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THE LONDON DUNGEON UNCOVERS ITS GHOSTS, AS IT KICKS OFF HALLOWEEN WITH A SEANCE
Celebrating the Victorian craze in Spiritualism, this week saw the start of The London Dungeon’s Halloween season with a thrilling new Séance show. Based on real events it introduces one of the era’s most famous spirit mediums, Florence Cook, and to kick-start the season well known 21st century psychic, Ian Lawman, conducted the first ever ghost investigation and séance in the Dungeon’s home, the historic County Hall. The findings confirmed frequent staff sightings of a young girl to be ghostly encounters with one of the buildings resident spirits… of which there appear to be many.
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“There is undoubtedly an abundance of spiritual activity in County Hall and we had a number of vivid experiences,” commented Lawman, a regular on TV around the world, including the UK’s Most Haunted and his own Famous and Frightened show. “And some of the most vivid were those involving the spirits of children. In one of the rooms we explored somebody could hear children playing and another member of the group felt a child hold their hand for the entire time. This same child, a boy of 6 or 7, came through to us in our séance, along with a young girl. Their presence strongly affected one of the group who could feel a child sitting on their lap. The children were poor, raggedly dressed and I’d place them in the early Victorian period. Although wretched they weren’t unhappy and like most children that age, were curious to see what was going on.”
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The findings of the real ghost investigation came as no surprise to The London Dungeon’s General Manager, Steve Blackburn. “This is our third Halloween in County Hall and from day one I have believed there are ghosts in the building,” he comments. “I am delighted Ian Lawman agrees and we can now declare the Dungeon officially haunted. I have heard the story of a little girl in the basement on many occasions and to have it backed up at County Hall’s first ever ghost investigation seems the perfect way to kick off of our season of séance this Halloween.” Just below where the séance was conducted and a stone’s throw away from where the Dungeon’s new Séance show is held, a number of staff have reported seeing a small girl in ragged clothes in a sub-basement. Based on real events and highlighting Victorian spiritualism, which swept across Europe in the mid 1800s, Florence Cook, who became famous for her dramatic séances, is the star of the spine-tingling show, which is guaranteed to make even the most ardent sceptic think twice.
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Séance runs at the London Dungeon until 1st November. Pre-booking is essential as the event will sell out. Find out more at: www.thedungeons.com/London
KEY INFORMATION
Opening times: Monday - Friday 10am-5pm EXCEPT Thursday when the attraction opens at 11am with last entry at 5pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-6pm
Guests are advised to check website to confirm opening times and pre book tickets before visiting.
Best prices online at www.thedungeons.com/london
Prices on the door £30 (adult), £25 (children), book in advance online to save 30% - £25.95 (adult) £20.95 (children) ; Séance! show is included in main entry price
Enjoy a whole London day out and make great savings with combination tickets for The London Dungeon, Coca-Cola London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and Shrek’s Adventure! London
Nearest tube: Waterloo/ Westminster
FURTHER NOTES ON THE INVESTIGATION:
Ian Lawman led a ghost investigation and held a séance at The London Dungeon visiting County Hall’s original press and public gallery, the grand debating chamber, committee rooms and locations within the London Dungeon which is situated across the bottom two floors of the building.
Lawman felt a number of different spirit presences during the investigation including a Victorian medic with a connection to the name Edward in the press gallery to an official in flowing robes responsible for an execution order in The Riverside Rooms.
A number of group members reported strange experiences from swings in body temperature to extreme feelings of anxiety and accelerated heart rates. In the Debating Chamber one member of the group felt pinned to their chair and was unable to move for a couple of minutes.
The Riverside Rooms in County Hall provoked some extremely strong reactions from the group with many feeling swaying sensations and one reporting a choking sensation. Ian felt a connection to water in the room, suggesting the possibility that the timbers in the wood panelled room may have been from a ship.
In the London Dungeon Ian connected to the spirit of a young boy he suggested was a pick pocket and sensed a dustiness in the air. Members of the group also reported feeling dust in their throats and dryness of the mouth.
During the séance all members of the group reported feeling temperature changes and a breeze circulating around the table. One member of the group became extremely agitated and affected by the presence of a ‘small, powerful man’. Ian halted the proceedings to allow them to recover.
When the séance continued Ian felt a strong sense of children in the room, hearing the rhyme ring a ring a roses. Two people sitting near Ian reported extreme lowering of body temperatures; one of them then felt a presence sitting on their lap. Ian suggested it was a young girl in ragged Victorian clothing.
During the séance Ian also experienced an overwhelming sense of burning and a strong image of death and destruction.
Before County Hall was built in the early 20th century the area was an industrial port with tanneries, waterworks, lead works and dusty coal mills where children would have been employed. The building was severely bombed during the blitz.
Prior to the investigation Ian Lawman had never visited the building.
For further information contact Amy Sadler at freerange communications on 020 7402 9966 or email [email protected]
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