Gwrych Castle was the location for British show ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here’ in 2020. Due to the pandemic, the normal location in the Australian jungle was out of the question. But not all was well in Gwrych Castle. After all, many people claim that the castle is haunted. Even some of the cast and crew were starting to come out with stories. But what is the true story behind Gwrych Castle?
What Is The History Of Gwrych Castle?
Gwrych Castle is a fortress situated by the Irish Sea. It is surrounded by a whopping 250 acres of land, making it quite isolated. The castle’s origin dates back to 1810. It was built by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh.
The castle was the home for many people over the years. It was passed down to the Earls of Dundonalds through marriage. The estate was eventually sold in 1946 and was opened to the public later.
In 2018, the castle was bought by the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust. As the castle started to fall into disrepair, the trust set upon a mission to restore the castle to its former glory.
Castle Hauntings
Gwrych Castle has quite the history when it comes to reported hauntings. There is a legend surrounding the Castle, as it is believed that the Countess of Dundonald Winifred Cochrane haunts the grounds.
Countess of Dundonald Winifred Cochrane was born in 1859 and died in 1924. She was a patron for the arts in Wales and was known for and wide for her contributions to charity. When her father died in 1894, she became the sole heiress of Gwrych Castle.
Winifred Cochrane married the 12th Earl of Dundonald, although the marriage was not thought to be a good one. It is claimed the Earl of Dundonald was never around and spent most of his time in Scotland.
The Countess of Dundonald eventually tried to leave her castle to prince George as a gift, who would later become King George V. However, George refused and the Earl of Dundonald later bought the Castle for £70,000.
Over the years, Gwrych Castle has been rumored to be haunted. In fact, one of the locations associated with the most ‘supernatural’ occurrences is the Countess’ Tower. At least, this according to the Castle’s own website. Naturally, the Castle is benefiting greatly from the ghost story.
The Countess of Dundonald is believed to be haunting the castle still, this according to paranormal investigator Gemma Williams. The investigator also claimed she had to run away when in a lady in a red dress walked out of the wall and screamed.
In addition to the reports about the Countess of Dundonald, some claim the castle is haunted by a servant girl who died when she fell off a horse. Others claim that the castle is haunted by numerous former servants who cannot find peace.
Ghost Hunts
Gwrych Castle has taken full advantage of the haunted stories that surround it. While the castle was still open to the public, it held its own ghost tours from 8 pm to 1 am. One of the stories featured on the website from staff and visitors include:
“The handrail gave way to nothingness and I felt something propel me up the top three stairs. Seconds later, my colleague told me the butler died right there on that same staircase.”
Unfortunately, the castle is currently not open to the public as it is being repaired. So, it seems the income from the TV show is being put to good use. Therefore, it will be a little while before people can start roaming the castle grounds again.
Georgia’s rich history, beautiful landscape and inviting southern charm make it an excellent pick for anyone wanting to visit. And if you’re looking for historical haunted landmarks, you won’t be disappointed. From graveyards to museums and civil war battlefields, the local haunts around the state are plenty, some of which are hidden right in the middle of a city.
Bulloch Hall lays nestled within the busy town of Roswell. Hidden amongst the dense trees, it was a plantation home that produced cotton. Built by slave labor, it was constructed in 1839 by Major James Stephens Bulloch, one of Roswell’s first settlers.
Haunted Plantation
Perched on a small hill, the expansive green lawn and massive Greek Revival-style pillars beckon visitors to its entrance. The great Oak trees that line the property have witnessed the antebellum South, war, and slavery. Adding to its deep roots, it was home to President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother, Martha ‘Mittie’ Bullock Roosevelt, and has played host to many events throughout its time. Mittie Bullock married Theodore Roosevelt Sr. on the property in 1853 and when the Bulloch family fled the home during the Civil War, it became a barracks for the Union Army.
Bulloch Hall
Bulloch Hall is magnificent. The road leading to the estate, now paved for modern-day transportation, gives visitors a glimpse of what the elegant home looked like in the nineteenth century. It’s easy to forget you are in a large city while walking amongst the tall trees (some of which have been there since before the Hall’s construction) or relaxing by Malon’s Pond. The historic site has been restored to look as it once did when first built, including a reconstruction of the slave quarters in the service yard. Guests can walk through and gain a sense of what slave life was like on this particular property. A plaque on the cabin lists the names of all known slaves who served at Bulloch Hall. The exhibit is dedicated to all of them.
Bulloch Hall Slave Quarters Cabin – Reconstruction.
Though it sits only a few hundred feet from a major city road, the lush greenery and gardens bask visitors in quiet serenity, instantly transporting them back in time. But one shouldn’t be fooled by its beauty. The moss-laden paths, calm pond and shade cover trees have a story to tell.
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Grounds at Bulloch Hall
As with many locations in the South, this one is no different when it comes to the history of slavery and war. The site was once a cotton plantation and was home to over thirty slaves, one of whom is said to have been a young girl, around 14 years old.
There are two wells located on the property, the first being in the front yard, which was used as the Bullock family’s primary source of drinking water. The second is located in the rear behind the home and the story goes that the young girl fell to her death in that well.
Bulloch Hall. Well behind home.
Soon after her death, weeping could be heard coming from the well. Some visitors still report that they can hear sobbing echoing from the now boarded up well. It is believed that her apparition has been seen inside the Hall by visitors over the years and there have also been reports of lights flickering on and off within the Hall. According to stories, the young girl's responsibility was to maintain the lighting within the home. Could this strange occurrence be the young slave girl still tending to her duties on the property?
Some witnesses have reported seeing men in civil war dress peering out of the second-floor windows and there have been sightings of a young boy running through the front yard. Even as the Hall sat abandoned for a time, there have been eyewitness accounts of shadows walking the grounds and many photos have been captured over the years of strange apparitions in the front yard and windows. Guests of the local ghost tour often capture these pictures, along with unexplained thermal images.
You’ll find Bulloch Hall on the itinerary for the local ghost tour that is held each week. But whether you visit on your own, or with a tour, or see a ghostly sighting or not, you're sure to leave with Bulloch Hall's iconic and majestic image forever etched on your mind.
We’ve all heard tales of spiritual possession. Most of the time, the stories we hear are of malicious, demonic entities hell-bent on controlling the living. Frightening and ghastly visions come to mind when we think of them. But what if some spirits are only looking for a way to communicate. In the form of a living person, a vessel to help them find closure to a life cut short? Or, to help bring peace to their own family, whose grief is so deep, they’ve taken to rituals to communicate with the other side? So was the story in the historical, haunting case of the Watseka Wonder.
The Watseka Wonder is credited as the first well-documented case of possession in the United States. It has inspired a movie, and it was so profound that the physician, Dr. E. Winchester Stevens, who witnessed the phenomenon first hand, wrote a book documenting the case.
Photograph from newsbug.info
To understand this mysterious story, we must first visit the heartland of America, Watseka, Illinois. Here, an ominous-looking home stands. Built, in 1868, the long, narrow, arched windows and brick exterior give this Victorian, Italianate style home a Gothic mood. Known today as the Roff House, it was constructed by Asa Roff, a prominent member of the Watseka community in the mid-eighteen hundreds, and has remained a mystery in the paranormal world since the Roff’s occupied it.
Clairvoyance Brought On By Illness?
Asa and Dorothy Roff’s daughter, Mary Roff, suffered from epilepsy and had frequent seizures. As she grew older, Mary claimed that spirits were around and spoke to her. These episodes became more violent as years passed. During one of her last and most violent spells, she became so fierce that it took several adults to restrain her while she calmed down. By this point, Mary was incredibly weak from a suicide attempt and blood loss, yet she exhibited a tremendous amount of strength.
She eventually settled down and remained delirious for five days and slept for many hours. When she awoke, it is said that Mary gained supernatural gifts. Her senses seemed to be heightened and, supposedly, could read while blindfolded.
Witnesses stated that she accurately read a letter in the pocket of A.J. Smith, editor of the Danville Times. The letter was supposedly sealed and in his pocket, but Mary read it aloud.
Because doctors could not find a cure or proper diagnosis of her strange symptoms, it was assumed she was afflicted with insanity. She was placed in an asylum for treatment in Peoria, Illinois, but died there in July 1865.
Séances And Secret Societies
After her death, The Roff family home was constructed in 1868. Being devout spiritualists and a common practice during the nineteenth century, the family immediately began holding séances inside the house. In addition to the family séances, Asa Roff was a known member of the Odd Fellows. A secret society who were known for partaking in mysterious rituals surrounding the dead during that time.
Some have speculated that the Roff’s involvement with the spiritual word may have been the catalyst that awoke the spirits which plagued Mary.
Watseka Wonder Under Spiritual Possession
Lurancy Vennum
In 1878, over a decade after Mary’s death, a young girl named Lurancy Vennum, who was thirteen years old at the time, lived in Watseka. One day, she suddenly became ill and began suffering epileptic seizures, stomach pains and said she saw angels around her. Her illness soon worsened; she spoke in different voices, taking on personalities not her own, and, at times, became violent.
This was during the height of the spiritual movement and gained rapid popularity amongst those practicing spiritualism. Instead of following doctors’ suggestions of placing Lurancy in an asylum, her parents sought help from local spiritualists to investigate.
Asa Roff was interested in Lurancy’s case because her symptoms so closely resembled his daughter, Mary’s. He had been convinced that Mary’s illness was not caused by insanity, as doctors tried to explain. But that she had been touched by the spiritual world, and he carried a tremendous amount of guilt over what happened to his daughter.
Good Spirits vs. Bad
Lurancy claimed evil spirits possessed her, and that was the cause of her violent outbursts. One of the doctors treating Lurancy asked her to seek a more pleasant spirit surrounding her to possess her body. When she stated that Mary Roff was present and wanted to help, the witnesses were astounded. Lurancy then invited Mary to take control of her physical body.
Immediately after the possession, Lurancy became calm and polite. A sharp contradiction to her previous behavior, and took on the personality of Mary Roff. Though Lurancy had never met Mary and had no knowledge of what Mary had gone through, she seemed to have intimate details of the Roff family. She was able to recognize them and knew the names of the Roff family relatives. She was even able to recall personal possessions that the family had owned.
Lurancy no longer recognized her own family and asked to be taken to the Roff home. Convinced that Lurancy was under the possession of his daughter, Asa asked if he could take Lurancy with him, believing that his daughter was asking from the spiritual world to be brought back to her family.
The Vennum’s agreed, and Lurancy accompanied Asa back to his home, where she lived for 15 weeks. At the end of that time, she bid the family goodbye in a tearful departure that she had prophesied and promised the return of Lurancy once she departed her body.
As promised, Lurancy returned. Seeming to be back to her old self and without any further episodes of spiritual possession, she went back to live with her parents. She eventually married, had a family of her own, and lived a normal, long life with no other illnesses.
Summoned Spirits Left Behind
Today, the Roff House still stands and is owned by John Whitman, who has worked to restore the home and turn it into a Bed & Breakfast. However, the Watseka Wonder possession story is not the only haunting tale attached to this property. Over the years, the owner and guests at the house have reported ghostly activity—some sinister.
Whispering is often heard from empty rooms. Black shadows have been spotted. Even reports of demons have been made. The owner stated in an interview that while staying the night, he awoke to a figure in his bedroom which appeared to have been burned, was wearing a black hooded cloak, and an evil grin curled its lips. Some visitors have also said that spirits have taken over their bodies, in a temporary possession.
Many believe that the ghostly sightings and dark presence that roam the property were invited through the portals opened during the many séances that the Roff family held. And that over the years, investigation groups who were inexperienced could have unknowingly exacerbated the haunted property by inviting more unfriendly spirits into the home.
Conclusion
As alluring as it is to make contact with the other side, one must always be cautious. Opening doors could very well let the person you are seeking to communicate with in, but there is no guarantee that others spirits, friendly or malicious, won’t follow them.
The William Westerfeld House sits on the corner of Fulton and Scott Streets in San Francisco, CA. Anyone heading east up Fulton Street can tell you, as you come to the top of the hill at Alamo Square; this stunning, Gothic home is a sight to behold. It also happens to be one of the cities most haunted locations.
With its multiple metal finials surrounding the roof line, the tower at the top is one of the home’s most interesting features. At the same time, it makes you wonder why such a room was desired. Your interest is further piqued by the building's Gothic “Adams Family” look. The style is unique in its own right, and the building possesses a presence both foreboding and intriguing. It should be no surprise that the house has an interesting and dark past.
Passing The Infamous Westerfeld House
As a native San Franciscan, I grew up passing by the Westerfeld House often. I always wondered about the history of it. It wasn’t until years later that I learned of the haunting tales that took place and its strange connection to the occult.
Constructed in 1889, William Westerfeld, a German baker, commissioned Henry Geilfuss, a well-known German architect (who built many Victorian homes and refined the iconic San Francisco style Victorians in the late 1800s) to build the mansion. The multilevel home was to be Westerfeld’s family residence. Unfortunately, he died only six years after its construction, and this is where the strange history of the house begins.
After William’s death in 1895, the home was acquired by John Mahoney, another prominent San Francisco figure, famous for contracting the building of San Francisco’s St. Francis Hotel and the Palace Hotel. During Mahoney’s time of residence in the home, he entertained many famous guests, two of whom were Harry Houdini and radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi. It is said that the two spent time in the tower. It is there where Marconi transmitted the first radio signals on the west coast, and Houdini attempted to send telepathic messages to his wife across the Bay. One can only wonder if the energy from these activities paved the way for future events.
Night Club Shenanigans
In 1928, it was bought by Czarist Russians, where it became a community center. The basement was turned into the “Dark Eyes” nightclub, and the building as a whole became known as the “Russian Embassy.” It is documented that a Russian colonel was murdered inside the residence during a fight over a woman.
In 1948, the home was converted into multiple apartments and housed African-American musicians who played in local Jazz Clubs. Furthermore, In 1967, the occult filmmaker Kenneth Anger leased the property. In an interview in 2018, Anger stated that he bought the home because he felt it was “Already heavily charged with demonic energy”, and he confirmed that he did perform satanic rituals in the tower.
The Occult At Westerfeld House
While Anger lived in the home, he filmed several occult classics, including the notable “Invocation Of My Demon Brother” and “Lucifer Rising”. A frequent guest of Anger was Anton LaVey (who is said to have also lived inside the home at one point), founder of The Church Of Satan. It’s believed that LaVey used to hold Black Mass in the tower where he opened doors into the spiritual realm.
Adding to the list of residence who practiced the occult, a member of the Charles Manson family, Bobby Beausoleil (who was a follower of Anton LaVey), lived in the home for a time. It is thought that he brought Charles Manson to the house.
Ghost Adventures
In a 2018 interview with Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans, Anger stated that it was not him nor LaVey who painted a pentagram on the floor in the tower. But that it had already been present when he moved in.
With the dark, heavily charged atmosphere swirling around the Westerfeld House, one can’t help but wonder if the rituals that Anger and LaVey performed indeed opened the doors to hell. Could Beausoleil, a notable musician at the time, have been influenced by demonic entities to carry out a gruesome murder for the Manson Family?
The ceiling in the tower had been removed by Anger and LaVey, exposing the rafters. In an attempt to magnify their forces, a parabolic microphone was hung from the rafters, pointed toward the sky, intensifying their ceremonies as they opened doors to hell and called upon and invited demons into the house.
To this day, residents of the home report that strange happenings do occur within the walls of the Westerfeld House. Unexplained noises are common. Seeing figures and disturbing nightmares are a regular occurrence also being reported. One resident stated in a Ghost Adventures interview that, “You’re never alone here.”
Behavior Patterns
One disturbing regular occurrence is the rapid change in people's behavior upon entering the home. It seems that people become influenced by an unseen force, some becoming violent. Others delving into addiction.
Other residents of the home have expressed that though they regularly feel a strange presence, hear unexplainable noises, and sometimes feel uneasy, they do not feel in danger and continue to live on the property.
Today, the home is owned by businessman Jim Siegel, who has poured love into the house, restoring it and preserving its character. The Westerfeld House is now on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco. Siegel has said that he always knew he would someday own the “Adams Family” looking house and had been fascinated with it since childhood. When he purchased the property in 1986, he immediately had Buddhist Priests bless every corner of the home. Although he claims that he’s never seen a ghostly apparition, he has stated that he's experienced one paranormal occurrence in which his bed shook violently while he lay watching TV one night. And it was not due to any earthquakes.
An hour east of San Francisco, CA, sits the long-forgotten relics of five mining towns. Now a preserve, the entire 6,000 acres north of Mt. Diablo has many hauntings attached to it. The old towns of Nortonville, Somersville, Stewartsville, West Hartley and Judsonville sit sandwiched along the rolling hills, between the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta and the Diablo mountain range. However, today, the area is known as the old Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
Tales of witches have always been heavily connected to locations on the northeast seaboard of the United States. But, as settlers moved west, the stories and fear of witchcraft came with them, and the Golden State is no exception.
From Farm Land To Lucrative Coal Mining
The discovery of coal in the area put the region on the map, earning it the name "Black Diamond." It became one of the largest coal distributors in California, producing over 300 million tons between 1850 and 1906. The tunnels under the mountain are said to be haunted for obvious reasons. Many miners lost their lives while searching for coal in the Black Diamond Mines.
The Black Diamond Mines Cemetery
The Rose Hill Cemetery is perched on top of a hill between the Sommersville and Nortonville sites. After the towns were abandoned, the cemetery was also forgotten. Many headstones were vandalized or stolen. However, over the years, more than 200 bodies have been discovered in the cemetery grounds —the final rest for many coal workers. It is also the final resting place for other residents of the old towns, including women and children who died from diseases such as smallpox, scarlet and typhoid fever.
Visitors to the abandoned tunnels of the mines, now turned into tourist attractions, have reported seeing figures roaming the grounds of the cemetery and hearing sounds of digging, scraping, and wailing coming from deep within the mine tunnels. Some have even reported seeing the glowing figures of children running through the area. Nevertheless, the most bizarre cases of the hauntings are of two women, whom the locals refer to as the "White Witches."
Witchcraft In The Golden State Black Diamond Mines
Interestingly, there are two stories of witches in the area. And they are both referred to as a "White Witch" because of the luminous glow they give off when seen.
White Witch
The first "White Witch" was a woman known only as Mary. In the 1870s, she was a nanny who cared for many children in the area. Sadly, all the children she looked after passed away. Understandably, the town went into an uproar and charged Mary with witchcraft. She was hung for the murder of the children, and her home was burned to the ground.
People have reported seeing her wandering around the area, appearing as a white, glowing apparition. They say she stays close to the entrance to the mines. Some believe that she holds the children she allegedly murdered captive, keeping them earthbound.
She's known as an aggressive spirit who purposely frightens anyone who comes across her, discouraging anyone from entering the mines.
Sarah Norton
The second story of a "White Witch" is of a woman named Sarah Norton. Sarah was a sought after midwife and loved by all the townspeople. On the night of October 5, 1879, Sarah was on her way to assist a laboring woman. She was unfortunately thrown from the carriage she was riding in and crushed to death.
Sarah was not a religious woman and had requested that there be no funeral when she passed away. The townspeople, grief-stricken by her sudden and unexpected death, couldn't accept the idea of not giving Sarah a proper burial. They decided to go against her wishes and hold a funeral service.
On the day of the funeral, a violent storm forced them to delay the service. On the second attempt to hold the service, another terrible storm sprung up unexpectedly, forcing them to postpone yet again. Eventually, the residents decided to bury Sarah in the Rose Hill Cemetery without holding a service and did so without incident.
You can still visit Sarah Norton's grave site. Her headstone is still present and she is periodically seen guarding. People report seeing her hovering above the ground, with a glowing white light surrounding her spirit. The sudden onset of violent winds accompanies her apparition.
It is said that the storms disrupting her unwanted funeral were brought on by Sarah's disapproval of the service, as they formed quickly and without any warning.
Hidden Gems In The Bay
The beauty of the Golden State area should not be missed. Visitors can hike the trails of the preserve, see the local wildlife and experience the abundance of wildflowers in the spring. And if you're lucky, you may even experience your own ghostly encounter with a resident from a long-forgotten, abandoned town.
