Point of Ayr Lighthouse

Talacre Beach
Flintshire
Wales

History

Built in 1776, Point of Ayr Lighthouse was sadly discontinued in 1883 but is one of the oldest lighthouses in Wales protecting boats using Liverpool Bay. Standing on Talacre Beach at the entrance to the River Dee estuary the lighthouse once displayed two lights. The main beam, at 63 feet, shone seaward towards Llandudno and its second shone up the River Dee towards the hamlet of Dawpool in Cheshire. Originally painted in red and white stripes the lighthouse had a red lantern housing, which was replaced in 1844 with a metal pile lighthouse bearing a white light, put up by the order of the Corporation of Trinity House. This new structure however was replaced again in 1883 with a lightship. The lighthouse fell into dereliction until James McAllister, owner of nearby Talacre Beach Leisure Park, bought it at an auction in 1983.

Paranormal Activity

Even though Point of Ayr Lighthouse has not been staffed for more than a century it is home to many stories of ghostly apparitions. It is said the most common lighthouse ghost sighting is that of a keeper wearing a coat and cap who is seen in broad daylight standing in front of the glass dome on the gallery walkway.

Flambards Victorian Village

Helston
Cornwall TR13 0QA

History

Flambards Victorian exhibition started off as just three rooms back in 1979 but has now grown to over 50 shops and cottages together with all the attendant trades necessary for Victorian village life. The buildings are real buildings and not staged, built from traditional materials and the streets are cobbled with granite setts, salvaged from the old streets of Bath in the 1960s. The schoolroom floor is also salvaged from the demolition of a Victorian school complete with tread and scuffs of clogs and hob nailed boots.

Paranormal Activity

Friendly spirits have been reported here at the Victorian exhibition with staff often reporting unexplained activity. Some have heard mysterious music playing after closing time; others have smelt a strong scent of roses. It is believed that seven spirits, four of them children, haunt the exhibition who are believed to be attached to objects displayed at the attraction. Flambards managing director James Kingsford-Hale said: “ … one member of staff has heard the piano playing.”

One of the ghosts is said to be that of David Edwards, who died in 1968 at the age of 46, another is said to be Caroline Hollsworthy who died in 1907 aged 66. She is said to be attached to a pair of brown shoes in the shoe shop, which were hers and is responsible for the strong scent of roses. Two of the child spirits are said to be that of Cynthia who died in 1923 aged eight and Frankie, a shy spirit who died of influenza in 1909 aged 10.

Tyne Journal Theatre

105 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear NE1 4AG

History

The Tyne Journal Theatre is a Grade 1 listed building and dates back to the Victorian times, being one of the world’s oldest working Victorian theatres today.

The venue is operated by SMG Europe who also own the nearby Metro Radio Arena and is sponsored by The Journal newspaper.

Paranormal Activity

Recent visitors to the theatre have included famous names such as Piers Morgan with the Britain’s Got Talent auditions however performers were not all of the earthy kind. Piers reported being hit by a mysterious flying rock coming from the direction of an empty stage and the theatre temperature dropped so low that he and fellow judges Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell had to get hot water bottles. A show insider said “Piers felt something hit him in the head. He picked it up and it was a small rock. He asked if anyone threw something and the answer was ‘no’. It seemed to come from the stage area, where no one was. Then the room suddenly became really cold and you could your breath. The judges asked for hot water bottles to keep their bums warm.”