Go Ghost Hunting

Dam House, Astley, 22nd Feb 2014

I arrived at Dam House in Astley a little earlier than most so decided to take some exterior photos of the place, just to creep myself out a little.

The house was divided up into sections we could visit, a function room, stairwell, lobby and the attic, and equipment was provided as well. However, there were no proton packs in sight.  

We were given a quick brief by our hosts and then let loose on the House. We did a few vigil's and seances in each location and had electronic devices to help identify if there were any spooks around

The atmosphere of Dam House was definitely something to add to my experience.  At one point during our "Free Roam", I was left in the attic all alone for 20 mins, behind a hole in one of the walls, secluded.  If this is an experience I will never face again, then I can live with that.

We had a few strange occurrences that could be explained by both science or paranormal, but that was down to each individuals interpretation.

I had a great time and would love to do something like this again.  Maybe Clare will join me next time.

Please have a look through the photo's I took to see if you can spot something I haven't... (Here)



Thank you to Clare who bought this as a Christmas Present for me and Haunted Happenings for hosting the great night

Who you gonna call?

I think it stems from my love of film and especially of the horror genre that I have an interest in all things spooky.  From an early age, I can remember hearing ghost stories that chilled me to the bone, but wanting to hear more.

I can't say I believe in ghosts or other paranormal activities, but I have experienced things that just cannot be explained, so I remain on the very interested fence.  

Whilst on a paranormal evening with my cousin James at Haigh Hall in Westhoughton; a Medium was in full blown conversation with a group of ladies, he stopped talking, turned round to us and said, "Ned", then turned round and continued to talk to the group.  Now that may not seem interesting to many people, but Ned was what our Nanna called our Grandad.  We had only arrived 5 minutes before and not spoken to anyone, knowing our usual conversational line it would have been either about Star Wars or some Xbox games, so no connection should have been made.  Yet this name, as uncommon as it was, was said straight at us. As a family we were very close to our Nanna and she was deeply devoted to her grandchildren.  It may have been nothing, but it made both James and I smile and think of her.

A later experience with Table Tipping was something that will always stay with me (this is the actual footage from the night - and I can confirm that I am caught on video checking under the table to see who is lifting it at 0.41).  At one point the table was moving quickly round the room being chased by us.

I have done another ghost evening with my cousins Gill and Natalie at Smithill's Hall and a few colleagues from Loanmakers (a company I used to work for), apart from a spooky session with a table, we didn't seem to get much from that along the lines of hauntings, but again it was a brilliant night.

This has always been something that I wanted to go further into and delve into the unknown.

Christmas Day 2013, unwrapping presents before our trip to the local Indian Restaurant for crimbo dinner, I received a gift from Clare to spend a night at DamHouse in Astley with mediums. ouija's, dowsing rods and hopefully many spooks, ghosts and ghouls courtesy of Haunted Happenings.  One thing I did notice is that there was only one ticket, Clare had decided that this was not one of the things she would be doing with me off my list, and I would be doing this one alone.....

So February 22nd 2014 I will be donning my proton pack and getting ready for some paranormal activity.

Here are the details of Damhouse from the official website:

The mysterious and sinister Damhouse in Manchester has a long and varied history.

This spooky, Medieval Hall has been home to the attorney General to Queen Elizabeth I, a nursing home and a Sanatorium and rumour has it that some of its former occupants still lurk within its maze of corridors and rooms.

The early history of the Hall is uncertain but we know that the Mort family first came into possession in 1595. Records show that the present building was erected in 1650, but there are records of a much earlier stone and timber hall here, dating back to 1212. The property and lands passed through many families before being sold to the Council in 1893 to be used as a Sanatorium for infectious diseases, with the addition of four isolation wards to house patients with scarlet and typhoid fevers.The property boasts some very spooky rooms, including a great hall with decorative Gothic roof trusses, dark cellar rooms and a Long Gallery in the attic measuring 64 feet in length. A Priest Hole was discovered as recently as 10 years ago, adding further mystery and intrigue to this amazing building.

Alleged paranormal activity includes a grey clad woman on the upper floors and heavy footsteps around the house. Former patients have reported seeing a grey lady on the wards shortly before a death would occur. Do the spirits of those incarcerated here still lurk within its many rooms? Will you encounter one of the many residents said to haunt this old property?