The Ghost Night Events team and ghost hunting customers were treated to yet another night of mesmerising paranormal activity during our ghost hunt at the atmospheric 700-year-old Donington-le-Heath Manor. We always emphasise to our participants that as absolutely nothing on our events is staged or set-up the possibility always remains that we could endure a quiet night if the ghostly occupants choose not to communicate. Naturally it is par for the course and an occupational hazard for any genuine and committed paranormal investigation team. Notwithstanding this we have had an amazing run of events as week after week we have been blessed with an abundance of unexplained evidence at each of the fantastic locations we have visited and Donington-le-Heath was certainly no exception.

Following our usual welcome discussion and tour of the wonderfully historic and atmospheric property we took a break for refreshments before starting our vigils and séances around the various areas of the house. It was a pleasant evening and some of our ghost hunters sat outside enjoying a break in the pretty herb garden at the rear of the manor house which itself is said to the focus of a number of apparition sightings. One of our ghost hunters Barry excitedly reported that as he had glanced at one of the upstairs medieval windows he had spotted a clear and distinctive figure crossing from right to left. We quickly worked out that the window concerned was the main one in the Great Hall and after confirming with the staff we were fully satisfied that the large room had been completely unoccupied at the time. More interesting still when we investigated further we realised that the large table situated in front of the window should have made it impossible for a figure to be seen from the garden. Had a ghostly figure been walking through the hall as it once was way back in time?

In later vigils in the Great Hall we experienced some incredible activity as the sounds of knocking and movement were clearly heard and flashing lights were also observed. As we moved into the adjacent and comically named King Dick’s bedroom - so called as the resident four poster was said to have once been used by Richard III - we all heard the distinct and unmistakable noise of door latches being lifted (most of the doors at the manor are of the plank and latch type) and the sound of footsteps just as though someone (or maybe more than one person) was on their way through the Chapel area which is situated outside the Great Hall. The noises were so obvious and definite that the team leader was totally convinced that the other group had accessed the area when they should have been investigating the Dairy on the lower floor. Having been so certain that she would be met by the faces of the others she showed no fear in entering the area in the dark but that quickly changed upon seeing that not only was the Chapel completely empty but that so was the adjoining Ante-Room where both doors were firmly closed and the areas eerily silent!! Further searches showed that the other group had not moved from their downstairs post and moreover they had also heard the sounds and in reverse had presumed they had been caused by the upstairs group!! This identical and fascinating phenomena was again later experienced by separate groups when conducting vigils in the same area.

Powerful movement, bangs and knocks also occurred in a number of areas during table tipping experiments and people reported seeing a figure in the Buttery which connects to the medieval kitchen. A number of groans were heard and again shuffling and movement seemed all around us at one stage as though we had been accompanied by a group of souls that obviously we could not see. During one particular séance the temperature dropped dramatically and we all heard a peculiar sound coming from corner of the room close to where we all stood. The sound was as though either a chain or coins were being rattled in a hand but we could find no rational explaination to account for the noise. During the ghost hunt a number were also fascinated upon detecting the strong smell of cooked food which ranged from bacon/meat to bread and cakes.

Our first ghost hunt at Donington-le-Heath Manor turned out to be a truly awesome event with an ample and thrilling display of baffling occurrences which were enough to enliven both the new and accomplished ghost hunter. The sound of the door latches and accompanying footsteps in particular completely flabbergasted us all and will chill some of us to the bone for some time to come!!!

Our ghost hunt at the creepy but magnificent Winter Gardens Theatre in Morecambe was totally brilliant with an outstanding night of first-rate paranormal happenings that completely enthralled everyone present.

During our initial walk-round a number of people saw the figure of a tall thin man wearing a hat. As the night progressed we saw dark shadowy figures moving around on the ground floor and heard bangs, knocks and groans throughout the event. People saw red and white lights, felt nauseous, heard sinister laughter and complained of being touched. During a glass divination séance held on the cold and eerie stage we appeared to make clear contact with the spirit of a former usherette who said her name was Anne Cole and that she had died in 1947 at the age of 35 years. The table moved and bumped with an unmatched strength and power. In the next few days the team will be trying to find confirmation of Anne’s existence which would provide incredible proof of our communication from beyond the veil.

The glass also spun during a session in the spooky and dank basement and a sprit named Charlie appeared to take a shine to Dee - one of our regular ghost hunters. One of the group playfully asked Charlie to pinch Dee on the bottom. Later on as they left the area Dee felt a distinct slap on her bottom by an unseen hand and was thrilled to report that it was the first time she had been touched up by an entity from the other side!!

During one vigil a group were mesmerised after they all saw the floaty, translucent and glowing shape of a woman at the top of one of the grand marble staircases. One team member described the amazing vision as like a fibre optic light which appeared to increase in brightness when the team called out in attempts to make communication. The team members who missed out on the sighting of this apparition were extremely envious of the lucky bunch who had managed to experience such a wonderful paranormal display but even though they were sorry to miss it they were completely elated to hear of what had taken place and to see the genuine thrill on the faces of their fellow ghost hunters and to witness the undisputable buzz that it caused. Such an experience makes the dedication of many periods sitting quietly in cold draughty places with little activity so very worthwhile as paranormal investigators never quite know just when they will be blessed with such an unadulterated verification of the existence of the spirit world.

Two members of the team later decided to conduct a table tipping experiment alone on the atmospheric stage and observed amazing results. The table moved with strength and distinct cold breezes swirled around the area as though someone was moving around them. As they went to leave a loud bang sounded from where they had been seated. On being asked whether the noise was down to the spirit with which they had been in contact the clear sound was heard twice more. There was absolutely nothing of a logical nature to account for the phenomena and the pair left excited and overjoyed with the evidence.

During the event contact appeared to have been made with a whole number of other spirits in the various séances throughout the event and it seemed that the spirits were almost queuing up to make their presence known to us.

After the ghost hunt Dee examined her photographs and discovered a fascinating one of what appeared to a seated figure which was taken in an area where a number of shadows had been seen. After the team enhanced the image with a back light the definite shape of what appears to be a bald-headed figure seated with something on his lap can certainly be seen. For those of you interested in taking a look the image can be found on the Ghost Night Events group page on Facebook. Please add your comments and opinions to those already posted. We will also be publishing the image on our home page in the next week or so.

It truly was a genuine fun-filled and fantastic night to remember which would have fascinated any paranormal enthusiast. The Friends of the Winter Gardens informed us that plans are in hand for Most Haunted Live to be filmed at the theatre for seven nights over the Halloween period. If the MH team experience just some of the activity that we were lucky enough to witness on our second ghost hunt at the incredible former playhouse then they and the viewers are in for a real treat. Cant wait to see what happens!

Walking around the beautiful Gainsborough Old Hall in the footsteps of former Royal visitors King Richard III, King Henry VIII, his fifth wife Katherine Howard and famous preacher John Wesley was a fantastic experience especially for those of us who are as fascinated by history as we are by ghosts. The stunning former home of the powerful and esteemed Burgh family appears to have remained mostly untouched by the passage of time and carries an unmistakable mysterious and enchanting quality.

During the walk-round our medium Patrick Hutchinson (who does no prior research at all) picked up on the name Thomas which was quickly confirmed by Gainsborough historian Joan Smithson as the name given to the eldest son for generations of the Burgh family. Patrick also correctly sensed that bones had been found under the grounds of the ancient Great Hall as Joan told us in surprised fashion that skeletal remains had in fact once been unearthed in the former wine cellar (now part of the lower ground toilet facilities) which ran under the hall. The medium also stated that he heard a voice call out “Katherine” and “whore” as a stunned Joan confirmed what some of already knew - that whilst staying at the hall in 1541 Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Katherine Howard had in fact conducted an adulterous affair with Royal courtier Thomas Culpepper which was to eventually cost them both their lives by execution.

Our small group vigils and séances conducted around the many areas of the building produced some incredible results with the upper floor seemingly the greatest focus for most of the paranormal activity. As one group sat in the first floor Tudor bedroom distinct and loud bangs were heard coming from the downstairs panelled dining room. This particular room seems cloaked in an impenetrable and heavy atmosphere and also houses an old painting of a child from which staff readily admit visitors regularly recoil due to its strange sinister and hypnotic quality. Notwithstanding that a party was being held at some nearby venue which created a certain degree of extraneous noise at the start of our investigation there was no explanation for these particular sounds which clearly sounded from the inside of the downstairs room. During the same vigil the group heard creaks and sounds of movement coming from the aptly named Ghost Corridor so called due to the frequent sightings of the apparition of a woman wearing a white dress. Whilst in this area one gentleman, Tony who admitted to being a sceptic reported that he felt his face had been sharply touched. On examination and notwithstanding the usual protection our medium had invoked for everyone we were all shocked to note three clear and distinct red scratches on Tony’s face. Is it perhaps the case that despite the protection surrounding our ghost hunters the spirits try hard to provide some sceptics with very personal and certain evidence of their existence beyond the veil?

Loud bangs were reported coming from other upper rooms and amazing results were achieved with table tipping as at one stage it travelled with such power across the floor that the group experienced difficulty in keeping up. Similar results were obtained with glass divination and from this together with table tipping the groups appeared to make strong contact with the two spirits, Thomas and Elizabeth - names with strong links to the Burgh family. Were we really communicating with the tragic Elizabeth Burgh who fell in love with a man deemed an unsuitable suitor by her father. After she was forbidden from contact with her lover the unfortunate Elizabeth imprisoned herself in the Tower bedroom and refused all food and drink and eventually died of a broken heart.

During a human pendulum experiment in the Tower bedroom someone reported being softly brushed on the face only to realise that the cause was an earthly one after a large moth was then spotted flapping around the room. In this same area - where on the adjoining tower stone steps a highly trained guide dog once experienced something so terrifying that he uncharacteristically bolted from the area leaving his poor owner stranded - growling sounds were noted and some reported feeling their hair being pulled. A loud sound of movement was again heard coming from the Ghost Corridor which looked especially eerie being lit by the subdued and flickering light of our battery powered but realistic looking candles.

Very little paranormal activity was observed in the large and atmospheric kitchen area. In the Great Hall where notable figures and royal visitors were once entertained various members of one group were suddenly overcome by laughter and fits of giggling. Was it simply nerves of the occasion or were they being effected by the energy of the past in a part of the property where plays and various performances were carried out for the amusement of esteemed guests and owners. During table tipping and glass divination sessions contact was made with the spirit of a small boy who sadly claimed to have fallen to his death during a stage performance.

In séances in the wood-panelled dining room which was once a bedroom a group made contact with what appeared to be an angry soul named Thomas who had lost his life prematurely. Again a number of people reported the sounds of a growl from the corner of the room. Tapping sounds and loud knocking were heard coming from the table and a dark shadow was observed crossing the floor. One lady stated that she felt that someone was trying to jolt her from her chair and another gentleman had to leave the room after experiencing a coughing fit.

Our ghost hunt at the amazing Gainsborough Old Hall was absolutely fantastic with a mesmerising and unrivalled array of unexplained paranormal activity. As one of our ghost hunters Julie put it upon contacting us the following day “…………We have been buzzing about it since we came home this morning……..We had so much fun and excitement and never expected to encounter so much.” The Ghost Night Events team felt exactly the same way Julie and could not have put it better. We certainly will be back at Gainsborough for another ghost hunt in 2010.