(SOLD OUT) The Old Priory Ghost Hunt - Repton

HISTORY OF THE OLD PRIORY

Repton Priory was a priory in Repton, Derbyshire, England. It was established in the 12th century and was originally under the control of Calke Priory. It was dissolved in 1538. The priory became a place of pilgrimage on account of the shrine of St Guthlac, and his bell. Pilgrims believed that placing their head upon it would cure headaches. The buildings of Repton School, founded in 1557, incorporate remains of the priory. Grade I. The ground floor of the school is the old undercroft and has a heavy open-timbered ceiling supported on columns of 12th century date, the rest of the building being of 16th/17th century date. Structural remains of the Priory church, cloister and slype, consisting of miscellaneous lengths of walling, bases of pillars and other features were uncovered in the restoration of 1922. The wide gateway forming the main entrance to the school was part of the gatehouse and is said to date to c.1250. The priory precinct walls of ashlar almost encircle the site, restored and altered in places.

The remains of nearly 300 people believed to be those of the Viking Great Army were found on the grounds of the Old Priory.  Within the mound, there was evidence of 264 bodies, the majority of which were young men, alongside Viking weaponry and artefacts. Some of the skeletons showed signs of violent injury, adding further to the evidence that they came from an invading force.

PARANORMAL

The Church of St Wystan contains a unique Saxon crypt which is one of  the most important surviving pieces of Saxon architecture in England. It  dates from around 750 AD and contains the tombs of King Ethelbald of  Mercia (757AD) and King Wiglaf (840AD). When Wystan (Grandson of Wiglaf)  a Saxon prince, was treacherously murdered he was buried in the crypt  with his ancestors. Soon after the crypt became a shrine where  miraculous cures were claimed to take place. Historians claim the site of the church was previously occupied by  the Old Saxon Abbey, with a secret passage leading to Anchor Church  nearly three miles away. As the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia, Repton  had a fairly active history which culminated in 874 when the town and  Abbey were sacked by Danes. The Abbey was completely destroyed, but the  crypt partly survived to be rebuilt.

Back in the churchyard is the grave of Frederick Wickham Railton who  died aged 14 years and 8 months in 1853 while a pupil at Repton School.  The grave houses the body of an uneasy spirit which has been known for  the last 120 years as the ‘Gallery Ghost’.

The boy is said to have been murdered and his ghost makes its  appearance on the night of the “senior steeplechase running race” and  haunts the unfortunate winner: apparently in his lifetime Railton  himself was notable as a good runner. The Gallery into which the boys’  bedrooms opened is in the top storey of the Repton School’s  accommodation. It was here that Railton was made to run the gauntlet for  some schoolboy offence, six times up and down the Gallery between  assailants armed with towels and pillowcases. One of them and it is  rumoured it was his own brother had tied an ink bottle in his towel and a  blow from this struck him on the head and killed him.

Repton has a strong link with religion and specifically the Augustine  Abbey that now houses Repton School. With its strange mass grave that  contained over two hundred and fifty skeletons, subterranean crypts and  secret tunnels to its local folklore stories relating to unusual entity  manifestations.

EVENT INCLUDES

• Complimentary tea and coffee.
• Complimentary light snacks.
• Access after dark.
• History/Mystery tour.
• Full use of equipment - ouija boads, k2s, emf meters, etc..
• Access to mediums and the chance to experience automatic writing.

PARKING

There is limited parking onsite but penty of street parking available - parking is at youe own risk.

PLEASE NOTE:

Before booking onto this event  please read our Terms and Conditions.  We  cannot offer refunds and all  ticket sales are non-transferable.

NO UNDER 18's AND ANYONE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WILL  NOT BE PERMITTED INTO THE EVENT.

This location is unsuitable for people with mobility issues and heavily  pregnant women.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMADTION IS NOT INCLUDED 

terms&conditions apply.