A Lot of History, A Lot of Activity!

A Lot of History, A Lot of Activity!

This is a true story centred around the house in which we currently occupy.

We live in Norfolk, England in a converted barn and have been here two years now. The previous owner found the barn difficult to sell but we instantly fell for the place and couldn't understand how anyone would not like it. Anyway, about twelve months ago I started to feel really low, almost depressed and couldn't really figure out why. The winter was coming on (not my best time) and I started to get these black moods sweep over me which is not, and never has been, my nature. About that time we started to notice things happen. One night in the early hours my partner and I were woken up by three very loud raps which we agreed later had come from an old chest of drawers in the hallway (I'd bought it well over ten years ago so it wasn't connected). It was very forceful. Other strange noises followed - one night a tapping just above my head brought me out of a lovely deep sleep - we thought we heard footsteps on the bedroom carpet at night. Then on a couple of occasions the heating thermostat was turned fully up. No one else lives with us except the cats and they couldn't reach it. We live opposite a 900 year old church and things often seemed to happen on the rare occasions we went to a service and once when I did some conservation work there.

About March last year my partner got up and went into the loo and heard a rustling which she described as being like an old fashioned, long silk dress pass behind her through the wall. Then in April I got up about 3am to 'water the plants' (different room). I hadn't put the lights on when a WHOOSH came around me from one side and a WHOOSH from the other. I would describe it as a very strong force rather than a draught, and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The bathroom door closed behind me which it won't do unless you close it.

Lots of little things happened in the next two months, the cat's ball appeared to roll across the carpet, the wind chimes went mad as we sat in the garden one day, even though there was no wind at all. I went back and forth to the doctor with pressure feelings in my head and anxiety which worried me. He said he couldn't figure it out and then I mentioned about the 'visitor'. He said he wouldn't rule it out (he's quite a groovy doc) and if I felt the vicar might help to contact him. So I did.

In the meantime I asked our neighbour if she had experienced anything. She said no but later found out that an elderly lady occupied a bungalow on the site of the old Hall next door, a very large Georgian country house sadly demolished after the Second World War, and used to have clock hands interfered with and objects move. We live in what were the grounds.

Anyway, the vicar came and as soon as he walked into the house and blessed the place the 'pressure heads' went and we have noticed nothing unusual at all - thank goodness. The house seems much calmer and we both sleep better. The vicar agreed we 'had something' and told us that the whoosh was not uncommon in hauntings and he gets quite a few requests for 'blessings' in the parish. In our village, as with many in the UK there are many very old houses - indeed we have a ruined castle just down the road and Roman relics have been unearthed here. With this much history it's not surprising that echoes of the past are in evidence. The Church of England does not make a big deal of it but they have a very active group of 'Ghostbusters' on call!

Note: I received another email after this page was added with a few more details. Here they are:

I awoke one night last winter and as I opened my eyes I thought I could see a black shadow/figure bearing down on me. I yelled and literally leapt on my partner who thought I was mad! Not something to forget really!! On another occasion I awoke in a panic and thought I saw a light in front of the wardrobe. She too had similar experiences so - I'm not quite ready for the 'funny farm' yet!

Oh yes, ..... and last winter we had a fresh fall of snow which in our garden looked wonderful on the trees and shrubs, so I took a photo of the front of the barn. When the print came back there was a 'mist' six feet from the ground by the front door - not a huge amount but clear enough. It wasn't light in the camera which is new anyway, and not glare from the snow. The sun was behind me.

Although I like the place, it's difficult to live here and not think about the events and I often think the house has a negative affect on me, but not menacing or anything (my family noticed this too) but try to conquer the feelings which I usually do!

~ G H S (Norfolk, England)

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Jenny