Studded amongst the steep hills of Ilfracombe is a beautiful 11th-century property with sprawling grounds, shrouded by established rhododendrons and pockets of woodland. As unassuming as it appears, those local to the area are aware of the legends that surround this mysterious manor that can trace its roots back to the Domesday Book. Now a private residence, the manor is a paranormal hot spot that once held tours and paranormal evenings.
On my first visit, I was swollen with the impending arrival of my first child. My photos featured me standing rotund and triumphant in the gardens, fizzing over with the promised thrill of other-worldly activity. Typically, anything remotely spooky gave me a wide berth that day - probably for fear of accidentally increasing the visitor headcount.
Stepping into a memory, I can see every nook and cranny. The entrance door creaks open, a vessel into the unknown. The great hall sits, omnipresent since its days of entertaining the Champernon family, and later, Henry, Duke of Suffolk.
There is an impressive fireplace, thought to conceal a passage now rendered impassable by rubble. A set of steps will bring you to the Chapel, and a kitchen that seems to come alive with activity the moment you turn away. Upstairs, a cradle rocks independently, and a presence lingers on the cottage-style stairs behind a doorway.
The melancholiest of rooms is the Chippendale room, thought to be haunted by a small girl dressed in blue. Unseen, tiny fingers tinker with t.
