Ghosts and British Buildings (From Hereford Times)

Ghosts and British Buildings

8:53am Friday 22nd December 2006

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Sadly, my blogs seem to be less important then the others I read as I don't talk much about current issues or take a stand on 'going green' nor do I do much travelling. Just the same, for as long as I am permitted I will continue blogging. I visit the Hereford Times site often looking for new blogs from my fellow bloggers because I love to read what they have to say.

This past weekend we went to Surrey for a Christmas party with some of my husband's long time friends. We stayed over and went on to visit Hampton Court Palace on Monday. I never imagined the place was as vast as it is and so full of wonderful history. I hated history in school but since moving to England I have grown to love it.
While visiting the Queen's apartments in the palace, we walked through her gallery towards her closet, a room about 10 foot by 10 foot square. There was another woman coming out as we were going in so my husband and I were single file with me being in the lead. Just as I crossed the threshold of the room I felt someone poke me in the middle of my back. I turned around to see if hubby was trying to get my attention for something and found he was well out of arms length behind me. I asked him if he had poked me and he said no, I accused him of having me on and trying to wind me up but he emphatically insisted that he did not touch me. Since he is not prone to practical jokes, I believed him. We looked around the room and back into the gallery we went. There was a guide there talking to some other folks about the various ghosts that have been spotted in the palace. When he finished with the others, I told him what happened in the doorway. . .he wasn't even phased by it, he said it's quite a common occurence and that he believed it to be a man who often goes in and out of mirrors, a lord who lived on the premises once upon a time. Not at all a malevolent spirit but a playful one. I should insert here that I don't, rather didn't believe in ghosts prior to my experience. As my husband says it's one of those things that unless it happens to you, you find it difficult to believe. The guide took my name to be included in a book that is to be written in about 3 years time on the ghosts of Hampton Court Palace.
I guess this posting will REALLY stretch my credibility with any who read it but I assure you I am not prone of hysterics or seeing things that go bump in the night. I am a very down to earth, practical person.
That said, I'd love to hear from folks that might have had their own 'ghostly' experiences. You can write me at tony_cindi_read@btinernet.com.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and the most prosperous New Year ever.