Haunted Areas of England
Angie Christie

GHOST DOG OF ROYAL AIR FORCE - METHWOLD

RAF Methwold is to the north of the town of Brandon in Suffolk, England. This station became operational at the outset of WWII. Mostly hidden by dense woodland, it had a reputation for being haunted.

Suffolk is renowned to be one of the most haunted counties in England. Roman ruins are found everywhere and it also had a witches coven. Today, visitors are welcomed to the town of Brandon by a sign bearing a witch on her broomstick.

East Anglia boasts many 'ghost dog' stories. Spectral creatures who roam the countryside.

In the winter of 1939/40, a ghost hound was sighted in the trees surrounding the Methwold Airfield. Upon witnessing the 'beast', one airman said it was "A huge supernatural beast". This 'beast' was said to be the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's book of Sherlock Holmes called "Hound of the Baskervilles" which is a firm favorite of mine. Conan Doyle, in his later years, dedicated himself to Spiritualism.

Mist formed over the airfield seemed to attract the 'beast' and it was often seen loping through the pathways of the woods surrounding the camp.

Just a note here for readers: Years ago we used to go through Thetford and Brandon Forest and twice, at night after visiting my husband's parents in Downham Market, I witnessed what looked like a huge dog, but with the ears of a large cat, standing at the side of the road in the trees. No wonder East Anglia, which includes Suffolk and Essex are so renowned for haunting from the past.

A STRANGE SIGHTING

This strange story I am about to tell concerns the village of Long Melford. A village which is rather unique. It sports two Elizabethan mansions and the most beautiful village green with what can only be described as houses looking like 18th century Doll's houses on the far side, and church to be proud of with its architecture. On a lovely summer's day, it is a pleasure to visit.

In the year 1993, I had acquired a temporary job in a very pretty part of Long Melford. Very temporary as it turned out. For obvious reasons, I cannot divulge where in Long Melford this office was. Suffice it to say it looked really lovely. At the back of the property was a hilly area with trees at the top. The second morning of this job, Wally, my husband, drove me to work. As we reached the property, we noticed what can only be described as a huge 'cat' walking slowly up the hill to the west of the property. It was the red of a fox, had a huge body, tail, and the large head of a 'cat', but this was no common or garden 'moggy'. It looked at us and continued walking, disappearing over the top of the hill into the trees. Shocked, we looked at one another and could not believe our eyes. Nobody else reported this 'animal' and nothing was in the local paper of anyone sighting so large a 'cat'.

Being a medium, I sometimes pick up on atmosphere and this place I temporarily worked at was no exception. I honestly did not like it there and felt like a bird in a cage that had had a cover thrown over it. My head felt tight, as if the atmosphere was so dense, it was crushing me and I found myself, more than once, jumping up and running outside. Being by myself there did nothing to allay the feelings either. After three days of this, I had palpitations on waking up and rang, although only 7 a.m., the boss of the temp agency. Nothing would make me go back there - nothing. She was very kind and understanding and said nobody would stop for very long. I still wonder, to this day, what was wrong there, but never went back.

THE QUAKER CHURCH IN SUDBURY, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND

In the 1980's, the Christian Spiritualist Church held a Christmas Fayre in the Quaker Hall, kindly loaned to our church for the day. There has always been a good rapport between the Spiritualists and the Quakers. In the town of Bury St. Edmunds, I have taken quite a few Spiritualist Church services in the Quaker Church, kindly loaned each Sunday to them.

The atmosphere in that Quaker Church was very peaceful and I always enjoy being on the platform there. Anyway, I digress.

This Fayre was well underway when somebody asked me if I had ever been inside a Quaker Church. No, I had not, so I opened the door and walked inside. I found it very austere as no adornment, no picture, no statue, and no cross could be seen. Just stark wooden benches. This church had been standing and used for over two centuries, I believe. I noticed the only other furniture in the room was a table by the window. This resembled a card table without cloth, just bare.

I walked toward this little table and suddenly, in the center of the room, a gust of icy cold air hit me like a sledgehammer. This was a cold spot to beat all cold spots. It doubled me up. I decided to go back to the hall with my heart beating fast. If I had been put down in the North Pole without any heavy clothing on, I could not be as cold.

A very nice farmer friend of ours, with his wife, entered the hall. I greeted Patrick and Jean Morton and we got chatting. Then I asked Pat if he had ever been inside a Quaker Church. He replied in the negative, so I took him through.

As we entered, he looked around and then sat down near the door on a very old settle. He remarked how peaceful it was in there. I had to ask him to just walk to the table. He got up and got halfway as I had done and doubled over as he too was hit with the icy blast of the cold spot. He asked me what on earth that was as we left the church and shut the door. To this day, neither of us has an explanation, but that far off day in the 1980's we have never forgotten.