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Old building houses 50 ghosts and spirits
Tales of ghosts and spirits are well- documented in a Lancashire building packed full of nostalgia and history.
The site of Bygone Times antiques centre, a warehouse in Eccleston near Chorley, was heavily used in the industrial revolution at a time when child labour was exploited.
Injuries and deaths were common place which is why rents manager Arthur Howell says there are so many spirits at Bygone Times.
The building is characterised by old cobbles and some of the original old brick remains.
As we walk past the stalls, crammed with antiques and old pictures, Arthur points out where the ghosts and spirits have been seen.
"There are about 40 spirits and seven or eight known ghosts here," he says.
One of the first places we visited was the office area which is probably the oldest part, dating back to the 17th Century.
Arthur points out a creaking floorboard just near the door in the office called Millbrook House.
As Arthur stands near the door, squeaky floorboards can be heard under foot.
He explains that a lady called Florence used to sit there in a rocking chair and had worn the floorboards out. He says that mediums who visited the office area mentioned there were two spirits in the fireplace which has now been boarded up.
"They said there are two babies' spirits there – one is said to be a curse against the owner of the building but that requires further investigation.
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"Another is that a mother's baby died during child birth and some relation had a grudge against the father."
Also in the office is a door of a former infirmary used to treat injuries sustained by the workers.
Elsewhere in the building, ghostly outlines of small children have been seen running around the ground floor. Some cries of pain have also been heard – it is believed that small children who worked in the weaving sheds were often badly injured.
Another interesting story was identified by Arthur who said there were rumoured to be the spirits of children in a cellar, now closed off – supposed to be the area where the children were locked away.
Mr Howill said: "This place has an awful lot of history and I believe the events told by mediums are probably right.
"When three different mediums come here on different occasions and tell nearly exactly the same story, there has to be some credence in it."
Catering manager Catherine Levy has worked in the restaurant for two years.
During this time she says she has felt the presence of a ghost on three separate occasions.
"I saw something out of the corner of my eye – there was a reflection in the glass like there was somebody there. But then nobody appeared, we think it was a ghost reflection, other people have seen it too."
Several pictures of ghosts have been drawn by mediums – one is a clown like figure which Arthur says pushes people.
Arthur says: "The clown and Patrick Scott – the ghost that wears an apron – are believed to be the pushers. People visiting have said they felt something tap them or push them during the day time.
"The spirits are just letting you know that they're here."
Other tales include sightings of a man dressed in 1920s attire who was seen by more than one person pacing up and down the main aisle. And a dalmatian dog was also seen.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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