History Features

Woodchester, set in 400-acre landscape park, is a striking, unfinished Gothic mansion constructed in the mid-1800s.  Confirmed reports of ghost activity only date back to the 1990s, but rumours of earlier sightings persist.

In 2003 the Most Haunted entertainment show filmed a live episode from Woodchester.  Despite this not being a legitimate investigation into the paranormal, which should not be taken seriously, the show has inspired researchers to look into the claims of ghost sightings at the mansion.

On 7th January 2006 eleven PSI investigators and three observers from the North East Ghost In-spectres conducted an overnight investigation of Woodchester Mansion.  A wide range of environmental monitoring equipment was employed, and over 500 photographs and over 10 hours of audio and video footage was captured for analysis.

Unexpected

Environmental analysis revealed significant and unexpected shifts in ambient temperature.  The temperature in one area would increase by up to 7 degrees Celsius whilst decreasing 4 degrees in another location.  Whilst these readings did not link specifically with paranormal phenomena they are in need of further investigation.

Over 500 photographs were taken - nearly 300 of which contained unusual anomalies - an unusually high proportion.  Whilst most of these were explainable, a few key photographs remain unexplained.

A large portion of the apparent paranormal events experienced by investigators were heard rather than seen.  Whilst many of these were explainable after scrutiny, a few experiences remain mysterious.  In particular a number of investigators heard a ‘woman’s cry’ whilst on the second floor, while the rest of the group were in the cellar. Video footage established apparent ‘footsteps’ where no members of the team were in that area.

The results of the Woodchester investigation also bucked PSI’s own research trends that suggest that ghostly sightings are determined by a ‘spooky environment’ and an individuals own belief in ghosts. 

Analysis revealed sufficiently unusual evidence at Woodchester Mansion that PSI has agreed to conduct a long-term study over the next year focused on the alleged hauntings of Woodchester.  We hope this future research will be shed some light on what is really happening at Woodchester Mansion.

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