Join ghost hunt at spooky castle

Sally Nightingale, the castle’s owner, has allowed ghost hunters into the 900-year-old building for the first time in generations.

A paranormal team from UK Ghost Nights visited the castle several months ago and said they had found ‘a lot of activity’ in the Norman castle.

Lisa Tedstill, managing director of UK Ghost Nights, said: “Parts of this ancient castle remain unchanged since they were built and the opportunity to communicate with spirits in a totally safe environment protected by mediums and spiritualists is awe inspiring.”

Appleby Castle was the home of Lady Anne Clifford – an indomitable northern lady who entertained kings and queens and was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth.

People living there have reported encountering her presence on more than three occasions, and the late Lord Hothfield recorded being disturbed by her in the night in the 1960s.

On what the team found during their visits to the castle, Lisa said: “I have experienced Lady Anne Clifford as a breeze in the main part of the castle.

“Our medium contacted John Clifford in the dungeon area in the main entrance corridor.

“He then got through to a clergyman who gave us a message about a particular Bible passage. When we went down to the chapel the Bible was open at the page of that quote.

“We’ve also contacted people who have previously worked there and, using spirit boards, had a lot of messages from people who used to work there around the 1920s.

“In addition we’ve detected what we think is a tunnel running under the Old Great Hall.”

Now members of the public have the chance to join the UK Ghost Nights team in their hunt at an event on October 3.

The evening will begin with storyteller Matthew Bellwood reading traditional ghost stories in the Old Great Hall.

The guests will then have the chance to tour parts of the castle with a medium and historian, using camera systems and infra red sensors as well as traditional séances and spirit boards.