 1657 Richard Tempest died a debtor in the Fleet Prison.

- In 1668 Henry Savile sold the Manor on to Francis Lindley (a barrister and son of a Hull merchant). Francis died less than a year later and his wife Elizabeth managed the estates until his son, the second Francis Lindley (known as Frank) came of age (they also had a daughter, Betty). Before this they lived in Manchester rather than at the hall.

- The second Francis (Frank) Lindley lived at Bolling Hall with his wife Caroline until his death in 1734.

- Caroline and her two daughters then had to look after the estate on the behalf of their son, Walter, who had been declared a ‘lunatic’.

- Walter died in 1760 and the estate was passed to a cousin, Thomas Pigott (a grandson of the first Francis Lindlay). He died in 1770 and left the estate to his cousin Captain Charles Wood.

- After the 1870’s it was divided into tenements and several families had a couple of rooms each (one of which is known to be the Oddy’s who had the two rooms under the Georgian Staircase in the 1880’s and 90’s).

- 1912 – The then owner Mr G.A. Paley gave the hall to the City of Bradford.

- 1915 – The hall was opened as a period house and museum of local history.

Ghostly and spooky experiences:
- The sound of a baby crying has been heard all around the hall.

- Ladies’ voices are heard.

- 20 years ago the local newspaper offered a reward of £50 to anyone who could spend the night at the hall. It was never taken up.

- When the Walker family leased the building a well known Bradfordian called Richard Oastler was a regular visitor to the house. William Walker’s eldest son once had a conversation with him saying that he didn’t believe in the afterlife. Oastler told him to repent or he would haunt him himself. On 22nd August 1861 Walker awoke to find Oastler standing over his bed. Whilst having breakfast Walker then received a telegram saying that Oastler had died at 6am and that he was required to help with the funeral.

- In 1900 when J.M. Tankard lived at the hall one of the maids was meeting her fiancé in the east part of the grounds when they saw a group of Parliamentarian officers approaching them who suddenly disappeared.

- Back in the 1940’s the head attendant reported seeing a lady in period dress floating 3ft off the ground in the entrance and gliding over to the fireplace and disappearing into it.

- In the Robert Bolling Room (would originally have been a bedroom but was also used as a nursery before the hall was turned into a museum), a distressed woman and baby have been seen and a baby’s cry has been heard.

- The staff like the “Blue Room” the least – people have experienced the feelings as if you are being watched, and a man with long coats tails has been seen by the fireplace in here.

-In 1643 the first ghost was sighted at Bolling Hall. The head of the Royalist army, the Earl of Newcastle (who was based there) felt his bedclothes being pulled away from him and saw the ghost of a lady wringing her hands and saying ‘pity poor Bradford’. As a result he changed his orders from his troops to kill all in Bradford to only kill those who offered armed resistance. As a result only 10 people were recorded as being killed in the siege.

- A female ghost seen many times by staff and visitors, dressed in a pale, silk dress.

- Unseen hands once grabbed a woman’s necklace and pulled it off and smashed it on the floor.

- The door knob in the room used to turn on its own, because it scared so many people, it’s now been removed.

- The bed in the room once belonged to a man called ‘Dicky of Tunstead’ he was well known as a wealthy miser and kept his money in a concealed recess in the bed. One night he was murdered in the bed by robbers who were after the money. During the 19th Century family members claimed to have seen his head reflected in the recess when the moon shone directly on it. This phenomenon was last reported in September 1913 though.

- At the bottom of the Georgian stairwell, a pink dress has been seen moving from the dining room to the drawing/sitting room.

- A wretching, strong odour of rotting comes and goes.

- The sound of rattling can be heard coming from this area when you are standing at the top of the stairs.

- In the Display/Exhibition Room, a lady in 1960’s clothing was seen sitting in the left hand chair (these chairs have been in the room and same position for many years), a guide asked this lady to leave because it was closing time – she got up to leave and walked out through the wall.

- In the main hall, dragging noises have been heard.

- In the staff room, a member of staff was in the hall one night as the alarm wasn’t working, the hall was empty and he was sat in the staff room and could hear a woman crying. Then, all of a sudden, the door in the staff room, started shaking and someone was banging on it and shouting “He will kill me for this, I’m a dead woman for this”, it was a woman’s voice and they sounded very scared. It went on for 20mins and when her threw the door open noone was there.

 First Broadcast : 2nd August 2005

Queen Mary Ship, Long Beach, California

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: The ship was commissioned by Cunard Steamship Company Ltd (who merged in 1947 with White Star Line), it was launched on September 26 1934 by Queen Mary and made its maiden voyage on May 27 1936.

History:
- The Queen Mary was originally a luxury transatlantic ocean liner. It also served as a troop ship in World War 2.

-Its major route was between England and the USA. It’s now permanently dry docked at Pier J in Long Beach and is a hotel, museum, restaurant and rental place for special events.

-In total the liner made 1001 transatlantic crossings.

-Between April 15th and 19th 1936 Official speed trials are held in the Irish Sea off the Isle of Arran. British Olympic runner Lord Burghley, ran one lap (400 yards) in evening dress around the Promenade Deck in under 60 seconds.

- May 12th 1936 the Ship was officially handed over from John Brown Shipyard to Cunard White Star Line. On May 25th King Edward VIII, Her Majesty Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth (now the Queen), the Duke and Duchess of York (soon to be King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester visit the ship.

- May 27th 1936 The Queen Mary departs Southampton at 4:33 p.m. on her maiden voyage, arriving in at Cherbourg, France at 8:47 p.m. and departing at 12:39 a.m. the following morning. The total journey to New York took 5 day 5 hours and 13 minutes.

- August 19-31st 1936 – On her sixth round-trip voyage, The Queen Mary wins the Blue Riband for the fastest North Atlantic crossings from the French Line’s Normandie. The Normandie won the honor back in 1937. The Queen Mary then won it back in 1938 and held it for 14 years.

- August 30th 1939 Departed Southampton on her final peacetime voyage, carrying her largest number of passengers to date: 2,552, including Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hope and $44 million in gold bullion.

- Between March 1940 and September 1946 the Queen Mary was in war service. During this time she carried a total of 765,429 military personnel, sailed a total of 569,429 miles (916,407 km), carried up to 15,000 troops at one time, carried the wounded returning to the United States, transported Winston Churchill three times to conferences and carried 12,886 G.I. brides and children.

- During War time she was painted camouflage grey and nicknamed the ‘Grey Ghost’. Hitler offered $250,000 and the Iron Cross to anyone who could sink her.

-May 5th 1940 Was her first voyage as troop transport carrying 5,500 troops from Sydney to Scotland.

- February 18th 1942 was the first time she carried American troops (8,398 troops and 875 crew from Boston to Sydney).

- May 11-16th 1942 First time more than 10,000 people had travelled on any ship (9,880 troops and 875 crew). The greatest number she ever carried was 16,683 (15,740 troops and 943 crew) in July 1943.

-October 2nd 1942 The Queen Mary collides with the British Light Cruiser Curacoa. (see related incidents).

-May 5-11 1943 The Queen Mary transported Winston Churchill from Gourock, Scotland to New York. 5,000 German prisoners of war were also on board.

- Between February 3rd and May 19th 1946 the ship completed 6 war bride voyages, transporting 12,886 European Brides and children to the USA and Canada.

- Between May 23rd and September 18th 1946 she completed 7 more ‘War Bride Voyages’. 10 stowaways were found on board on the first crossing. She returned to peacetime passenger service on July 31st 1947

- December 31st 1949 Cunard White Star became Cunard Steam Ship Co. Ltd. December 1963 She completed her first cruise – Southampton to Las Palmas. April 1966, She was put up for sale. July 27th 1966 The $3.45 million Long Beach bid is accepted.

- She retired from regular passenger service on 19th September 1967 (after completing 1,001 crossings of the Atlantic) and arrived in Long Beach December 9th 1967.

- She was removed from British Registry and officially turned over to the City of Long Beach on Monday December 11th 1967.

- November 2nd 1972 the first 150 hotel rooms were opened, the hotel was taken over by the Hyatt Corporation in 1974.

- March 29th 1988 Walt Disney Company took over the Wrather Corporation that then owned the Queen Mary.

- 1992 Walt Disney gives up the lease on the Queen Mary and the Port of Long Beach becomes the operator. The hotel closed. In 1993 The City of Long Beach took over running of the ship from the Port and the hotel re-opened.

Ghost ratings and Spooky Experiences:
- Strange rapping sounds.
- Objects moving of their own accord.
- Disembodied voices.
- Ghostly apparitions.
- A ghost thought to be that of Senior 2nd Officer William Stark is often seen.
- In the now-dry First Class Swimming Pool, two women have been seen, one in 1960’s clothing, one in 1930’s clothes (both are said to have drowned in the pool).
- The girl in ’60’s clothing is seen in the pool area and balcony above in a green bathing suit and walks straight through the support columns.
- A ghostly little boy is seen in the passageway here (it’s thought that he fell overboard in the area near the pool)
- A tour guide and her entire tour group once saw a see-through Naval Officer wearing his dress whites walk straight past them.
- Splashing and laughter is heard coming from the empty pool.
- Wet footprints seen leading from the deck to the changing rooms.
- Changing Rooms – people experience strongly negative feelings here.
- In the Queen’s Salon, a beautiful woman in a flowing white dress is often seen dancing alone (once by a young girl on a tour who knew nothing of the sightings, she insisted the woman was there and described her exactly as others had).
- Unexplainable balls of light are also seen.
- In the First Class Suite area, a man dressed in a 1930’s suit has been seen by tour guides in this area (one caught his image in a mirror in a photo, and lights turn on and off.
- Passengers report heavy breathing and tugging on bed covers.
- In the forward Storage Room, there are sounds of children playing.
- In the Bosun’s Locker there have been unexplained pounding sounds heard and voices.
- the Tourist Class Swimming Pool, the presence of a woman who drowned in here is seen and felt. – In the kitchen, screams are heard, a man dressed as a ship’s cook is seen to enter the kitchen and then disappears, dishes move on their own, lights turn on and off all by themselves, kitchen utensils disappear.
- In the Engine Room, a male apparition wearing a white Boiler Room uniform is seen working on the engine
In ‘G’ Deck (which is thought to be the location of the ship’s morgue), lights flicker and doors slam.

http://www.queenmary.com

 First Broadcast : Part 1 : 19th July 2005 / Part 2 : 26th July 2005

Whaley House, San Diego, California

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: The house was built by Thomas Whaley in 1856-1857 and is the oldest brick structure in Southern California. At the time it was built the Greek-Revival-style house was the most magnificent example of architecture in the area. It cost $10,000.

History:
- American parapsychologist Hans Holzer and others have said that the Whaley House is possibly the most haunted house in America, some have said possibly the world.

- The house is certainly one of the best known haunted houses in America and in the early ’60’s designated an ‘Official Haunted Site’ by the American Commerce Department and is only one of 29 in the country (one of 2 in California) and is a State Historical Landmark. – As well as a family home the house has served as a Protestant Church, City Hall, Theatre, Public school and Courtroom. It has been a museum since 1960.

- The land the house was built on was adjacent to a Native American settlement where the Kumeyaay Tribe would spend their winters. The Whaley’s bought goods from the Kumeyaay and employed some of them, though it was often more like slavery (Thomas Whaley once wrote of how he had bought a young girl to work for him and when she ran away was irritated that he had to pay again to get her back).

- It’s thought Kumeyaay Graves may have lain on what became the Whaley property.

- Thomas Whaley was born on October 5th 1823, was educated at the Washington Institute and became a successful Pioneer and a prominent man in the community. He came from a wealthy New York Merchant family who owned the land that is now Central Park.

- He sailed to San Fransisco in 1849 and set up a hardware and woodwork store. After a fire destroyed the store in 1851 he moved to San Diego. After setting up a series of businesses he made enough money to return to New York to marry his sweetheart Anna Eloise DeLauney.

- By 1858 they had three children – Francis Hilton (named after one of Thomas’ business associates), Thomas (Who died at 17mths – see below) and Anna Amelia. They had also moved their business into town. However, fire destroyed this business. After this and little Thomas’s death the family relocated to San Fransisco.

- June 1860 Augustus S. Ensworth, a lawyer and justice of the peace moved in and managed the Whaley’s business interests.

- From October 1868 to January 1869 the Tanner Troupe Theatre operated out of an upstairs bedroom (see related incidents). It had a small stage and benches for 150 people. Mr Tanner died within 17 days of opening.

- From August 1869 the San Diego County Courthouse rented the former Granary as a courtroom (Whaley only connected it to the house after the court had left) and also had three upstairs rooms for records storage.

- Between 1874-1879 Thomas Whaley returned to New York leaving the family in San Diego in dire straits and relying on the oldest child, Francis, to support them.

- On January 5th 1882 both Violet and Anna Whaley married in the house. Anna married her first cousin, John T. Whaley and Violet married George T. Bertolacci. Violet and George divorced two years later (after their marriage only lasted 2 weeks before he deserted her) leading to her depression and suicide on August 18th 1885 (see below, Related Incidents).

- Distraught by this Thomas built a new house for the family in downtown San Diego where he also owned up a Real Estate business. After retirement due to ill health Thomas Whaley died in 1890.

- In 1889 Mr W.M. Barnes a mine owner from El Paso, Texas lived in the house with his family.

- In 1912 Anna Whaley (Thomas’s widow), Corinne Lillian, Francis and George (now a musician) all lived in the house.

- On February 24th 1913 Anna died at the house.

- Francis died at the home on November 19th 1914.

- The last Whaley relative, Corinne Lillian, still lived at the house right up until her death in 1953 aged 89.

- In 1956 the County of San Diego purchased the house.

Ghost ratings:
- It’s thought that the ghosts in the house include: an executed man, ‘Yankee Jim’, Mr. Whaley, Mrs Whaley, several unknown apparitions, a little girl and one of the Whaley children who died from Scarlet Fever.

- A lady in gingham has been seen, as has a little girl and a man in frock coat. – In the Kitchen, children’s cries have been heard here and a meat cleaver hanging on display in here often swings ominously.

- In the bedroom, a young boy is sometimes seen playing there.

- In the Garden a ghostly cat and dog are chased through the walls from the garden.
Spooky experiences:
– Ghostly lights are seen all over the house.

- Burglar Alarms go off by themselves.

- Windows get opened long after the house has been locked up.

- People regularly report an icy feeling as if someone has just walked straight through them.

- Cuban cigars are smelt (Thomas Whaley is known to have smoked these)

- Furniture lifts up of its own accord.

- Windows open of their own accord.

- People feel that someone is standing behind them or pushing them.

- A spotted dog has been seen.

- On the ground floor, footsteps are heard on the floor above.

- In he Archway between Music Room and Parlour, people feel a choking sensation when they walk past here, the spot where ‘Yankee Jim’ was hung.

- In the Courtroom (a room that was also used as a morgue) faint cigar smoke has been detected – although nobody is smoking.

- On the second floor, heavy footsteps are heard running across the floor from below, Corrine Lillian Whaley never felt comfortable in the upstairs rooms of the house when she lived there alone and perfume is often smelled.

http://www.whaleyhouse.org/

First Broadcast: 12th July 2005

Black Bull, Haworth, West Yorkshire

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: This is an old-world pub, which has stood on this spot for more than 300 years

History:
Little is known about the history of the pub. It’s always been a pub and a hotel. The attic used to be a dormitory and the upstairs bedrooms were B&B rooms until last year.

This was the pub in which Branwell Bronte drank his health away (he bought his Opium in the Apothecary across the cobbled street) whilst his sisters were writing their novels in the Parsonage behind the pub (Both Charlotte and Emily also died in the parsonage). Their father, Patrick, was the vicar at the church next door (the church that stands there now was built by Patrick Bronte’s successor but it’s in exactly the same location).

Branwell Bronte was born on June 26th 1817 and died of chronic bronchitis and consumption on 24th September 1848 – He was laid to rest in the family vault at Haworth Church.

In February 1836 at the age of 19 Branwell was proposed a freemason and later became secretary of the lodge. Meetings were originally held at the Black Bull but then moved to Lodge Street (The chair on the stairway at the pub is a Mason’s Chair and is thought to be Branwell’s chair).

In the pub there’s a print of a picture of Branwell and his famous sisters which he painted himself out of after a family falling out – the story is that he was the actual author of Wuthering Heights and Emily took the manuscript and made slight changes and sold it as her own work.

There is a big graveyard behind the church and it’s thought to contain 40,000 bodies, it’s also thought that due to subsidence over the years some of these bodies have slipped down the hill and now lie under the pub.

It is known that the landlord at the time Branwell drank there was a man called Dan Sugden.

Ghost ratings:
- In the main bar, a man dressed in beige has been seen sitting at one of the tables

- On the road outside people are seen, you look back and they have disappeared.

- Outside, a girl is heard crying outside in the car park and allotments.

- People often see figures flitting around – usually out of the corner of their eye and a has medium picked up on a man looking for a little girl (his daughter).

- A man in a top hat is often seen sitting at one of the tables (Dan Sugden, the landlord at the time the Bronte’s lived in Haworth was a small man who always wore a Top Hat, he was nicknamed ‘Little Nosey’).

- In the main bar, a child has been seen offering sweets to someone no-one else can see.

- In Room 2, people have woken up to see the dark figure of a man watching them sleep.

- Room 3 is thought to be haunted by a maid. When it was still being used as B+B rooms and one of the owners would clean it she would come back to find everything put back the way it was before – she thinks that the maid doesn’t want her taking her job.

Spooky experiences:
- Glasses and ashtrays fly to the floor when there is no-one around.

- The bell by the fireplace in the corner by the Bronte picture rings of its own accord. Also every morning the light above the Bronte picture is turned round.

- People often feel that someone is brushing past them on the main staircase

- In the main bar, when standing near the front door people often feel as though they are being tapped on the head. A light has also been seen by the front door.

- Very strong fresh cigar smoke is often smelt (it’s known that Branwell Bronte loved cigars).

- All over the building things are regularly moved – even if you just look away for a split second.

- In the kitchen pates smash, items move around and footsteps are heard.

- There is a strong smell of sulphur smelt around the house.

- Talking/Muttering has been heard – very distinct but you can’t make out the words.

First Broadcast: 5th July 2005

Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: This seven-storey castle in Alford is an L-shaped tower. With its little turrets and pinkish hue, it looks very much like something out of a fairytale!

Era: It was built in the early 17th Century and has been called the “epitome of the Jacobean Renaissance in Scotland”.

History:
Craigievar was completed by William Forbes, otherwise known as Danzig Willie, in 1626. It was built next to his family’s estate, Fintray, to show off his wealth and status — he’d made a fortune as a merchant in Baltic trade. He created the new castle from an already-existing castle half built on the site, sold to him by the Mortimer family.

- The first William Forbes died in 1627. His son was also called William and was made a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles 1st in 1630. In turn his son Red Sir John succeeded him in 1648. He was nicknamed Red because of his complexion and fiery hair colour

- During his residency, Red apparently forced a member of the rival Gordon clan out of the window in The Blue Room, where he fell to his doom

- Queen Victoria visited the castle twice and she signed the visitor’s book on her second visit in 1879

- In 1963 the castle was bought from the Forbes-Sempill family by a consortium of benefactors and presented to the National Trust for Scotland

Ghost ratings:
- The most frequently sighted spirit is rather selective in his choice of when to appear. He is the ghost of a musician, a fiddler who fell into the well at the castle and drowned. He is said to appear only to those who bear the name Forbes

- The Blue Room is known as ‘the ghost room’ on account of the frequent disturbances. Dark figures have been seen here, particularly by the window where one of the Gordon clan fell to his death

- A mysterious apparition has been seen on the stairs, waiting expectantly for someone who never comes

- A man has been spotted in the Great Hall, wandering aimlessly

Spooky experiences:
Many of the supernatural happenings take place in The Blue Room:

- There have been countless testimonies of the temperature dropping suddenly and music coming from within

- Disembodied footsteps have been heard climbing the staircase to this room

- The door often opens and closes on its own

- One of the guides witnessed his torch move 4 or 5 feet across the floor of the room by itself

- On the 4th floor the carpet is said to move erratically

- In the School Room there have been reports of a ghostly pair of hands touching guides and tourists

- Throughout the entire castle, footsteps echo around the corridors and larger rooms

 First Broadcast: 28th June 2005

Fyvie Castle, Turrif, Aberdeenshire

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: An impressive building that was formerly a royal stronghold, Fyvie features five towers and is possibly one of the finest examples of Scottish Baronial architecture.

Era: A castle has been on this site since 1211 but most of the existing castle was built in the 14th/15th century.

History:
- William the Lion was at Fyvie around 1213 and Alexander II granted a charter at Fyvie in 1222

- English King Edward I stayed at “Fyvin Chastel” in July 1296 during his punitive campaign. Later Robert the Bruce dispensed justice in an open-air court held at Fyvie

- From 1390, following the Battle of Otterburn, five successive families — Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon and Leith — each built one of Fyvie Castle’s five towers

- In 1596 the castle was sold to Alexander Seton, later Chancellor of Scotland. He greatly enlarged the castle and added the upper works

- In 1601 Dame Lilias Drummond, Seton’s first wife, died. Some believe she was starved to death by her husband because she failed to give him a male heir. Tradition says that she was imprisoned in the Douglas Room. Her family tried to rescue her but apparently they were caught, slaughtered in her presence and their mutilated bodies thrown from the window

- By 1885 the then laird of the castle, Sir Maurice Duff-Gordon, was in financial trouble and Fyvie was put up for sale

- In 1982 Sir Andrew Forbes-Leith sold the castle and its contents to The National Trust for Scotland

Ghost ratings:
- The ghost of Lilias, otherwise known as The Green Lady, has been seen wandering all around the castle. Legend has it that on the wedding night of Alexander and his second wife, heavy sighs and scratching noises were heard from outside their chamber window. In the morning they found the following words carved upside down on the sill, from the outside: D LILIAS DRUMMOND

- The lonely spirit of a man has been seen wandering the library

- A guest who was staying in one of the guest rooms, woke to find a woman standing over her, staring at her

Spooky experiences:
- Recently a terrible loud banging has been heard throughout the building. The staff are never able to figure out where the noise is coming from. When they move to where they think its coming from, the banging then moves to another part of the building

- In the Morning Room the sound of a baby crying has been heard. A skeleton of a baby was found in the fireplace when the Gordon clan lived there

- The Library Corridor is said to induce intense feelings of suffocation and oppression

- In The Charter Room it is always cold and visitors have had to be removed from the room because they feel ill and faint Batteries drain and cameras fail to work properly in this room

- The Gordon Bedroom often emits an inexplicable odour of roses. People will often stand aside as if someone is walking past them — even though there is noone else in the room — while some of the staff refuse to enter this room. They get mysterious feelings of being watched

- The Douglas Bedroom is said to be the room in which Lilias was starved to death. There are numerous reports of cold spots and people often feel overwhelming feelings of sadness and sickness when they enter the room

- In Robert’s Flat lights turn themselves on, doors open on their own and taps have turned themselves on

First Broadcast: 14th June 2005

Appuldurcombe House, Isle of Wight

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: A 300-year-old manor house in Wroxall, with 52 function, bed and dining rooms.

Era: The existing building dates back to the early 18th century, but there has been a house on the site since 1200.

History:
The original building was a religious house, but for 300 years from the early 16th century Appuldurcombe was the home of the Worsley family and was once the most important estate on the island.

- In the 16th century Henry VIII was entertained here. It was a popular location where he could practice his falconry skills

- In 1587 two boys, the young sons of Richard Worsley, were killed in an explosion at the Gatehouse

- In 1781 Seymour Dorothy Fleming, the wife of Sir Richard Worsley, caused a great scandal by having a high-profile affair. She later admitted to having had 27 lovers

- In 1867 it became a school called Dr Pound’s Academy for Young Gentlemen

- From 1909 the house was unoccupied except by troops during both world wars. In 1943 it was partly destroyed by German bombs
Ghost ratings:
- The ghost of a beautiful woman has been seen in the Stable Cottage

- A ghostly carriage has appeared on the pathway near the entrance to the grounds

- Near the Freemantle Gate boy’s laughter has been heard

- From the window of the Gatehouse figures have been seen moving from the gate down along the drive

- A flickering candle is repeatedly spotted floating around the main staircase
Spooky experiences:
- Unearthly noises are heard in the Stable Cottage when no one is there

- Many visitors have reported cold spots and unexplained temperature changes in the Great Hall

- People often feel that someone is brushing past them on the main staircase

- Eerie shadows have been witnessed dancing on the walls of the cellars, and workers have had the sensation of being watched

- A specific presence is felt in the Gatehouse, while unseen hands leaf through the visitor’s book

 First Broadcast: 7th June 2005

Arreton Manor House, Isle of Wight

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Description: The manor combines Jacobean architecture with Tudor designs and features. A manor has stood on the site for more than 1,000 years.

Era: The existing building dates back to the early 17th century, but the East Wing was built in the 14th century and there has been a manor here since at least AD 872.

History:
- Once owned by Edward the Confessor, Arreton Manor is noted in the Domesday Book and is specifically mentioned in the will of King Alfred the Great in 885. The Manor was farmed by abbots of Quarr Abbey and for over 400 years was in their possession

- There is a Saxon Burial ground on nearby Arreton Down and it’s speculated that the first house on the site of the manor was a Roman villa

- In the reign of Henry VIII the manor came into the hands of the Crown following the dissolution of the monasteries and was leased to the Leigh family for 70 years

- A particularly grisly incident took place around this time. In 1560, John Leigh, who was only 13 at the time, smothered his father, Barnaby, with a pillow. John’s young sister, Annabelle, witnessed the crime, so he dragged her upstairs and threw her from an upstairs window to her death

- Charles 1st gave the manor to trustees for the payment of his debts to the City of London and it was sold to two London Merchants. Charles visited the manor on several occasions and stayed there before being imprisoned in nearby Carisbrook Castle

- Both Queen Victoria and Queen Mary often visited the manor

- More recently Arreton Manor has been open to the public and held a museum of toys and domestic bygones
Ghost ratings:
Arreton Manor seems to be a densely haunted site, with many restless spirits, including:

- The ghost of fair-haired Annabelle, seen in many areas throughout the house and gardens, often crying “mamma mamma” and wearing a blue dress and white slippers

- A mysterious lady in a purple dress, seen by the owners and many visitors

- Many sightings of a silvery-grey figure by visitors. At the same time an overpowering sweet smell is often detected

- A woman in a red tight-waisted, puff-sleeved dress has been spotted. The ghostly figure is said to have long curly black hair and is also accompanied by a sweet floral smell but her face is never seen

- Monks have been seen walking through walls in the Dining Room, as well as nodding in silent prayer in the 12th-century part of the house

- The ghostly monks have also been seen in the gardens, but only from the waist up. Research into the lie of the land shows the original Abbey was set lower than the current grounds, which may explain this; they are walking on the original floor level!

- The manor owner sees the phantom of a man in the rear gardens at least once a week

- A dark haired woman in a white shift is often seen gliding across the Four Poster Room and disappearing through the window
Spooky experiences:
- Chanting is heard throughout the building and grounds

- Several visitors have refused to enter the building, because they felt a dark, foreboding presence on approach

- The rustling of skirts is heard

- The sounds of hounds running echo through the Dining Room, as do the sounds of heavy keys being dropped

- A strong, sweet smell of pipe tobacco is often noticed in the rear gardens

- Children crying is heard in the hall, while footsteps echo from the empty room above

- The front door is inexplicably bolted from the inside when the house is empty and knocking is frequently heard although no one is there

- People have reported being pushed by unseen hands in the cellar

- In the Solar Room, thought to be where little Annabelle was murdered, cupboard doors open by themselves and towels that have fallen out are arranged on the floor in neat piles by unseen forces

- Ghostly footsteps are frequently heard in this room

- In the Culpepper Suite a TV mysteriously comes on of its own accord

http://www.arretonmanor.co.uk/

First Broadcast: 31st May 2005

Petty France Manor, Badmington

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Name and location: Petty France, Gloucestershire

Description: A grandiose building, the Manor House is a large, white building set in two acres of land and is now a four star hotel.

Era: the main building was constructed in the late 18th Century during a time of conflict that pitted England against Napoleon’s French forces on land and sea

History:
- French prisoners of war may have been kept here during the Napoleonic wars, but previously it is believed to have been a Huguenot settlement during the reign of Henry VIII.

- The famous diarist Parson Woodbridge stayed at the house, as did Jane Austen, who refers to Petty France by name in ‘Northanger Abbey’.

- In 1800 the house was owned by Charles Jenkinson, formerly known as Baron Hawkesbury and 1st Earl of Liverpool. His son Robert Banks Jenkinson inherited it in 1808, and was Prime Minister for fifteen years. The battle of Waterloo occurred during this time and it’s thought that Lord Wellington visited the house, which it’s believed to have been used as a hunting lodge.

- The 1851 census shows two families living there, one being Charles Long with his wife Anne and children and their eighteen servants and their families.

- In 1925 Lord and Lady Allen Apsley bought the house but in 1942 Lord Apsley was killed in a flying accident
Ghost ratings:
- The figure of a man is often and very clearly seen throughout the house, described by many witnesses as being over 6ft, very good looking, tanned skin, wearing a black, possibly velvet, jacket, sometimes with a tall hat, sometimes without. It is thought to be the spirit Robert Banks Jenkinson.

- The previous owner can recall at least 24 reported sightings of this rather dapper ghost.

- A phantom woman has been seen regularly walking from the bathroom into the bedroom and in the corridor outside the Art Deco room. She may be Robert’s mother Amelia, who died giving birth in this room.

- Several hotel guests claimed to have encountered the ghost of William Harford in the Art Deco room.

- The spirit of a young child has been spotted sitting innocently on the main staircase

- In the attic a sad-faced old lady has been seen sitting quietly on the bed.
Spooky experiences:
- There has been a lot of poltergeist activity, mainly cutlery flying around and electrical appliances failing inexplicably – Many people have said that when they proceed through the entrance hall they have felt the strong sensation of someone rushing towards them.

- Cats often begin to wail loudly only when they enter the dining room.

- A strong burning smell lingers in the games room, and a particular chair is said to regularly move around of its own volition

- In the Art Deco room the sounds of dragging can be heard coming from above and guests have felt like they are being watched while they’re in there

- People have been touched by invisible hands in the attic and the temperature frequently drops dramatically

First Broadcast: 24th May 2005

The London Dungeons

Posted by admin as 6: Season Six

Name and location: London Dungeon, London

Description: This major tourist attraction is housed under some of the existing arches of the London and Greenwich Railway line. Twisting corridors and curving stone walls make this a suitably atmospheric location.

Era: The London and Greenwich Railway line was opened in 1836, and was London’s first passenger railway line and ran between London Bridge and Greenwich.

History:
- There is very little actually written about the history of the building as it is today but it is has previously been used as a stable block, wine cellar and possibly an orphanage.

- London Bridge was built by the Romans in 43AD, with the construction of the first modern bridge starting in 1176.

- From 1212 The Hospital of St. Thomas The Martyr stood on the site of the dungeon. It was run by a mixed order of nuns and monks and provided shelter and treatment for the poor, sick and homeless.

- By the 17th Century the area around London Bridge – including Tooley Street – had become a popular place for bear, dog and cockfighting.

- During WWII this part of London was the most bombed place in Britain. The railway arches were used as air raid shelters but were themselves bombed in February 1941. Reports conflict as to how many people died, some say 64 others 300. It’s believed though that the bodies of many of the victims were never recovered and that they remain entombed in the arches to this day.
Ghost ratings:
- Shadowy figures have been seen throughout the dungeon

- A male figure dressed all in black is seen, who’s thought to have a really evil, negative presence. It’s speculated by some, that he’s ‘Jack the Ripper’ and that by recreating his murderous deeds for tourists his spirit and also the spirits of the prostitutes he murdered have been attracted to this part of the site.

- A member of staff has also seen a group of children playing ring-a-ring-o-roses in this area.

- In the ‘Pre-Plague’ area a man and two children are regularly seen but who then mysteriously disappear upon approach.

- The naked top half of a man has been seen apparently floating in the ‘London Bridge’ area.

- There is a mock operating table in the ‘Mortuary’ area which features two waxworks of men operating on a body. However, people have seen a phantom third man looking down at the body.
Spooky experiences:
- Doors open and close of their own accord.

- Waxworks change position when the dungeon is closed.

- People experience feelings of panic.

- Equipment stops and starts of its own accord.

- Unexplained lights have been seen within several areas of the dungeon.

- Unexplained whistling has been frequently heard in the ‘Boat Ride’ area of the dungeon.

- On the lower level of the ‘Mortuary’ area, people get the overwhelming feeling that they are being pushed out towards the opening doors if they are closed.

- The sound of crying has been heard in the ‘Jack The Ripper’ area.

- The ‘Stagecoach’ area provided one member of staff with staff with the unpleasant sensation of someone touching the back of her neck in here and refused to work in there ever again.

- In the Judges box, of the ‘Courtroom area an actor was tapped on the shoulder. The box is only reachable by some rickety stairs and there was definitely no-one else there.

http://www.thedungeons.com

 First Broadcast : 17th May 2005