Christchurch Mansion, Suffolk

 

This is a big Tudor Manor House which is located on a massive park called Christchurch Park in Suffolk. To give you an idea of the size of the grounds, it reguarly presents big funfairs, music in the park days with a full orchestra and also many  radio shows present live shows from there with many bands in the summer. 

I actually used to live in an apartment with a view from my living room overlooking the back of the park - now that was cool as I got the see the fireworks display for free on Guy Fawkes lol!!

The mansion iteself was built between 1548-1550.  There have been reports there of it being haunted by a maid with 2 children who appear to be dancing through the halls, a female figure has been spotted sweeping through the place, as well as a Victorian looking lady who disappeared through glass doors.  There are also reports of pictures turning themselves around on the walls.

Ever since I was small my mum used to take us, on various weekends (especially in the summer), to the park to eat our sandwiches and then visit the mansion, as inside its gots lots going on and now there is also an art gallery located upstairs.  I have also heard that people can choose to get married in there too.

My own experience is that the mansion kind of drew me in as much as it repelled me - but my goodness it did scare me stupid and all the times I visited I didnt know any of these stories of hauntings which could otherwise have influenced the way I would feel.  There were certain areas upstairs that most times i felt i couldnt face them and just wanted to turn and run. Sometimes I would stay othertimes I would just have to get outside again.  There was one room (the music room) which would make me feel dizzy and hazy like I was about to pass out and also the bedrooms were very very atmospheric and spooky.  I must point out that I know the difference between simply being spooked and really feeling something about a place.  Maybe i am just good at picking up on things.  The thing thats strange is as much as I hated going into specific rooms and hall ways I would always go back.  In fact when i was a teenager me and 2 girl friends would visit there on a Sunday afternoon, we used to scare ourselves stupid and had a good time but the same feelings of extreme uneasiness and sickness happened not just to me but my friends too in the same areas.

A link to a site i just came across, showing a picture with orbs in the music room - now considering i just mentioned the music room before I'm quite spooked to see all the orbs  there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant beleive it!

http://www.paranormaldimensions.co.uk/gallery0027.html

Additional info found on the web:-

The history of Christchurch Mansion
Christchurch was originally the site of a 12th century Augustinian priory. The priory was disbanded by Henry VIII in his Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the estate was seized for the crown. In 1545 the estate was purchased by the Withypoll family, and three years later Edmund Withypoll built this house where the priory had stood.

In the 18th century the house was purchased by a London merchant of Huguenot descent, Claude Fonnereau, and a wing was added to the north-east corner of the mansion. The upper floor of this wing features a state bedroom with ornate plasterwork. In 1892 the mansion was purchased by Felix Cobbold, who gave it to the city of Ipswich, and Christchurch has been maintained as a museum since 1896.

I have put some pictures I found of the mansion in a folder called Christchurch Mansion and it shows pictures of how it is now and a beautiful picture of it as it was on a postcard with a massive statue of Queen Victoria.

http://groups.msn.com/SpiritualCircles/christchurchmansion1.msnw

I have got some more info from my mum about her most recent visit there:-

(c) Spirit&SpiritualCircles2006