Combermere Abbey Welcomes Ghost Hunters on New 'History and Mystery' Tours

Sept. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- With 900 years of rich history and a turbulent and, sometimes bloody past, Combermere Abbey is renowned as one of Cheshire’s most haunted houses. If you love the sensation of goose bumps on your arms, your hair follicles standing up and the blood draining from your cheeks, then join local historian and ghost-hunter, Tim Prevett, for a spine-tingling Hallowe’en ‘History & Mystery’ Tour of the Abbey on Wednesday, October 31st,   at  midwinter, on Friday, December 14th.

Combermere Abbey, originally built in 1133 as a Cistercian monastery, has lived through the Dissolution, many wars, treachery and uprising, and has counted many influential and intriguing owners who have each lived through romance, sorrow, bankruptcy, illness, loss, each soul leaving their own imprint in the fabric of these ancient walls.

Those interested in the paranormal may already know of the infamous Victorian photograph of Lord Combermere, seated in a chair in the Library, captured by Sybil Corbett at the time of his own funeral! Even nowadays as a happy family home, there is often an unexplained ‘bump in the night’, whisper or sighting witnessed by occupants of the Abbey.

This has captured the imagination of Tim Prevett, who is a local historian and ghost connoisseur who will be leading the brave and curious on five twilight and night tours of the Abbey. Learn of the history and mystery of the Abbey - and who knows whether you may sense unexpected guests during this other-wordly experience?

Tour Dates
Hallowe’en, Oct 31st        7pm – 8.15pm and 8.45pm –10pm
Midwinter, Dec 14th         3.45pm – 5pm; 5.30pm – 6.45pm and 7.15pm – 8.30pm    

Each of the tours last for around 75 minutes and costs £15 per head (Strictly limited to 15 guests so pre-booking essential. Suited only to older children, min. age 10 years and adults) No indoor photography will be permitted.

For bookings please contact:  Heather in the Estate Office on 01948 662880 or email: estate@combermereabbey.co.uk

Full details are available at http://www.combermereabbey.co.uk/the-abbey/ghost-tours

About the Estate

Combermere Estate lies on the Cheshire/Shropshire border and features a 143 acre lake, the largest in private ownership in Cheshire, and a total of 1,000 rolling acres. The medieval Cistercian Combermere Abbey is set in the heart of the Estate and was founded in 1133 by Hugh de Malbanc, Lord of Nantwich.  

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 by Henry VIII, most of the monastic buildings were destroyed leaving only the Abbot’s Hall and in 1820 it was re-designed as a gothic mansion.  Famous occupants of Combermere Abbey include Elizabeth, Empress of Austria; William of Orange, Dr. Johnson and Mrs Thrale and Sir Stapleton Cotton, a brilliant General, who fought under Wellington at the Battle of Salamanca.  The present occupants are Sarah Callander Beckett, who inherited the estate from her great grandfather, Sir Kenneth Crossley Bt, and her husband, Peter.

In 1994, the restored 1837 Stables were opened as luxury holiday cottages and have since won awards and acclaim for their high standards (http://www.combermereabbey.co.uk/holiday-cottages/the-cot...) , and in 2007 the restored Edwardian Glasshouse was opened as a licensed wedding venue (http://www.combermereabbey.co.uk/weddings).