Paranormal shenanigans at Oxford Castle send shivers down Marc West's spine as he spends a night with the spooks

Are you afraid of the dark? Well, it doesn’t take much to spook me, so goodness knows why I agreed to spend the night in one of the UK’s most haunted places – especially on a cold autumnal night on the eve of Halloween.

Oxford Castle has been a place of incarceration since 1071 continuing until the closure of Her Majesty’s Prison in 1996.

So, if these walls could talk they would tell the tales of 1,000 years of murder, execution and madness – there is no corner untouched by evil.

With over 40 years experience, the proceedings were led by paranormal investigator and professional medium Gail Webb from Spirit Connexions – who brings the rich history of the ancient monument to life – or is that back from the dead?

Gail’s husband is an Elvis impersonator and I wondered if The King himself had returned for another Comeback Special.

“It’s already very active in there”, said Gail. “The energy is fuelled by a high concentration of emotion.”

Would we encounter some of D-Wing’s former inhabitants?

Evil murderess Mary Blandy, scheming gypsy Elizabeth Boswell or Empress Mathilda of England – who, it has been claimed, is the most seen ghost in the country.

Dressed in her trademark white cape, her ghostly figure allegedly haunts the stairs of the Saxon St George’s Tower after she was forced to flee across the frozen Thames in the dead of night to escape the siege of her cousin King Stephen in 1142.

I’m naturally very sceptical, but wanted to believe – and, almost immediately, we all began to witness phenomena that sent shivers down the spine.

Shooting spots of electrical energy known as orbs mark the initial manifestation of spirits and they were drawn to Gail like moths to a flame – she even instructed them where to move right in front of my eyes!

At the stroke of midnight, we descended deep underground into the truly dark atmosphere of the 900-year-old crypt to partake in a séance.

With our hands placed lightly on a table and little fingers crossed to ensure no foul play, Gail summoned the surrounding spirits and the table began to rise up.

This was just the beginning... In the early hours, things started to get really strange.

While in Cell D221, the spirit of tortured young prisoner “Tommy” presented himself to us through a series of strange dancing lights on the ceiling of his former cell.

Was my mind playing tricks on me? Or, did we actually experience something from the other side?

In such circumstances, I can see how the power of suggestion can be strong. All I can say is witness it first-hand for yourself then (try) to make up your own mind.

Oxford Castle Unlocked’s Ghost Fest runs through to the end of November with frights and delights for all ages. Dare you scoff a scrumptious After Dark dinner in a padded cell, collect clues to solve a Robber’s Revenge murder mystery or scare yourself silly at Terror Tuesday – be prepared for genuine horror, flesh-crawling encounters and unimaginable brutality as you and your friends feel your way through a haunted house with no boundaries…if you dare! Or, this Saturday’s family event invites visitors to knock on the cell doors of creepy inmates for a scarily good trick-or-treat.

For all information visit oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk

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