Paranormal
Ghost Watches and Investigations at Yesterday’s World, Battle, East Sussex
Following a lot of requests from paranormal societies, we are now offering accredited groups the opportunity to carry out overnight investigations at Yesterday’s World.
How to Book
All Ghost Watches and Paranormal Investigations require pre-booking in advance. Please phone 01424 777226 or email [email protected] for more information and prices or to book your visit with details of your group and your preferred date.
Max Group Size: 15
Ghost Watch Times: 8 pm - 3 am
Suspected/Possible Hauntings
• People feel very apprehensive in the Royalty Room and some staff now tend to avoid going in that area on their own.
• A visitor sent the museum a picture she had taken of the Grocers display of what appears to be two ghostly figurers of a man in a cap and a maid in the glass.
• In 2006, and the morning after a paranormal investigation, a previously unopened jar of malt extract kept on the top shelf of the Grocers was found smashed to pieces on the floor, having exploded everywhere. The investigators recorded a crashing noise from that area but were unable to locate where it came from.
• Several staff claim to have heard footsteps on the floorboards overhead when the museum has been empty.
• A lady in a long dress has been sited by a visitor on the stairs.
• A cowled monk was sited upstairs in what used to be the main bedroom of number 89 (now the Chemist shop). Apparently the old lady who lived there used to keep it locked up after being awoken one night by the presence in the room and seeing the figure of a monk trying to pull her husband out of bed by his legs.
• The builders working on the Chemist Shop reported feeling uneasy as if they were being watched.
• The sound of a baby crying (part of the push button commentary in the Nanny’s Room on the attic floor) has been heard going off when there’s been no-one upstairs.
• June 2010 - a sighting by a young child (approx 4-5 years old) in the attic of the museum. She saw a small boy sitting on bike in one of the displays - the parents told the gardener of the event.
Known History of the Building
Yesterday’s World occupies numbers 89 and 90 High Street, Battle. The original building is over 600 years old. It was built in 1410 for the accountant of Battle Abbey. Over time it was converted intwo two separate dwellings (numbers 89 and 90), which have been home to a long list of occupants over the years, including a boarding school and dentist’s sugery, as well as private dwellings.
In 1986, 90 High Street was bought by Mr and Mrs Buckley and converted into a museum and gift shop. In 1992 they acquired number 89 and knocked it through to expand the museum that we see today.
Past Occupants
Here is a list of occupants as obtained from Battle & District Historical Society Museum Trust in 1982. The information below is derived from street directories of Battle.
It is a record of who was there at a particular time, not a record of when they arrived or when they left. There are no street directories of Battle after 1974, when they were replaced by Yellow Pages.
89 High Street
1862-1870: William Lamborn Graham and Commercial Academy
1886-1887: Mrs Eldridge and Rev EFB Monck
1910-1911: William Phillips
1911: Herbert Newbery
1913-1915: Frank Percival Chinery
1919-1920: EJB Higerty
1922-1926: Mrs Higerty
1927-1934: Miss FR Slater
1931: RHC Baker (Dentist)
1932-1933: Dr L Shillito MRCVS
1933: WH Home MRCVS
1933-1935: Simon P Hendry MRCVS
1940: Miss Riley
1948-1974: Harry Judd
1992: Buckley’s Museum of Shops
2004: Yesterday’s World
90 High Street
1886-1911: John George Steel
1886-1940: H. Judd (Judds of Battle – Complete House Furnisher)
1940-1948: Also British Legion Headquarters
1958-1986: Gray and Sons Ltd House Furnishers
1986: Buckley’s Museum of Shops
2004: Yesterday’s World
Structure of the Building (89-90 High Street, Battle, East Sussex)
The main structure of the building dates back to 1406. The house that was constructed was a ‘Wealden’ hall house with an open hall and a two storied bay at either end, which housed the parlour and the services for the chambers above.
The date of the stone walled cellar is not certain although such cellars would usually be located beneath the parlour. Each of the two rear ranges housed a single room on each storey. Both doorways giving access between the front and rear first floor chambers survive though are now blocked. The chambers throughout were originally open to the roof.
First floor doorways survive in the north wall of the main range between the front and rear chambers, that within the eastern bay being located so as to suit the position of the former stairs. Both openings are now blocked but retain their plain elliptically-arched heads. A heavy mortice in the side of one of the exposed joists marks the former position of the stairs within the eastern bay. No details are known regarding the position of the stairs within the western bay.
The hall was floor over and a chimney inserted in the late 18th century. It is thought at this time the house was converted into two dwellings though it remained in single ownership. New dog-leg staircases were now inserted into the end bays.
Both stairs rise to the attic level and the eastern one still retains its shaped slat banisters at first floor level. Partitions were inserted into the eastern chamber in order to form a landing area, as well as dividing the original chamber into two. Internally the structure is now much sub-divided, whilst externally a projecting shop was added to the front in the early 19th century.
An Investigation…
Southern Paranmoral Investigations - Saturday 29th November 2008
Attending investigators: Julie Harwood, Maria Street, Simon Steadman, Rachel Steadman & Sandy Rutter.
Host: Sonny Matthews
Introduction
This was an investigation we had been looking forward to for some time. We had a good sign up for it but for numerous reasons people dropped off the list like flies including two on the day of the investigation due to illness… so, then there were five! It’s such a shame as they really did miss a good night! After reading the report I think you will agree, we have very reason for wanting to re-investigate this fantastic museum.
Located in the historic market town of Battle, near Hastings in East Sussex, Yesterday’s World houses over 150,000 genuine historical artefacts. These are all on display in a charming 15th century medieval house and a new state of the art exhibition centre, the past is recaptured and brought to life in a vivid recreation of days gone by.
You can wander through the intriguing backstreets of Victorian Engalnd, go back to the year of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation and rediscover the psychedelic 1970s all in two buildings!
Our sincere thanks go to Sonny Matthews, our host for the night. He was great to have with us and made us feel very welcome.