Newstead Abbey #2

The staff have also reported a strong smell of roses in the library, the scent is presumed to be from Lady Byron (Catherine) whom of which drenched herself in the essence of rose.

Byron when upon receiving the message his wife was dying sent her a attar of roses.

The Black Friar is said to be a monk that refused to leave during the dissolution of the Abbeys under Henry VIII. He is said to haunt the dressing room located next to Byrons bedroom. Interestingly he was said to be an omen of doom to the Byron family.

Trish one of the guides told me that during one tour she was taking a group around the house, when she took the group to the Edward III room she was "poked in the head with something hard, and it really hurt!"

One lady who was in the group later told Trish that she could sense a man standing behind her " a nasty man whom got his attention by using a big stick".

The distinct smell of wet dog has wafted through the house on occasions, the staff feel that this could be Botswaine Byrons beloved dog, Byron often threw himself in the lake and pretended to drown - his loyal dog would jump in to save him!

The Duke of Sussex Room has a particular impact on ladies - often suffering from menstruation type cramps!

Five or Six years ago at around 8.30 am Trish one of the staff members was unlocking the house ready for the day, when she heard the distinct sound of chanting (while she told me this story she came over feeling extremely cold). All of a sudden it just stopped, it seemed to come from behind the Arch of the chapel (now hidden behind a big chest.

A little boy has been seen near a staircase.

Another interesting think about Newstead is the Skull Chalice, this was a skull of one of the monks of the Abbey - Byron had it mounted and set into a chalice and used it to drink wine from.

The famous skull cup has been reproduced. Mrs Webb a former owner of Newstead insisted on burying the skull cup in the grounds of the Abbey, Mrs Binch a lady who once visited the Abbey told staff that her Great, Great Grandfather as head gardener of the time was commissioned with this task.

He never told anyone of the location where he buried it - not even his wife, although it is rumored to be somewhere in monks wood.

During one tour an American student decided that he was not bothered by any of the happenings of the house, he took it upon himself to sit alone ion one of the rooms. Not long after he shot down the stairs as white as a sheet - he would not speak about what happened to him, he just couldn't!

A different member of staff told me that that the wicked Lord Byron (5th) died in the Edward III room, and often watches stop at 9.40! The atmosphere in the room is very unpleasant.

We spent quite a few hours in the House and Abbey and we encountered something we could not explain!!!

"We were getting quite hungry and tired, but was intrigued by the house and all it's secrets. Around 4.05pm on the 1st of May we were in the Plantagenet room, the house was very quiet with only us there, a wedding party was somewhere at the other side of the house in the Orangery, all of a sudden there was a strong smell of Hyacinth! I asked a member of staff in the next room if she had seen anyone or had sprayed air fresheners - which she had not.

The smell quickly disappeared only to be replaced by the smell of matches!