Wymering Manor
Portsmouth
In Association with Dark Encounters
10th June 2006

Wymering Manor is the large building in the centre of the image

We joined Dark Encounters at Wymering Manor for this rather different investigation, as Enigma and Dark Encounters were about to become the teachers to approx 22 new ‘would be’ ghost hunters!We arrived at Wymering Manor at 7.30pm to meet Norrie, Johnathan and Wendy from Dark Encounters to start checking our kits and Mike took some 360 panoramic pictures while the building was empty. 

At 8.30pm our new ghost hunters had all arrived and were eagerly waiting to start.  We started with a briefing about the events that were going to take place that night and Mike did a talk on the equipment that would be used during the night.  After all safety issue’s were explained and everybody was happy, we did a group walk round of the building so everybody could familiarise themselves with the layout of the building.  We were then split into 4 different groups as each group had a different activity and area to do and were then rotated after one hour sessions with breaks in between.  The four group activities were as follows:

Area: Cellar ground floor, grounds    Activity: Dowsing     Group Leader: Mike

Area: Lower ground floor       Activity: Table Rapping   Group Leader: Wendy

Area: First floor               Activity:  EVP     Group Leader: Norrie & Johnathan

Area: Attic, upper floors Activity: Psychic Workshop      Group Leader: Mandy

During the evening all participants were encouraged to take pictures and use their camcorders.  Some did get some very interesting pictures of orbs, while the more sensitive felt very uncomfortable in certain parts of the building, especially in the attic.  A few in the group had picked up on some of the paranormal activity that has been reported by various occupants of the building in the past, however these were not told to them until the end of the evening when we had a de-brief.  The evening ended at approx 3am and everyone said their thank yous and goodbye’s.  After all our ghost hunters had left, we packed away our kit and started our long journey home back to Wales.

Some of the reported paranormal activity at Wymering Manor

A Victorian lady seen looking out of a bedroom window.
Skeletons of children unearthed in the downstairs hallway near the back door.
An apparition of a man (said to be Sir Francis Austen) has been seen standing at the top of the stairs along the hallway where the balcony is.
A nun with her hands covered in blood in the attic.
A woman appearing in the bathroom in front of an occupant’s wife while taking a bath.
A girl on the staircase. Witnessed by many.
A small dog.

These are only a few of the more popular reported sightings that have been witnessed and confirmed at the manor, there have been many many more!

Orb pic on the stairs

A brief history of Wymering Manor

Wymering Manor is recorded in the doomsday book to be the oldest house in Portsmouth.  From 1042 it belonged to King Edward the Confessor and shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 it became the property of William the Conqueror until 1084.
The Manor House’s structure would lead you to believe it was built in the 16th century although Roman and medieval materials are evident within several locations of the building.  Also the cellars are cut into the chalk of Portsdown and reveal walls made from solid flint reputed to be of Saxon origin.  Roman pottery, spoon, tiles and a coin have been found in the vicinity and are associated with the Saxon hamlet.  This indicates that the site has been used since the Roman times and that the present foundations are part of the original structure.
Inside, the hall is dominated by two large Jacobean staircases, has a gallery with barley sugar twisted balusters, paneled walls and pilasters associated with Tudor Elizabethan style.  There are also two priest holes and a small window facing the coast road towards Porchester Castle.
The Manor is situated in a conservation area and is linked with St Peter & St Paul’s church over the road.  A tunnel is supposed to run from the Manor to the church, but as yet, no one has found it.  Vice Admiral Sir Francis Austen 1774 - 1865 (brother to Jane Austen) lived latterly at the Manor and is buried in the churchyard along with his family.  Sir Francis served on one of Nelson’s ships and became Admiral of the Fleet.
The Manor has had many private owners including three long serving families, the Le Botiller family 1283 – 1388, the Wayte family 1391 – 1561 and the Bruning family 1562 – 1707.  The Manor has had fifteen further private owners until the 1960’s when Portsmouth City Council took it over and leased it out to the Youth Hostel Association until the early 2000’s.  It now stands empty, guarded by security from Portsmouth City Council.