November, 2006

By CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN

On driving up to the enchanting Green Farm Hotel in Thorpe Market on a cold, blustery and dark November evening, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the carefully lit sixteenth century farmhouse, peering out from some very atmospheric looking trees. Entering the large cosy bar, already bustling with fellow ghost hunters I felt the anticipation growing, and could tell it was going to be a good night.

Members of our hosts, the IC Ghosts team were handing out packs, providing us with information about the evening ahead. A group of mediums and paranormal investigators who hold clairvoyant evenings and ghost hunting experiences at affordable prices, the goal of IC Ghosts is to fund a paranormal teaching centre in East Anglia.

Green Farm Hotel, Thorpe Market.

One thing was evident from the information they provided; we weren’t going to be told any details about the history of the building, or who the resident ghosts were; we would have to find that out for ourselves.

Instructions we had received beforehand about not wearing jewellery or perfume, and making sure clothing was dark so that it wouldn’t interfere with any ghost manifestations gave me the impression that the ghost-hunting would be taken seriously.

Split into small groups of 8 or 9, we were all sent to our first location in the building. Our medium and group leader Juliet made everyone instantly feel at ease, although as I realised our team would be the first to progress to the cellar my heart rate began to increase. We proceeded down the creaking stairs with caution, to take our seats amid the dust and damp.

Team members were given pieces of equipment to monitor; an EMF meter, thermometer, and dousing rods. I sat quietly, waiting for my senses to be challenged. My partner David was standing in the corner of the room, asking questions silently in his head. After several minutes, he announced that he had latched onto a gentleman called George who used to work in the house and who seemed very friendly. The other member of our team who had the rods was corroborating David’s results with movement of her own, and the EMF and thermometer fluctuated.

When our time was up, I was surprised how relaxed I had felt in such an obviously spooky part of the building.

Our next location was the bar, and I was perplexed to find this room in use by members of the public. However I soon understood that this would be our clairvoyance session with world-renowned medium, Kevin Hales. I had never experienced this, other than on Colin Fry’s ‘Sixth Sense’ and so was interested to see it happening close-hand.

His mannerisms seemed very strange as he connected with his young spirit guide, yet soon he was providing some of the team with specific information they were responding to positively. One team member got very emotional, and it was obvious that the information given was credible.

Then Kevin turned to my partner, and spoke of a man who wanted to communicate with him. I listened intently as he provided David with information that was fairly accurate, and as the session ended I was left even more intrigued. Over an excellent dinner I was able to hear how my team members had become interested in the paranormal, why they had decided to attend the event, and lots of ghost stories.

Using dousing rods in the Paston room.

We were then sent to Lady Emma’s room, a beautifully decorated bedroom which had a very warm and welcoming feeling. Sitting on the bed, sofa and floor, the team waited for activity. Soon the dousing rods became active again, and it was felt that there was a young boy and girl in the room – one team member could see the young girl in the corner of the dressing-table mirror. Try as I might both with the naked eye and my camera lens, I could not see anything unusual in the room.

However on moving to the corner by the mirror I felt a pressure on my back, as the previous sitter had said the young girl was leaning on each of the guests, as if in a hug. I tried to be objective, but I was definitely feeling something. However, mindful of the way our minds work I have put this down to suggestion, as I can’t be one hundred percent certain.

Paston was the penultimate room we visited. With a grand four-poster bed and dark fabrics and wallpaper, this room seemed less inviting. All the team members were less comfortable here, and the dousing rods picked up on a gentleman who had died from a heart condition, but who seemed unfriendly. One team member, Mandy, was understandably alarmed when she felt a kick to her thigh. With no other people close to her this was considered to be a paranormal event, and the tension in the room rose.

Our senses were jolted again as Mandy’s mobile phone rang, sending her into further anxiety as she had turned this off before she entered the investigation. Several members of the team - including myself - watched her switch the phone off again and we continued with the investigation; preparing for our last location, the Paston bathroom.

Just as we were about to enter, we heard running water. Rushing in, we discovered that the shower had turned itself on. I stood amazed as the water continued to flow for a number of seconds before turning to a trickle and stopping. I knew that no-one had been in the bathroom. I had been standing by the only entrance, and it was empty when we went in.

The shower in the Paston bathroom.

We all squeezed ourselves into the unusual bathroom, which included a small flight of stairs up to an attic space. Waiting in anticipation following the activity from the shower, faint whistling was heard and cold and hot spots were felt. However no presence was picked up with the dowsing rods, and our enthusiasm began to dwindle as the rain got heavier and the hour got later.

We were then all amazed to hear the same electronic jingle as we had heard earlier, and Mandy pulled her glowing mobile out of her bag once more, her expression turning to one of worry. We had all seen Mandy turn her mobile off, and going back down to the bar to discuss the evening’s events with the whole group, I was almost, almost convinced it had been paranormal.

On sharing stories, it was surprising how many were similar and how many were confirmed by the owners of the pub, who take the ghostly activity in their stride. Lady Emma’s room is often seen to have a face looking from the window or a figure by the fireplace. The building also used to have connections with a monastery, and a monk is often seen by guests.

In some ways I was disappointed that I had not come up with any information, sights, sounds or feelings that tied in with the known apparitions in the beautiful location. But I’m still learning, and I’m still determined to stay sceptical until something really truly convinces me (and probably scares my eyebrows off at the same time.)

All in all a very positive, interesting investigation. The I C Ghosts team certainly know how to organise a ghost-hunting event, and I don’t think anyone left there feeling disappointed. I certainly didn’t!

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