Wymering Manor House, Portsmouth – The Most Haunted House in England

As I am from Portsmouth, England I thought it may bereceived a telegram with the news that his Aunt Em
of interest to write about the oldest house inhad died during the night.
Portsmouth which is also the most haunted house inThe Blue Room. An elderly relative of Thomas Parr,
England called Wymering Manor House.who was staying in the "Blue Room," was careful
Although most of the current structure dates back toalways to lock her door at night, as she feared
the 16th century, the manor goes back much further.break-ins by burglars. One morning she was surprised
Records show the first owner of Wymering Manorto find her door unlocked and open.
was King Edward the Confessor in 1042 AD and thenThe Choir of Nuns. Mr. Leonard Metcalf, an occupant
after the Battle of Hastings it fell into the hands of Kingof the house who died in 1958, said he occasionally
William the Conqueror until 1084 AD. The house hassaw a choir of nuns crossing the manor's hall at
been altered and renovated continually over themidnight. They were chanting, he claimed, to the clear
centuries, yet remarkably it has retained materialssound of music. His family never believed his story as
dating back to medieval and even ancient Romanthey didn't know - and neither did Mr. Metcalf - that
times.nuns from the Sisterhood of Saint Mary the Virgin
Having changed ownership many times over thesevisited the house in the mid-1800s.
hundreds of years, the property was eventuallyThe Panelled Room. The so-called "Panelled Room"
adopted by the Portsmouth City Council, then sold formay be the manor's most dreaded. The Panelled
a short time to a private organization for developmentRoom served as a bedroom in the manor's south east
into a hotel. When the development fell though, thecorner, and as Metcalf was using the washbasin one
property reverted to the council, which has again put itday, he was startled by the distinct feeling of a hand
up for auction.on his shoulder. He turned quickly to find no one there.
Once a country manor, the structure is nowOthers have felt an oppressive air in this room, instilling
surrounded by modern houses. And when it wasa strong feeling to flee. When the building served as
saved from demolition and used as a youth hostel,the youth hostel, its warden and wife expressed an
many areas of the building were "modernized" andunexplained fear of the room.
have an unfortunate, institutional feel.Other Paranormal occurrences reported at the manor
With this rich history it's no surprise perhaps thatinclude visitors who claim to have heard the whispers
Wymering Manor should be haunted.of children, spotted strange apparitions and seen items
Below are some of the Ghosts that haunt Wymeringin the manor move of their own accord. Dramatic
Manor:drops in temperature and accounts of unusual or
The Lady in the Violet Dress. When Mr. Thomas Parrintimidating 'spirit energies' have also been reported.
lived at Wymering Manor, he awoke one night to theFilm and video footage has captured both orbs and
sight of an apparition standing at the foot of his bed. Itother strange light anomalies.
was his cousin, who had died in 1917. Dressed in aPlease visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @
full-length violet-coloured dress, the spirit spoke to himMy other website is called Directory of British Icons:
in a friendly and matter-of-fact manner, telling him ofThe Chinese call Britain 'The Island of Hero's' which I
her recent religious experiences and about otherthink sums up what we British are all about. We British
deceased family members. Suddenly the ghost said,are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking
"Well, Tommy dear, I must leave you now as we areover the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.
waiting to receive Aunt Em." In the morning, ParrCopyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.