In Pure Spirit

For open minds

Where are the most haunted houses in the USA?

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MyBaggage, a site about travel and being prepared for it, has some Halloween content.

Tempted to do something spooky for ghost season? MyBaggage have researched the scariest haunted houses in the USA.

RANKHOUSE NAMESTATE
1Creepy Hollow Haunted HouseTEXAS
2Purgatory Scream ParkTEXAS
3New Orleans Nightmare Haunted HouseLOUISIANA
4House of the Occult at Lemp BreweryMISSOURI
5Netherworld Haunted HouseGEORGIA
6Terror on the CoastMISSISSIPPI
7Statesville Haunted PrisonILLINOIS
8Factory of Terror OHOHIO
913th Hour Haunted HouseNEW JERSEY
10Reapers RevengePENNSYLVANIA

Here’s a brief look at the top five haunted houses that you might include in your travels.

1. Creepy Hollow Haunted House 

The ‘Creepy Hollow Haunted House’ in the southern state of Texas takes the top spot. This not-for-profit house highlights three spooky attractions, using realistic special effects and people in costumes to provide a scary experience. 

Creepy Hollow gives proceeds go to good causes.  

2. Purgatory Scream Park 

The ‘Purgatory Scream Park’ comes second, the largest haunted house in Texas if you dare.

It takes 40 minutes for a terrifying walkthrough, and you’re bound to become immersed in the Halloween fun.

3. New Orleans Nightmare Haunted House

At this haunted house, you’ll find clowns, the walking dead, and even the Bogeyman to keep you up at night. There are three core attractions to pick from to maximise the chances of the hairs on the back of your neck standing up before you escape.

4. House of the Occult at Lemp Brewery

Underground, where no one will hear you scream. At the House of the Occult, you may come face to face with demons, mazes, and the pitch-black cavern. 

5. Netherworld Haunted House

One of the two attractions here is the Monster Museum which features rare movie props that you won’t see anywhere else. 

The other is a 3D experience hosted in a secret facility. 

In Pure Spirit

Where do you think the spookiest haunted house in the States is?

They call it the Poltergiest House: Is 30 East Drive in Pontefract haunted?

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Some say that the Black Monk of Pontefract is one of the most violent poltergeists in Europe. Are they right?

It is believed that the terrace house in the Chequerfields Estate in East Yorkshire is built near to where the town once had its gallows. The Black Monk of Pontefract, as identified by author Tom Cuniff, is said to have been a 16th century monk who was found guilty and then hung to death for the rape and murder of a girl.

Modern reports of hauntings and supernatural disturbances began in the 60s when Jean and Joe Pritchard moved in with their son and daughter, Phillip and Diane. One report cites the first instance starting while some of the family where on holiday in Devon but grandmother Sarah Scholes was at 30 East Drive looking after Phillip. First a strange gust of chilling wind swept through the house, then white powder began to fall from the ceiling with, finally, pools of water appearing throughout the house.

During that incident a tea dispenser seemed to work by itself, a plant pot threw itself down the stairs and objects flew out of the cupboards. The water board was called to investigate the puddles but could find no solution.

This video shows a 25 minute investigate by Abandoned Investigated.

Featured in this video are Karen and Alison, both sensitive, Ben and Tom as investigators, Kris as the Medium, Laura on camera and Jess, Ema and Steve as guests.

30 East Drive in Pontefract is now a commercial venue after a film and a second wave of haunting.

The British movie “When The Lights Went Out” is loosely based on the poltergeist occurrence known as The Black Monk of Pontefract. It was made after Colin Wilson’s 1981 book Poltergeist! A Study in Destructive Haunting, Including the Black Monk of Pontefract became popular among supernatural investigators and experts. In the movie Jenny and Len move into the home only for their daughter, Sally, to be terrorised by an evil entity. The movie stars Kate Ashfield, Tasha Connor, Steven Waddington, Craig Parkinson, Martin Compston and Jo Hartley.

A newspaper report by Andy Lea describes how locals noticed an increase in supernatural activity after the film. A neighbour, Carol Fieldhouse, was unaware Pritchard’s had sold the house to movie producer Bil Bungay. Carol said;

“I saw Philip in the front, tidying up the garden,”
“I went out and asked him if he’d sold it to one of his nephews. I thought it must have been one of them because I knew they were deaf and I’d heard the telly blasting out all night.

“He said ‘There’s no TV in there. It’s empty’. Then he turned pale and went ‘God, it’s started again’. I haven’t seen him since.”

Carol later told reporters that she held a séance in the neighbouring house and managed to make contact with the Black Monk.

A Most Haunted Live Halloween special in 2015 hooked cameras up to the Coal Hole, the EVP / Dining Room area and Stairwell and invited viewers of the Really TV channel to watch. In the run up to the night the Most Haunted Crew have already discovered the name “Carl Anthony”, a 52-year-old priest from 1633, who gave them one message: GET OUT.

In the show balls and marbles have moved around, there have been knocks and whispers and a knife dangerously hidden in a sofa.

In Pure Spirit

Have you done what Yvette and Karl of Most Haunted have done and visited 30 East Drive? Let us know if you have and what your thoughts are on the location in the comments below.

Do you believe that Carl Anthony is the Black Monk of Pontefract? Do you believe the death of a young girl during the reign of King Henry VIII at the hands of a priest could be responsible for a Yorkshire haunting that is still in effect today?

Is this really photographic evidence of a sexy ghost?

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A funny thing happens around about Halloween. Certain newspapers start to get interested in reporting ghost stories. This encounter that apparently features a blonde female ghost flashing her cleavage comes from The Mirror.

blonde-ghost

Is there any evidence other than the blurry photograph above? According to reports the paranormal entity left behind a possible fingerprint smudge inside an ancient Egyptian Mummy’s case at the Torquay Museum in Devon.

The manager at Torquay Museum told press;

The weirdest thing was that we have a mummy, which we believe is Devon’s only human mummy.”

The ghost was after an event called Real Investigators of the Paranormal took place last week at the old building. The museum dates back to 1866 and may have Devon’s only human mummy. Inside the case is the remains of a mummified four year old boy.

The Mirror has found fans who are happy to joke along with the findings. One told the paper;

Who knew ghosts could be so sexy? She could haunt my house and give me nightmares any day of the week.
“I certainly wouldn’t want to see her busted.”

In Pure Spirit

Do you think this is proof a real haunting? Is this finally photographic evidence of something supernatural in nature? Vote below.

10 types of spirits that could be haunting your home

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Do you think your home might be haunted? Perhaps your flat gets strangely cold at night? Does your apartment develop eerily dark shadows or do you sometimes catch sight of things just at the corner of your sight when you’re awake at midnight?

If you do believe your house is haunted then you might be interested in researching what type of ghost, monster or entity is living with you. Myth and legend has plenty of stories about these horrors and those who do believe know that there are different types of haunting.

Haunting

#1: Poltergeist

Thanks to the movie Poltergeist this particular ghost is well known but not well understood. If you’re worried that the ghosts on this list don’t seem very “English” then keep in mind that poltergeist is a German ghost. It means; “noisy ghost”.

For the most part Poltergeists are more troublesome than they’re are powerful. They’re the ghosts that knock books off shelves or pans off tables. If you think you’re seeing things when you’re home alone then it won’t be a poltergeist.

Many paranormal investigators who believe in ghosts do not believe in poltergeists. They’ll suggest that the effects of apparent poltergeist activity are almost always rogue psychokinesis from a source elsewhere in the house.

Artisan Witchcrafts on Etsy sell ”Spirits Depart” a folk hoodoo oil that mentions Poltergeists.

#2: Lady in Grey

There are many “Lady in…” ghosts The Lady in Grey, The Lady in White, The Lady in Green and the Lady in Red just to name a few. The colour normally applies to some sort of characteristic of the apparition. The Lady in Grey is the most common and typically manifests as a visual phantasm that can be seen floating down a corridor.

The Lady in Grey can usually be seen (unlike a Poltergeist). The spirit is usually trapped after some sort of wrong-doing. Famous Ladies in Grey include one at Bishops Stortford in England, one in Cumberland College in Dunedin, New Zealand, Denbigh Castle in Wales, Glamis Castle in Scotland and Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire in England.

There are tourism opportunities with some famous Lady in Grey encounters. Sites like Red Letter Days offer ghost tours. That said; it’s not generally advised to mention such a haunting if you are trying to sell your own house.

#3: Bhoot

Known either as bhoot or bhut this is a ghost that is too restless to carry on to nirvana, heaven, hell or non-being. It can be the case that a funeral not to the liking of the spirit will create a Bhoot.

Bhoots normally look human but can take the form of almost any animal. They frequently haunt houses and the term “bhoot bungalows” or “bhoot banglas” are used in India to describe such places.

The main danger from Bhoots is their obsession with milk. They wish to immerse themselves in milk and bhoot-contaminated milk is the usual path to bhoost-possessed humans.

Bhoots dislike the ground and will take measures to avoid touching it. Some bhoot have feet that point backwards and they may cast no shadow. It is said that bhoots fear iron object and the scent of burnt turmeric. As it happens Tulasi Turmeric Incense is regularly available at Amazon.

#4: Churel

The_Churel_by_debuofcoursewhoelse
Churel are ghosts of women who died in childbirth. As such these ghosts are often associated with homes and hospitals. In some parts of the world the word Churel (or chudel) is also used to mean witch.

Churel look horrible but can disguise themselves as beautiful young women. They do so to seduce young men; draining them of blood and semen to age them prematurely and use their life-energy.

Churel are often associated with impurity too and while cleaning a home is not enough to turn back a Churel keeping a home clean is a good first step.

It is said that four iron nails used to support red flowers have been used to restrain churel entities in the gravesite where their body is buried. Iron nail vases aren’t a think and so a trip to B&Q online may be necessary.

#5: Tikoloshe

Tikoloshe are small water spirits that can completely vanish into drinking water. Almost exclusively, Tikoloshe are summoned by someone to scare and harass others.

Typically offending a local witch doctor (or equivalent) is the usual path to troubles with Tikoloshe. Another witch doctor is usually able to unsummon the spirit and in Zulu mythology n’anga will perform these.

Another way to defend against a Tokoloshe is to put a brick under each leg of the target’s bed. This protects the target while they rest on the bed but not others in the household.

#6: Di Fu Ling

Di Fu Ling are ghosts that have been bound to a certain place. This binding may be natural such as the Di Fu Ling ghost haunting a location it had strong ties to in life or may be unnatural such as the unwelcome invention of someone else.

It is believed that chanting “hum, hum, hum, hum” as a very basic mantra, the foundation of many prayers and spells, can be enough to offer you some protection from Di Fu Ling class entities. Keeping the lights, especially red candles on the window (better still; outside your house), is another method of prevention associated with these spirits.

As it happens a lot of the practises recommended by Feng Shui align to many of the defences against these location bound spirits. Sites like Buy FengShui.com offer a range of talismans, coins and crystals.

#7: Phi Tai Hong

Phi Tai Hong are ghosts of those who have died suddenly or unexpectedly. It tends to be the case that such deaths are violent, horrible and sometimes murder. They are one of the hardest entities to exorcise.
The worst incarnation of a Phi Tai Hong is a Phi Tai Hong Tong Glom or Phi Tai Tong Glom which are ghosts of women who died giving birth and who lost her child at the same time. They’ve the strength.

Those who believe and know about ghosts of this nature will warn that they are very hard to get rid of. Where one cannot commit to exorcism a handmade Protection Amulet may be a necessary stop gap.

#8: Bogles

It is the Bogles from where we get the phrase Bogeyman. These are entities with a temper and a dislike of children – especially those who are lazy, commit crimes or disobey their mothers. Bogles strike households by teasing and tricking people, driving them more angry and unstable or possibly even insane.

There are some who believe that bogles are a type of fairy and therefore can’t really be removed from the house. They can only be appeased. Growing up or being more obedient to one’s family would be the Bogles’ recommended approach. Leaving gifts out for Bogles will not work; as such gifts only create more clutter which the Bogle will object too.

#9: Lemures

lemure-clean

Lemures are shades and spirits out for revenge. They wander the Earth and will come to haunt houses they have no previous association with.

The supposed cries and nocturnal activities of the dreadful Lemures are the inspiration for the name “Lemur”. Lemurs are cute, active at night, primates native to Madagascar. Lemures are formless and associated with darkness.

In ancient Roman times the head of the household would throw black beans out of the doorway, without looking, at midnight to distract the evil Lemures. It was believed then that the spirits would feast on the beans as a substitute for life source.

Borlotti beans, also known as Roman beans, are native to the Mediterranean but are not naturally black. Black Turtle beans are and work well in Latin American cuisine. Either way; services like Graze or Hello Fresh which can supply households with a regular shipment of beans may be useful to anyone worrying about Lemures.

#10: Quod Possederunt

One translation of “Quad Possederent” from Latin to English is simply “Possessed Object”. It may well be the case that the entity causing a disturbance in the house is neither associated with the location or any of the people in it. The horror may be associated with a particular item.

Haunted items are fairly common. It is possible to find tens of thousands of listings for haunted objects on Ebay at any given time although most of those so-called “haunted dolls” are nothing more than a seller’s attempt to earn some extra pennies.

In most cases the cure is straight forward – get rid of the item. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes the item will ‘fight back’. Other cases of Quad Possederunt require the items to be disposed of in a special way. Often a straight forward, if unpleasant method, to remove the spirit is to gift the haunted object to someone else.

In Pure Spirit

How many of this list of 10 entities did you know about already? Would you add any more?

Do you worry that there is something haunting your home? Do you believe in any of this or is this all just superstitious nonsense?

lemure-t-shirtLike the Lemure illustration?
This Lemure features as t-shirt, mug and even print design at Redbubble. Ships to the UK, US and worldwide. Look here for styles.

 

Image Credit: Lord Orgl for Haunting and Debu of Course Who Else for the Churel. Pictures via Deviant Art.

Former Stanley Tools Factory in Neepsend is haunted, says Gcuk

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stanley-tools-sheffieldThe team at Ghost Central UK took some of the Most Haunted team, including Yvette Fielding, Karl Beattie and Stuart Torevell, to investigate the Former Stanley Tools Factory in Neepsend. More than a dozen members of the public were along for a whole night of paranormal investigation.

According to news coverage from The Star they found evidence of supernatural.

Jenny Bryant, founder of GCuk Paranormal, told the paper;

We explored the dark and derelict building. We conducted séances, a ouija board and table tipping.

“Our group heard tapping noises in answer to our questions and we determined it was a male spirit.

“These taps were witnessed by about 12 people – by the team, guests and Karl and Yvette.

“Guests also witnessed shadowy figures fleeting across dark rooms – a very eerie atmosphere.”

The team were using devices, perhaps ones similar to a K-II EMF Meter, to trace high electromagnetic fields. The factory, strangely, had one.

In Pure Spirit

Where you part of this ghost hunt or do you know the factory? Let us know in the comments below if you have any thoughts about it?

Tempted by an overnight ghost hunt of your own? You can book one at sites like Red Letter Days for about £69.

Image credit: Urban Adventure.

3 spirit haunted items from White Rose Witches

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The White Rose Witches are three sisters who have moved from America back to the home of their great grandmother in Cornwall, UK. The three white witches keep their eyes open for items which they believe have power and run an interesting store on Etsy to trade.

You can visit the White Rose Witches store here.

Three of the witches’ current stock are described as haunted but helpful. Let’s take a look.

Dragon Angel Spirit: Haunted Ring

dragon angel ring
Learn more about this ring.

The White Rose Witches say;

This item is one of the most powerful and wondrous items we have ever had in our collection. An item of true beauty and dazzling energy. A very grounded but extremely powerful item that will work wonders for the right person. Very very loyal and true of spirit, likely intended for a sole practitioner, someone connected to the earth and animals with a great sensitivity to nature and the wild energies for the four elements. The spirit within is extremely loyal and will be your companion through thick and thin. A true rarity.

Angel Spirit: Haunted Ring

angel spirit

Study the ring.

Katri, one of the travelling witches, says;

This item is an amazing ring with a wonderful Angel spirit. Wonderful for children for protection or for an adult pure of heart for clarity. The energy is so beautifully clear and cool. A calm presence to ease burning pain, quick temper, or nervous temperament.

Witch Owned: Haunted Prism Pendant

witch owned

Take a closer look.

The store says;

This item is a beautiful and positively charged pendant with a strong connection to a guardian angel like spirit named Kathreena. There is a healing energy and I believe this is intended for someone who not only needs a healing energy themselves but is in a care position and will share with others the beautiful white light energy that flows steadily from this pendant. This item is safe for all, including children. And I will include a lovely blessing ritual that can be performed for a calm bonding experience.

In Pure Spirit

Do you visit the White Rose Witches on Etsy and trade with them? Let us know in the comments below.

Which online stores would you recommend for tools of the craft and useful items?

Newton House or Newton Nightmares?

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Newton_House_in_Dinefwr_Park_near_Llandeilo_-_geograph.org.uk_-_21099Newton House in Wales is currently maintained by the National Trust and is a truly elegant and beautiful building. It dates back to the 1600’s and has had much influence from gothic and Victorian times, with some parts of the building being added on in the 18th century. It hasn’t always been the pretty site it appears today though. In 1974, the building was sold and it suffered. It is situated near the small market town of Llandelio in South Wales and has recently been restored to it’s former glory. It’s gothic appearance has fuelled the suspicions of many that it is in fact a paranormally active building, which explains why it has appeared on most haunted before, along with many other chilling stories.

The structural integrity of the building was damaged, when squatters moved in and used many of the wooden support beams for firewood. This now makes the floorboards on the upper floor very dangerous to walk on. The squatters that have lived there have also stripped the house of many of it’s original features, diminishing the buildings overall charm. The house also has a chilling history to it. The now picturesque surroundings of a deer park and well maintained gardens do not simply make it’s sinister past disappear.

The earliest and most prominent spooky story from the house, that perhaps sparked most of the intrigue and suspicion about it’s paranormal activity is when Lady Elinor Cavendish was strangled by a suitor. The most disturbing, yet interesting part of this story is that many visitors report being able to feel invisible hands placed around their necks whilst they are in the house, a spooky thought indeed. There is this story and many others that have seen the times place the house as the number four most haunted site in Britain!

The house even looks haunted, if you imagine a generic, scary, old haunted house, then something resembling Newton House springs to mind. The stories of ghosts do not disappoint it’s appearance either. The ghost of Lady Elinor is called the white lady and had a rather large prominence the last time time that most haunted visited the house. She was murdered in cold blood by a man she did not want to marry and ever since, it has been said that she haunts the house. There have even been tales of a beautiful girl appearing, almost out of thin air and disappearing, into a cupboard, seconds later, never to be seen again.

There has also been reports that a man was hung there centuries ago, which is another reason visitors feel like they are being strangled on entering the house. Many visitors have also seen a haggard old lady, who appears at the top of the stairs. This woman is dressed all in black and looks that ferocious, scary and evil that many visitors do not dare walk past where the spirit stands.

Even the land on which the house is built is said to be cursed. There are many inns and hotels nearby that are said to of had numerous people hung in their hotel rooms and the area is basically well-known by many to be haunted, not just the house itself. One story in particular is the legend of the nearby Skirrid Mountain Inn is that a huge number of felons, 182 to be precise, have been found, hung, above the staircase.

There have been several reports of a poltergeist moving objects around the house as well. A particularly spooky encounter is said to involve a wheelchair in the next episode of most haunted. The band members of Bullet for my valentine are really shaken and the ordeal with the wheelchair is said to provide some of the most conclusive paranormal proof that there has ever been in Newton House.

In Pure Spirit

Have you visited Newton House, Llandeilo, and encountered anything spooky? It’s considered by some to be one of the most haunted locations in the country.

The 5 most haunted wedding venues in the UK

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Getting married is traditionally the best day of your life. Consumed with happiness, you both are riding high on the wings of love and nothing can touch you… or can it?

Numerous wedding venues across the country have built up a reputation as being haunted. Sightings of ghostly goings-on have been reported by the bride and groom themselves, and by unsuspecting guests. Whether or not you believe in the spirit world, the following list of spook-clad buildings may have you delving into the venues’ haunted history before you check in for your romantic wedding stay.

#5 Muncaster Castle

The Lake District
Muncaster_Castle

Number five on the list of spooky UK wedding venues is the historic, majestic, and (self-proclaimed) haunted Muncaster Castle. The castle is reportedly home to several ghosts, the most famous of which is Henry VI. The King took refuge here after his defeat at the Battle of Hexham, and is said to roam the corridors wailing in self-pity.

Other ghosts that reportedly reside here include; a young girl who was hanged in the castle; a head-carrying apprentice carpenter; and, possibly the most feared of them all, Thomas Skelton (aka Tom the Fool.) Tom the fool was a 16th Century jester, and was one who took great pleasure in leading castle guests to their quick-sand induced deaths. His portrait reportedly hangs within the castle but is believed to be hidden somewhere in the private quarters. Yes, that’s right: the castle is still a lived-in family home and has been since 1208… It can’t be that scary then, can it?

Update; A marketing agency working for Muncaster Castle with some enhanced information. Here’s what they said;

… it states Muncaster is haunted by Henry VI but while he did take refuge here as said, there are no reports of him haunting the place. We don’t claim a royal ghost!

Re other ghosts mentioned – Mary Bragg was murdered on the road nearby, not hanged, and the head-carrying apprentice carpenter was a new one on us. However a crying child is often heard, people staying overnight often hear footsteps when there’s no-one there, door handles turn by themselves and room temperatures plummet for no apparent reason. The info about Thomas Skelton is ok except that his portrait hangs on public display.

#4 Tutbury Castle

Burton-on-Trent
Tutbury_Castle_Ruins

The second castle that features on the haunted list, and fourth in terms of frightfulness, is Staffordshire’s Tutbury Castle. Mary Queen of Scots is said to roam Tutbury’s corridors’: Mary was held captive here by Elizabeth I on four separate occasions. This spooky venue actively encourages the bride and groom to have a second torch-lit wedding ceremony at midnight. Furthermore, they are asked if they wish to participate in one of the venue’s infamous ghost hunts that take place within the spooky castle grounds as an enhanced ‘celebration’ of their nuptials.

Over 40 male guests saw Marry Queen of Scots back in 2004 standing at the top of the south tower: thinking it was just the female curator donning a white gown, they all stood and laughed. The men later discovered that the curator was not on duty that night. In June this year, it was reported by archaeologists working in the grounds that a very active (and helpful) Mary was seen taking part in one of their seasonal digs.

#3 Ettington Park Hotel

Stratford-Upon-Avon
Ettington Park Hotel

Potentially built on a Roman villa site, this Neo-Gothic mansion is number three on the list of haunting hollows. Ettington Park Hotel has a rich and varied history: The building was used as a Prisoner of War camp following World War II and, prior to that, a nursing home. A luxury hotel since the 1980s, Ettington was the spooky setting for the movie, ‘The Haunting’, filmed in 1963. It has also encountered raging fire forcing it to close for many years prior to it’s re-opening as a licensed establishment.

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire spent an evening ‘ghost-busting’ at the hotel in 2006. Although they experienced no major goings-on, they did encounter a sudden and dramatic drop in temperature in certain rooms, and spent the evening on tenterhooks after hearing the staff’s ghostly tales. There have been countless ghostly reports at the hotel over the years; namely, moving books in the library; apparitions of a grey haired lady, a groundsman, and a servant; singing voices heard in the drawing room; and a candle hovering over a mantelpiece in the reception area. Two of the notable spirits taking residence at the Ettington are thought to be the ghosts of John Pritchard and Edward Shirley.

#2 Comlongon Castle

Gretna Green
Comlongon Castle

The runner-up in our most haunted wedding venue list is the 15th Century, Scottish border stronghold – Comlongon Castle. This magnificent building has a very conspicuous, and very permanent, resident in the form of Lady Marion Carruthers.

Lady Marion was said to have been ‘driven to madness’ back in the 16th century after being held captive in the building for many years. After being granted permission to marry her, Sir James Douglas – of the powerful Douglas family – would become joint owner of the family estate – Mouswald Castle. Marion tried to get out of the imminent marriage, but all attempts failed so she fled to her uncle’s castle and sought sanctuary at Comlongon. Marion was eventually court-ordered to surrender herself to James, and he did in fact inherit her estate. After many torturous years, it is believed that, the now insane, Marion committed suicide by leaping from the castle’s lookout tower. Some, however, believe that Marion was actually pushed to her death by James’ men after being ordered to do so.

Intriguingly, it has been noted for many years that no grass grows in the spot where Marion landed. Her ghostly apparition is often seen in and around the castle tower, crying. Due to the ruling of her death as suicide, Marion was not eligible for a Christian burial; as such, she is said to haunt the castle that ultimately became her place of unrest. Many former guests, including those from wedding parties, have reported seeing her ghost in one particular section of the hotel. Some have even taken photographs of the ghostly image and handed the prints to staff. These paranormal pictures are consistently being added to…

#1 Walworth Castle Hotel

Nr. Darlington
Walworth Castle Hotel

So, we have reached number 1 in our list of UK’s most haunted wedding venues. It may be surprising that the top spot goes to a hotel from the Best Western dynasty, but this no ordinary modern day chain: the building is a Grade 1 listed, Medieval-styled castle that was commissioned and built prior to 1600.

Walworth was home to over 200 German and Italian captives in the World War, and has also been a council-run girl’s school in the 50s. A private hotel since 1981, and gaining a wedding license shortly after, the building is said to be haunted by a former pregnant maid who had an affair with the Lord of the house. Fearing others would find about his illegitimate child, the Lord is said to have had the maid bricked up into the wall of the castle’s spiral staircase that conveniently, was having work done to it.

The spirit of the ill-fated maid is said to now roam the hotel and countless paranormal activities has been cited: Guests have been woken up by rattling tea cups; a female ghost has been seen roaming what was once the corridor to the honeymoon suite; ascending footsteps have been heard coming from the staircase at the rear of the library; and chambermaids have even reported having their hair pulled. Reports most closely linked to the tale of the maid include that of a ghostly woman emerging from one of the walls in the staircase, and guests hearing a woman desperately crying from behind the stairs in question.

In Pure Spirit

Would you get married in a haunted venue? Ask your wedding guests to dress up as ghosts, have a themed wedding and appear in the papers?

Are you planning a wedding for 2014? What tips, sites and deals would you recommend to fellow In Pure Spirit readers?

Image credit: Walworth Castle picture by Ulleskelf released under Creative Commons.

The ghosts and names of Penkaet Castle (Fountainhall)

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Penkaet Castle is situated just outside of Pencaitland and is one of those centuries old mansions that are a delicious blend of history and hauntings. As with any such combination, it elicits admiration, curiosity and a nervous tingle down the spine. Built over 400 years ago, this cream sandstone has seen several phases of additions being made to the original building and a few name changes as well. In 1971 it was listed as a category A building.

db_Fountainhall_house_Pencaitland1

History of Fountainhall

(also known as Woodhead or Penkaet)

Originally known as Woodhead, the property was home to the family of Sir George Cockburn of Ormiston. Legend has it that a relative of Sir George, John Cockburn, killed another relative, John Seton. In 1635 Sir George took the decision to sell the mansion.

It was later granted to Lord Fountainhall and took on the family name. A direct descendent, Sir Andrew Lauder, became the new owner in 1695 and the property was retained by the family until 1922.

When Professor Ian Holbourn, an author, acquired the home he promptly renamed it Penkaet Castle, although later owners decided it should revert back to Fountainhall House. Like any self-respecting centuries-old home, Penkaet Castle seems to have trapped the tortured spirits of a few of its past residents or callers.

Hauntings at Penkaet House

Probably the most talked about ghost is that of Alexander Hamilton, who begged for food and shelter from the Ormiston family. On being denied and roughly removed from the property, he screamed out a curse upon them all.

Only a few days later, Lady Ormiston and her daughter suddenly and mysteriously died. Hamilton was arrested and after admitting to tying some blue thread to the doors of the castle, he was put on trial for witchcraft and subsequently hanged at Edinburgh Castle. His ghost has reportedly been seen hovering at the main doors on many occasions.

John Cockburn’s murderous spirit is also said to frequent a cupboard in the mansion from which it sometimes emerges to walk the length of the room and exit through a wall.

The most illustrious ghost is apparently that of Charles I whose bed, complete with death mask, was a gift to the mansion’s most recent owner, Prof. Holbourn. The former sovereign still appears to have the occasional nap here, as the bed is often found in unexplained disarray.

Tales such as these will ensure that Penkaet Castle remains of great interest to many future generations.

In Pure Spirit

It’s not unusual for buildings to change their names but have you ever known a home to have had three different names that are still vying for influence?

Have you any more stories of hauntings or notes of history for Penkaet Castle?

Image credit: Clan Pringle, Pringle’s of Woodhead.

Haunted mirror for sale on ebay

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Ebay may be getting fussy about people selling charms and spells but that does not stop people describing items as they see fit. In this case MrJoiee clearly states that this large Victorian style mirror is haunted.

haunted mirror

The mirror has had some significant work done on it. It was once walnut but has been “restored” with a metallic silver colour to make it seem more modern. That’s not the real problem with the item. We’re warned;

The mirror was originally up in the hallway of the building we live in (a house, converted into 10 different apartments of varying sizes, ours being Flat 1). One afternoon, after the maintenance people had been carrying out work on the inside of the building, we returned from shopping to find it on the front lawn among other rubbish. My flatmate asked the landlord if we could take it to put up inside our own flat, as he had planned to throw it out entirely. We rested it on the wall above the radiator, where it has been ever since.

Many times since putting up the mirror, both myself and my flat mate have woken in the early morning hours screaming in pain. We both experienced what I can only describe as intense sharp stabbing pains throughout out bodies. They would strike us both at the same time, then dissapear as fast as they came. Our original suspicions were that somebody was performing some kind of voodoo or Black magic on us.

The mood in the flat turned sour. I felt constantly as if there was a sense of impending doom upon us. As if something awful was about to happen. Both of us began to feel zombie like, as if drained of all our energy. Many times over the course of the next few months we were unable to move out of bed, our bodies weak and tired for no apparent reason.

However, leaving the flat for any short amount of time would make us both feel instantly better. Upon returning to the flat, the zapping of energy feeling would strike again.

One night, my flatmate became terribly ill. He could not stop shaking and complaining of feeling cold, despite the fact his temperature was extremely high. Worried, I called an ambulance and we rushed him to hospital. He was experiencing a tight cramping feeling in his leg that would leave him crippled, keeled over on the floor screaming in pain. Despite tests, the doctors found nothing wrong to warrant such pain.

With my flatmate working most days, I spent a lot of time here alone in the flat. I became paranoid and had the uneasy feeling that I was constantly being watched. My anxiety levels reached an all time high, which led to me being prescribed antidepressants by my doctor for the first time in my life. While I had calmed down enough to be able to tolerate being alone in the flat, I couldn’t help but notice strange things happening around me. I would put things down and they would dissapear. Things were constantly going missing, keys, phones. Entering the bathroom one morning after hearing a loud bang, I found objects strewn out across the floor, and a tub of shaving foam, which had been on the other side of the room, headfirst down the toilet. Pictures have fallen from the walls.

Many times while passing the mirror, I would see flickering shadows reflected in it. I would stand completely still and yet would continue to see them, quick glimpses of black darkness, darting around in the space behind me.

Last week I woke up startled at 3.30am with a pain in my lower back and bottom that felt like I’d been burned. I got up and looked in the bathroom mirror to find myself covered in deep red scratches going in all directions. I have short fingernails, and after checking the bed found nothing sharp or no loose springs that would explain such a thing.

A photograph of the scratches is included in the eBay description.

haunted mirror scratches

At the time of posting the auction was still open. You could bid or just check to see what the result was.

In Pure Spirit

This is a clever sales ploy to drive up the price of a dodgy looking mirror. Don’t you agree?

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This blog discusses ideas and causes. Urban myth, science and faith combine here. So do editorials and technology; In Pure Spirit uses affiliate marketing and some links might earn us money. You can read more about that here.

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