Michelham Priory was home to the Augustinian Canons in 1229. They were known as Black Canons due to the colour of their robes and were not monks but priests who lived by the teachings of St Augustine of Hippo.

   The priory is set on a medieval moated island and was the pilot show for the T.V. show Most haunted.

   Over the years there has been many reported paranormal activity and is reputed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Sussex.

   Michelham has had a number of owners including Thomas Sackville, James Gwynne, Richard Beresford Wright, Mrs Joyce Storey and Mrs Stella Hotblack. Witchcraft has also been connected to the Priory.

   In 1927 a fire broke out destroying much of the Tudor Wing including original panelling.

   The Priory was given to the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1959.

March 2009.

Weather - Dry, clear Spring night.

Investigators - Jackie, Bill, Paul, Donna, Clare H. Claire C. Kate, Adam. 

   We were greeted by a friendly security guard who gave us a quick tour of the manor but disappointed us by telling us we should have come the previous evening as it had been very active. Just our luck!!

   We then unpacked our equipment had a cuppa then went for another slower walk  around to get a feel of the place and tune into its energy. Also we needed to observe any hazards like steep steps, low ceilings etc. Together with noting temperatures etc.

   There were 2 or 3 rooms which felt quite active and had a heavy feeling about them; this was felt by most of the team.

   We decided the Monks room and Crib room felt the most active so decided to set up C.C.T.V. video and camcorders in these rooms and seal them off to see if we could capture anything on film.

   Bill and Paul set up the equipment in the monk’s room and started noticing lots of orbs on the screen, which puzzled them as they couldn’t see anything when they looked around the room.

   They decided to stay and watch the monitor for a while to observe to try to find if there was an explanation for the amount of orbs. These are two very sceptical people so it was an ideal chance for them to come up with a good reason. Which may we add they couldn’t.

   The rest of the group walked around taking photos, temperature, E.V.P. readings and generally getting used to the place.

   Once the readings were taken we set up more recording equipment in the crib room.

   Temperature in each room was pretty consistent with no real changes.

   We decided to leave the manor and go to the Gatehouse to give our recording equipment chance to pick up any noises etc.

 

 Gatehouse

1^st Floor temp. 12c dropped to 6c

2^nd floor temp. 7c

   We decided to sit in a circle to see if we could get any spirit communication. There was quite a nice feeing here and none of the group felt any negativity.

   We sat quietly for a while then asked if there were any spirit present who were willing to come and communicate with us.

   After a while Jackie saw a man dressed in a black rob appear from the doorway, he stood for a while then began to walk towards the circle. He appeared to be dragging his right leg, almost as if he was paralysed down his right side. He walked over to the circle and stood behind Donna and Bill. At that time Donna suddenly felt someone pushing down on her shoulders, which made Bill wonder what was wrong as she squeezed his hand very tight.

   Donna heard someone say the name Sophia. Jackie heard the name John and  

   Adam heard the name of Jonathan

   Paul said he could smell burning which some of the group also began to smell, it then seemed to change to a sweet smell almost like some kind of incense.

   Kate saw a group of people standing by the doorway but they didn’t seem to want to come and join us, she also saw someone with what looked like an axe.

    We left the Gatehouse and decided to stop for a break. On the way back Paul took a few photos and this interesting one was among them. It was a still night and the path wasn’t dusty. We have shown this picture to a photographer who takes lots of paranormal photos and he has confirmed it doesn’t appear to be dust. But we leave that decision to you. (A larger picture is on the photo page)

 

 

  

   After a break we checked the recording equipment to change tapes, then made our way to the Cake room 

   Temperature was 18c. with no real changes.

   We sat down in another circle and tried to feel the energy of the room, as we did this

   Clare saw a dog walk past. Everyone felt as if they were being watched.

   Kate then saw a small boy poking his head around the door but he wouldn’t come in.

   Jackie saw a well dressed man by the door, she asked him to come in and communicate with the group. The man appeared to be quite angry and asked us what we were doing there. Jackie replied that we were just there visiting and that we just wanted to talk to him and find some proof that spirit exists and that there is life after life. The man seemed angry and told us to go away.

   The man began to walk into the room towards the circle and Jackie felt he was still quite angry. Adam also started to pick up the unpleasant man.

 He started to walk around our circle and as he passed Kate, she felt two pokes in her back.

 Adam said he had a strange hollow feeling and had a deep ringing in his ear, then heard the names Gillian and Jonathan.

Jackie heard whistling noise coming from Paul’s direction.

   The man didn’t want to communicate and angrily went away.

 

   Everyone felt the atmosphere gradually change during the evening. The atmosphere seemed to lift and become lighter as the night went on.

 

Childs room

   Jackie saw a small girl around the age of 5; she seemed very frightened and was trying to hide from someone who she was afraid of. Jackie felt this to be a man who was really nasty towards the child. The name of Elizabeth was given, Jackie didn’t feel this was the child’s name but the name of a pale lady in a long dress who tried to help and protect the child.

   A noise was heard which sounded like a child but there were foxes outside so it could have been those making a noise as they often sound like children.

   Most of the group felt they were still being watched.

   Clare said the light by the door seemed to get slightly brighter.

   Kate said she felt cold breezes across her legs.

   We managed to get three E.V.P.’s in this room..

 

 

   Here we asked if spirit  would give us a sign that they were here. You can here a voice answer NO.

 

 

Here someone is heard saying “Oh Shit”

 

 

And here it sounds like a child’s voice saying “Daddy or Bradley”

  

   We captured quite a few unexplained orbs on tape in the monks room, but they died down as the night went on which would back up the feeling of the atmosphere changing as the night went on.

   Clare captured a couple of interesting orbs, one pink and one blue, which we have put on our orb page.

   We heard foot steps while in different rooms and on tape but we had to put these down to the fact that there were two or three people living upstairs.

   We also heard what sounded like children, but we put this down to the fact that there were ducks and foxes outside which were making the odd noise.

 

   Conclusion - A bit disappointing as it's supposed to be the one of the most haunted buildings in East Sussex, but it was an interesting and enjoyable night.

   The Priory is a lovely building which made you feel transported back in time. Various members picked up on spirit and we did manage to capture a few E.P.V's and orb photos. The strangest was a photo which Paul took, of a 'mist' joining us on our return to the Priory from the Gatehouse.

   It would have been nice to have captured some of the paranormal activity on tape that is reported, especially as we were recording in what was considered the most haunted room for 8-9 hours. But we feel the reports of unexplained footsteps and children's voices inside the priory can easily be dismissed as we have explained.

 

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© 2009 Kent Paranormal Seekers