My Nightmare Before Christmas !!

Well Hello There !

Merry Christmas Ho Ho Oh! Hmm it's been an interesting night for me tonight...

Three of my elves decided to take me ghost hunting tonight. A little introduction to it... here's what happened...

We went to a cemetary which dates back to the 12th Century. Yes, I know cemetaries are generally peaceful places, as the souls of those passed have already left the body, but this one has a certain ambience about it. It's creepy ! Now, the fact it's creepy, I don't know if it was just me shaking in my little black boots, out on my first ghost hunt, or if it was the dark ?

My elves assured me that I was safe and that they had been there a few times. Although they did tell me they have had a few strange occurrences there, but they didn't tell me what they were, thus eliminating all auto suggestion.

Anyways, we climb the steep steps up into the churchyard, the church itself is bizarre, it's like a mish mash of four different styles ! As we entered the churchyard we turned right (me and one of my elves) and I switched on my camcorder (Rudolph bought me it a couple of christmases ago). We came across a gravestone dated 1641, gosh that person is old!! Not as old as me though... I am amazed that the epitaph is still legible, but it is and is written in Ye Olde English.

As we walk along the path between the trees and the gravestones I am suddenly aware of our solitude, we are the only living people around. My elf suddenly starts rubbing her coat, and when I ask what is wrong I discover that a noise was heard, and she was trying to ascertain what it was. It wasn't the coat !! Phew for a moment there I thought my elf had some strange coat fetish !!

The strange thing is, as we were walking it really doesn't feel like we were alone. It felt as though we were being followed, and there is the occassional twig snapping sound, an old cliche I know, but.. whenever we turned to see, either they're good at hiding behind the trees and gravestones, or it is our imagination !

It was an interesting walk through the churchyard, and one I'd like to do again. After our little walk we headed back to the car (we couldn't take the sleigh as the reindeer are down the Gym getting ready for Christmas Eve). As we drove along we decided to retrace the steps of a famous local murder.

In 1683 Andrew Mills slaughtered three members of the Brass Family. This happened at Hall Hill Farm in Ferryhill, which is now the site of a Day Spa and an old Mill converted to a house.

It was New Years Eve 1683 and Mam and Dad Brass went out to a party at a friends house, leaving their three children and farm hand Mills back at the farm.

For reasons unknown, other than "it was the voices" , Mills flipped and murdered all three of the Brass children, by stabbing them. He then went on the run for a few days and was belieed to have been sheltered by a family member. He was caught and hung at what is now the Thinford inn roundabout, on the edge of an old Roman road. His body was then placed inside an iron gibbet and hung at the side of the road (A167 ~ old A1) halfway between Thinford and Ferryhill, now the site of two houses. His spirit is said to walk between, seeking solace and forgiveness.

As we passed the houses, all the hairs on the back of our necks stood up, but, unfortunately, that could be the power of suggestion.

One of my elves did have an unnerving experience on the road adjacent to where Mills was hung, as we drove past a crash barrier, she saw the solid figure of a man. Nobody else in the car saw him. But, at the same time another elf suddenly felt sick.

So, as you can see, an interesting step out of the box for me before Christmas, am not sure Mrs. Claus would approve but Ho Ho Oh !! This is one adventure I would love to repeat.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my nightmare before Christmas and I look forward to your comments.

For now...... MERRY CHRISTMAS HO HO HO......

Santa & The Elves xxx

Do's & Don'ts of Paranormal Investigating

DO tell people where you are going...

DON'T forget clean underwear...

DO remember a torch.. you WILL need it...

DON'T lock yourself out of your car...it gets cold on a night...

DO try and carry a mobile phone with credit on it...

DON'T forget spare batteries... even if you have to remove them from objects hidden in your bedside cabinet... they will still be hidden long after you have gone...

DO make sure you have the relevant permissions to be where you are... the police will have you if you don't !!

DON'T run without your torch on... there are usually obstacles at head height and they WILL hurt...

DO remember pen.. but don't forget the paper to write on with it...

DON'T forget the loo roll... Scooby doo may have nothing on you...

DO be patient... Casper may not want to play straight away...

DON'T jump when your pal jumps out wearing a sheet...he thinks he is scary !

DO make sure warm clothing is worn...

DON'T go dressed as if you are heading for a night out on the town... you will get horrible corns from those stillettoes (and that means you fella's!)...

DO make sure you know the layout of the location before you go... its harder in the dark...

DON'T go alone.....

more to come....

Sue & Andrea

Barnard Castle

The Castle which stands proudly on the hill at Barnard castle, was first built between the years of 1112 and 1132 by Bernard Baliol. It was built on ground given to his father Guy de Baliol, by William Rufus.

The Castle was a fortress up until 1569, when it fell during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was held by Sir George Bowes of Streatlam.

It has been over 300 years since the castle was inhabited, after it was dismantled and left in it's present climate in 1630.

There have been a few sightings of the spectral kind in and around the area of the castle, including that of Lady Ann Day who was thrown to her death in the River Tees that runs around the West of the Castle. A Roman Legion has also been seen in various locations of the Town and the surrounding area.

© Photo & Text - Sue 2007

Prudhoe Castle

Prudhoe Castle was built in the approximately 1100 on the site of an older dwelling. It was built for strategic reasons to protect the river Tyne from the then invading Scots.
In the 19th century a manor house was constructed by the Percy family within the castle wall. It has many stories of paranormal occurrences associated with both the outside which is the castle and the inside which is the manor house.
Some of the stories have been recapped by past owners and visitors to the site. Sounds of chanting has been heard coming from the chapel, a ball was heard bouncing down the stairs (it was later learnt that a young priest used to play with a ball repeatedly bouncing it up on down the stairs), the sound of water being hurled at a door with great strength woke the couple who lived in the east tower. But on investigation nothing was there.
There are two very strange happenings that stand out more than the others. The first, being that of a husband and wife who lived in one of the blocks in the outer castle. The husband had just got over paralysis of the face, but one night he heard what he thought was someone prowling outside one of the windows, when he opened the curtain he was confronted by a white shape that darted towards him. There were stories of a white stallion that prowled the perimeter of the castle, whether this was the white horse or something logically explainable we will never know. But for this unfortunate man was the end of his recovery as again he was faced with his face again sadly paralysed.
The second, being that of a solid oak table being hurled on to the floor in the middle of the night. The noise was so loud that it woke everyone up from there sleep. It took three men to lift it back into its proper position. Whether this was some prank played on the unaware occupants or some very unnerving paranormal force. Again I guess we will never know......

© Andrea 2007

Washinton Old Hall

Washington Old Hall is a seventeenth century manor house located in Washington, Tyne and Wear. It was built and actually incorporates some of the old medieval house that once stood there. The medieval house was once the ancestral home of the Washington Family, ancestors of the First President of the United States of America, George Washington.
Over the years there have been numerous apparent sights of ghosts. The most famous of these is of what people describe as the ‘White Lady’. The identity of this apparent apparition has never been found, but numerous sightings have been reported of her wringing her hands. This has been witnessed by many a visitor to the hall and also previous tenants.
Also a lady in grey has also been spotted in an upstairs corridor. Nothing more has been said on this apparition but some people believe it could be one in the same with the ‘white lady’ stories.
Also, a small child is heard crying on the main staircase. Again her identity is unknown and what or who she cries for is also as big a mystery. Could these be the ancestors of the famous George Washington? Some would like to think so but only they really know who they are!!

© Andrea 2007

© Photo - Sue 2007

Note from Sue: When I visited the Old Hall, for the first time recently, I experienced an image of a very tall man with a tall hat, in one of the upstairs rooms. Also, unfortunately, General George never actually visited the location.

Bowes Castle

Bowes Castle was built in approx 1066 after the Norman Invasions. It was commissioned by Alan, Earl of Richmond (Conan The Little).

The castle was said to have been attacked and used in 1173 by King William of Scotland, as an outpost, after claiming it for his own, before it was returned through battle to English hands.

The position of the castle is perfect for preventing attack against the area, as it is high on a Roman road running through Stainmore leading to Cataractonium, across the height of the Pennines.

The castle was constructed ontop of a Roman Fort (Lavatrae), and was last occupied in 1325 and was then left to fall into the ruin it is now. All that is left standing are the remains of the old stone keep.

The Bowes Roman Garrison are said to wander the Roman road that passes the castles position and have been witnessed on a number of occassions. They are generally seen on the anniversary of their massacre, when they return to bury their gold and treasure.

The Lavatrae Fort was built in the 1st Century and occupied until the 4th Century. During this time the Romans ransacked the local villages stealing the wealth and gold for themselves, until the locals decided to fight back and overthrew the fort, reclaiming their loot.

© Photo & Text - Sue 2007.

Gibside Hall

Gibside was built in the 18th century and is the former home estate of the Queen Mother's family, Bowes-Lyons. It is believed to be haunted by one of her relatives.It is supposedly the ghost of Mary Eleanor Bowes who haunts the grounds of the mansion. She was born in 1749 and the only child of a wealthy landowner and business man. When he dies Mary inherited his fortune and married John Lyon the ninth earl of Strathmore. They were married for nine years and had children but then John died of tuberculosis.She fell in love with an Irish man called Andrew Robinson Stoney, but after there marriage he found that Mary had drawn up an Anti-Nuptial Trust, ensuring that on her death the money would stay in her families hands. She must have had an idea that Andrew wasn't marrying her for love but for her money. Andrew was furious and treated Mary with severe cruelty, starving and beating her. He also would lock her in a cupboard at Gibside Hall.Eventually Mary escaped her husband and lived out the rest of her days in peace. On her death she was buried Westminster Abbey, it was believed that she wanted to be at home at Gibside.Even today, there are sounds of an organ playing inside the hall, and visitors have noticed the strong smell of perfume around the grounds. Also from time to time an unexplained figure is seen gliding across the grounds towards the Orangery. Did Mary Eleanor eventually return home to Gibside Hall....?

© Andrea 2007

Dunstanburgh Castle

The rebellion was now defeated and Thomas was executed outside Pontefract Castle. It is believed that the blade was blunt as it took the executioner eleven blows to actually sever the head from Thomas’s neck.
Thomas’s ghost is believed to still haunt his former home of Dunstanburgh Castle as visitors have reported to have seen a man holding his severed head and if you look closely enough you can still see the expression of sheer agony etched on his face.

Dunstanburgh Castle sits on a cliff on the Northumberland coast. It is approximately a mile from the picturesque seaside village of Craster. It also has a few ghosts lingering in its now ruined remains, one apparently being that of Thomas Earl of Lancaster.

The Ghost of Thomas Earl of Lancaster

Dunstanburgh Castle was once the largest and the most important castle in all of Northumberland. It was constructed in 1313 by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster. Thomas also became Earl of Salisbury, Derby, Lincoln and Leicester. This made Thomas one of the most powerful Lords of his time.
Thomas became one of King Edward II ‘The Lords Ordainers’ these were Lords entrusted to oversee the Kings’ affairs. Thomas was also the most powerful amongst the group of 21 Lords and had strong following. Trouble brewed for the King, this was due to the King holding so much favour for Piers Gaveston, his favourite Knight and best friend. It was believed that Gaveston took up to much of the Kings time.
Parliament dismissed Gaveston but within a few months Edward had Gaveston back at his side. This led to the Lord Ordainers declaring war on Edward.
Gaveston was captured and executed by the Lords, which devastated Edward. Eventually though Edward did get his revenge and Thomas was captured after being defeated in the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322.

Sir Guy the Seeker

There is another legend that has been associated with Dunstanburgh Castle and this is a story about a wandering Knight called Sir Guy.
While riding near the castle one night Sir Guy was caught in a thunderstorm. The nearest place to find shelter was in the entrance to the castle. Sir Guy was sheltering from the rain when a hooded figure appeared and ordered him to follow. Sir Guy did as he was instructed and followed the figure beneath the castle to a secret room.
In the room was a beautiful lady and set before her on a wooden table was two items, one a sword the other a horn. The lady explained that if Sir Guy chose the correct item she would be released from the room she had been imprisoned for so long.
Sir Guy chose the horn without any hesitation and blew into it as hard as he could. But he had made the wrong choice as he soon found himself back sheltering under the entrance of the castle.
Sir Guy tried to find the entrance to the secret room but to no avail. His ghost is still seen to be searching to this very day!!

© Andrea 2007

A spooky photo

This photograph was taken whilst on an overnight investigation at The Plough Inn in wigglesworth. There was nobody infront of me, all the team and staff were accounted for, and also, a second photo taken had nothing on it.

© Sue 2007 (photo 2005)