The event started with the guests and Haunting Breaks team meeting for an introduction to the history of the venue and paranormal terminology in a rather comfortable converted cowshed within the sprawling grounds of this stunning location.
It felt somewhat surreal to be sitting among Henry VIII, the Lady Marion, and a serving wench from the Middle Ages and at this point I wished I had made the effort to join in with the fancy dress theme. Various chatter around the room made me wonder whether dressing up in period costume really does make a difference when it comes to communicating with spirits.
Some of us were incredibly nervous, some had been on a similar investigation before, but most didn't know what to expect or what they were going to be involved in and viewed the coming night with an incredible sense of fascination.
We all agreed however, that this was for charity and so whatever happened we'd all stick together.
The introduction was interesting as never before had I listened to a professional psychic expound the theories behind dowsing, light anomalies called orbs and complete manifestations of spirit.
The practical exercises in dowsing with the rods and crystals following a wonderful meal taken in the main hall really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. How does that work?
The rods moved and crossed together whenever I reached within a foot of my partner- was I affecting them subconsciously or was this a trick? James the psychic explained that the art of dowsing is really ancient and has been used for centuries for divination purposes - I'd heard of water divination, but could we apply the same practice to divine for spirit energy?
Having been armed with EMF meters that record surges in electro magnetic field readings, infra-red thermometers, that warn you of sudden drops or rises in temperature and crystals to protect us from any unseen energies that may be lurking in the darkness, I felt confident to step out and join the teams that were starting their vigils within known hotspots across the estate.
In total blackness we trooped across the grounds towards the workmen's chapel and having entered the building immediately started to check out the inside with our equipment.
The Haunting Break's team leader quickly motioned us to the front of the room and in this area, away from the pews that had presumably seated hundreds of workman over time, started to use a glass atop a simple wooden table to ask for communication with anyone in the building.
As our fingers were placed on the glass I remember thinking "this is ridiculous, but it's for charity, so keep positive". To my utter amazement the glass started to make a screeching noise as it sped from one end of the table to another. Immediate thoughts of who in the group was pushing it ebbed away as I knew the group and trusted them.
The team leader started to ask questions and the glass appeared to move in one direction, then another. We quickly established some sort of communication whilst James was standing in the background apparently attempting to communicate to whoever or whatever was in the building.
This carried on for quite some time, how long I don't know as time seemed to have no meaning. I was jarred from a comfortable position by one of the group suddenly shouting out that her hair had been touched and then her arm. Another group member then said they had gone terribly cold all over and I must admit that the nerves and the atmosphere made us all giggle a little.
At this point another team leader told us all to be quiet. James was not responding when asked if he was OK. It was then that pandemonium seemed to break out. Apparently James could not speak and was experiencing difficulty standing up and walking.
He had to be man-handled away from the front of the room, down the aisle and out toward the main entrance doors.
At first we were not sure what to do or think - stifled giggles and group chatter quickly ebbed away as one of our team returned from outside to proclaim that James was shaking uncontrollably, unable to talk, or to make any sense. What happened? We all wanted to find out.
Ten minutes later we found out that James had made contact with a gentleman who apparently used to use the chapel. He suffered with a limp and imparted to James the words "the children, the children". James was escorted back to the main room where he spent quite some time returning back to normality.
We all thought the evening had come to an end, but were pleasantly surprised to be asked if we'd like to go back into the chapel for more exercises. Incredibly, we all said yes.
The event finished at about 3am. We were all like children recounting our own personal experiences and, although we had been searching for ghosts for eight hours, I must admit I would have liked to go on for much longer.
I found the experience strange, fun and extremely exciting and what made it all the more enjoyable for me was the fact that the money raised from it would all go to charity. I can't wait for the next one!
Can you see any ghosts?...
