NGI

... Head over to Haunted UK for a review of the general history and haunted history of the Cleveland Ironstone Mine. Alternatively, use the table of contents to view the reports for each location.

North Drift

The North Drift is an original 500ft tunnel dating back to the 19th century that is dug deep into the hillside.

A railway track runs along one edge of the tunnel and there is a walkway on the other side that allows people to traverse it safely - although in some areas the tunnel roof is a little low.

The tunnel itself is blocked off due to safety reasons and actually continued a further 500ft into the hillside.

Where it is blocked off, there are benches on either side of the tunnel that allow people to sit in the darkness - and when the lights are switched off it is pitch black - you literally can not see your hand in front of your face.

Group 1 Report : Jay Sue

At the bottom of the North Drift, once the lights had been turned off, we found ourselves in the pitch black. Nothing at all could be seen - not even your hand in front of your face.

After sitting for a short while in the darkness, hoping to pick up on any sounds, we began to call out to any spirits that may have been present.

There were a couple of occasions when we got something that appeared to be a response, but it was difficult to determine whether it was anything paranormal or natural.

There was one point when we could hear footsteps within the tunnel as though somebody was walking down towards us - checking with the museum guides afterwards, none of them had entered the tunnel while our group was there and the darkness prevented us from seeing anybody.

We both, at one point, commented on how in the darkness we could see what appeared to be white shapes moving at a distance away from us. Given the darkness in the tunnel, it was impossible to explain what these shapes were.

Sue did capture what she believed to be one of these shapes on her camera but it's difficult to explain just what it is.

Group 2 Report : Pam Bruce

Pam was inundated with sensations, images and voices while in the North Drift and here is how she described what she sensed and felt :

Boy under rubble or coal, banging and tappings. Feeling cold. Two taps - sounds of working in shaft, digging etc.

Name Scotty, more banging heard, sounds of someone walking on gravel. Hovering lights look like someone shovelling. Says he's working with wood and tin.

Someone called Francis, noises heard, someone being bossy saying he's busy working - he's about 25 years old with mousey brown hair and a checked shirt from 1931-1932 - says his surname is Wood. Francis Wood.

Group 3 Report : Mike Andrea Joan Linda

We all walked to the bottom of the tunnel and sat down on either side of the benches. The guide sat near us as well, so we were all accounted for, the lights were turned off and it was very dark and eerie.

Andrea called out. Andrea knew some names that Pam had mentioned to her so when Linda starting to call out she used the names Andrea told her.

When Linda asked if Joe was here, Andrea thought she heard a small quiet voice say "Its me". (Dictaphones will be checked to see if we have caught any voice on Digital recorder. EDITOR: Nothing heard).

Andrea and Mike went into a small room right next to where we were all sitting, as soon as they went in there they both heard what can only be described as a Growl or a loud Male Moan. After 2 minutes of being in the smaller room, Andrea looked up the tunnel and thought she could see something or someone standing at the top, Linda and Joan confirmed that they too could see a figure or something standing at the top of the tunnel to the left.

We all sat down again and the name Michael came into Mikes head also he felt someone touch him across the face. We all became very cold across our legs and hands as if there was a gust of wind blowing on us.

Andrea then thought she saw a figure walking down towards us and shouted out if anyone was coming down, there was no response. Again, all 4 of us could see something right at the top.

It was time to leave the tunnel. Once we came out of the tunnel the guide who was with us asked another guide if he had walked around the top, he said no. But all of us thought we saw a figure right at the top walking across.