Compass Paranormal Articles

Guy's Cliffe House Ghost Hunt - 28th Aug 2010

By Denise Mott

Guy’s Cliffe House, is a stunning ruin of an 18th and 19th century house, it is a derelict mansion set on a site just outside the town of Warwick. Its dramatic history includes, most recently, a devastating fire which finally destroyed its once lavish grandeur. It is now owned by The Freemasons.

The site of Guy's Cliffe has been occupied since Saxon times and derives its name from the legendary Guy of Warwick. Guy is supposed to have retired to a hermitage on this site, this legend led to the founding of a chantry. The chantry was established 1423 the Chapel of St Mary Magdelene and the rock carved stables and storehouses still remain. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII the site passed into private hands.

A house and the mill are mentioned in the Doomsday Book, but the mill had reputedly been functioning for two hundred years before this census.

Thus inhabited since Saxon times, the most famous legend of the site is that of Guy of Warwick. This Saxon noble, the legendary founder of Warwick Castle in the 10th Century, and killer of the Dun Cow, returned from his travels and adventures and retired to live out the rest of his days in a cave by the river, which still survives by the Chapel.

His wife, the lady Felice of Warwick, remained ignorant of his unannounced presence so close. Just before Guy died, he revealed his true identity to the poor lady who, overcome by grief, threw herself from the cliff where her husband had lived for so many years. It is said that her ghost, distraught with grief, still haunts the site.

The 16th Century witnessed the hermitage here swept up in the reformation of the monasteries act initiated by King Henry IIIV and it's possible that the rumoured tunnel from this place to Warwick castle was put in place at this time, perhaps so secreted that it still remains hidden?

During the First World War the house was given over to be a recuperation hospital for soldiers injured on the front. Six hundred or so soldiers passed through the gates, not all made it and the preserving aspect of the caves was put to use as a morgue if needed.

The Ghosts and Spirits

First let us enlighten you on the difference between ghosts and spirits. Very simply a ghost is little more than a recording and non-interactive. A spirit is aware and interactive – spirits are the interesting ones!

Without giving too much away, in the winestore there’s a spirit – not the kindest of characters – who may have committed a gross wrong against a girl called Georgina.

In the stables there’s Jacob – perhaps a groom in his time – simple in nature and physical in response if pushed.

In the chapel area, there’s a man nicknamed ‘Clogs’ because if he moves about upstairs it sounds like he’s wearing a pair!

Other Reported Phenomena

Poltergeist activity, including guests belongings being moved and appearing in strange places.

Dark shadows moving quickly around the ruins.

EVP phenomena. Ghostly voices and strange noises in the middle of the night.

The sense of being watched, and occasionally pushed or pulled and loose clothing being tugged.

 Barrie John and I were for the first time spooked whilst doing a vigil in the dark in the chapel of this truly tremendous Gothic location who knows maybe it was the ghostly footsteps of clogs who we and the guests heard on numerous occasions throughout the night making his presence known. A historic mansion steeped in history with a reputation of paranormal activity and this reputation certainly exceeded itself. The Team is returning to this fabulous mansion on the 23rd October, Dare you Join the Team.
 
(c)Denise Mott.