Reading time: 5 minutes
Somerset’s Chough Hotel has a dark past, the perfect place for an investigation by the Most Haunted crew, writes JOANNA HAGUE
Episode title: The Chough Hotel
Place: Chard, Somerset
Series: 5 Episode number: 1
Originally broadcast: September 14, 2004
Review of The Chough Hotel, Most Haunted
The Chough Hotel in Chard, Somerset, is one of the most haunted pubs in Britain, full of poltergeist activity and apparitions. Built in the 16e The hotel is named after a bird, survived a fire and has more than 400 years of stories to tell.
Richard Felix talks about some of the more memorable moments for the building, including the Battle of Sedgemore in 1685, during the reign of Judge Jefferies, twelve local men were tried and hanged at the crossroads outside. The building also housed a school and a brothel.
Upstairs in the children’s room, the landlord talks about his daughter who plays an imaginary friend. They think it is a girl named Elizabeth, who poisoned herself in 1845 because she did not want to become a prostitute like her mother and sister. Dark shapes have also been seen in the room, along with a man seen in the office door.
In the attic it is believed that a man hanged himself; his appearance has been seen up there. Light bulbs have exploded and objects are moving on their own.
Downstairs in the bar, men were seen at both the bar and the pool table. There is even a ghost couple whose apparitions sit at one of the tables. Footsteps are heard and apparitions are seen in the doorway.
Dr. David Bull is participating in the study for the first time. He normally hosts Most Haunted Live events and talks about what he expects from the investigation. He also makes light of the fact that he normally sits in front of a warm fireplace when the examinations take place.
Derek Acorah joins the team and they start walking around with him. Derek starts out in the bar and picks up the energy of a man he describes as a joker. He moves things around, but there is no malice towards him.
At the fireplace, Derek senses the presence of another man, whom he calls George Jefferies. He says that this spirit regulates justice, he consults with his spirit guide Sam and says that he would put people to death, information appears on the screen confirming this.
As they walk through the bar, Derek calls out the name Winifred, as this happens footsteps are heard upstairs, the landlord confirms that there is no one up there. Derek believes that Winifred is associated with witchcraft and that the evil intentions in the building come from higher levels.
Derek says that Sam communicates to ask about the coffin, this confuses Yvette and the team, the landlord then says that a coffin has been found in the fireplace, which is now upstairs, but it can be confirmed that he hasn’t told anyone about the coffin. They bring the coffin downstairs and Derek confirms that it is the witch’s familiar insides.
Derek then picks George up again and comments on how cold it has become; David also confirms that the temperature has dropped. Derek picks up the energy from what he describes as a gravestone. Yvette confirms that there is a headstone in some of the stones around the fireplace and even though it is worn, letters can be made out, the name on the stone starts with a W and Derek says this is Winifred’s headstone.
David, Richard and Yvette visit the intersection with psychic Ian Lawman, who believes that the hangings took place in a tree just beyond the intersection and that people would be watching from the intersection. David is quite skeptical and asks Ian questions about the history of this area.
Back at the hotel, Ian and David start in the lounge on the first floor. Ian picks up a man he thinks might be a woodworker; he thinks this person may have lost limbs. The name he gets for this person is John. When he enters the child’s bedroom, he feels that there is a male ghost who is very strict and angry. He picks up a child who has a disability and thinks the child died of suffocation.
Downstairs in the bar, Ian hears the surname Gillingham, information appears on the screen that John Gillingham (1839-1924) was a very wealthy man who made artificial limbs. Ian says he was a nice man who would help anyone, but he has a dark side, especially when they couldn’t pay him back.
In the attic in night vision, Yvette is very tense, just like the rest of the team. Derek informs the team that there is a group of ghosts in the attic watching them. He feels more feminine energy than masculine. He also discusses the rituals that are said to have taken place. David is convinced that while Derek is talking, he can see someone behind him.
Derek says he knows the individuals can do something, so he starts shouting. While everything is quiet, a freeze makes a noise that makes everyone jump. The team is then informed that the power is not connected, so there is no logical reason to make the noise.
Downstairs in the nursery, Derek picks up the child spirit communicating with the landlord’s children. He also picks up a child with a disability, only to be told that Ian picked up the same thing earlier and neither of them spoke to the other. He then says that the child is having trouble breathing and that is how they died.
Further on, Derek asks the landlord if he is having problems with the electricity in the building. He says the spirits are using the energy and the electricity will suddenly explode. The landlord confirms this and says that even the supplier cannot find a reason for this. Derek then says that the ghosts are just waiting to see what happens to the team and that they want them separated.
Ian picks up a wealthy gentleman who he thinks is wearing a top hat and stops by for a drink. Yvette’s walkie-talkie goes off when the team hears movement and wants to confirm if it’s them, which she says it isn’t. While this is happening, Derek becomes overwhelmed and appears to be in the early stages of a possession. Derek asks Sam to take it from him as Yvette calls for him to come forward.
Back in the attic, Derek calls out for the ghosts, but quickly becomes upset when he says they are blocking his ears. While they are in the attic, thumps and footsteps are heard. The team thinks it’s coming from the room downstairs, so they move back to the nursery.
David Bull decides to do it alone in the attic. He quickly becomes paranoid about being watched as he sees a figure out of the corner of his eye. He says the room feels weird and he doesn’t like it much. After about 10 minutes of being alone, David jumps up and goes to join the rest of the team.
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