Mistley: Ghosthunters to investigate village

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Mistley: Ghosthunters to investigate village
June 30, 2009
By Andrea Collitt
Harwich and Manningtree Standard

GHOSTHUNTERS are coming to Mistley in search of the spirit a notorious witchfinder and his victims.

Investigators from Paranormal Encounters will be in Mistley Woods on Saturday July 11 from 8pm.

The event follows an all-day paranormal fayre being held at Spring Lodge in Witham.

It will include lectures by some of the most prominent names in the paranormal community as well as authors, mediums, tarot readers, demonstrations and talks by paranormal investigators about their work.

Mistley is famous for the 17th Century Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, who is said to be buried at Mistley Heath.

Hopkins unleashed terrifying witch hunts on the local community in 1644, ending with his death in the village in 1647.

Recent historical and archaeological evidence suggests Hopkins may acutally be buried in the woods.

Three apparitions, reported to be the ghosts of Hopkins’ victims have been seen around the Ducking Pond in the village, at what used to be his headquarters.

Jason Day, of Phantom Encounters, said: “It is the actual ducking pond so it is about as close to Mistley’s history and Matthew Hopkins as you can get without meeting the man himself.”

An apparition seen wearing 17th Century clothing is also reported to walk Mistley’s Hopping Bridge.

The ghostly screams of a tormented witch being interrogated at the hands of Hopkins are said to be heard coming from the beach beyond the bridge too.

The experience will include vigils, seances and use of paranormal investigative equipment.

Special guest paranormal investigator Mark Webb, of Living TV’s Haunted Homes, will also be at the event, which concludes at 3am on Sunday July 12.

Tickets for the event have now sold out but a second event is expected to take place at a later date.