THE LOCATION

Armley Mills, located on the outskirts of Leeds city centre, is likely the city’s most well-known ghost hunting location.

The mill dates back to around 1707 and was eventually sold to Benjamin Gott in 1805. Unfortunately, due to the hazardous conditions, a fire broke out inside the mill and needed extensive work to repair. Benjamin Gott rebuilt the burnt down part of the mill using fireproof materials to prevent another tragedy.

Armley Mills remained under the Gott family ownership until the early 1900s. At this time, woollen manufacturers took over the operation of the mill until 1971, where it was then sold the Leeds City Council due to industrial decline resulting in the closure of the mill.

It wasn’t until ten years later the doors would open again. Armley Mills’ new life was to be one of a museum. Visitors are able to travel back through the decades to get a sense of what life was like working here.

THE INVESTIGATION

VIGIL ONE

Formalities of the welcome brief and tour over, it was time to kick start the night. The setting for the first half of the night was the workers’ cottage. This small living quarter outside of the main building is hidden away and from the outside looks like just another part of the mill.

Inside the cottage you have a dining room, laundry/kitchen area along with a small lounge area setup in a true Victorian era theme. The upper floor is now used as offices and has a barrier draped across the stairs, preventing anyone from heading upstairs.

Soon after setting up and inviting someone to come forward. A few members of the group felt as though we had the presence of children around us. Children would have once been present in the mill, as they were able to crawl underneath the loud buzzing machinery to retrieve waste material. It is also accurate to say there would have also been a few accidents undertaking this task.

Going with the feeling of these children being present, the group decided to do something most children like to do by playing a game of hide and seek. After explaining that we wouldn’t tell anyone that we would play a game instead of them working, we set the fun challenge of having them hide.

After mere moments, two members of the group reported seeing a small shadow go under the machinery in a corner. We continued to seek them out and when calling out the location the small shadow had been seen, we then asked for our turn.

Instead of us hiding, we asked if this little spirit could find a music box that we had set up. This game took some time, but, to everyone’s surprise and delight, the music coil began to spin its tune.

VIGIL FOUR

Pushing towards 2am, the final vigil would make use of the SLS camera once more.

Facing the camera down the long walkway and calling out for spirit to make themselves known, a quick flicker on the camera showed a quick glimpse of a mapped out person at the very end of the walkway.

With this figure being so far away, we asked if they could move closer to us. What occurred next was the absolute highlight of the night. In a matter of seconds, this figure could be seen on the camera making its way towards us.

The sight of something the naked eye cannot see making its way towards you on camera got everyone’s heart racing and left many wondering what to do when this unknown figure reached us. It was probably a good thing that the end of the night had arrived and the lights were due on.