Ordsall Hall is believed by some to rank among the most haunted manor houses in the UK. Staff who've begun working there as skeptics have been forced to think again after experiencing inexplicable encounters, while visitors who've sneakily tried to stay after hours have swiftly changed their minds, frantically flashing their torches as they depart.
As someone who loves a good ghost story, I decided to pay a visit to the notorious Salford manor house at night, with candlelight and torches being my only guide. Although I've been to the historic hall in daylight, nothing could have prepared me for the creepiness that descends once the lights have gone out.
Dating back to 1177, Ordsall Hall features a breathtaking Tudor-era Great Hall, said to be one of the most haunted places in the building. It's here where you also begin to see how concerned the long-dead tenants were about keeping evil forces at bay, with visible etchings known as 'witch marks' intended to ward off witches.
After exploring the Great Hall, we headed into the infamous Star Chamber, named as such because of the stars that adorn its ceiling, The epicenter of much of the 'activity' in the house, our guide revealed this was where she'd experienced her first eerie incident, after the huge globe in the corner apparently began spinning on its own. Later that night, one of the visitors reported seeing the exact same thing.
In terms of named ghosts, fair-haired visitors apparently need to remain vigilant for the mischievous spirit of Sir John Radclyffe, who reportedly has a particular penchant for pestering blonde women.
The doorway between the Great Hall and Star Chamber is also said to be frequented by the 'White Lady', thought by some to be the ghost of Margaret Radclyffe, who in life served as a lady in waiting for Queen Elizabeth I. Devastated by the death of her brother John, Margaret's requests to return home were denied by the Queen, and she was buried in London after dying of a broken heart.
There are those, however, who believe she did come home, with her ghostly figure seen going up and down the stairs. There have also been frequent reports of a forlorn-looking woman, clad in what appears to be bridal attire, wandering around the garden at around 6am, right where a church used to stand.
We later headed upstairs, where a 'very grumpy' old man ghost has been heard grumbling and wandering between the two interlocking rooms, perhaps, as our guide joked, because there's now a cupboard there. Upon entering the ladies' bedroom, we were initially in for a shock after hearing a strange tapping sound from the cupboard. After a fair few shrieks, it quickly became apparent it was just a cheeky organiser stifling their giggles.
Although we ourselves didn't experience any real-life ghoulishness, this room has had its share of odd moments. Some time ago, a former employee was leaving after some 18 years and, after tearful goodbyes were shared, other members of staff were stunned to find what appeared to be a pistol shot in the window pane of the ladies' bedroom, fired from the inside.
The cupboard where the teasing organiser had lurked, which once served as a passageway, also contained some very spooky-looking handprints, reminiscent of the house from The Blair Witch Project.
Naturally, I decided to hop inside and shut the door and almost immediately regretted my bravado after inadvertently frightening myself when my bag brushed noisily against the wall. I couldn't imagine hiding there alone for more than a minute, joke or not.
We then went up a short flight of stairs to a nursery, which everyone in our group agreed had a much lighter, happier feel than other areas. Ordsall Hall is said to be haunted by a little girl whose presence is announced by a strong scent of rose and lavender.
In the 1960s, the two daughters of the then-caretaker family reported playing with a little girl called 'Celery', clad in a green Elizabethan-style dress. Initially dismissed as an imaginary friend, later research showed a child called Cecily Radcliffe had lived there, until her death at the age of five.
The one time a 'complete non-believer' former boss was reportedly ever 'freaked out' at the house was when they found themselves unable to get through a doorway as a small child was dancing around them, an incident which lasted for around ten minutes.
It was then time to head up to the - very dark and very creepy - attic, which contains portraits with unnervingly lifelike eyes and a doll straight out of the Annabelle movies. Unsurprisingly, it was here I began to feel a little uncomfortable and felt a genuine sense of relief when it was time to descend the shadowy staircase, back to the grander rooms of the house.
The creakiness made it tricky to tell where footsteps were coming from and, for one dreadful moment, I fancied an unseen figure was following close behind me. Panicked, I very nearly ran into a fellow visitor, immediately scolding myself for being so silly.
I'm not the only one to have experienced such nervous sensations in the attic. Our guide later shared that some feel a strong sense of negativity and unhappiness in these rooms, which would have once been used as the servants' living quarters.
I, unfortunately, didn't spot any ghosts during my time at Ordsall, but a fellow guest did report a door being inexplicably slammed in her face while walking around. Whether rude poltergeist or unusually fierce draft, we'll perhaps never know.
Jennifer Holland, Commercial Manager at Salford Museums & Galleries, told The Mirror: "I arrived at Ordsall Hall in 2018 as a non-believer, but over the years, the spirits of the Hall have played many tricks on me such as turning lights on and off, doors being locked behind me and a few unexplained noises.
"The Hall, however, continues to feel a warm and safe space to work in and I believe if there are Ghosts at the Hall they are happy we are here, caring for the building and making sure it is protected and restored."
She added: "Every morning I now say hello to them and treat them as friendly additions to the Hall. Other staff, more in tune with the paranormal have had friendly verbal greetings and regular sightings of the resident Ghosts, but none of us feel like they mean us any harm. They are simply friendly reminders that we work in a 800-year-old historic building."
Do you have a ghost story to tell? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
