Spine-tingling spirits which are believed to haunt a historical South Derbyshire building, will be put under the microscope as a paranormal investigation team delves into the underworld of ghostly apparitions.

Shadows From The Past will be spending the evening at Gresley Old Hall, in Church Gresley, following reports of ghostly goings-on in nearly every room of the 16 century building.

It has long been famed for its eerie surroundings and brave members of the public are being invited to spend an evening with the team as they tour around the many rooms, including the attic which has been the site with the most ghostly activity.

A spokesman for the team said: “Gresley Old Hall looks like any other country mansion. However when you close the front door and walk up to the first floor, the building completely changes and you begin to realise just how eerie this building is.”

The attic at Gresley Old Hall
The attic at Gresley Old Hall



The building dates back to the 16th century and is now a Grade II listed building. It is steeped in history and has an impressive family tree; the most recent is the Alleyne family.

Sir Christopher Alleyne built this mansion from materials left from the demolished Gresley priory that once stood on this land which dates back to the 1100s. The house, in its present form, was built in 1734, replacing the original hall constructed in 1556.

The current house has an array of floors, some of which have not been touched since the 19th century.

There are also many gruesome tales that surround this building of people who sadly lost their lives.

The spokesman added: “This venue has a lot of uneven floors and has no electricity supply; this sets the scene for a perfect night of paranormal investigations and the chance to discover what lies within Gresley Old Hall.



“The lack of power in this venue means that we will explore by torch light the layers of history, will you discover who or what still haunts this very eerie location.

“With reports of activity in every room in this location, the one favourite area here is the attic area that if you look close enough you can see Victorian graffiti on the lime wash stone walls. Reports of activity here is of being touched, shadows seen, guests hair being pulled and full apparitions.”

The investigation will be held from 7pm to midnight, on Friday, August 25.

Snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the night.

Tickets cost £20 per person and are available by visiting the Shadows from the Past Investigations Facebook page or calling 07950 553952.

MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN BURTON AND SOUTH DERBYSHIRE

We have looked at the top ghost-hunting spots across Burton and South Derbyshire for anyone hoping to spot a spirit for themselves.

There are plenty of places in the area which are rumoured to be home to ghosts, from hotels and pubs to castles and bridges.

Tutbury Castle

Tutbury Castle
Tutbury Castle

The castle has been host to hundreds of paranormal investigations over the years including the Most Haunted TV series and it is believed many ghosts call the castle walls their home.

These include ghosts in the Kings Bedroom, Mary Queen of Scots and 'The Keeper' - seen wearing a full suit of armour and behaving in a manner that might best be described as authoritative.

This ghostly figure has been seen stepping out in John of Gaunt's Gateway and bellowing "Get thee hence!" and has been spotted in broad daylight.

Moira Furnace and woodland

Spirits have been said to have been seen drifting through the woodland around Moira Furnace and in the buildings themselves.

Station Street, Burton. On the pavement outside the former Bass site (now Molson Coors)

In the late 1990s, witnesses heard mysterious footsteps behind them but when they halted to check who was following them, no-one could be seen.

Former Appleby Pub, Green Street, Burton

Now flats, this former pub in Green Street, Burton, is rumoured to be home to several ghosts. However, the flat owners have yet to report any spooky happenings.

Sinai House, Shobnall, Burton

Sinai House
Sinai House

Well known locally for being the site of ghostly activity, visitors to have reported a phantom horse-drawn coach, a hanged witch, and a hooded monk who appears at the foot of the bed in a bedroom.

Sir Henry Paget, who was Wellington's second in command at the battle of Waterloo, is also said to still roam the grounds as well as the grey lady seen on the bridge over the moat looking for her lost love.

Apparently, during ghost walks, people have been pulled and thrown across the room, electrical items have gone wrong for no reason, and people have also heard mysterious whispering.

Branston Bridge

According to the Paranormal Database, in 2011, a driver reported seeing a white figure pass over the middle of the bridge. The light from his headlights appeared to go through the figure, and once it reached the far side of the bridge, the figure vanished.

Burton Market Place

Two teenage lads reported seeing a girl in the market place. The pair said she glanced and smiled at them before vanishing into thin air.

Bretby Business Park

Bretby Business Park
Bretby Business Park

Sometime in the 2000's a security guard at the park encountered car headlights which vanished without a trace, another guard was have said to have been approached by a mysterious woman in a floral summer dress, but when the CCTV was checked there was no trace of her.

After running an article in the Mail, three readers contacted us to report that they had seen the woman in the dress too.

Newton Park Hotel, Newton Solney

The hotel in Newton Solney has previously been on ITV as part of paranormal investigations as it is reportedly haunted. The property dates back to the 18th century and was once home to brewing giants the Ratcliff family

Former Burton Mail newspaper offices, High Street, Burton

Reported in the 1990s, the former Burton Mail office, situated in High Street, Burton, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a printer and by the sound of mysterious feet running down the main staircase. It is also believed that ghosts of a maid and a young boy walk the corridors. Reporters were never keen to stay late on their own.

Derelict site along Shobnall Street, Burton

In 2004, two young boys reported a mysterious 'large man' on a derelict site in Shobnall Street, who vanished into a gap in the fence which he could not possibly have fitted through.

Harper Avenue, Horninglow, Burton

A teenager in the 1950s was returning home when he was greeted by his neighbour Mr Dykes, when he arrived home two doors away, his mother informed him that his neighbour has passed away that morning.

Outside St Chad's Church, Hunter Street, Burton

In 2012, more experienced bell ringers heard the peeling of eight bells, all churches in the area with a set of eight bells denied they had been operating them.

The Last Heretic, Station Street, Burton

Micro-pub The Last Heretic was named after Edward Wrightman, the last christian martyr to be burned alive in Lichfield. He died on April 11, 1612. Mr Wrightman was from Burton and his ghost is reported to still reside in the town.

King Edward Place, heading towards corner of Rangemore Street, Burton

In 2012, two experienced bell ringers heard phantom peels which sounded as if they could have come from the Holy Trinity Church which was situated in Horninglow Street, Burton. The church closed in 1969 with parishioners uniting with St Modwen's, in Burton Market Place.

Holy Trinity was demolished in the first half of 1971 and site is now occupied by Aldi.

Leopard Inn, Lichfield Street, Burton

In the 1970s the sound of a rustling skirt was heard in several parts of the pub and doors mysteriously opened and shut. The building dates back to the 19th century.