Salford gets spooky at Ordsall Hall sell-out ghost hunt

By Amy Senior

Salford’s Ordsall Hall became the spookiest spot in Manchester when it played host to an all-night paranormal investigation last Saturday.

Since its closure in 2009 and the installation of online ghost cams, a growing interest stretching as far as the USA has surrounded the Tudor hall.

Lancashire Hauntings, a group of mediums, investigators and even cynics, were officially the first to re-acquaint themselves with Ordsall’s spirits after its grand re-opening last month.

Paranormal Videographer, Paul Reid, said: “If there’s someone who can channel them, they will hone in on that because they genuinely want to communicate.”

The tourist attraction welcomed over 600 visitors when it reopened on May 15 and it wasn’t long before its fans returned to assess the changes.

The investigation proved successful as the guests poured into the 12^th century building seeking not only ghosts but their first look of the lottery funded renovation.

Some people familiar with the hall, including the investigators, feel the developments have diminished its originality and spiritual vibe.

Guest Amanda Dean from Eccles said: “I think they’ve made it too modern.  You used to feel a presence when you walked through the door and now you don’t.”

Lancashire Hauntings co-founder , Michelle Cardno, has a long-term relationship with the council-owned hall and sees the benefits of renovation.

“It’s really good how they’ve done it up, but it does seem like the energies have been disrupted here,” she said.

Other first-time visitors arrived with an open mind to both the spirit world and the Tudor house obscurely sitting in the middle of industrial Salford.

Debbie Nicholson from Skelmersdale lived opposite the tourist attraction for seven years but never entered during that time.

She said: “I think everyone has an intuition it’s just a case of developing it.”

Volunteer Claire Hunt has seen many spirits in her three months there and believes the hall’s resident ghosts have really added to its popularity.

Despite moving glasses and rotating tables, experts said activity was generally low compared to previous visits.

Now the builders have vacated they hope to see the spirits return to their former glory which could spell out many more visits from paranormal fanatics.

To find out about other ghost hunts in Lancashire visit: www.lancashirehauntings.co.uk