Haunted Plymouth E-Book

Kevin Hynes

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 145

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

From heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, manifestations and supernatural phenomena, to first-hand encounters with phantoms and spirits, this collection of spooky sightings from around the city of Plymouth is guaranteed to make your blood run cold. Richly illustrated with over 100 pictures, Haunted Plymouth contains a chilling range of tales. From the ghost of Sir Francis Drake on Plymouth Hoe, poltergeist activity in one of the city's Elizabethan inns and the shade of a lady in white at Widey Court, to French prisoners of war at Devonport Dockyard and a phantom pair legs at a Mutley house, this gathering of ghostly goings-on is bound to captivate everyone interested in the paranormal history of Plymouth and will chill all but the sturdiest of hearts.

Leseprobe

HAUNTED

PLYMOUTH

Merchant’s House, Plymouth.

HAUNTED

PLYMOUTH

Kevin Hynes

Dedicated to the memory of John Charles Hallybone (1949–2009)

First published 2010

Reprinted 2012

The History Press The Mill, Brimscombe Port Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2013

All rights reserved © Kevin Hynes, 2010, 2013

The right of Kevin Hynes to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

EPUB ISBN 978 0 7509 5438 9

Original typesetting by The History Press

Contents

About the Author

Introduction & Acknowledgements

1The Historic Barbican

2The City

3Outside the City

Afterword

Bibliography & Further Reading

‘All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.’

Edgar Allan Poe

Derry’s Clock Tower and the old Plymouth Theatre Royal. (Courtesy of Derek Tait)

About the Author

Kevin Hynes was born and brought up in Plymouth. His interest in ghosts and the supernatural stretches back to his early childhood. For the past ten years Kevin has been actively investigating the paranormal, which includes spending time at a wide array of haunted locations throughout the UK. Previously he has been involved with several paranormal groups, contributing to the running of charity nights and ghost walks, and has appeared on local television and radio in relation to his work.

He co-founded Supernatural Investigations (UK) with the aim of conducting serious paranormal research. Kevin also founded Haunted Plymouth, which specialises in Plymouth ghost walks.

www.supernaturalinvestigations.org.uk

www.hauntedplymouth.com

Kevin Hynes on Plymouth Hoe, 2010.

Introduction & Acknowledgements

Plymouth is a city rich in history, atmosphere and its fair share of ghosts, ghouls and hauntings. Much like the Pilgrim Fathers who set sail from Plymouth in 1620, Haunted Plymouth embarks upon a paranormal voyage that will help you to discover why this ancient port has such a wide variety of supernatural phenomena.

In researching this book I have uncovered a wealth of paranormal history associated with the city. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, the book features both old and new ghost stories, as well as exclusive interviews with eyewitnesses and previously unpublished investigation accounts carried out by the author and the Supernatural Investigation (UK) team.

I would like to thank the following people for their assistance and help with the compilation of this book. My appreciation and special thanks must go to my colleagues in Supernatural Investigations (UK): Stuart and Becky Andrews, Clare Buckland, Jason Higgs, David Hallybone, and Damian and Francesca Haydon for all their contributions, time and effort, not to mention the countless paranormal investigations we have undertaken together as an active investigation group. It has been an inspirational and enjoyable journey.

Thanks to Byron Jackson, founder of Haunted Devon (www.haunted-devon.co.uk); Derek Tait for his assistance with the photographs; Patricia Duff from Heart FM; Amanda Percival, owner of Shirley Valentine’s; Jenny Allen, my sister; Liz Thurkettle, friend and fellow Supernatural Investigation (UK) investigator; Rose MacInnes from Black Friars Distillery; Rob from Chris Robinson’s Gallery on New Street; The Tudor Rose Tea Room on New Street; Duncan Jago at Reel Cinema Plymouth; Diane, owner of Poppy’s Guest House; Vicky Pope at Boringdon Hall; and the many more individuals who have given me their time and ghostly stories.

Above all, I would like to thank my parents, Viv and Des Hynes, my wife Gina and my two fantastic children, Sean and Chloe, for their patience and understanding with regard to my passion for the paranormal. Also to all my family and friends – you know who you are.

All photographs in this publication, unless otherwise stated, are copyright of the author. I have made every effort to contact copyright holders and gain permission for the use of any copyright material, but apologise if I have inadvertently missed anyone out.

Kevin Hynes, 2010

one

The Historic Barbican

The Elizabethan House

In the late fifteenth century, Plymouth was a prosperous, bustling port due to an influx of ships and crew, not to mention privateers, craftsmen and merchants who flocked to the seaport. The need for new housing was imperative; this led to the development of New Street. A number of the properties were purposely built for the likes of sea merchants and sea captains, who relied upon the proximity of the sea for their livelihood.

The Elizabethan House on the Barbican dates from 1584 and is a restored captain’s dwelling now open to the public. Even today it is not hard to imagine the likes of Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake or Captain Cook strolling down the narrow cobbled streets which line the Barbican.

The Elizabethan House, New Street.

The most well-known story is from an archaeologist at the Plymouth Museum who had an unexpected experience on a very cold, dank October evening in 1983. The gentleman had arrived early to prepare for the evening’s lecture. It was around dusk when he first entered the Elizabethan House and made his way up the old winding staircase. As he ascended the stairs he heard a most peculiar sound, so he hurried to find out where this strange noise was emanating from. As he entered one of the upper floor rooms he saw, to his amazement, a small wooden child’s cradle rocking from side to side all by itself, as if some invisible hand was rocking the cradle at a steady pace. At this point the archaeologist turned heel and hurried back down the winding staircase, feeling quite unnerved by what he had seen. By now a number of guests had started to arrive, and he felt compelled to inform them of what, only moments earlier, he had just witnessed up on the upper levels of the Elizabethan House. He even managed to convince a number to join him upstairs to see if the child’s cradle would again move freely of its own accord. So, once again, the lecturer ascended the wooden stairs, followed by a handful of his guests. They entered the room and stood around the child’s cradle. At this point the cradle was stationary and everyone talked amongst themselves, joking about the situation, but the laughter was cut short as the cradle did indeed start to rock once again from left to right.

Cobbled streets in the Barbican, full of history, legend and tradition.

The wooden infants’ cradle in the Elizabethan House.

Local legend states that the ghost of an infant child has been seen within this small wooden cradle. This has been witnessed only for a brief moment and then the apparition suddenly vanishes.

The figure of a young girl aged around eight has been seen sitting in the corner of the first-floor room. A number of people have seen her looking out of the window whilst they have been walking around the upper floor of this building, and passers-by in the street have been drawn to look up at this window. On a number of occasions passers-by have caught a glimpse of this child looking back at them.

Early photograph of the wooden cradle. (Courtesy of Derek Tait)

The window from which the phantom girl has been sighted.

Furniture in the Elizabethan House.

There are many reports of cold spots within the Elizabethan House, and even on a very hot summer’s day it is claimed that certain areas become icy cold, even if only for a brief moment.

Certain members of staff have commented that while on the ground floor, they have heard items of furniture being dragged around the upper levels, although upon inspection nothing is reported to be out of place.

Number 34 New Street

Just a short distance from the Elizabethan House is No. 34 New Street; this quaint and attractive building is home to Chris Robinson’s Gallery. I have visited this location on numerous occasions and, being a keen local historian, find the collection of books, photographs and pictures that are sold at these premises absolutely fascinating.

On one of my visits I had a very intriguing conversation with a gentleman named Rob, who has worked at the gallery for the past twenty years. Our conversation turned towards the supernatural and it was at this point that I enquired if Rob had ever encountered anything of a spooky nature himself whilst working at this fascinating location. He recalled to me a couple of events that he could not explain, beginning with an unnerving experience that occurred almost twenty years previously.

It was around eleven in the evening and Rob had decided to stay late to finish off some stencil work he had begun earlier in the day. He was working on the first floor of the building and the gallery had been closed for a number of hours. No one else was in the building at this time and everything on the ground floor was locked up and secure. All was quiet until the silence was suddenly broken by the sound of heavy footsteps running at pace down the old spiral staircase. Rob stated that the sound gave him a bit of a fright and recalled that the noise was so deafening that it sounded like a rugby player running down the stairs; he could even feel the vibration underfoot. Rob immediately jumped up and gave chase, running down the wooden staircase after the ‘intruder’. By the time he entered the gallery and through to the main building entrance there was no sign of anyone; the door was still securely locked and there was no evidence that anyone had entered, or left, the building. Rob then carried out a thorough search of the entire building, even checking the cellar area. There was no rational explanation for who or what had been responsible for the thundering footsteps, and racing down the staircasewould have been quite a task as you really have to take your time manoeuvring up or down them.

New Street, Barbican, c. 1890. (Courtesy of John Van der Kiste)

A view along New Street.

Chris Robinson’s Gallery at No. 34 New Street.

A couple of years after this event Rob received a visit from a lady, who told him that she had lived in the property many years before it became a shop. She enquired if it was OK to have a look around the building, to rekindle some old memories; Rob was more than happy for her to do so. The lady then asked if Sambo was still around. Rob explained that he had been working there for a number of years and was not aware of anyone called Sambo – to which the lady replied that Sambo was not a person, but a ghost. Rob immediately remembered the experience he had had a number of years previously, but before he retold his own experience he asked the lady who Sambo was and how she knew that he was indeed a ghost. The woman told Rob that she had experienced some very odd things whilst living at No. 34 New Street and none more so than the sound of someone running down the old spiral staircase, even though at the time no one else was in the dwelling. The lady called upon a friend who was a sensitive and, as she walked around the building, she immediately picked up on a young boy named Sambo, who had apparently been murdered. It was Sambo who was responsible for the loud footsteps running down the stairs. Rob was at this point amazed at the similarity between the previous owner’s account and his own experience within the ancient walls of No. 34 New Street. The meeting of Rob and the lady gives this ghostly tale a great deal of credibility, as two independent witnesses encountered the same haunting.

As an aside, whenever Rob’s daughter came to visit him at the gallery, there was one room on the upper floor that she would not enter, as it had such an ominous and sinister feel to it. One wonders if she was picking up on the past impressions left behind by previous souls that resided at No. 34 New Street?

Shirley Valentine’s Taverna

Located in New Street on the Barbican, this Elizabethan building has been used for a number of different purposes. In more recent times it was known as the Robin Hood Club, while in 1823 it was the Robin Hood Inn. Today it is home to Shirley Valentine’s Taverna, which serves a delicious range of mouth-watering Greek and Turkish cuisine.

Amanda Percival is the current owner of Shirley Valentine’s Taverna. I have recently been in communication with her after making her acquaintance on one of my Plymouth ghost walks. Amanda told me that she has experienced some ghostly goings-on since she took over the lease on the property in 2008, and the following is a brief description of the things that have been witnessed by herself and others at the taverna:

When we first took over the lease on the property in 2008 we undertook a few decorating / refurbishment jobs. Sometimes I would be there on my own decorating and I would get the impression and feeling of someone being in the room with me or coming up the stairs. I have heard footsteps on a number of occasions.

Since we have been open and trading, both myself and other staff members have heard footsteps or movement on the first floor and both sets of staircases. I have caught a glimpse of a person’s outline and just the top of someone’s head going down the stairs. A member of staff has experienced items falling off a window sill and landing unnaturally when no one has been close to the window, which was also closed at the time. We did not feel frightened or threatened, just intrigued.

The activity at Shirley Valentine’s continues today – and most recently the apparition of a woman has been seen standing in one particular section of the upstairs eating area.

Shirley Valentine’s Taverna, New Street.

Shirley Valentine’s restaurant area.

The corner where the spectre has been seen in Shirley Valentine’s.

Tudor Rose Tea Room

The Tudor Rose Tea Room in New Street is an ancient property which boasts an array of imposing spirits.

On a recent visit to this elegant Tea Room I asked a member of staff if she had ever encountered anything out of the ordinary whilst working there. She replied that over the past few years there has been a wide range of paranormal activity, for instance, sightings of figures in the Tea Rooms and ponderous footsteps have been heard above on the first floor, even though at the time no one was in the vicinity. She then went on to explain that items have been moved around the kitchen area – classic poltergeist activity – and that one customer who ordered a cake to go with his tea was left horror-stricken as he witnessed the cake fly off the counter. It was as if it had been pushed by some invisible force – bringing a whole new meaning to the term fast food!

An unnerving encounter was experienced first hand by an acquaintance of mine. In 2008 Diane decided to visit the Tudor Rose Tea Room with her son. They ordered and paid for their drinks and sat quietly in the larger of the two rooms. After a short time Diane’s attention was drawn towards an elderly lady sitting in the far corner of the room, who, for some reason, kept looking over at Diane and her son. The woman then spoke to Diane, saying, ‘This is my house and I am gentry.’ Diane smiled, then looked away and continued to sip her tea. She looked up again to see if the elderly woman was still gazing across at her, but was mystified to see that she had completely vanished! This was most peculiar as there was no physical way that the woman could have left the room without being noticed, plus she would have had to walk past Diane and her son and exited through a glass-panelled door to leave the vicinity. It was only at this point that Diane realised how elegantly dressed the woman had been. This elderly, well-dressed apparition has been witnessed many times since. What I find most amazing is that this phantom actually spoke to Diane, implying that this is an intelligent spirit quite happy to communicate directly with the living.

New Street.

Black Friars Distillery

Black Friars Distillery on the Barbican is the oldest working gin distillery in England: world-famous Plymouth Gin has been produced here since 1793.

The building dates as far back as the early fourteenth century; the most intact part of the building is the refectory room, which was once a medieval hall and has a hull-shaped timber roof, built in 1431, thus making this building one of the oldest in Plymouth. The distillery was formerly a monastery inhabited by the Black Friars, from whom the distillery gained its name. Other uses for this building have included it being a debtors’ prison. It is also believed that a number of the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night here in 1620, before making the short walk down to the harbour to set sail for their epic voyage to America.

Black Friars Distillery, Southside Street.

Workers in days gone by at Black Friars Distillery. (Courtesy of Derek Tait)