Spooky sightings at battle site

Paranormal experts visited the Battlefield 1403 site to look into the bizarre incidents at the centre's cafe.

Barns and other outbuildings converted into a farm shop, visitor centre and cafe near the Battle of Shrewsbury site have all generated tales of ghostly beings and strange noises.

The Battlefield site is thought to offer rich pickings for ghost hunters as it was the scene of one of the bloodiest conflicts ever to take place on British soil.

The battle was fought between Henry IV and rebels led by the Percy family.

It had huge political ramifications and was historically significant because it was the first time English archers had fought against each other on their own soil.

On July 21, 1403, the armies of Henry and his son aligned their forces for battle against the Percy family three miles to the north of Shrewsbury. Several important nobles were killed but the rebels ultimately lost.

Kate Vaughan, who works in the cafe, said: "We've had some strange goings-on.

"The coffee machine keeps turning off on its own and when it is off cups fly off the top.

"We don't find it scary though. Some paranormal investigators contacted us and said they would come and spend a night here."

The investigators from It's Behind You, a Shropshire-based group of volunteers, visited the shop two weeks ago and presented their findings to staff this week.

Using camcorders and voice recorders they went around the shop, cafe and church with the help of a couple of mediums.

Marie Cocking, from the group, said they decided to visit Battlefield because of the history of the place.

Martin Cocking, also from the group, said they had recorded what sounded like monks humming hymns in the church and somebody saying "Yes I like it" in the cafe.

He said the medium had picked up a ghost called Mary in the cafe and had also seen some airmen walking near to the church wall.

For more information about the group visit www.itsbehindyou.co.uk

By Emma Kasprzak