Do you think Crosbie Towers are haunted?

Could Crosbie Towers, which has sat on the Fullarton estate since the 16th century be haunted?

One group of explorers think this might be the case when they got more than they bargained for when they decided to peer inside a few years ago.

One member of the group, Michael McKean, told his story to the Ayr Advertiser and Troon Times: "In May 2012, a group of friends and I ventured inside the then-abandoned Crosbie Towers, in late evening."

Don't worry this did not involve breaking and entering, as there was no front gate, and a back door was open.

Michael continued: "We never made it up to the second floor, as we heard a huge bang on the staircase which petrified us.

"Also, a friend took a photo of one of the back windows, and it appears to show a white face looking out at us. This face, or whatever it is, never appeared in other photos of that same window.

"Now, it may have been a homeless person or something else that can be explained, but it also might not have been. I leave this to the reader to decide.

"We didn't just go to the house once, but quite a number of times. On the other occasions, we never heard or saw anything very strange, apart from a very creepy dentist's chair in one of the lower rooms."

A few months ago Michael decided to research, in depth, the history of the house. He knew it had previously been a care home in the latter part of the 20th century, but the history prior to that seemed cloudy.

Michael discovered the house originally belonged to a Mr. Alexander Walker, a whisky-maker, and not Mr. Thomas Hood as stated on some articles surrounding the house. Mr Walker's wife, Isabella McKemmie, died in the house in 1902.

He concluded: "Perhaps fittingly, the house shares its namesake with a local cemetery, Crosbie Kirkyard."

The castle is known to have been rebuilt at least three times over the years. The ruins today mainly represent the dungeon of the old castle. Do you agree? Could Crosbie Towers really be haunted?

Story and source: Carrick Herald

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One of the UK's oldest pubs demands its ghost back after it was 'stolen' by Chinese artist

A pub that has stood at the same spot in Bolton since at least 1251 is asking for its ghost back – after a Chinese artist "stole" the spectre and put it in an exhibition. Ye Olde Man & Scythe was first mentioned in records in 1251 but the exact date of its founding is uncertain.

The Seventh Earl of Derby, James Stanley, is said to have spent his last few hours sitting in the pub before being executed in 1644, during the English Civil War.

His ghost was said to haunt the pub, with footage alleging to show the spirit coming out in 2014.

But a Chinese artist, Lu Pingyuan, claims to have stolen the ghost and sealed him in a metal canister, which is being exhibited at the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art in nearby Manchester.

The description of the exhibit says that on learning the story of Stanley and the pub "Lu Pingyuan was inspired to attempt to catch the ghost of this historical figure – a symbolic act in reaction to the UK's colonialist past, which saw great losses of both tangible and intangible cultural assets by other nations."

The pub's owner told theboltonnews.co.uk that he was not happy when he learned of Lu's claims and wrote him a letter. "I would have liked to have been privy to your actions and indeed to the exhibition before the ghost of James Stanley was taken out of Bolton, his ties to the town and to Ye Olde Man and Scythe run very deeply," it read.

In the letter, the owner said that he was happy for Lu's exhibition to travel but that he wanted to be sure the ghost of James Stanley would "return home" after the tour – even saying he would donate the chair that Stanley sat on before his execution as long as both the chair and ghost were returned at the end.

Lu told the site that he would prefer to discuss the future after the exhibit with the ghost and see "whether he would prefer to stay like this, as a piece of art, or go back to the Ye Olde Man & Scythe."

Story and source: IB Times

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Macclesfield landlord claims FOURTEEN ghosts live at his pub

Sean Hutchinson from the Bate Hall pub says he andhis wife have been plagued by ghosts since moving there two years ago.

A landlord claims his pub is one of the most haunted in Britain – but some of its ‘14 ghosts’ are not so friendly.

Sean Hutchinson, who runs the Bate Hall on Chestergate, says he and his young family have been plagued by spirits – of the paranormal kind – ever since moving in to the town’s oldest pub two years ago.

But while three-year-old daughter Mia is happy to play ‘hide and seek’ with a young boy ghost, Sean says another ghost called Richard has told him he wants to kill him.

Sean, 44, says his claims are backed up by paranormal investigators who visited the building.

He said: “I’ve been told by the Wythenshawe Paranormal Investigation team that there are at least 14 spirits upstairs.

“There’s one ghost called Richard who wants to kill me – I know because he told me. He said ‘kill you’.

“I’ve never seen him but hear his voice and we hear really loud bangs like a truck hitting the pub when he’s there.

“It got really bad when my wife was pregnant and when I asked if it was him he replied: ‘obviously’.

“I intend to put myself in harm’s way for him when the investigators come.”

He added: “I’ve heard a woman screaming. We also have a small boy that plays hide and seek with my three-year-old daughter, Mia – one of my darts players saw him and it scared him half to death.”

The pub, which dates back to 1525, is believed to have once had Oliver Cromwell as a guest, has a Jacobean staircase and priest holes that served as hiding places for Catholic priests.

The staircase is also reported to have marks at the top which Sean says are from when the Witch of Macclesfield, the Grey Lady, was hanged.

He also unearthed an old rope which he believes was used to hang her.

But Sean says he and wife Georgie are not scared of the ghosts and have experienced paranormal activity before.

He said: “I’m used to ghosts, but the scariest thing is speaking to them through the investigators’ machines. I was shocked to hear so many voices.”

Sean, who is also dad to Alfie, has now arranged for a second team of paranormal investigators to assess the building.

Andrew Elson from the Haunted Company, who visited the pub in June, said: “This is one of the most haunted public houses we’ve been to.

“When I held the rope that Sean found when he was doing building work I felt like I was being strangled.”

Story and source: Macclesfield Express

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Manhattan’s Morris-Jumel Mansion and the Angry Ghost of Eliza Jumel

The Morris-Jumel Mansion, located at the top of Manhattan in Washington Heights, is the borough’s oldest home. It was built in 1765, by British military officer Roger Morris. Morris and his family fled the home once the American Revolution started, as they were British loyalists. Some years later, in 1810, a French merchant named Stephen Jumel purchased the mansion.

Though Stephen had good taste when it came to houses, his choice in a wife may have resulted in his downfall. Jumel died in 1832 from—depending on which account you believe—pneumonia, injuries sustained in a carriage accident, falling on a pitchfork, or some nefarious action on the part Eliza Jumel, his partner. When parapsychologist Hans Holzer conducted a séance at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, he claimed to hear Stephen Jumel accusing Eliza of removing his bandages and letting him to bleed to death.

Eliza Jumel’s history just gets more colorful from there.

After Stephen’s death, she married none other than Aaron Burr, the former Vice President of the United States as well as Alexander Hamilton’s killer. Both came into the marriage with agendas: Eliza’s was to increase her social standing, while Burr wanted to get his hands on her considerable fortune. The marriage was a failure, and they separated just four months later.

For the next 30 years, Eliza traveled throughout Europe and Northern New York. She eventually returned home to Washington Heights. There she lived, suffering from dementia, in her big, empty mansion. She became completely reclusive—some say she was the inspiration for the character of Miss Havisham, in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Vicious rumors swirled regarding her impoverished childhood, her social climbing, and her cruel character. In 1865, at the age of 90 and as one of the richest women in the United States, she passed away.

Despite the fact that she lies buried in the family mausoleum, just five blocks from the house, many believe that Eliza has never really left her beloved mansion. Reported sightings of an elderly and disoriented woman, dressed in a purple gown, began in 1906, and have continued on to the present day. Despite their attempts, paranormal researchers and exorcism experts have been unable to remove Eliza’s spirit from the home.

In 1964, a tour group of children visiting the mansion encountered a cranky old woman, who told them, “My husband is very ill. You have to keep quiet.” When they asked a staff member about it, she paled, as the house was empty aside from the children. Later, the children all pointed to a portrait of Eliza Jumel hanging in the entranceway, identifying her as the woman who had scolded them.

Perhaps you can catch a glimpse of the notorious Madame Jumel, if you are noisy enough to incur her wrath. The Morris-Jumel Mansion is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Story and source: The Line Up

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Is it a ghost or a trick of the light? Bristol woman thinks she has captured 'black monk' on camera

A photographer claims to have taken a picture of a ghost at a famous abbey, which she believes might be the spirit of a monk killed by Henry VIII.

The images were taken by Lara Tetlow, 24, who was enjoying the Glastonbury Abbey Musical Extravaganza earlier this month.

Ms Tetlow, from Bristol, said no one was around the ruins when she took the picture of a ghostly figure with red eyes.

It is thought it could be the spirit of 16th century monk.

In 1539 representatives of Henry VIII visited Glastonbury Abbey, sent by Thomas Cromwell as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Lara said: ''The other day I looked more closely at the images and saw a mysterious black monk-like figure by the abbey ruins in several of the photos I took.

"I have no idea what they are - but I know no-one was standing there at the time.

"I had a look online and found a few stories of people seeing ghosts of monks in the ruins of the abbey."
What do you think? Do the pictures show a ghost - or is it simply a shadow thrown on the building by the lights during the event?

Story and source: Bristol Post

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Did a ghost set off Huddersfield restaurant the Keys' CCTV? Or is there a rational explanation

The Keys restaurant owner Paul Wood had a fright when a ghostly figure appeared on CCTV during closing hours.

Paul was relaxing at home when his phone bleeped to alert him someone - or something - had set off the cameras in the Byram Street restaurant, which is in the underground crypt of Huddersfield Parish Church.

Thinking it was a burglar, he glanced at his phone - and was shocked to see the bright white apparition on the screen.

He said: “If something sets the camera off when the restaurant is closed we get pictures sent to my phone, so I can be sitting at home watching the burglar and ringing the police.

“The alarm went off and i saw a ghostly figure walk past.

I have just come out of hospital with a bit of a heart problem so it made me miss a beat!

“I went down and tested the camera and it was working fine.

“The restaurant is a very spooky place - there’s something about it but you can’t put your finger on what it is. You get a bit of a tingle down your spine.

“The floor is made of gravestones. There’s been a church there for about 1,000 years so there’s a bit of scope!

“The church does have access and a couple of days later I found out the curate had let himself in that day. A defect with the camera must have made him look like a ghost, but it’s never happened before.

“But you can see the counter where his legs should be - and strangely, it didn’t pick him up leaving...”

Parish church curate Simon Crook is convinced the figure is him.

He said: “I went down into the crypt to do some photocopying that day and I must have set the alarm off as I went down.

“The camera just caught me and sent a picture to Paul’s phone. He thought a ghost had set the CCTV off.

“It’s not really spooky, but it’s a crypt and it’s where they used to bury people.

“Lots of people come to church looking for help, saying they have seen a ghost or have evidence of it, but there’s nearly always a very straightforward explanation and nothing sinister whatsoever.”

Story and source: Huddersfield Examiner

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Are these eerie figures two of the ghosts which haunt Chester's Stanley Palace?

Ghostly goings-on have been captured on camera at what is reputed to be the most haunted building in Chester.

Paranormal investigators and 15 members of the public went on the search for ghouls at Stanley Palace, on Watergate Street.

Eerie hooded figures on a staircase and the ghostly vision of a woman in a mirror were snapped during a five-hour vigil.

Guests also heard strange noises and saw eerie shadows, and claim to have communicated with spectres, including children and a man who worked with the sheriff of Chester.

Stanley Palace was built in 1591 by Peter Warburton and when he died in 1621 his daughter Elizabeth inherited the house with her husband Sir Thomas Stanley, who changed the name of the house to the one we know today.

Visitors to the Grade II listed building claim to have witnessed Lady Elizabeth walking through a wall, a man in Tudor clothing, a Second World War officer, a grey haired woman playing Brahms on the piano as well as three children playing on the staircase.

Paranormal investigators Alius Sanctus, a group headed up by Chris and Kev Wilson-Byrne, arrived in Chester armed with an array of ghosthunting equipment including K2 meters, temperature guns, sound enhancers, energy rods, motion sensors as well as a Ouija board.

Before the vigil eve gets under way, a guest claims to have heard a disembodied voice making a ‘shushing’ sound near the staircase.

Following a protection ritual, guests soon reported feeling ice cold and equipment revealed the temperature dropped from 20.57C to 16.8C which could indicate there was a presence.

Strange goings-on continued upstairs when a table began to rock from side to side – however, this could have been due to the uneven floor – while one woman also reported seeing a shadowy figure at the top of the stairs.

Chris claimed to be given the names ‘Florence’ and ‘Gordon’ and when guests asked if these were correct, they report that the table immediately began to shake and K2 meters flashed.

Downstairs, a Ouija board was set up and the glass began to move on its own and indicated there was a 49-year-old male ghost who claimed to be ‘idle’ and a ‘ladies man’.

When asked his name, the glass repeatedly moved to CV1 – however the meaning of this remains a mystery.

Equipment placed on a piano at the other end of the room was also set off and when the spirit was asked to flash the lights in different sequences for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ it responded while also giving the same answers on the Ouija board.

Loud bangs and what seemed to be the dragging of furniture was also heard, however everyone denied being the cause of the noise.

A ‘human pendulum’ experiment was conducted in the St Anne’s Room, which supposedly enables ghosts to communicate by causing a person to move back and forwards in response to yes or no questions that are asked.

When asked to pick a person the spirits wanted to communicate through, I was chosen and promptly blindfolded.

It was established that there was a 79-year-old religious man in the room, born in 1632, who worked with the 7th Earl of Derby, James Stanley, in the profession of law enforcement.

When the blindfold was removed I discovered that during the questioning I had rotated around in a circle and was facing the opposite direction to where I had started.

Some brave individuals attempted scrying with a mirror, where you look at your reflection and according to paranormal experts can see your face morph into someone else's or even show you events from another time.

Guests did not report seeing anything at the time but when Kelsie Maxwell went through photos on her phone she noticed a disturbing face growing out of her own.

While the team witnessed evidence that could point to paranormal activity, there are potentially logical explanations for some phenomena and some experiences could have been the mind playing tricks.

Although no absolute scientific proof of ghosts was gained, many of the events that took place are difficult to explain logically especially when witnessed by multiple people throughout the evening.

Story and source: Chester Chronical

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Terrifying noises and eerie shadows spook cameraman in abandoned hospital

A bloke, for some reason, decided to take a trip into an abandoned hospital and got the fright of his life.

As the unnamed man stands in one corridor, the doors to a lift begin to open and shut.

Some sort of malfunction prevents the doors opening fully – which creates a spine-tingling noise.

The sound echoes through the dark hallways as the camera pans around the hospital.

At one point, a creepy shadow can be seen in the doorway that could resemble a “ghost” of the patients that died there.

Throughout, the metallic clanging of the doors ring out.

As the clip ends, the cameraman’s heavy breathing can be heard – clearly spooked at the noises.

It is not known where the clip was filmed.

Viewers of the video – which was uploaded to YouTube by Chris Kernaghan last week (August 19) – were left trembling.

One wrote: “Almost gave me a heart attack.”

Story and source: Daily Star

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Mother spooked to capture 'one of clearest' paranormal pics EVER of ghost

Louise Murphy had taken her nine-year-old son Owen for a day out at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, Scotland, when she began taking photos in the museum's Victorian-themed street.

Despite only Owen being near her when taking the picture, Mrs Murphy was shocked to discover the haunting image of a little girl with long brown hair, waving at the camera and wearing a floral dress.

Most eerily, her entire face is blanked out apart from what appears to be the hollow shape of a black eye looking directly at the camera.

The mother, who lives with boyfriend Ian Stott, claims Owen was also left unsettled by the image since he confirmed he was the only one present when she took the picture.

Mrs Murphy, from Carlisle, Cumbria, said: “It definitely looks like a young girl to me. Some people have said it is a little boy but it appears like it is wearing a dress with flowers on it. It has long brown curly hair too.

“In the pictures I took in the same spot before this one, you can see a mist forming at the bottom of the picture and then she appears. It was like she was forming in the mist, which makes me think it was maybe paranormal.

“I tried to think logically about it a first but couldn't come up with a way to rationalise it.

“Ian couldn't explain it either and he is sceptic. He is not 100 per cent sure what it could be either way but even he says it looks like a genuine apparition.

“You can never be 100 per cent on things like this but it's definitely not been tampered with.

“People have said that it could have been Photoshopped but there will always be people who think that.

“I would happily send the picture off for experts to check it to prove it has not been. I don't even know how to use Photoshop.

“It's one of the clearest pictures I have seen of the paranormal. I have never seen one like this before, not to this extent.“

Mrs Murphy, who worked in catering before taking maternity leave to have five-week-old Finley, captured the image on her Samsung Galaxy S5 phone on February 20 this year.

She said: “The transport museum has this Victorian-themed village and shops that you can walk through and I began taking a few pictures in the pub part of that. We didn't notice anything odd at the time. “I didn't really look at the pictures at all until I got home later and realised they looked quite strange.

“If I had seen [her in the picture] while I was there I would have more pictures to see if I could catch her again on camera. “People have told me it must just be a little girl stood in front of me but I would have seen her. There was definitely no one there.

“The only other person in the area around the bar was my son Owen who was in the two other pictures I took.

“Owen thinks it's a pretty weird photo and was quite shocked as he can verify that no girl was there at all.

“I have caught orbs in pictures before and I am quite into the paranormal but I never expected to catch something like this.

“I have been on ghost hunts but never seen anything like this. It seemed too good to be true.”

A spokesman for Glasgow Life and the museum said: “We're as intrigued as the lady who captured the image to discover more about any ghostly goings-on at Riverside.

“The picture was taken in the Mitre Bar, a well-known Glasgow premises that is more usually associated with a different type of spirit.

“It is located on one of Riverside's three recreated streets, spanning 1895 to 1980, where visitors love to meander along the cobbles.

“Some five million people have done so since it opened in 2011 and we're delighted to welcome this new guest to the museum.

“We're sure her presence is likely to intrigue others and look forward to welcoming them to Riverside soon.”

Story and source: The Express

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