Easby Abbey
Visited 24 September 2005
Not far from the historic Richmond Castle lies a magnificent, ruined abbey. Easby Abbey is steeped in history, and as the dark nights draw in and Hallowe’en gets ever closer we made our way South to see what Easby Abbey had to offer.
The remains of the Easby Abbey stand by the River Swale near Richmond. The abbey was founded in 1152 by Roald, Constable of Richmond Castle, for the Premonstratensian order ("white canons"). They undertook preaching and pastoral work in the region (such as distributing meat and drink) but followed a code of austerity similar to that of Cistercian monks. Another Premonstraterian house in the area is the Egglestone Abbey near Barnard Castle.
During the late 14th century the abbey was extended to accommodate more canons and a hospital for 22 poor men. In 1537 all monasteries were dissolved by Henry VIII. Unlike many of them, Easby was never converted for domestic accommodation and many of the buildings suffered damage; roofs were deliberately removed, along with furnishings, and the church was destroyed. Although much ruined, there are remnants of fine decoration in the abbey's stonework; the dormitory staircase on the west side of the cloister for example has early 'beakhead' ornamentation and the refectory is notable for fine gothic tracery in the windows.
During the late 14th century the abbey was extended to accommodate more canons and a hospital for 22 poor men. In 1537 all monasteries were dissolved by Henry VIII. Unlike many of them, Easby was never converted for domestic accommodation and many of the buildings suffered damage; roofs were deliberately removed, along with furnishings, and the church was destroyed. Although much ruined, there are remnants of fine decoration in the abbey's stonework; the dormitory staircase on the west side of the cloister for example has early 'beakhead' ornamentation and the refectory is notable for fine gothic tracery in the windows.
According to legend, a secret tunnel runs from the Abbey to the Richmond Castle. Some soldiers once sent a drummer-boy along it to test the theory and followed the sound of his drum from the Castle almost halfway to the Abbey. Suddenly the drumming stopped. The poor boy was never seen alive again, no one knows how he was killed - but his ghost still haunts the tunnel, from where a slow drumbeat can sometimes be heard.
There have been many reports of ghosty noises coming from the abbey late at night, dark shadows have been seen moving around the Abbey. Within the last few months a paranormal group local to the Abbey visited and carried out some Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) experiments with some amazing results.
There have been many reports of ghosty noises coming from the abbey late at night, dark shadows have been seen moving around the Abbey. Within the last few months a paranormal group local to the Abbey visited and carried out some Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) experiments with some amazing results.
On a mild Saturday evening Dan and Tom arrived at mine at 9pm. Tom had been to watch Newcastle’s 1-0 home win over Manchester City earlier in the day and it’s fair to say that it was obvious he’d had a few drinks. We jumped in my car and set off on the one hour drive to Easby Abbey. Before we knew it we were coming off the A1 at Scotch Corner then we quickly navigated the remaining four miles of the journey with ease. Tom was just waking up in the back when we rounded the corner onto the dark, narrow, country lane that leads to the Abbey. We drove past the abbey and parked in a public car park for visitors. There was a Toyota parked in the car park and this made Dan a bit jumpy, there didn’t seem to be anyone in the car so where could they be? It was now around 10pm and very, very dark. We sat quietly in the car with the headlights off, half expecting someone or something to jump out of the shadows. We locked our doors. We then noticed another car parked through some bushes behind us. The scene seemed like something out of a horror film. “I feel like I’m waiting for something to happen” Dan said while nervously scanning the darkened car park all around us. Suddenly Tom sprang to life, instantly breaking the tension “ABBBBO, ABBBBO” he started shouting in his mildly inebriated state. I assume ‘abbbbo’ is his way of shouting something about the Abbey.
I suggested that to make Dan feel better I drove along some of the winding country lanes around the Abbey that we hadn’t drove along yet so we could see if anyone was around. I doubted anyone was already at the Abbey as it was pitch black and I’d seen no torches or any kind of light. We drove down a very narrow lane with thick bushes either side of us, after about half a mile we reached a dead end. Fan-f*cking-tastic. There was nowhere to turn around so I’d have to reverse all the way back up to the car park. With me hanging out of the driver’s window and Dan hanging out of the passenger side I solely made my way back up the road. At one point Dan shouted “I’m in the bushes! I am in the bushes!” eventually we were back at the car park. We spent another 10 minutes or so driving around before we went back to the car park, parked up, and finally got out of the car.
I suggested that to make Dan feel better I drove along some of the winding country lanes around the Abbey that we hadn’t drove along yet so we could see if anyone was around. I doubted anyone was already at the Abbey as it was pitch black and I’d seen no torches or any kind of light. We drove down a very narrow lane with thick bushes either side of us, after about half a mile we reached a dead end. Fan-f*cking-tastic. There was nowhere to turn around so I’d have to reverse all the way back up to the car park. With me hanging out of the driver’s window and Dan hanging out of the passenger side I solely made my way back up the road. At one point Dan shouted “I’m in the bushes! I am in the bushes!” eventually we were back at the car park. We spent another 10 minutes or so driving around before we went back to the car park, parked up, and finally got out of the car.
A strange glowing streak of light going down Tom's arm and disappearing off the bottom of the photo
Armed with a torch each we made our way towards the Abbey. The first thing that struck me is how big the place is, it’s enormous. As we walked across the damp grass we heard an owl hoot, followed by a howl coming from over the fields. Then we heard a strange noise coming from closer, a little too close for comfort. Dan wasn’t particularly comfortable and admitted he was more frightened here than he had been at Dunstanburgh Castleon our previous investigation.
Just as we were about to enter the Abbey the batteries died in Tom’s camera. Dan gave me two brand new ones that he took out of a packet and I put them in the camera. No more than a couple of minutes had passed when those batteries died as well. They were brand new and there was no logical explanation for this. For the rest of the investigation to take photos I had to turn the camera on and quickly take a shot before it turned itself back off. We entered the Abbey and it was immediately apparent that there was something not quite right about this place. We wandered around getting a feel for the place then decided to attempt to communicate with the dead by pendulum dowsing.
Pendulum dowsing is something that I’ve always had an interest in, and perhaps been a little sceptical as to if I believe it works or not. Well now was the time to see if anything would happen. I’ve read a lot about it and I saw David Wells talking about it on Most Haunted Live recently. He said you can do it with anything, even a piece of string with a key on, so that’s exactly what I used. I held the string with the key perfectly still and asked aloud if anyone was there. I really did believe something might happen, I had an open mind. I asked for any spirits that may be there to prove it by moving the pendulum. Nothing. I waited patiently, asking time and time again. Still nothing.
We entered a long, dark room with a well decorated ceiling. At the other end we could see something moving around. It was a bat, Dan shone his torch towards the bat and it came towards us, we fell over each other trying to get out as quick as we could!
We walked further into the Abbey and before we knew it we were only a few feet from a parked car in the field. I suggested we not turn our torches off so that whoever was in the car didn’t know we were here in case they were ‘doggers’ or murderers. Too late, Dan shone his torch into the car. Ever since we’d arrived Dan had been reluctant to turn his torch off, shining it around as much as he could, much to my annoyance, he might as well have brought a flare gun and set that off to let everyone know we were here! He explained that he felt safer with his torch on though, fair enough.
I turned away and saw someone walk across the grass roughly three or four metres in front of me, someone was there. I turned to tell the others and we all looked and there was no one there. I could have sworn I saw someone but since only I saw it I will have to put it down to a trick of the light or imagination
We walked further into the Abbey and before we knew it we were only a few feet from a parked car in the field. I suggested we not turn our torches off so that whoever was in the car didn’t know we were here in case they were ‘doggers’ or murderers. Too late, Dan shone his torch into the car. Ever since we’d arrived Dan had been reluctant to turn his torch off, shining it around as much as he could, much to my annoyance, he might as well have brought a flare gun and set that off to let everyone know we were here! He explained that he felt safer with his torch on though, fair enough.
I turned away and saw someone walk across the grass roughly three or four metres in front of me, someone was there. I turned to tell the others and we all looked and there was no one there. I could have sworn I saw someone but since only I saw it I will have to put it down to a trick of the light or imagination
A little while later I was sat on a bench while Dan and Tom stood and looked around, all of a sudden a stone or something similar landed between Tom and me. Tom asked what that was but I had no idea. No one was around and none of us had dropped it.
We spent a little while longer walking around the Abbey before getting back into the car and making our way home.
We spent a little while longer walking around the Abbey before getting back into the car and making our way home.
Conclusion
Easby Abbey was a fantastic experience, the place is very atmospheric and Dan wasn’t at all happy being there. We heard a lot of strange noises, however they can probably all be attributed to the wildlife. A stone fell between me and Tom and there doesn’t seem any logical reason for that. The batteries drained in Tom’s camera, it is a common phenomenon for spirits to drain batteries, so that was an interesting occurrence.
All in all, a good night was had by all, but we didn’t experience anything that could definitely be proof of paranormal happenings.
All in all, a good night was had by all, but we didn’t experience anything that could definitely be proof of paranormal happenings.