Will you meet a ghost? (Tutbury Castle)

Member Name: Sarah_Louise

Product:	Tutbury Castle
Date:	14/05/03 (1044 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's haunted!, Nice place for a day trip, Its haunted!

Disadvantages: None that I can think of...., ....apart from the AA taking AGES to come and rescue us!

= = = WHAT WAS SARAH_LOUISE DOING AT TUTBURY? = = =

As some of you already know, Sarah_Louise is a huge fan of the paranormal. Having started a paranormal research society just before Christmas 2002 I’ve now got over 50 members who regularly attend overnight investigations into haunted locations around the country with me.

Sometime in early April I heard about a charity ghost hunt. It was due to be the worlds biggest ghost hunt and was to take place at Tutbury Castle.

On April 22nd I saw an episode of Most Haunted, this particular episode came from Tutbury Castle. It was one of the funniest episodes I’ve ever seen. Watching Phil Wyman and Yvette Fielding freak out at tapping noises on the window in the Great Hall made for great viewing. I then took great delight in taking the p*ss out of Phil after the show. You see normally he claims himself to be someone who “sits on the fence” when it comes to believing in the paranormal. He’s normally quite calm in ‘scary’ situations like that and normally is left to calm Yvette down. That is all but at Tutbury Castle. The speed those two ran out of the room when the tapping noises started, I tell you, it looked to be 0 to 60 in 0.5 second!

I thought it looked good there and so I was looking forward to spending the night there myself.

It was out of the blue, on April 23rd, when I received an email. The email was from a guy called Martin Jeffrey. I recognised his name but couldn’t quite fathom out who he was. So I proceeded to open the email. I then remembered. He runs the Fright Nights company. It was indeed off him. He’d heard I was a good paranormal investigator and was enquiring as to whether I’d like to do some filming for an event due to be taking part on April 30th. Never one for turning a filming opportunity down I eagerly replied with a resounding “yes!” It just so happened that I
was scheduled to be attending the Worlds Biggest Ghost Hunt on that very date at Tutbury Castle.

I was put in touch with the producer of the programme (who also is the producer of the Most Haunted Live programmes on Living TV). It all came together nicely (barring the bit when we broke down..... more on this later!) Myself and two of my members were to be filmed for the night. We filmed a video diary of the night along with being filmed by the proper film crew.

The night was a great success for everyone involved. They beat the world record with over 750 visitors and nearly 200 people reported experiencing something paranormal.

After midnight people started to leave, people were chucked out of the grounds at about 12:30am. Some people chose to camp the night just outside the castle grounds while others left completely. The night improved dramatically after the members of the public had left.

We were filmed just before being locked in the Undercroft. We were then left in there for an hour with the video camera. An hour later we were collected again and taken into the Great Hall and Kings Bedchamber. This was the bit I’d been looking forward too. Would we have a repeat performance of Most Haunted? I was hoping so! I was slightly worried though because I knew if we freaked out it’d be shown on the TV (it makes for interesting viewing doesn’t it?) I also knew that Phil Wyman would be watching. If I went and freaked out running around saying the f word like he had done while filming that particular episode of Most Haunted then it would only be fair if he’d taken the p*ss out of my too! I was hoping for some paranormal activity but I was also hoping that it didn’t scare me too much!

I won’t tell you what happened – for that you’ll have to watch the programme yourself. It’s going to be an hour and a half in length and is due to be shown on Living TV on July
1st. I don’t know what time yet. I’ll update this when I do know.

So, that’s enough about me, what about the castle?


= = = HISTORY = = =

Originally built in the 1070’s for one of William the Conqueror’s Barons, it has known, and been involved in some of the most dramatic events in almost 1,000 years of English history. A bloody place of siege and battle as well as a mighty prison holding Mary, Queen of Scots on three occasions.

The Castle has been visited by some of the greatest names in English history, including Henry IV, King John, Richard II and James I. Tutbury also offered shelter to Charles I and his nephew Prince Rupert during the Civil War for which it paid heavily because after the war ended Oliver Cromwell ordered an Act of Parliament to 4 be passed to dismantle the Castle that had harboured the king. Some of the ruins were repaired after the restoration in 1662 leaving the Castle as you see today.

With such a history it may come of no surprise to some of you that the castle has its fair share of ghosts….


= = = THE PARANORMAL = = =

As you’ll already know, the castle has its fair share of ghosts, the most famous ones include:

A phantom drummer boy - near the North tower a soft drumming sound can be heard, possibly coming from the ghostly drummer boy. If you hear the drumming it is said to be a good omen.
Unfortunately it did not bring good fortune for the drummer boy - he was killed by an arrow to the head while drumming the warning that the castle was under attack.
Another ghost of a child has been seen on occasions running past visitors of guests to the castle and on odd occasions touching them.

Annually, in the King's Bedchamber there are accounts of people reporting that they have seen orbs of light, strange spark effects and also someone holding their hand in this room.
Recently during a tour one g
entleman told the guide that he had really enjoyed a ghost walk and what made it special was the little boy in costume sitting at the top of the stairs. This was news to the castle's management team - there are no little boys in costume on the tour!

Another ghost at Tutbury Castle is that of a little old woman. Many visitors have seen her outside the Great Hall and floating outside the Hall's window. She has also been seen in other the areas of the castle including the top of the cellar where she has removed keys and moved furniture around.

If you’d like to go on a ghost hunt/supper yourself you can contact Fright Nights on:

0114 2513232

or email:
events@frightnights.co.uk

Tell them Sarah from North Wales Occult Research sent you - you never know, you might get a discount (its worth a try innit)! :o)

I’m hoping to conduct my own investigation here myself soon. You’d be more than welcome to join us if you’re feeling brave enough!


= = = WHY VISIT TUTBURY CASTLE? = = =

The castle caters for people other than paranormal investigators, in fact they host a wide variety of events. Forthcoming events include:

18th May - Sunday:
ROBIN HOOD DAY
Archery Demonstrations and the Mummers will perform the famous George and Dragon play which toured England throughout the Middle Ages. Robin Hood & his Merry Men will be there!

21st May to 24th May:
TUDOR WEEK
A week to celebrate the lives of the Tudors. Events on each day - call for details on the days you plan to visit.

Sunday 25th, Monday 26th - Bank Holiday:
THE WILD CLAYMORE CLAN
The Clan will be storming the Castle walls. Wild Gaelic speaking Highlanders are so exciting to watch and there are battle scenes and musket firing at this event.

Others include:

19.06 - Ascot Ladies Day
25.06 - Tudor Cookery
28.06 - Victoria's 80th Regiment

06.07 - Mediaevel Day
12.10 - Wedding Fayre
31.10 - Halloween Ball
01.11 - Viking Spectacular and Fireworks

Tutbury Castle features include:

· 3,000 years fortified site.
· 35 acres perched high for spectacular views.
· Some of the greatest names in English history stayed or lived here.
· Mary Queen of Scots imprisoned here.
· Award winning standard food
· Pretty, airy tea-room. Specialising in Cornish cream teas and light lunches.
· Children’s costumes available.
· Picnic site.
· Children’s playground.

They also provide the following for groups:

· Weddings and Special Occasions
· School and University Groups
· Special Interest Groups and Clubs
· Corporate Events and Training Days
· Ghost Hunts and Suppers
· Murder Mystery Evenings and Jack the Ripper NIghts


= = = OPENING HOURS = = =

Open Wednesdays to Sundays
11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Open Sundays and Bank Holidays

Open Easter Sunday to mid-September.


= = = PRICES = = =

I'm not sure how much it is to enter the castle on a normal basis. I can't find it on the website.

For the Worlds Biggest Ghost Hunt you had to pay £3.30 or £5.50 if you chose to camp there for the night.


= = = FACILITIES = = =

~ The Queen's Garden Tea Room ~
Open for light lunches and old-fashioned teas, visitors can also, on occasion, enjoy the tastes and smells of Tudor recipes.

~ Gift Shop ~
A majority of the gifts and cards you see in the gift shop are unique to the Castle being specially commissioned in 2000.
A funny incident occurred in the shop involving Derek Acorah, the spiritualist medium, while they were filming Most Haunted, typical Derek moment I tell you!

~ The Secret Staircase ~
Early in the year 2000, during the restoration project, the Castle gave up o
ne of its many secrets by revealing a secret staircase behind a cupboard. With the last few treads re-built visitors can now go up this extraordinary stairway right through the floor and in to the Great Hall.

~ The Great Hall ~
Charles I spent much time in this room, some of it with his nephew Prince Rupert at the start of the Civil War. The fireplace is reputed to have been built specially for King Charles on his instruction. After the ravages of Cromwell and the restoration of Charles II, the King visited this room and no doubt considered how it had offered shelter to his martyred father.
In this room you are able to walk about and know you are seeing how a room of that period looked and felt. Maybe you'll experience something paranormal?

~ Healing Herbery ~
A herbery such as you see at Tutbury would have been an essential part of life within the castle walls. It is likely a herbery would have existed within the first few years of the castle being built, providing flavouring for foods and medicines as well as perfumes and cosmetics. The range of herbs grown was surprisingly varied with influences from far shores brought to England by Crusaders and trade ships. Although England had fallen in to the Dark Ages after the Romans left, not all they had taught us was forgotten and the skills of the herbalist continue today.


= = = HOW DO I GET THERE? = = =

~ Directions ~

By Road:
Tutbury Castle is situated conveniently near the A50 road, accessed from Junction 24a on the M1 Motorway or Junction 15 on the M6.

(NB. Don’t rely on the AA in this neck of the woods – we broke down on the M1 (or the M6, I’m not sure, it was a motorway though I know that much!). We were due to be meeting Ross, the producer, to run through the filming schedule and such like at 3pm however we broke down at 2:30pm and didn’t get to the castle until 6:00pm! Ah well, thank God for mobile phones,
poor Ross was having mini-panic attacks as to where we were!

By Public Transport:
You can get a train from nearby Hatton and Bus service from Burton-upon-Trent.

The car park takes up to 300 cars and coach parking is available.


= = = SPECIAL NEEDS = = =

Being an 11th Century Castle there are very obvious difficulties in terms of access to some areas, they do try to provide visitors who are disabled with the best possible visit.

The path can take a wheelchair on the flat from the top car park right to the main body of the building where there is a ramp and then double doors into the tea-room. The tea-room has the gift shop within it. Both wheelchair and frame users will find the tea-room accessible.
The main compound of the Castle is grassy and flat (bumpy in parts) so in dry weather the whole compound, ruins and box gardens are accessible.

The Herbery is a sensory garden and entrances are made so a wheelchair or frame can get right into the herbery. The same applies to the boxed flower gardens.

The Great Hall of the Castle is not accessible as stairs are the only access, but they have a policy that a guide will go down to the tea-room or terrace with artefacts and spend time with a disabled person, answering questions and explaining elements of the Castle that may be of interest.

Toilets with bars can be found in the main car park.

Guide dogs are welcomed and water is provided.


= = = GROUP VISITS = = =

You can book for group visits (e.g. school trips) and attend lectures on:
· The Curator, Lesley Smith talks about the Tudors
· Various Speakers talking about the Vikings
· Various Speakers talking about the Late Medievals
· Dr. Gareth Williams British/English currency British Museum
· Lesley Smith talking about sex and contraception in the 1580s Curator (suitable for 16+) (I wonder how many people attend this lecture?!)


And many more topics.


= = = MORE INFORMATION = = =

www.tutburycastle.com

www.worldsbiggestghosthunt.com

http://www.frightnights.co.uk/pages/tutbury.ht m

http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/Castles/Tutbury. htm

http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/ghostwalks/

and last, but by no means least, you can read what happened to us at Tutbury Castle and see a photograph we took of some orbs in the Great Hall here:

www.occultresearch.chaosmagic.com

(Click on "NWOR Investigations" and follow the link to our "Paranoramal Investigations")

Although if you don't want the surprise ruining don't read it until after you've seen the programme! :o) Although there are bits that happened that I've not mentioned in the report. Plus of course we caught at least one orb on video camera so you'll just have to watch the programme to see that!

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