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.

The Ventilation Shaft

Situated between the museum, the North Drift and The Experience is The Ventilation shaft that was used to pump fresh air deep into the mines.

Now almost empty, large machinery would have existed here to help pump the fresh air through the mines and keep the miners alive.

Unfortunately, part of the floor was covered in wood (which appeared hollow underneath) and any walking on it caused loud footsteps to echo through the chamber - and could possible be heard in nearby locations also.

Group 1 Report : Jay Sue

We found the Ventilation Shaft to be very quiet and devoid of any noticeable activity.

The room itself was quite noisy and any walking brought about loud echoey footsteps due to an extremely hollow wooden floor.

After a while, Sue tried to do some pendulum work and picked up on an individual called Tom. He apparently did not work on site. She tracked him down to have been living on the site of the mine in the early 1900's.

(Note: At the end of our time in this location, when the lights came back on, Sue found that the name "Tom" was splashed around all over not only this location but throughout the museum - the founder of the museum was Tom Leonard and so she is not sure if she had been unconsciously influenced by this or not)

Sue also picked up on the sense of a man whom she described as a "Big, fat and greasy bloke who was unshaven and wearing a white vest" although she couldn't say whether or not this man was the Tom she had claimed to communicate with earlier through dowsing.

We did at one point move into the museum proper that was located next to the ventilation shaft and Sue reported feeling dis-orientated, dizzy and nauseous and so we didn't stay in here long.

Upon returning to the ventilation shaft both Jay and Sue reported hearing a loud screeching noise as though a large piece of machinery was turning and grinding against something metal : there was no working machinery within the Ventilation shaft.

We also heard a loud bang within the room, although it is possible that it originated with another group in another location.

Group 2 Report : Pam Bruce

Pam picked up upon various sensations and spirits in this location. Firstly was a man who was carrying equipment and who wearing a wig (like what a judge would wear) and a long black coat. Pam calimed his name was William Branton or Brown and she said that William was claiming that he 'built this place' meaning the Ventilation shaft (EDITOR : Being looked into).

Pam also picked up on individuals who were washing over sinks with their sleeves rolled up.

Before leaving, William Branton (or Brown) returned and Pam claimed that he pushed her in the back so as to get past her and then he left again.

Group 3 Report : Mike Andrea Joan Linda

We sat for a few moments to let everything calm down and also so the other teams could do the same in their Locations.

Not long after Andrea felt sickly so she moved to another area and she felt fine.

Andrea called out, nothing happened. Mike called out as well. Andrea then saw small flashes of lights next to the ventilation wheel. This happened a few times then nothing.

This room felt quiet. After 45 minutes we moved on to our next location.