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Elvaston Castle
DERBY, DERBYSHIRE Series 6 Episode 20 First Aired: August 9th 2005 |
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| Location Background | |
Set amidst a beautiful Victorian garden Elvaston looks the very essence of a Victorian country manor house. But although the visible exterior was only built in the mid Victorian era it has enclosed a much older building. Elvaston Castle actually dates from around the mid 1600’s but even this is only the latest in a series of buildings, which go back as far as the 11th century. the current building was designed by James Wyatt and built around 1817 for the 3rd Earl of Harrington. Elvaston had been the ancestral home of the Stanhope family since the early 18th century, when William Stanhope was made the first Earl of Harrington. A bay window from the original house was incorporated into its successor, and legend has it that when looking through this window people have seen a woman dressed in white moving backwards and forwards as if in a rocking chair. The estate is now a country park open to the public and the house is devoted to offices, a museum and a cafe. Workers there say that the 'White Lady' slams doors, drops things and interferes with the living by stealing items. She is often seen going from the house to the nearby churchyard where she apparently reads the gravestones and mutters to herself. Many witnesses have also seen her in the company of a large white dog, while a troop of phantom 'Roundhead' soldiers of the English Civil War period have been seen marching and riding in the vicinity of the house. |
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| Brief Episode Synopsis | |
Derek revealed the name Maria Foote, the 4th Lady Harrington, during his walk around, and suggested that she was unhappy with his presence as she felt that mediums has negative effects on her spirit children. In the Gothic Hall he connected with a secret society or Masonic group, and links have been made between the 1st Earl of Harrington and the notorious Hellfire Club. David Wells meanwhile connects with a gardener or gamekeeper by the name of James (believed to be James Booth) who's spirit would sit and await his lover, Kate or Catherine, who was a member of the gentry of the house. Moving on to the 1st floor bedroom David picked up on a hooded figure who kept his identity veiled. The impressions given were that of a religious man, most probably a monk, who would walk through the wooden panelled wall into a hidden staircase and was present around the 1820's. The vigils began with a séance involving Richard, Derek, Stuart and Iain where it appeared that they came up with names of William Barron, John Peterson and Maria Foote although little credible activity took place. Next both Rachel and Iain undertook solo vigils on the first floor where Rachel believed she heard a hissing voice or breathing sound and was sent into a mild frenzy. Meanwhile Karl was investigating the Morning Room and also believed he could hear a similar voice, although Ciaran was quick to establish that many of these rooms were adjoining and it was impossible to verify that the sounds of other people were not responsible. The investigation concluded with Yvette, Ciaran and David investigating the 1st floor boudoir. When attempting to open the doorway to the hidden staircase both David and Yvette are startled, and David described how the door appeared to pull out of his hands while Yvette suggested that she could hear another breathing or hissing sound. Ciaran then attempted to open the door but felt as if something or someone was behind it, eventually managing to open it after a few attempts only to find that there was nobody there. |
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| Paranormal Activity | |
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Activity Icons Explained |
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