13th March 2009

The first of Friday the 13th two locations was a visit to Old Thundridge Church to investigate mysterious fires and shouting and the sighting of soldiers. In 1978 a woman wrote to her local newspaper to report a strange experience she had at the church in her younger days. As she walked past the church she was aware of fires burning within the church and the sounds of people shouting. Moments later she witnessed a troop of soldiers rushing towards her only for them to melt away before her. On route to the church LPS members were met with the sound of shouting but unfortunately this was due to a group of youths who had seemingly chosen the site for their Friday the 13th scare fest. Sadly LPS decided an investigation at the site would not be appropriate and headed off to the next location at Tewin.

The Church of St Peter in Tewin hosts some interesting tales of ghostly sightings including that of Lady Sabine, wife to General Sabine Governor of Gibraltar, whose spirit is said to linger by the monument to her husband. After a battle, General Sabine was seriously injured. As he lay wounded in his bed he saw a vision of his beloved wife standing at the end of the bed only to watch her fade away. Later he discovered that his wife passed away in England around the time he saw the vision. The story suggests that the couple, as well as having a deep emotional bond, also had a spiritual one too.

Another ghost reported to haunt the graveyard is that of Lady Ann Grimston. On her deathbed in 1713 she is alleged to have said that if she were to rise again then seven trees would spring from her tomb. Today her tomb is surrounded by railings and a tree within, split in to seven parts.