Mars; The Busiest Dead Planet in the Solar System

Ever since the Mars Curiosity Rover landed on the red planet and started sending back its fascinating images, it seems that Mars has become a very busy place.  Between UFO’s and underground structures, moving rocks and animals, there seems to be a great deal happening on this dead planet.

The most recent footage picked up by UFO enthusiast StreetCap1 from last month seems to show a cone shaped UFO streaking across the sky.  What seems to be exhaust can be seen at the rear of the object.  The footage came from the one of the rover’s cameras and has been attributed to a meteorite or perhaps even something on the lens of the camera itself.  Dr John Bridges from the University of Leicester was quoted in the Leicester Mercury stating that the object may even be one of Mars moons, most likely Phobos.

And those who analyse these pictures are hoping that the fact that NASA released them is a sign of changing policies in the US space agency.  Josh Barker, from the agency, said the item was a UFO in the sense it was an unidentified flying object but that it was not an alien vessel.

Track record

It seems since the moment Curiosity landed on Mars, all the locals have been out to have a look.  Some of the first pictures taken saw a distant object which appeared then disappeared, but turned out to be dust from the sky crane which dropped the rover off.  It had impacted some 2000 feet away and thrown up a cloud of fine dust.

Two streaking objects were then leaked to a YouTube account ParanormalCollection said to have come from time-lapse cameras.  There was later some debate as to whether these had been faked by NASA and purposefully released to shake the credibility of researchers.  

Faces in the Sand

More recently, images released are said to contain a picture of a face half buried in the sand, perhaps a colossal-type statue.  Just behind the face is a sharply right-angled piece of rock which has been suggested to be a plinth for the statue.  The logic behind this is that nature does not create right-angles and these stones clearly show them.

This follows the comparison between an outcropping of rock on a flat plain which resembled tombs from Japan from the 5^th century.  The Kofun tombs are described as having a central round mound then an almost triangular shaped area leading away from it.  NASA has said that the rocks could have been created by fracturing of the hills.

Scientific basis?

Interpretation of data from the HiRISE camera which is on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter by one geologists leads to the conclusion that there were once oceans on Mars.  Lorena Moscardelli, geologists at the University of Texas, Austin, is quoted on www.ufo-blogger.com stating that the boulders photographed on the planets northern plains show signs of movement by underwater landslides. 

In this possible view of Mars, the area known as Oceanus Borealis since it was first seen by the Viking Orbiter, could be an ocean stretching across a third of the planet.  The study likens it to similar movements in Arkansas, Argentina and Brazil where underwater events have effected huge areas.

And if there were water covering a third of the planet, then this would mean atmosphere and could this mean civilisation had also existed there?  Are the artefacts being photographed on the surface the remains of this civilisation, as the Pyramids are remains of an ancient civilisation in Egypt?

Top Haunted Spots of Alabama

Alabama is a south-eastern state of the US, which has been occupied thousands of years before European colonisation.  Europeans started arriving in the 1700s and since then, the state has seen civil war, racial issues and everything in between.  So it’s not surprising that there are plenty of haunted locations scattered around the state.  Here is a selection of some of them…

Indian Meadows, Adamsville

There are many sites across the world which are built on the burial sites of those who came before, and Indian Meadows is said to be one of them.  But the spirits are not resting easily and are frequently seen in the woods around the outskirts of the area in the form of dark figures.  When the witness checked out the figures, no-one is there and similarly when people have heard scratching at the doors or windows at night. One man found claw marks along the banister of his porch when he checked out the noises the next morning.

Highway 431, Albertville

Just off Highway 431 near the town of Albertville is a typical haunted house.  The property is said to be haunted by it’s first owner who died in the garden when his tractors overturned.  His wife sold the house due to the weird noises and the next owners reported the same thing.  They became so frightened; they left in the middle of the night, and their belongings were still in the house.  Even when empty, it was busy as neighbours have reported seeing lights on.

St Clair County Jail, Asheville

Jails often see the passing of people, through one reason or another and the St Clair County Jail is no different.  Both inmates and jailers have reported a range of strange feelings in the cells including inexplicable cold spots, feelings of being watched or touched when alone while items in empty rooms are moved around.  Electric locks are often interfered with and have to be operated manually while strange mists have appeared on security cameras.

Tutwiler Hotel, Birmingham

Opened as a luxury hotel in 1914, the Tutwiler Hotel was constructed to fulfil the need for somewhere for businessmen could stay when the city grew rapidly.  One of the shareholders, Major Tutwiler, is still believed to be in the hotel, undeterred by the fact he died some years ago.  There have been various reports from guests on the 6^th floor usually concerning strange knocking at the door in the middle of the night.  When the guest opens the door, there is no-one in sight.  The Major also enjoys spending time in the restaurant where he turns on lights which have been switched off and on one occasion, a meal had been cooked, laid on the table and wine taken from the cabinet.  All while the hotel had been closed overnight.

Sloss Furnace, Birmingham

Sloss Furnace is probably one of the most well-known haunted locations across the state.  It worked transforming coal and ore from the local area into hard steel from 1882-1971 which was used across the country.  One particularly harsh supervisor died in a horrible accident when he fell into a vat of melted iron ore and rumours abound that he had been killed by workers.  During his time, 47 workers had lost their lives, 10 times more than other shifts.  But his death did not see the end of his supervision.  Workers spoke of an unnatural presence and a watchman in 1926 was physically injured when he was pushed from behind.  He searched the grounds but found he was along.  In 1947, three supervisors at the plant went missing and were found in the boiler room.  They had been approached by a man with burned skin who shouted at them angrily.  They did not have any idea how they had ended up in the room!  There have been over 100 witness reports from Sloss Furnaces according to local police records, and a website now exists to document the happenings.

Fort Gaines

Fort Gaines stands on Dauphin Island and is the site of the Battle of Mobile Bay from the Civil War.  It sits metres from the Gulf of Mexico and is home to an array of spirits as well as the staff.  Confederate and union soldiers are often reported walking the grounds including one particular soldier who follows people around.  He continued to do this until they leave through the front gate, perhaps suspicion of them being up to no good.

USS Alabama, Mobile

The USS Alabama was brought to Mobile in 1964 to be a memorial for veterans as well as a tourist attraction.  There were only eight deaths on her when she was in service, and they came during an accident with a gun mount.  Workers on the ship have reported footsteps approaching them, only for no-one to be near while voices are heard from empty rooms.  More spectacularly, heavy steel hatches would suddenly slam shut, and investigations could find no reason for the movement.  Perhaps the old sailors were still with their ship…

University of Montevallo

The university was founded in 1896 as a girl's school, but several of the buildings are older than both.  There are stories of a tunnel system running beneath the campus used in the Civil War, which has a haunting presence while cold spots and strange occurrences happen in many of the buildings.  In the main dormitory, a student was burned alive in an accident and the door of her room carried an impression of her body.  Since then, whenever a new door is fitted, the same outline appears on the new door.  Screams and moans have also been heard in the hallway.

St James Hotel, Selma

St James Hotel is another of the ‘most haunted’ sites of the state, and it’s ghosts are quite famous.  The hotel was built in 1837 making it one of the oldest facilities still used as a hotel across Alabama.  Two of the ghosts reported from the hotel is that of outlaw Jesse James and his girlfriend who were said to have stayed in the hotel in 1881.  James is often seen in the bar area as well as the room he stayed in and were described by his clothing, typical of a man of that time.  His girlfriend, Lucinda, has her picture hanging on the ground floor and her presence is recognised by the scent of lavender.  There are also residual hauntings around the building, like a replay of past events, as if a party was taking place in the 1800s and a glimpse back then was being offered.

If you have any experience of any of these places, or any haunting story you would be willing to share, please get in touch.  I am happy to keep stories anonymous if you would prefer.

10 Most Haunted Castles in North East England

There are no shortage of castles in County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and most of them have history going back centuries so the odd haunting or two isn’t a surprise.  Here are just a few with a little idea of who might be spotted if a ghost hunt was undertaken…

1. Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle is a ruined castle built by Guy de Balliol from 1095 in the town of the same name which is now grade I listed.  The castle was besieged by Alexander II of Scotland in 1216 while still held by the Balliol family, a member of whom later became then was deposed king of Scotland.  In 1296 it became the property of the Bishops of Durham then the Earl of Warwick before coming to the Neville family by marriage in the 15^th century.  In 1477, Richard Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, took possession of the castle and it became a favoured residence.  It returned to the Neville family who held it until Charles Neville, 6^th Earl of Westmorland, was involved in the Rising of the North and the lands taken by the crown.  The castle was abandoned and much masonry was removed to improve nearby Raby Castle.

Haunting: The main haunting noted is that of a woman who is seen re-enacting her death.  She is believed to be called Lady Ann Day, though the dates involved in her death are unknown.  She was thrown from the castle and is seen falling into the river near County Bridge.

2. Bowes Castle

Bowes Castle was built in the village of Bowes replaced an earlier timber castle within the boundaries of the Roman fort of Lavatrae.  It dates from 1170-74 and was built under orders from Henry II with the village being laid out at the same time.  It was attacked by the Scottish in the Great Revolt of 1173-74 but was looted by rebels in 1322 and went into decline after this.  The ruins are now a tourist attraction run by English Heritage and include a largely intact keep which is grade I listed.

Haunting: the anniversary haunting at the castle dates from Roman times.  The story goes that the garrison at Lavatrae stole gold and valuables from the village and were then slaughtered when the villagers banded together and attacked.  But the Romans had hidden the treasure beforehand and with them all being dead, the villagers were unable to find their gold, which has never been recovered.  On the anniversary of the massacre, the garrison soldiers are seen at the castle re-enacting the burial of the gold.  There are also regular sightings of a dark shadow moving around the castle.

3. Durham Castle

Durham Castle was built in the 11^th century to try and quell the disruption amongst the ‘wild and fickle’ population of the north after the Norman Conquest and is an early example of motte and bailey castles that the Normans specialised in.  It was given to the Bishops of Durham as his seat and it remained their possession until 1840 when it was given to the University of Durham for student housing and the bishops moved to Auckland Castle.

The Castle is known for features including a Great Hall created by Bishop Antony Bek in the 1400s which was the largest Great Hall until another later bishop shortened it a century later.  It still stands at 14m high and over 30m long.  It is used now for students and staff to take their meals while the Undercroft is a Junior Common Room.  There are two chapels, the Norman Chapel (1078) and the Tunstall’s Chapel (1540) in the castle both used for religious services and theatrical performances. 

Hauntings: The Black Staircase has the ghost of a Grey Lady who fell to her death on the staircase and has been identified as Isabella Van Mildert, the wife of the 19^th century Bishop of Durham.  When she is seen, she walks at a different level to the current staircase due to alterations since her time.

Another ghost is an early student named Frederick Copeman who committed suicide from the tower when he failed his exams.  His room was said to be the highest at the top of the Black Staircase, Room 21, which now stands empty.  There are frequent reports of poltergeist-type activity in this room and phantom footsteps are also associated with Copeman.

4. Raby Castle

Raby Castle was built in the mid-14^th century by John Neville, 3^rd Baron Neville de Raby, a Knight of the Garter who served as Admiral of the North and Steward to the Kings Household.  His grand-daughter, Cecily, married Richard of York and had thirteen children including King Edward IV and Richard III.  Raby stayed with the family until the Rising of the North in 1569 when Charles Neville led a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I which was unsuccessful and saw him flee to the continent and loose his lands. 

In 1626 Raby Castle and its lands were purchased by Sir Henry Vane who used stone from nearby Barnard Castle to rebuild it.  The current owner is John Vane, 11^th Baron Barnard.

Hauntings: Charles Neville is one of the ghosts who are seen in the castle, in the Baron’s or Great Hall.  Another family ghost is said to be Sir Henry Vane the Younger, who was beheaded after a questionable trial following the execution of Charles I, even though he had no part in the matter.  He is seen at a writing desk in the library with his severed head beside the paper he is writing on.  Lady Elizabeth Holles, who married Henry’s son Christopher, is also said to haunt the castle.  She is known as Old Hell Cat due to her strange behaviour surrounding her two sons’ choice of commoner wives and took to sitting in Clifford’s Tower, knitting furiously.  The sounds and sight of her needles are reported today.

5. Walworth Castle

Walworth Castle is a 16^th century mansion house built in medieval castle style, now a grade I listed building on the site of a former Hansard family property from the 12^th century.    The property passed to the Ayscough family by marriage in 1539 but was sold when the family line died out.  It was bought by Thomas Jennison, Auditor General of Ireland and his wife Elizabeth and during their ownership, King James VI of Scotland stayed at the property.  During World War II it was used as a prisoner of war camp for 200 men including officers from Italy and Germany and was bought by the county council in 1950.  It opened as a hotel in 1981 and has been renovated in 2000-06.

Haunting: the main haunting is connected with a maid who fell pregnant to a lord of the manor at some unspecified time.  Instead of admitting the affair, the lord had the girl bricked up in a wall where a spiral staircase was being renovated.  It is the girl’s ghost who is said to haunt the building and has been seen walking along the corridor by the honeymoon suite and appearing from the wall by the staircase.    A young woman has also been seen sitting in an armchair, but whether this is the same girl or not is unknown.  There are also reports of footsteps climbing the stairs to one of the turrets, chambermaids having their hair pulled and guests experiencing someone sitting on the edge of their beds when no-one is there.

6. Bamburgh Castle

The site of Bamburgh Castle has been used since ancient times, home to a fort known as Din Guarie and a possible capital of the kingdom in the region dating to 420AD.  The Normans built a new castle on the site and was taken by the crown from its owner Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria.  Henry II built the keep and the castle saw frequent Scottish raids.  It became the first castle in England to be defeated by Artillery after a 9 month siege by Richard Neville, 16^th Earl of Warwick during the War of the Roses in 1464.

The castle passed through various hands after this and saw periods of deterioration and restoration before being comprehensively restored by Victorian industrialist William Armstrong.  His family still hold the property.

Hauntings: As an ancient property, Bamburgh has picked up a selection of ghosts across the centuries.  The Pink Lady is said to be a broken hearted Northumbria princess who dressed herself in her finest pink dress and threw herself to the rocks below when her father lied to her, telling her that her love had married someone else.  She is seen every seven years looking out at sea for his return.

Green Jane went to castle to beg for food, carrying her baby but was cruelly turned away by guards.  She was either pushed or fell down the stairs and both died.  A young woman carrying a bundle is seen on the Clock Tower steps who falls but when people come to her aid, she vanishes.

There have also been reports of clanking armour, chains and stomping feet connected with a ghostly knight on the grounds of the castle while the Tapestry Passage has the ghost of a young soldier who believed to have committed suicide or died from his wounds while the castle was used in World War II for convalescing soldiers.

7. Chillingham Castle

Chillingham Castle is the seat of the Grey family and their descendants, the Earls of Tankerville from the 13^th century until the 1980s.  The castle started out as a monastery in the 12^th century and in 1298 Edward I stayed there on his way to battle the Scottish army led by William Wallace.  The castle continued to be strategically important into medieval times and was repeatedly attacked leading to fortifications that were 12 feet thick in places. 

In 1617, James I, the first king of both England and Scotland, stayed in the castle when travelling between the two.  After this time, the need for the castle decline so the moat was filled and the battlements converted to residential areas.  A banquet hall and library were also added.  During World War II, the castle was used as army barracks and fell into disrepair afterwards.  In the 1980s it was purchased by Sir Humphrey Wakefield, 2^nd Baronet, who painstakingly restored the castle.

Haunting: Chillingham Castle has the reputation as one of the most haunted castles in the region.  The most commonly reported ghost is that of the ‘Radiant Boy’, a child ghost who appears in the Pink Room and whose cries of fear or pain are heard at midnight in the corridors.  The cries are particularly associated with a passage cut through the 10-feet thick wall to an adjoining tower and as the cries stopped, a bright light would appear followed by the figure of a young boy, dressed in blue.  The room was investigated and small bones with scraps of blue cloth around them were found and given a proper burial.  The boy did not reappear until Sir Humphrey started letting the room out when blue flashes of light were reported.

The spirit of Lady Berkeley, wife of Lord Grey, is also said to haunt the castle after her husband ran off with her own sister and left her with their daughter.  Her rustling dress is heard as she searches for her missing husband and a cold chill marks her presence.

The Inner Pantry area has another ghost, a pale lady in white.  At one time, this was where the silver was kept in the castle and a guardsman posted at night.  One night he was approached by a woman in white who asked for a glass of water which he went to fetch when he realised the castle was locked up and there was no way the woman could have entered.

The Minstrel’s Gallery overlooks what is now the Tea Room and here people have reported feeling sickly, getting bad headaches and even being pushed down the stairs.  This is blamed on a strange creature which appeared from beneath the floor when the Tea Room was being renovated, appearing as a giant toad which changed to a human then vanished!

8. Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle is the largest castle in Northumberland and was built by the Earl of Lancaster in 1313 on an earlier site.  It was later improved by John of Gaunt in the 14^th century.  It was damaged during the War of the Roses and fell steadily into decline.  It was composed of two d-shaped towers of four stories and originally had turrets 80 feet above the ground called the Lilburn and Constable Towers.

Hauntings: one ghost said to haunt the site is Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, builder of the castle who executed for treason by Edward II in 1322 and whose ghost has been seen walking around his home.  Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, also appears as a white lady as this was the last place she stayed before she was captured and taken to France to be imprisoned.  Luminous figures reported are also believed to be the spirits of former guards, still patrolling the ruins in case of attack.

9. Tynemouth Castle & Priory

Tynemouth Castle stands on a rocky headland called Pen Bal Crag overlooking Tynemouth Pier.  On the grounds is a Benedictine priory where early kings of Northumbria were buried along with the moated castle towers, gatehouse and keep.  The priory was founded in the 7^th century and in 651, Oswin, king of Deira, was buried here, later becoming St Oswin with his burial place being visited by pilgrims.  Malcolm III of Scotland is also buried at Tynemouth after his death at the battle of Alnwick in 1093.  Two years later, Robert de Mowbray took shelter there after rebelling against William II, who besieged the castle for two months.

At this time, the castle was earthen ramparts and a wooden stockade.  By 1296, the priory was granted royal permission to surround the monastery with stone walls and in 1390, a gatehouse and barbican were added.  Edward II took shelter in the castle in 1312, events which were written of my Christopher Marlowe in his play named for the king.

In 1538, the monastery was disbanded and lands taken by Henry VIII who granted them to Sir Thomas Hilton.  The monastic buildings were dismantled and the castle was updated with gun-ports.  The castle was the birth place of Henry Percy, 9^th earl of Northumberland.

By the end of the 19^th century the castle was used as a barracks with many added buildings but a lot of these were removed after a fire in 1936.  During World War II, it served as coastal defence covering the mouth of the River Tyne.

Hauntings: the main story of Tynemouth concerns Olaf, a Danish raider who washed up on the beach after a shipwreck and was saved and nursed back to health by the monks in the priory.  When his brother in turn raided the priory and castle, he defended it and both brothers died in the battle.  He has since been seen walking the grounds or sitting looking out to sea from an outcropping stone.

10. Blenkinsopp Castle, Greenhead

Blenkinsopp Castle is a partly, ruined country mansion incorporating the remains of a 14^th century tower house 1 mile from Greenhead, a grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument.  The manor was held by the Blenkinsopp family from the 13^th century when they started their building but by 1541, a report stated the roof was in decay and the tower in poor repair.  The family abandoned the castle in favour of other properties at Bellister Castle and Dryburnhaugh.  Renovations were completed in 1877 by William Blenkinsopp Coulson which created the large mansion house on the site and the new property was sold to Edward Joicey.  It was damaged by fire in 1954 and large parts were demolished on safety grounds.

Hauntings: there are two main ghosts associated with the property.  A phantom hound appears when the owner of the property is near death while the other ghost is a white lady said to be the wife of Bryan de Blenkinsopp.  She became upset when gossip said she had married him for his money so she hid the treasure causing her husband to fly into a rage and leave the castle.  She waited for years for his return but he came back so now she haunts the castle, still waiting for his return and guarding the treasure she hid.

Where are 10 Haunted Hotels in North East England?

Where are the Haunted Hotels of County Durham and Northumberland?  Who haunts them?  What is their history?  Here's a look at 10 of them...

1.       Beamish Hall, Beamish

Beamish Hall is a country house now converted to a hotel dating from the mid-18th century near the town of Stanley.  It is grade II* listed and stands in 24 acres of lands.  The original hall was built for the wedding of Isabella de la Leigh and Guiscard de Charron and was occupied by five generations of their family until the 1400.  During the Middle Ages, local aristocrats including the Percy family lived there.  In 1569 it was forfeit to the crown during the Rising of the North by Thomas Percy and in 1683 was purchased by Timothy Davison, a wealthy Newcastle merchant. His edlest son, William, married Dulcibella, daughter of John Morton rector of Sedgefield and their eldest daughter Mary married Sir Robert Eden, 3rd Baronet of Windlestone Hall.  In 1803, after the rebuilding of the hall, Catherine Eden, daughter of Sir John the 4th baronet, married Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of Whitworth Hall.  The Edens continued to extend the property and built a winter garden.  In 1949 following the death of Robert Shafto, the property was sold to the National Coal Board, later by the local Council and Beamish Museum now occupies part of the parkland which belonged to the Hall.

Hauntings: there are a variety of different hauntings cited in Beamish Hall.  There is the shade of an Edwardian lady in a pink hat who is seen in the Eden Lounge with her pets, a parrot and a cat.  Another female spirit was seen by a vet during a charity night, who is believed to have suffocated in a trunk after hiding to avoid a pre-arranged marriage.  Finally Mr Shafto himself has been seen around the corridors of the hotel, children are heard playing in the attic and a woman named Charlotte is seen in reception.

2.       Lord Crewe Arms Hotel, Blanchland

The Lord Crewe Arms in the picturesque village of Blanchland has been dated to 1165 and was used by monks from nearby Blanchland Abbey as a hiding place and hidden stairways and stone flagged floors can be seen.  The hotel was originally the abbey guest house.  It is named for Lord Crewe, the Bishop of Durham and was the hiding place of ‘General’ Tom Forster during the 1715 Jacobite Rising.

Haunting: it is the sister of Tom Forster, Dorothy, who is said to haunt the hotel.  It was Dorothy who hid her brother and saved his life, and to thank her (or not) he married her off to the Bishop of Durham.  Whether due to the terror of the rebellion or her unhappiness at her marriage, she remains in the building.  She is seen by guests in one particular room, wandering by the bed without saying a word.

3.       Lumley Castle, Chester le Street

Lumley Castle is a quadrangular castle dating from the 14^th century in Chester le Street, a grade I listed building belonging to the Earl of Scarborough and operated as a hotel.  It is named after Sir Ralph Lumley, who altered the family manor house into the castle in 1389 after returning from war in Scotland.  The family lost the lands when Sir Ralph was imprisoned and executed for plotting to overthrow Henry IV but his grandson regained it in 1421.  By the 19^th century, it was the residence of the Bishop of Durham after Bishop Van Mildert gave Durham Castle to the University before passing to the Earl of Scarborough, who still owns the property.

Haunting: the most famous ghost of the castle is Lily Lumley, wife of Sir Ralph.  She was thrown down a well on the grounds by two priests for rejecting the Catholic faith but told her husband she had left to be a nun.  Even famous cricketers staying there have been spooked by her visitations!

4.       Redworth Hall, Redworth

Redworth Hall is 8 miles from Darlington and dates from 1693.  It has long been associated with the Crosier and Surtees families with Lord Robert Surtees acquiring the hall in 1744 and remaining in his family until 1955.  It has retained many original features such as the Baronial Great Hall and an elaborate spiral staircase.  It is now a four star hotel, spa and wedding venue.

Hauntings: the ghost of a small child has been seen walking through the corridors of the hotel as well as appearing in digital photos taken inside.  Numerous visitors have reported being woken at night hearing a child screaming and others have reported the feeling that someone was jumping on their bed.  Rooms 7 and 14 are the most frequently mentioned in association with strange events.

5.       Whitworth Hall, Spennymoor

The estate of Whitworth dates from 1183 and was owned by the Lords of Whitworth until 1652 when it was sold to a Mark Shafto, a lawyer from Newcastle.  Twelve generations of the Shafto family lived there, including Bonnie Bobby Shafto of the famous ballad.  The Hall was large destroyed by fire in 1876 and the restaurant, at the time the library, is the oldest remaining part.  It was converted into a hotel in 1997.

Haunting: most of the reported hauntings focus on the restaurant, unsurprising as it is the remaining original part of the hall.  A man has been seen sitting at a table when no-one was meant to be there and books would fling themselves from shelves, even hitting guests.  The hallway leading to the restaurant is also noted for inexplicably cold.  There is also mention of Room 6 causing unease to staff and guests.

 

6.       Manor House Hotel, West Auckland

The Manor House was constructed in the 15th century and was said to be a hunting lodge of Henry VIII before becoming a family home to the Eden family, the Barons Auckland.  The seven trees outside the house were planted to commemorate the visit of the king, though only two now remain.  It was later converted into an orphanage in 1914 by Reverend Lomax and is now a hotel.

Hauntings: Room 34 has a locked wardrobe which has been reported to open by itself while a guest has reported being grabbed by the throat by a man wearing clothing like a monk.  Room 18 has reports of people being pushed around while a séance in the Knight’s Hall resulted in a child’s voice being heard on a walkie talkie.

7.       Schooner Hotel, Alnmouth

The Schooner Hotel started life in the 17^th century as a coaching inn and has had distinguished guests such as Charles Dickens, Basil Rathbone and even George III when Alnmouth was a busy port, before the storm of 1806 altered the course of the river and reducing its importance.  The building is a grade II listed, whitewashed building with black shutters three storeys high.  The hotel was used by smugglers where they had a cave in the cellar with a hidden door used to store their imports.

Hauntings: there is a bewildering array of ghosts in the hotel, enough to make it doubtful there are room for any guests!  The Poltergeist Society has awarded a special prize to the hotel as the Most Haunted Hotel in Great Britain with other sixty spirits reported.  The most commonly mentioned ones are; Room 17 where hands hold people down in bed by their throats; Room 30 where an invisible entity walks around the room while an RAF officer paces the corridors searching for someone to play cards with.  Another ghost, called Jonathan, comes from the smugglers times and is said to have killed a man in the hotel, perhaps for betraying him to the authorities.  There are also rumours of a murdered family in Room 28 and screams, whispers and other unexplained sounds are heard.

8.       Matfen Hall, Matfen

Matfen Hall was the seat of the Blackett baronets and dates from the 19^th century.    The original manor at West Matfen dates from the 13^th century and was owned by Philip de Ulcote.  It passed through his sisters and eventually came to John Douglas in 1680 whose grand-daughter married Sir Edward Blackett in 1757 bringing the property to the Blackett family.  The present house was built in 1828 by Sir Edward Blackett, 6^th Baronet and features a full-height Gothic hall.  Sir Hugh Blackett, the 12^th baronet, has converted the property to a hotel and country club.

Hauntings: the most famous ghost of the hotel is a blue boy who is seen around the hall crying and moaning in fear, usually around midnight.  It was particularly associated with Room 14 and when the noises are heard, a soft halo of light appears around an old four-poster bed in the room.  The sounds were traced to a passage cut into a wall and behind the wall was discovered the bones of a boy with fragments of blue clothing.  Another ghost is Mary, wife of Philip de Ulcote, who searchers for her husband after he ran off with her sister.  She appears broken hearted and the rustle of her dress can be heard on the turret stairs.

9.       Seaham Hall, Seaham

Seaham Hall was once owned by George Henry Robert Charles William Vane-Tempest, 5^th Marquess of Londonderry, acquired when he married Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest, one of the greatest heiress of the time.  The family used the hall only sparingly but the poet Lord Byron married Anne Isabella Milbanke in Seaham Hall in 1815 and Benjamin Disraeli visited in 1861.  The property became a hospital during World War I and is now a spa hotel.

Haunting: the Grey Lady who walks the cliffs near the hall on stormy nights is said to be Anne Isabella Milbanke, who married Lord Byron in the hall.  She only appears when the weather conditions are right.

10.   Ancient Unicorn Inn, Bowes

The Ancient Unicorn started life as a coaching inn dating from the 16^th century.  The inn was the setting for a poem called the Bowes Tragedy, concerning the daughter of family owning the Unicorn and the son of another family in the other pub in the village.  They fell in love but were kept apart when he fell ill and died, only for her to die shortly after and for them to be buried together in the same grave in the local churchyard.

Haunting: the ghosts of the Ancient Unicorn are different characters altogether.  An unknown boy of around 12 years of age is seen in the cellar of the building and there have been numerous reports of pranks being played, strange noises and ghostly touches, perhaps associated with the boy.  Or perhaps with the bearded man in a bowler hat often seen around the premises…