Reading time: 5 minutes
The Guildhall in Leicester is a 14th-century building with a lot of history and plenty of hauntings ready to be investigated by the Most Haunted team, writes JOANNA HAGUE
Episode title: The Guild House
Place: Leicester, Leicestershire
Series: 4 Episode number: 10
Originally broadcast: May 25, 2004
Review of The Guildhall Leicester, Most Haunted
In the opening scene, Yvette talks about ghost police, monks and ghostly footsteps, a white lady and poltergeist. Guildhall has existed since 1390, the half-timbered building has been a meeting place, library, lock-up, theater and police station. In the last two years the demolition and construction of the new cafe/restaurant has taken over land that was a graveyard. In the café it is known that chairs move on their own and that the service bell can be heard when no one is around.
A white lady has been seen in the library, the doors of the doors open and lock on their own. A monk has been known to turn pages in a Bible lying on the table. The staff has noted that they close the book at night and the next morning the Bible is open again with no logical explanation. A black cat can be seen on the stairs trying to trip people before disappearing.
In the jury room, footsteps are heard and phantom voices, police officers and dark shadows are seen, closed doors rattle and sounds are heard from rooms that are not occupied. A large black dog has been seen outside in the courtyard aggressively charging towards people.
Phil Wyman talks about the recent construction work and how there has been an increase in activity since then. He notes that Guildhall has everything from police officers to tarsiers. He says that the white lady in the library may be confused with a monk in white robes. The building is very atmospheric during the day, so he is very curious to see what the night will bring.
Derek Acorah is the medium on the show and he immediately says that he picks up the residual energy that is in the building, he can hear whispers and he has the feeling of being surrounded by a group of men. He notes that these men thought they were the elite and that they made the big decisions. Derek also discusses young children and then describes a classroom environment. Information appears on the screen stating that Guildhall was a school between 1876 and 1921.
Derek picks up men in old uniforms, one of the men is under house arrest and another lives on the upper levels. He asks his spirit guide Sam if he can get names for these men, but he can’t get through.
As he enters the library, he picks up the energy of a strong-willed woman and hears the sound of the pages of a book being moved. He says there is a teacher who had a hidden side. She was cruel to the children in her care. The names Winifred and Charlotte are mentioned, but as always they cannot be traced without surnames.
David Wells joins the investigation and he starts in the cells, feeling like he doesn’t want to get in he’ll be forced through the door. Inside he feels a male energy that is mean, he thinks he is a cannibal and definitely a murderer. Yvette says that the cells make her feel very nauseous and David says that this is the energy from the room that she notices. David recognizes the characteristics of this male he describes, but cannot think of a name for him. He feels like he’s been hanging around the building and says there was once a gallows on the property.
Derek then visits the cells, he picks up a lot of audio, banging and screeching sounds that can be heard. Derek picks up the last names Smith and Gemmie, these females were there because they were pickpockets. Information appears on the screen that this was the case in the Victorian era when they were detained for pickpocketing.
Upstairs in police headquarters, Guildhall staff have reported hearing movement, and an employee can hear these sounds from her office when she knows no one is around. Noises are heard as Derek starts talking. He picks up the energy of a man, moving things and making clattering sounds. He picks up the name Edmund, there is a connection with this name and the building.
Back in the library, Derek senses the energy of two men dueling with swords. He feels that this fight is about power and that one person wants the other’s position in society. He picks up the name John Fransis, but no information has been found regarding the name and the building. Derek also points out that people in this room will hear the sound of swords.
This is my favorite part in the episode, when the team split up. Cath, John, Tom and David return to the cells with Yvette, who begins to feel claustrophobic. David experiences a heavy feeling in the room, while at the same time Yvette smells something unpleasant. He then picks up the feeling of ropes on his neck and someone sick in the room, and uses it as a toilet. Yvette then makes herself jump, which is funny (sorry Yvette).
Stuart and Karl then trade places with Yvette and work together in the cells. Karl locks Stuart in one and he goes into the other. Not much happens in the cells and fatigue gets the better of Stuart. Karl shouts; a sound is heard in the cell and at the same time an orb passes through Stuart’s legs. They try to find the source of the sound, but they can’t.
Yvette and team are at police headquarters. As they walk in, they hear a loud bang that startles everyone. David feels uncomfortable, so they move further into the room. He notices an evil spirit setting things in motion. He says that the mind feels that these objects do not belong where they are. David is then attracted to a child’s police helmet.
Down in the library, Phill and his team hear some loud footsteps above them. They later speak to Yvette and Karl who inform him that they were not above him at the time of the footsteps and this can be verified from CCTV footage.
The episode comes to a close with a recap of the evening and Yvette’s signature sign.
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