Supernatural Staffordshire

The mysterious floating figure in a field:

Paranormal expert Damon Simms has explored some of Staffordshire's spookiest locations. This week he brings you the story of a teenager who believes she had a frightening supernatural encounter with a mysterious figure in a field

Claire regularly spent many hours after work looking after her beloved horse Toto in stables near to her childhood home.

The 18-year-old would often take this journey alone and enjoyed the brisk walk and chance to take in some fresh air. The stables were in a private field in rural Lightwood and she always felt safe.

But one cool, crisp and pleasant evening in 1992 when she made her way to the stables, something unexpected occurred.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed what looked like a figure walking in the nearby woodland.

And what happened next still haunts her dreams.

"All of a sudden he looked like he started to levitate - I know that sounds mad but he just started to float upwards and soon disappeared into the foliage," shudders Claire, now aged 43.

Stopping and staring towards the area in which the figure had floated, Claire froze with fear and could not bring herself to look away. Who or what on earth had she witnessed?

"I know people will think I'm crazy and most have said I must have imagined it but I swear I know what I saw and the figure was clear as daylight.

"It just started to walk along and then all of a sudden it just floated up like it was on strings – then it disappeared into the trees above, where it had been walking a few seconds earlier."

Although still shaken, Claire was overtaken by inquisitiveness and started to walk towards the woods.

By the time she had reached the tree line her heart was in her mouth.

Physically shaking with terror she glanced up to where the figure had gone. It was not to be seen.

"Many times I think about what I saw that evening and it still keeps me awake even today – it's hard to explain to people how real the floating figure was. But I know that what I saw!"

Supernatural Staffordshire

Ghost at pub was as real as 'man on the moon'

So man walked on the moon. We know this because we all watched the news, the TV footage and eye-witness accounts.

Now remove the part about "man walked on the moon" and replace with any paranormal experience; all of a sudden it doesn't seem feasible. But why not?

People witness ghostly goings-on every day. The paranormal world reports on new sightings and evidence all the time - so why only believe main stream media? Are we that brainwashed?

It always confuses me as to why we listen to big corporate claims and ignore genuine people at a local level.

The paranormal is real. That is a fact.

Roger knows that - he lived through an amazing yet real event that has changed his perception of the world forever.

Roger, now 52; lived in Blurton at the time. The year was 1985.

Roger, then 20, was working at a local pub at the time, bottling up, collecting glasses and occasionally working a few hours behind the bar. He was dating a girl called Tina.

When Roger had finished work at the pub Tina would meet him to walk home with him. On one particular evening she was waiting outside, taking in the night air. She happened to glance through a window and saw an elderly woman who seemed to be staring at her.

Tine was about to look away but as she did she was astonished to see the woman vanish before her eyes.

When Roger came out of the pub to meet her she told him about the vanishing old lady but, as a non-believer, he just laughed it off and even mocked her about it.

Then, a few days later while going in early to bottle-up, he would live to regret mocking the paranormal.

Roger entered the pub and clicked the kettle on so he could have a cup of coffee while carrying out his chores.

He placed the coffee on the bar before going down into the cellar. As he entered the main area where all the barrels of beer were kept the cellar felt colder than usual.

As Roger was changing a barrel he heard an unusual noise. It sounded like something being dragged.

Turning, he was stunned to see that the empty barrel he had just disconnected had moved some four feet away from where he had left it.

Becoming increasingly scared, he nervously made his way back up the stairs and quickly closed the cellar door behind him.

Returning into the bar area, which was empty of any other at that time of day, he gasped to find the coffee he had made just minutes earlier had tipped on its side, spilling its contents across the bar.

That's when Roger looked up and saw an elderly lady looking out of the window - she looked as real as a normal person, but Roger knew he was alone.

Then he thought of what his girlfriend had seen just a few days earlier. Running from the pub and tripping on a stool as he did so, he left and never returned to the location.

Ghosts are real - well as real as a man on the moon.

SOURCE: The Sentinel

Paranormal Investigators Offer Spooky Support to Animal Rescue Centre

Things that go bump in the night have been lending a helping hand to charity.

Leamington-based Spirits Alive held a paranormal night at the Lillington Club, investigating the ghostly goings-on.

And the event raised £200 which was donated to Solihull-based Heronfield Animal Rescue Centre.

Duncan James, owner of Spirits Alive, said: “We paid a visit to the rescue centre to have a look around before deciding to offer our support.

“The work they carry out is truly amazing. So many animals are in their care and all who work there volunteer time and services.

“It was after that visit and a chat with the rest of our team that we knew we desperately wanted to help.”

SOURCE: Lemington Observer

Something Fishy Going on at New Hartlepool Chippy

A Hartlepool businessman says there is certainly something fishy going on at his new chip shop. 

Ray Morton says since taking over premises in Tower Street there have been lots of ghostly goings-on.

The 50-year-old took over the former print works and has transformed the building into The Coble, which is a fish and chip restaurant. But after moving into the building, Ray found he wasn’t the only tenant there and several strange things have been happening. 

The former rig-worker, said: “When we got the building and carried out the work we had a cleaning company come in to do a deep clean. “I left the building and when I came back the woman was very distressed, she said she had seen a big man walk through the wall and out the other side. “Since then there has been loads of weird stuff going on.” 

Ray and members of his team at the fish shop have experienced things such as lights switching themselves off and on, bins suddenly launching themselves across the room on their own and the feeling of being touched on the shoulder when there’s no one there. 

The building, which houses a number of companies and also residents in flats, dates back to 1880 – and Ray says lots of people who have lived or worked in it have reported strange happenings. 

Ray said: “It seems to be haunted by a man and what I assume to be his wife.” But, the ghostly happenings are not putting Ray off his new venture.


SOURCE: Hartlepool Mail

Ghostly Goings-On at Gresley Old Hall

Spine-tingling spirits which are believed to haunt a historical South Derbyshire building, will be put under the microscope as a paranormal investigation team delves into the underworld of ghostly apparitions.

Shadows From The Past will be spending the evening at Gresley Old Hall, in Church Gresley, following reports of ghostly goings-on in nearly every room of the 16 century building.

It has long been famed for its eerie surroundings and brave members of the public are being invited to spend an evening with the team as they tour around the many rooms, including the attic which has been the site with the most ghostly activity.

A spokesman for the team said: “Gresley Old Hall looks like any other country mansion. However when you close the front door and walk up to the first floor, the building completely changes and you begin to realise just how eerie this building is.”

The building dates back to the 16th century and is now a Grade II listed building. It is steeped in history and has an impressive family tree; the most recent is the Alleyne family.

Sir Christopher Alleyne built this mansion from materials left from the demolished Gresley priory that once stood on this land which dates back to the 1100s. The house, in its present form, was built in 1734, replacing the original hall constructed in 1556.

The current house has an array of floors, some of which have not been touched since the 19th century. 

There are also many gruesome tales that surround this building of people who sadly lost their lives. 

The spokesman added: “This venue has a lot of uneven floors and has no electricity supply; this sets the scene for a perfect night of paranormal investigations and the chance to discover what lies within Gresley Old Hall.

“The lack of power in this venue means that we will explore by torch light the layers of history, will you discover who or what still haunts this very eerie location.
“With reports of activity in every room in this location, the one favourite area here is the attic area that if you look close enough you can see Victorian graffiti on the lime wash stone walls. Reports of activity here is of being touched, shadows seen, guests hair being pulled and full apparitions.” 

The investigation will be held from 7pm to midnight, on Friday, August 25.

Snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the night.

Tickets cost £20 per person and are available by visiting the Shadows from the Past Investigations Facebook page or calling 07950 553952.


SOURCE: Burton Mail