Cossington Mill Investigation

 

The earliest specific mention of the Mill occurs in a document of 1248, by which, Geoffrey Despenser granted it to William de Maisham, for a term of 24 years. It is thought, however, that Cossington Mill is one of three mills mentioned in the Barrow upon Soar records of 1086. Certainly there are many references to it from the beginning of the 14th century to the present time with such names as John German (1412), Thomas Babington (1549), Richard Hopkins (1657), John Ratcliffe (1743), Peter Hancock (1827) and Henry Gardener (1908).
The Mill was first used for corn milling, but by 1657 or possibly earlier, both corn and paper milling were carried out under the same roof. This continued until around 1827 when it appears to have reverted to just corn milling. As such, it was in use until 1928. The mill machinery was then taken out and the Mill gradually fell into a state of disrepair and dilapidation, until in 1938, when the property was purchased for conversion into tea rooms.
In 1965 the property changed hands and by ‘67 it had been restored to its present condition. This was opened as a restaurant, which finally closed at the end of 2002.

The Investigations.

Cossington Mill was a disused building at the time of first investigation. It was owned by a family member, who kindly agreed to allow Gi5 to investigate.
On the first two nights, the team was split into two groups to explore the various areas including the kitchen, downstairs bar, lounge and upstairs dining area. Both were begun with a vigil held in the downstairs bar, but sadly produced no results.
Many strange phenomenon were reported, through-out other area’s, including orbs on camera, strange shadows moving and voices heard whispering. One founder member sensed spirits waiting to communicate with the team and felt the presence of a lady walking back and forth in-between the kitchen and cellar.
On both occasions, a psychic circle was used upstairs and contact was made with various spirits including one who claimed to be the spirit-guide of one the founder members. On both visits to the mill, the guide helped the team to contact other sprits and helped protect the team from the more untrustworthy.
 Amongst the various other spirits contacted, was a cheery young boy who claimed to open and close the main door downstairs (a phenomenon reported by the owner) and several relatives of the founder members. On the second vigil, a surprising encounter was made with a young spirit boy and his mother. The messages from both were confusing but it appeared that a rather gruesome incident had occurred concerning the father of the young boy and his son, which ended in his father’s death. This then seemed to lead to the mother locking the boy in a cellar and running away with another man. It was unclear as to whether the incident happened at the mill or elsewhere but it was clear that the boy still felt trapped and his mother still felt angry. 


Cossington Mill does appear to be a rather haunted location with many spirits wishing to make contact.  Gi5 felt privileged to visit a location previously un-investigated and would like to thank the current owner for his cooperation. Again, it left many questions unanswered but did provide the team some interesting paranormal occurrences.

The Mill is currently in private hands.

 

Cossington Update

Summary of Cossington Mill Investigation  29-3-08

Aim of the night.

The aim of the night was to take two Psychics to Cossington Mill to see if they could  clarify the findings of Gi5 from their past investigations.

Attending

 Psychics – Barry Potter “Tran medium” Paul “Medium”

Gi5 Directors Craig Le-Butt, Matthew Dobson-Holt

Gi5 Members, Sophie Le-Butt, Paula Dobson.

Guests Kirk, Ian and wife.

The night began by all members of the investigation meeting at a local pub in Syston. 

The only people who knew the location of the investigation where the members of Gi5, the Medium’s did not.

At the start it was a dry night, 9 degrees celcius outside.

The investigation started at 8pm, the attendees where split in to two groups.

Each group spent 10 – 15 minutes in each room at one time.

Team 1 - Paul, Craig, Sophie, Ian & Wife

Team 2 - Barry, Matt, Paula, Kirk

Room 1 – Extension

Room 2 – Main Bar

Room 3 – Kitchen

Room 4 – Prep Room

Room 5 – Store Room

Room 6 – Upstairs.

 

Extension

Team 1

Team 2

There seems to be a faint residual energy, even though this was a new part to the building.

Barry visualised a man 5ft 6, stocky built. Possibly dating back 150 – 200 years, looking though the window from the bar area.  Barry  could smell smoke, possibly a fire at some point the extension is newest part of the building.

Main Bar

Team 1

Team 2

Paul visualised Tom standing behind the bar, but the bar wasn’t around when he was alive.  Tom has a habit of moving glasses, cups and open and closed doors.


There was a presents of a young women near the stairs, frightened to talk at first, name was Jane, heavy deep cough, possible pneumonia cough, looks ill, she lived near by.


Near the toilets, Paul could visualise a cloud of illness, this was connected to Jane. 


There was a feeling of bad management since the mill was built, no one has succeeded in whoever they have done.

No bad people felt, but dealings of sadness and depression.  There was a sense of someone practicing the dark arts.

 

This room, Barry sensed sacks, with fruit & veg, wheat and barley.  The energy of the room was sadness, of being what’s done to the building, the way to lift this was to turn it back to its former style.

At this point Barry told us that a spirit was trying to take over him, he pushed it  away.  This is when Barry had to leave the building for a short time.

 

Kitchen

Team 1

Team 2

The presents of a smartly dressed man was felt, waist coat and tie.  He seemed to look after the staff such as a butler, but not a butler.  Paul picked up the name Tom.  Tom seemed to have the run of downstairs, he seems to be curious of everyone who visits, he likes to look over your shoulder to see what you are doing.


He has a habit of looking round the corners.  There were several flashing lights appearing on the camera.  Lot of hustle and bustling around the kitchen area.

Sensed a lot of underling depression in the house because of the closing down of the building.

 

Nothing sensed in this room.

Prep Room

Team 1

Team 2

The heart of the building, Paul sensed that this was a female dominated area, could see a male with a cup looking out the window, watching the world go by, felt like connected to a fete / regattas.

Paul Visualised a dog, an Afghan.

 

Barry asked if there was a Railway close by as he could hear a whooshing noise like a train?  There isn’t.

Barry and Paula started to feel sick.

 

Store Room

Team 1

Team 2

Paul sensed the room may have been linked slaughter/ storage of meat as Paul could visualise hanging meat.  He sensed a gentleman wearing a long apron with sleeves rolled up, the gentleman in his early 40’s, circa 1800.


For years afterwards, people have visualised meat hanging in the room and have thought they have walked in to it, then the spirit who visits laughs.

We did call out and asked for the spirit to make a noise, we did witness some tapping, but this may be the wind outside.

 

Barry sensed a gentleman at the doorway, friendly, asking us to be quite, Victorian time, wearing a waist coat with a tail jacket.


2 Male spirits rushed by him, friendly, one called Stan, telling Barry that this is not the place to be, he needs to be in the main Hall.


They where wearing leather aprons & wellies.

In the small room off the store room, he could see canoe, small boats, didn’t like in there, had to get out, someone pulling him back.

 

Upstairs

Team 1

Team 2

A family was picked up, 2 children and a farther, a girl called Katie Maguire, boy called Shawn Maguire and the father Benjamin “Barry” Maguire, the family had a Irish Twang.


Father was a broad man, side burns, ginger. Could see him at the front doors saying “Welcome to Maguire’s”.  The father beat the children with a belt whip.


Paul felt there should be another floor to the building , maybe bedrooms.  People of seen shadows of animals, walking on the beams.


Paul could se a plaque saying “1668, 1868 – 1928..
Could hear a mechicnal sound, at the time he thought it was a train, then visualised a young girl at a loom, could see some pushing the shuttle through and had a feeling of sore hands.


Picked up that the building was a Mill, picked up that it may have been textile at some point.


Another family was sensed, Woman and Gentleman and 2 children, the Gentleman had something to do with Bradford as he kept travelling there for weeks at a time.

A death was sensed, not murder, something fell outside on killed someone out side around 1900, called Samuel, has some connection to the local church.

 

Barry felt dizzy, hot, sweating.  He could hear a voice calling out Edward, he could see an oak bed, cabinet and dressing table with a male and female near the bar.


He could feel sadness, grieving, loss the female passed away though disease, which was out of their control, possibly called Edith.

The top area of the bar, could see saddle, horse shoes hanging on the wall.  The current stairs leading to the floor, wasn’t previously there before.

 

Summary

The results were quite interesting.  This wasn’t a test of the mediums abilities, but to see if the experts could confirm details from the previous investigations, but also to see if new information could be gleaned.

Both mediums picked up 1 - 2 men in leather aprons in the store room.
Also a gentleman who could be considered the head butler, but not a butler, description stocky build, possibly 5’6” possibly called Tom.


Both picked up that the building use to be a Mill, but this wasn’t till they both went up stairs where there was a still some evidence of the mills mechanism.


What was interesting that both mediums picked up on, was the sound of a whooshing noise, which “sounded like a steam train, but not a train.” The closest railway line would be the Great Central from Lough bough to Leicester, but the trains stop running at 10pm.  One of the mediums picked up that there was once a loom on the first floor.


Currently we have no knowledge of this, but we will be checking to see if any substantiating evidence can be found.


After several weeks of looking up records we could not find any records to collaborate the findings. This doesn’t mean the findings were not true, it’s just that there is nothing in black and white.