The Star, Acton by Nantwich

The Star has a very colourful history attached to it. This Inn dates back to either the late 16th century or early 17th century. Its earlier name was The Stirrup Cup or House. I do have a list of some of the old landlords of The Star but not from its earlier name. This old coaching inn still has the mounting block outside and although it has been extended and altered over the years, it’s still true to a very fine country inn. It was reported that Lord Byron's head of command gathered here the evening before the legendary Battle of Nantwich.

REPORTED ACTIVITY: 2007

• Lady in white who walks through the original part of the bar.
• A sinister presence on the 2nd floor, dark shadows, doors opening on their own.
• a man died in the bar area.
• Male presence in the bar area (it is thought it is an old landlord).

2008

• Present landlord Jim, cellar light turned on when he was in the cellar, the door from the bar was locked and know one else was with him.
  
• Liz (Landlady) experienced 'something' pass
  behind her which blocked the bar light off.
  
• Gill (SA team member) took the following photo in the dining room when interviewing Jim. This was also very close to where Liz had her experience.


• June 1st - Jim reported that one of the pumps in the cellar had been turned off. He commented that he NEVER turns the pumps off at any time. On inspection by us the switch was not loose and could not have been accidentally knocked off.

CASE REPORT: START 1AM - FINISH 9.00AM

Areas Investigated::

The main bar area and the second floor accomodation.

Evidence collected:

• EVP's x 4
• Dark shadow which was experienced by all present.
• Partial manifestation of man leaning against the bar. He had a flat cap and white shirt on.
• Loud bang at bar area.
• Red streek of light which was witnessed by 2 people present.
• Knocks on request.
• Dowsing- Layline passes through the corner if the property, and possible portal/vortex.
• Cold spots (althought there was a skylight above us that could rule of this.
• Extensive 'spirit light' activity.

Conclusion:
Upper floor accommodation - During the early evening walk round, Steve and Jacquie reported that as soon as they turned into the corridor, there was a strong feeling of something/one in the corridor. When they dowsed the area, that feeling remained so we were certain we would see or hear something during our vigils.

Also on dowsing the upper floor, it revealed a lay line cutting across the corner of the property emitting from the far right room (front of property). And a high energy field was located close to the bathroom. When we moved upstairs for the later vigil, the corridor that had originally felt foreboding, now felt calm, and noting was recorded here.

Ground floor bar areas - The main bar felt peaceful and quiet. It was all together different when we moved to the adjacent front bar and rear room. Immediately, the room felt busy, like a party atmosphere, or as you would expect a busy bustling pub.

EVP’s were also recorded in here and all people reported a moving dark shadow that seamed to circle the table. Kath witnessed a partial apparition at the bar mainly head and shoulders of a man standing, leaning against the bar with a flat cap. moustache and white shirt.

Cold blasts were felt at the rear bar vigil but on inspection a skylight was located and so this could rule out the feeling of cold air.

We are certain the Star DOES have paranormal activity, and think a second visit would be worth while.

The Ye Olde Vaults, Nantwich

The SA team investigated The Ye Olde Vaults, Nantwich.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

Main Bar

• a shadow in the window alcove (street side)

The Cellar

• electrical disturbances
• footsteps, banging and knocking
• tinckling of glasses
• physical experiences (touching, pushing)
• audibles
• switches being tuned off
• scratching and tapping.
  
  CASE REPORT: START 10.30PM - FINISH 3.00AM
  
  Areas Investigated
  

The cellar and the main bar.

Evidence collected:

• One good orb photo (see left)
  
• EVP


• Loud sounds of creaking in the main bar.

Conclusion
Is the Old Vaults haunted? The people who work there
think so, but the majority of the SA team did not find anything conclusive to support the eye witness accounts.

The Leopard, Burslem

This was once known as The Savoy of the midlands. It is over 300 years old. The building started life about 1640 when some cottages were knocked together. Helen Wedgewood took the building over in 1740. She turned it into a hotel and public house. The pub was bought in 1872 by James Norris when the building was in decline. He renovated the building and an extension was added in the early `1900’s. Another 57 bedrooms were added, so that made 102 rooms over 6 floors.This ex Grand Hotel now has derelict rooms, 58 bedrooms have just been reopened after being sealed up between 1931 and the 1950’s. Tunnels have been found in the cellar.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• Leigh is said to walk the cellars. She was the local witch.
• Mary, an owner from the mid 1800’s
• A mudered woman who had her throat cut by the tall gentleman.
• A sinister tall man with a goatie beard
• Drunken, ugly old woman in the cellars.
• A man named James walkes the building
• Children in the cellar.
• Poltergeist activity e..g. Bricks and glasses thrown at customers.
• Physical attack e.g. People have been held by their throats against walls.
• A pack with the devil.

CASE REPORT: START 9PM - FINISH 6AM

Areas investigated

• Main bar areas
• Outer extension now derelict.

Evidence collected

• Polterguise activity in dissused area.
• Audubles "I have done nothing"
• Orbs

Conclusion

This was an organised event. We deffinately felt that the location warranted another visit and that the location had paranormal activity.

The Knights Grange, Winsford

The Grange appears under this name for the first time in 1325/6 as the Grange of Knytes. These were young men working on the farm. They were labourers rather than scholars and they had not taken there full vows.
Lady Mary Cholmondeley (1563-1625) bought the property and she built the brick mansion you see today. The old farmhouse is now a fully licensed public house and what is left of the out buildings form a sports centre.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• Ida (a nun) has been seen sitting on a chair by the front door.
• After closing time the landord has heard tables and chairs moving downstairs across the stone floor .
• A woman has been seenon the first floor of the building.
• Shadows have been seen in variouse parts of the building.
• A customer’s dog (early 2007) would not stop growling at the fireplace in the lounge.
• Pool balls move on their own.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 2.00AM

Areas investigated

• Loft compartment
• Main bar areas
• 2nd floor accommodation

Evidence collected

A figure standing by the patio doors located in area 1 . This figure was described as a hooded cloaked figure and their cape was flowing as if the wind had caught it. Kath checked out the are and nothing was found. When she returnd to her location (in the pool room) the figure could be clearly see again.

Conclusion

With the exception of the above nothing conclusive was found here.

The Sweatnham Arms

The Swettenham Arms dates from the 16th century and was once a nunnery. It was used as a resting place for weary funeral parties to stay overnight. The coffin would stay in the Inn overnight and the next day, it would be taken to the churchyard via an underground tunnel.This tunnel was blocked up many years ago because of the foul air.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• Sarah is the reported ghost. She is 35 years old, black hair and looks sad. She is said to be a nun.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 5AM

Areas investigated

• Main bar areas
• The woods behind the pub

Evidence collected

• EVP's x4
• Few orb photo's

Conclusion

Nothing out of the ordinary happened here. The EVP's were very feint and you could not make out what was being said.

The Boot and Slipper, Wettenhall

This is a black and white 17th century building. It has now been extended. It was first know as The Boot and Slipper but was changed to The Royal Oak during the late 1870’s to 1880’s. It was then changed back to The Boot and Slipper. Before the extension, part of the pub was a house. Ray, an ex landlord use to live in the house while working in the pub with his family.

REPORTED EVIDENCE

• 2 men have been seen in the pub, both are thought to be ex landlords.
• Cellar doors slams shut.
• Doors open and close, staff names are called out. Noises heard in main bar early in the morning, when owner investigated, the empties bin had been moved and a bottle of scotch smashed on the floor.
• Staff have seen a man sitting in the corner of the bar area.

CASE REPORT: START 10PM - FINISH 4AM

Areas investigated:

• main bar area and the cellar

Evidence collected:

• Audibles 'murmuring'.
• Door leading to the new dinning room locked itself.
• EMF reading very high in the archway in the main bar.
• Shuffling noises in the cellar.
• Rapping's in the cellar.

Conclusion

Although witnesses have reported a large amount sighting in this pub, but although we experienced small amounts of activity we cant categorically say that the pub is haunted.

Bell 'O' The Hill, Tushingam

This black and white Coaching Inn dates back (in part) from the 14th century.It lies near the highway that in 1668, the Harrison Gang (who were also highwaymen) used when they stole horses. A previous landlord had a pet duck and there is a vary famouse story which surrounds the ducks demise.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• The ghost of a Cavalier and the pet duck have been reported.
• Also the feeling of being watched.
• Battery powered Christmas decorations have a life of their own.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 6AM

Areas investigated

• Main bar area and dinning room.

Evidence collected

• Audibles, 'Hello' and 'Growl' both a male.
• Batteries lost power

Conclusion

Once again a fantastic location, but we did not experience anything we could call 'Paranormal'

The White Lion, Barthomeley

The Inn dates from 1614. Prior to the 19th century this building was used as an office for John Crewe to collect rents and by clerk’s for the parish it was sometimes referred to as the Clerk’s Cottage. Across the road towards the Church steps there was also another Inn called The Punchbowl but this was demolished 1867. Inside the churchyard was also a school. The church was the site of a famous BARTHOMELY MASSACARE. On Christmas Day 1643 Royalists surrounded the church in the village, which was occupied by at least 12 Parliamentarians. The Cavalier soldiers set the building alight then stabbed or slit the throats as they ran out.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• Figures have been seen in and outside of the building.
• Objects move.
• Doors slam shut.
• Rapping's on the font door.
• A large dog is said to haunt the lane close to the village hall (the old rectory drive)
• A woman in white walks the church field.
• Randle of Crewe is said to walk the third floor of the rectory until it was demolished.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 6AM

Evidence collected

• A couple of orb photo's
• Possible photo of mist?

Conclusion

This is without a doubt an outstanding building, a great pub which has a fabulous history attached to it. Unfortunately on this occasion we did not experience anything 'paranormal'.

The Raven, Darnhall Nr Winsford

Located between Winsford and Church Minshall the pub was once a gamekeeper's lodge.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

It is reported to have at least 8 ghosts, but the 2 who are most seen are both male and both called strangely enough ...TOM.

Old Tom haunts the main bar area and has been see sitting in a chair my the fireplace.

• And then there is Young Tom who is a teenage boy who died in the stairs accending to the accomodation floor.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 4AM

Ares investigated:

• main bar areas
• Function room at rear of property.

Conclusion:
Most of the evening did not pruduce any activity whatsover. THEN the team decided to do one more session in the main bar which produced polterguise activity. The team positioned themselves at at able close to thefireplace. On calling out, the oweners dog started to bark frantically in the location of the door which gave access to the stairs. Something flew the air and hit the fireplace. On close inspection it was found to be a George v old penny dated 1926 (see image below).

The Brighton Bell, Winsford

This pub was originally called the Railway Hotel but the property started its life as a farm. This location was the scene of a train crash in April 1948. A soldier realised that the train was not stopping at his designated stop, he pulled the communication cord, slowed the train down and jumped off. Meanwhile the City of Notingham locomotive was fast approaching and collided with the train. many injured passengers were given shelter in the pub and homes close by.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

Staff have reported the feeling of being watched.
Glasses have moved across the bar on their own.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 6AM

Areas investigated:

main bar area, dinning room and function room.

Evidence collected:

• Chair fell off a bench.
• Audible 'a growl' and a 'sigh'.
• Rattling of bottles behind the bar.
• Shadows seen along the bar wall.
• Corridor to the kitchen had a negative feeling to it.

Conclusion:

Considering the pub had been witness to this terrible train accident we did expect to get a little more activity Some of the finding could be accounted for natural phenomena.

The Plumbers Arms, Chester

This very small pub is tucked away in a little side street close to the Roman Amphitheatre. It was known for some years as Fagin's.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• A phantom of a woman has been seen to float through the wall in the upper front bedroom.
• Noises in the main bar area.

CASE REPORT: START 11PM - FINISH 4AM

Areas Investigated

• 2nd floor bedroom (front of building)
• Main bar area.

Evidence collected

• 1 or 2 orb photos.

Conclusion
A very quiet night in all. No conclusive evidence that the pub was haunted.

The 3 lamps, Crewe

The Three Lamps used to be a hotel and backs onto the Crewe Lyceum Theatre which was built in 1882. Originally there stood a Roman Catholic church which was built for the Irish immigrant who came to Crewe for the building of the railway network. The graveyard for the church was located at the side of The theatre and an original gravestone from this was found in the cellar. Many actors and audience members used to drink in the pub after a show. Unfortunately we do not have an exact date the pub was built, but it is located on the OS maps in 1756.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

• A Monk has been heard chanting while walking through a wall where a door used to be, which backs onto the Theatre.
  
• the Landlord has been awoken to the sound of loud banging noises in the bar area.
  
• A barrel moved on its own in the cellar.
  
• The kettle boils dry and the microwave door opens in the kitchen.
  
• Other staff members have also had experiences.
  
• The landlady’s handbag disappeared and reappeared in the kitchen hanging next to the fly zapper in the kitchen.
  
• Other items disappear or move around.
  
• A shadow has been seen in the cellar.

CASE REPORT

START 11PM - FINISH 3.30AM

Areas Investigated::The main bar area and the second and third floor accomodation.

Evidence collected:

EVP's x 2

Light anomolies

Team member called out for entitiy to do something for us..... the gas cylender then expired (it was half full and totally emptied) in the celalrs middle room, now this could only happen if someone was pulling a pint upstairs (no one was there).

Cellar door bangs shut (door is built form solid oak and is very heavy).

Conclusion

We have performed 3 investigations to date at the 3 Lamps and there seems to be an unresfull entity there. Maybe this could be due to the fact that the pub has a very high turnover of landlords and this is having a negative effect on the property?

Update

15th September 2008 - Pub has now re-opend and has been re-named "Oscars". SA are planning a visit very soon.

26 June 2008 - Pub is now closed again, this will have been the 4the time in 2 years.