Introduction

Hidden deep in the Pendle Hill area of Lancashire, England, lies a 400-year-old farmhouse steeped in mystery. Not much is known about its history – just that the previous occupants abruptly left, abandoning many of their possessions without explanation. It has sat empty for most of the last five years, until the My Haunted Project took stewardship towards the end of 2024, opening its doors to guests from February 2025.

Today, its exact location is kept secret for the sake of the owner’s privacy, and all guests must sign NDAs upon arrival. Accessible only by off-road driving in 4x4s courtesy of Project staff, the farmhouse’s isolation immediately imposes an eerie stillness and oppressive atmosphere, making it a fitting stage for a night of spooky exploration. The building is still filled with many of the previous occupants’ belongings, acting as a creepy time-capsule and offering clues to their beliefs and interests. It is an eerie environment to explore, unlike any of the usual castles and prisons found on the paranormal event circuit.

Cultural and Historical Context

An undeniable layer of the farmhouse’s mystique comes from its location within an area whose history is permanently linked with the infamous Pendle witch trials of the early 1600s. During special “lockdown” sleepover events, guests are treated to enthralling history talks by renowned local historian Simon Entwistle, who delves into the trials and their enduring cultural impact. While this historical context enriches the narrative, it remains to be seen whether any of the alleged present-day paranormal activity at the location is directly linked to those tragic events. The farmhouse (or, at least the land on which it stands) may indeed have connections to the area’s sordid past, but it would be limiting to assume you’re going to encounter the spirit of, say, Alice Nutter. Instead, it’s wise to keep an open mind—acknowledging the historical layers while also considering that the true nature of the haunting has yet to be revealed and could be something altogether different.

The Hosts

The investigative team brings a mixture of seasoned expertise and fresh enthusiasm. For the most part, nights are run by Project veterans like Danny Moss—an experienced investigator and producer of the accompanying My Haunted Project web series—and Dan Callaghan, whose technical know-how underpins the investigations. These two have become familiar faces to both regular guests at My Haunted Hotel as well as fans of the show. Also often in attendance are project newcomers, Jade Young and Lauren Bolton, whose friendly banter with guests and approachable demeanour help put guests at ease in what might be an otherwise unnerving setting for some, while being on hand to coordinate the night’s activities from the control room and offer live validation (or indeed debunking) of guest experiences via the in-house camera system.

My Experiences and Reported Activity

To date, I have participated in three nights of investigation at the farmhouse – one overnight “lockdown” event which runs from 7:30 PM (meeting at the Pendle Inn in nearby Barley where project staff collect guests to transport to the location) until 10:00 AM the next morning; as well as two back-to-back “regular” night investigations (running from the same meet up but finishing at around 1:00 AM).

Across these three visits, I’ve observed a range of subtle yet interesting phenomena. During my first stay in February, I slept in Room One—a space thought to be an activity hotspot—yet that night passed without incident. In fact, that night – the first of the monthly lockdown events to be held at the venue – was notable in how lacking in activity it seemed to be, with no confirmed spontaneous paranormal events of note occurring at any point of the night (apart from the odd subjective experience – more on that below).

However, later visits revealed that anomalies can and do appear unexpectedly. For example, in the Barley room (a room that acts as one of the main reception areas for the house, being the first room you come to on entering the property), I have observed that one particular sofa appears to be associated with a recurring cold spot that comes and goes without warning, with no obvious draft that might cause it. This cold spot is something I noted on my first night staying at the location and has also been remarked upon by other guests.

Many people that have attended the location, including some of the staff, feel quite unnerved by the atmosphere in the building. Some of this could be chalked up to rural isolation, which many may be unaccustomed to, especially those used to the reassuring drone of living in a town or suburban environment. As someone that lives in a rural location, I am quite accustomed to such isolation so find myself quite comfortable in that kind of environment, however on occasion I have noted shifts where the atmosphere seems to take on a different feel. For example, early on the second evening of my two-night visit, while setting up equipment alone upstairs, the atmosphere shifted dramatically to something oppressive and heavy, which is something I had not experienced in that location up to that point. These experiences though are entirely subjective and anecdotal however and shouldn’t be taken as anything more than that.

Several areas—room one, the Barley room, and the staircase adjacent to the library— have been noted to exhibit spontaneous moments of activity. During one lone vigil in Room Two (presumably the master bedroom, being the largest of the upstairs room) on the second night of my most recent visit, I experienced an abrupt and significant drop in temperature. Now I am used to the cold and am actually someone that prefers cooler temperatures, living as I do in rural Scotland (with its often frigid temperatures even through to late spring at times), but even I found the sudden drop in temperature to be extremely uncomfortable, to the point that it felt like I was sitting next to an open freezer and I had to end the vigil earlier than planned.

Most of the phenomena recorded here to date can be categorised as auditory in nature. During my nights here, people (me included) have recorded various unexplained sounds—from apparent faint voices, footsteps and persistent knocking to a particularly compelling moment during an EVP “phone experiment.” In that incident, where a phone was left alone in Room One and called from the Barley room (the opposite end of the building) a voice directly responded to a question asked by a group member. Nobody was present anywhere near room one at the time and notably, it wasn’t picked up by any other recording devices in the vicinity nor was any other sound that could have been misinterpreted, which appears to eliminate the possibility of it being down to a combination of ambient noise and audio pareidolia. Other reports by guests include sounds of crying infants, dogs growling, and memorably, a male voice that mockingly mimicked a female guest when she complained about the cold, again in room one.

There has also been the reported smell of burning in the Barley room when no fire is lit. Some might suggest a supernatural explanation, though for this there are several possible non-paranormal explanations to consider before labelling it as something supernatural in origin. While there have been some instances of possible shadow-like apparitions captured on the building cameras (as with other Project locations, the interior of the building is extensively covered by CCTV cameras in the hope of capturing activity), these visual phenomena remain ambiguous at present compared to the relatively consistent auditory activity.

Is It Recommended?

My Haunted Pendle Hill is best suited for those who have some investigative experience, or are at least prepared for an investigative journey with plenty of uncertainty. Given that this is a relatively new addition to the project—with its activity patterns still unfolding and not yet clearly defined—it might not be ideal for first-time investigators unless accompanied by somebody with a bit more experience. There is perhaps less hand-holding at this location than you could perhaps expect at Ye Olde King’s Head (AKA My Haunted Hotel – the project’s flagship location in Chester), owing to the fact that the team themselves are still learning about the property and have not yet fully nailed down the patterns – unlike at the hotel where years of data and well-documented activity is at their disposal. However, for those willing to invest time in an evolving investigation and who appreciate the opportunity to get involved at the start of what is shaping up to be an interesting long-term investigation, My Haunted Pendle Hill offers an exciting opportunity to investigate truly unique and unpredictable paranormal claims.

Final Thoughts

My Haunted Pendle Hill is as much an exploration of the unknown as it is a journey through history. While the location’s past enveloped in the Pendle witch trials offers a captivating backdrop, don’t let this narrow your perspective or expectations. Whether you’re drawn by ghostly voices, temperature anomalies, or the layered history of the region, this location invites you to question your assumptions and perhaps discover something far more intriguing than what the local legends might suggest.

My Haunted Pendle Hill is available for booking for private hire, regular weekend events and special “lockdown” overnight events, with dates open up to the end of the year. 

Visit: Myhauntedproject.org