The Denbigh Experience

"Nestled in the beautiful countryside of wales lies The North Wales Hospital (Welsh: Ysbyty Gogledd Cymru) a Grade II* listed building in the town of Denbigh, Denbighshire, Building started in 1844 and completed in 1848. Initially a hospital for up to 200 people with psychiatric illness, by the mid-20th century it housed 1,500 patients. The institution was wound down as a healthcare facility from 1991, finally closing in 1995.

It was a cold October night in 2009, that a new and novice paranormal team known as ‘Spirits or Not’ pulled up into a layby just behind a field that led to the hospital. The team consisted of 7 females, who all had an avid interest in all things paranormal.

As each person exited from the two vehicles, we took some time to discuss what we hoped to get from our investigation. We had previously explored the site on several occasions, each time we had experienced feelings of unease and what we thought were voices. We had examined the isolation bungalow, the church, and the morgue, so tonight we planned to enter the main hospital.

Armed with EMFs, digital voice recorders, camera’s, torches and a video recorder, we made our way across the dark field. The grass was wet from the rain that had fallen earlier that day, so we progressed with caution, trying to keep out of the muddy areas as much as possible. Once we had navigated a rather flimsy metal fence, we found ourselves once again standing on the roadway that surrounded the hospital, to our left just in the distance sat the nurse’s home. In front of us stood the imposing North Wales hospital, known locally as Denbigh Asylum.

Just standing in the hauntingly, eerie silhouette of this infamous building filled most of us with fear and excitement. This would be our first exploration of the once-bustling hospital. A place that had stories of strange, and at times, scary phenomena, both during its tenure and after its closure. Sightings of mysterious figures, in both gowns and uniforms, had been reported along with strange noises, lights, and voices heard screaming. Knowing all this added to the feelings of nervousness, we all felt as we stepped through the doors into a corridor.

Our first experience of the night was when one of the team stated they had seen a dark figure off to the left in a doorway, we all moved to the location EMFs in hand and our digital voice recorder on in the hopes of capturing some usable EVPs. We spent a bit of time in the area asking questions that we would then listen back to later on the recorder. However, no evidence either photographic or off the recorder was captured. It was a personal experience by a trusted team member and was noted in the report.

We had been wandering around for approximately one hour when a team member noticed a solid shutter that was on the right of the corridor in the wall. It was decided that we would try and open the shutter it took several of us to lift it we searched for some debris to put under it, just in case it decided to come down and potential trapping us. Beyond the shutter, another long corridor stretched out before us, but unlike the previous corridors we had ventured down this one seemed darker and the air was thicker. We found ourselves speaking in whispers and descending it as a tight unit, rather than splitting off to take photos or explore open doorways. Maybe, somehow, we all had the feeling that it would not be wise to split from the group.

There were numerous rooms located on either side of the corridor. We braved entering a few of them. One being an office type room and another that could have been a medication/pharmacy type room as it had a metal shutter that faced the corridor and numerous cupboards fitted with key locks. It was as we were all leaving this particular room that we heard voices. They were muffled, but the timbre sounded urgent. Suffice to say we froze, standing there very quiet listening, the fear was palpable in the air, each of us huddled closer, and with whispered voices asking each other, 'Did you hear that?'

What seemed like ages went by, but in reality, was just a few moments, and the voices stopped. We held our breath, and when we were certain it as over, we stared at each other in disbelief. Had we really heard voices or could it, in reality, be nothing more sinister than the wind? This theory was quickly lost as we heard the loud sound of what can only be described as a medical trolley moving at speed towards us. Panic began to set in at this stage, but none of us moved.

As the sound drew closer, I found myself straining against the dark trying to see if I could make out the object that seemed to be careering towards us. Then there was silence. We all looked at each other, looking for validation that we had all just experienced the same thing. I wish I could say that we continued forward determined to find out the source, but we were new to all of this and to say we left post haste is an understatement.

We did not become more seasoned until many investigations later. We did, however, have many more great nights and lots of nerve-wracking escapades on return visits. We will never forget that particular experience as none have ever since collectively paralyzed the entire team as it did that night."

Tracey Jones - Paranormal Researcher/Investigator