The Old Tatton Hall was originally a timber framed building but later replaced by a red brick building in the 17th century set in acres of lush Greenland and woods in which deers roam. The Hall is lovingly cared for by the Steward Mike, a remarkably friendly and knowledgeable man whoM the whole team liked so much and were glad to have met.

After the guests arrived Rachel introduced the guests to ghost hunting. She pointed out that the first thing to do with ghost hunting was to look for a normal explanation rather than a paranormal explanation and that was the key to a great evening. The team for that evening was Brett who is so knowledgeable the life of Aleister Crowley, the beautiful Amanda the psychologist, the affable Craig and myself, Kester, with the technical equipment.

To start the evening, events of the previous ghost hunt were recounted due to the success of that evening. The guests were enthralled how on a previous ghost hunt we had a deaf lady through sign language recount how she had experienced a ‘whistling’ as we had ourselves heard it and how at St.Briavels Castle we asked the spirit of a clergyman questions in Koine Greek and receive and answer in the same language. Then after the introduction and a coffee the ghost hunt began.

As we went into the Great Hall, Mike lit a fire to keep us warm from the rain outside. Adi earlier felt as though there were a troopof people around him in relation to Charles I (1625-1649) and Julie felt the presence of a lady with a small hat, tunic and pinafore walking out in the surrounding areas. One minute she is playing and the other times she is confused why she is there. She went on to say she felt there was a connection with worship. Mike the Steward said services had been held at Tatton Hall as Adi asked me to take a picture of the balcony above. It was where he said a spirit, possibly a clergyman, had just passed. Julie, on the other side of the hall and outside of hearing range of Adi said a monk had just gone out the door on the floor below. It is not surprising that so many monks and clergymen appear in spirit. Right up until recent history the Church was all powerful in England as the dominant power. As the sun went down the fire grew and gave light and warmth to the darkness.

Upstairs we went into the spinning room. This was a cosy mediaeval like room with a slopping floor. It was Mike’s, Rachel and my favourite room although Adi had an uncomfortable feeling. Mike recounted that he had an interesting experience there. As he tried to leave the room one day there was a distinct line across the doorway where he felt something like an electric shock.Possibly a Portal. Before we left Adi asked if there had been a tapping on the floor like that of someone using a cane. Mike hadn’t heard anything like that but he has heard footsteps when he was working alone in that area. Before we left Julie mentioned the first of many temperature drops. A guest then took a startling picture of the wooden roof beams. They appeared to be burned in the picture whereas we could see that they were perfectly normal. It was incredible.

In the bedchamber, Mike mentioned that this room was built around 1585 and is for him a quiet room but for others quite an active place. It was a large room with a four poster bed guarded by a suit of armour. Beside the bed stood a grand fireplace opposite the window looking out onto the lawn. To the right of the window, a spiralling staircase and to the left, a wooden door towards the spinning room and great hall. Adi said he felt suicidal there, angry, frustrated and Julie picked up mixed emotions, that there was a spirit taking care of another spirit in the bed. Adi also picked up the name Bosworth and Mike said there were two brothers who left there to fight at the battle of Bosworth. The bed chamber would prove to be very interesting later on.

The kitchen below was like the bed chamber a starting point of so much activity. Adi felt the presence of a spirit who told him to ‘get out.’ He asked this spirit to speak into the Dictaphone and as I listen to it now to recall events of that night there does appears to be a murmur in the background. It is not enough to be definite but it is interesting. Guests captured interesting pictures here while my camera refused to work and like the bed chamber there was more to come. Besides the kitchen in the living room Mike talked about the hangings that had, allegedly taken place. Julie sensed immediately a sensation of being hanged before she heard Mike speak or even reached the living room. Interestingly, Mike had before the guests arrived mentioned that some people had felt as though a ribbon had been felt around people’s necks. Adi picked up onthe name ‘Hester’ which Mike said had a connection to the local mansion. With such an unusual name it was amazing that Mike could confirm validity.

For the first vigil the group split into two groups. One group went to the kitchen and into the adjacent bedroom whereas the other group went to the bed chamber. Those in the kitchen tried some table tipping. Adi explained how togently place their fingers on the edge of the table and ask spirits to come forward and to give the table a nudge or make it rock backwards and forwards. In the dark and with the sound of rain water running down the walls outside the atmosphere was a little spooky. Although the table did not move people began to feel both cold and hot spots around the kitchen. As some people felt their necks go cold they at the same time felt their backs become hot. In the adjacent bedroom the guests really came into their own. They explored the room so professionally. Although the hearing enhancers and EMF detectors yielded nothing they used their own senses to explore the bedroom and kitchen area. It was noticed that there were hot and cold spots which appeared to gently move about. Strikingly right in the doorway we could put out our hands and feel a distinct hot spot. Some guests were really surprised by what they felt and it did not seem to make sense in context of the rooms. The fireplace also felt hot despite not being used nor was there a draft felt through it while the bedroom itself was cold. Then, one guest approached me to ask how an EMF detector would work – he later came up with something startling.

For the next vigil we swapped places with the other group and moved upstairs. The bed chamber was a less inviting place in the dark yet at the same time had such a peaceful feeling that many of us could easily have stayed, permanently. A cold spot was instantly detected right by a young lady sitting next to the bed. I took a picture and right by her feet was an orb. Since the experience of Haunted no 35 Stonegate in York I have come to accept the validity of some orbs so long as there is a sound context and this was certainly a sound context. The cold spot remained by the bed and the fireplace was checked for drafts. There were none. Before we left the bed chamber it was certain that there was a some spirit or spirits were amongst us. We then returned to the Spinning room to try the Ouija board under the soft glow of torch lights. We asked a few questions but it was onlylater that we began to receive a response. Slowly, very slowly the planchette used on the board began to move. It picked up speed when Mike joined the table and asked who might be there.

Spirits would recognise Mike for all the care he has tended on Old Tatton Hall so why would they not respond insome way? The planchet moved to ‘yes’ when Mike asked if they were happy much to the surprise and intrigue of the guests. This spirit again responded, ‘yes’when asked if his name was George, somebody who Mike knew of and who passed away at the age of seven. To end the session Mike asked if it was William there playing tricks on people but therewas no answer yet Adi got the name Mary. Yet, by then the board remained silent, motionless. To end the session Adi suggested we sit in silence with the torches switched off to see what we may sense or hear. We all left with such a sense of peace from that room.

After another break the Ouija boardwas tried again in the living room nearby the kitchen area. To begin everyone respectfully introduced themselves. Things began quietly but after much coaxing the planchet began to move with no clear answers until were turned to the Spinning room. Adi asked the spirit to move the planchet to the person it would like to communicate with. It moved with a distinct motion toone guest lady. The spirit then gave its initial letter as a Q or possibly an R and not a relation of the lady the planchet moved to. It appeared that this spirit was, ‘Sam’ who was afraid of ‘Tom.’ The guests did well to get such information from yes and no questions but they were remarkably astute and adventurous all night. Again, Sam replied that there were seven spirits present and that we were all welcome. Indeed, most spirits are really welcoming and not frightening at all butit is reassuring to be welcomed even by spirits. What was so special about the guests this night was their foresight to ask yes and no questions of the Ouija board. Most people forget and ask questions that need more than a yes and no answer. These guests were really good.

For the final vigil the guests moved into the Great Hall while other guests could not resist the temptation togo down into the cellars which look like a dungeon. As the Great Hall is big the cellars are small. As the Great Hall is open beneath magnificent wooden beams, the cellars were closed, windowless and with a low ceiling. I took the opportunity to head down there with an infrared camera. In total darkness it became disorientating and through the small screen I followed the walls around and saw what appeared to be faces looking out from the mortar in the walls. Surprisingly to me it was where I was sure I heard a sigh when I went down before the guests had arrived. It may have been just an illusion but at Tatton Hall the feeling is one of overwhelmingly welcoming. As I asked if there were any spirits there I could hear the EMF detector buzzing in the great hall. Coincidence? Before, we left the cellars Adi accurately gave me the names of some ofmy friends, and this is from a gentleman I had only met a few hours before. He then said that, ‘I should write that book,’and ‘Washington would be better than Brooklyn for a visit.’ Both statements had a very strong resonanceto my life and I was both startled as I was amazed.