"We love history and hauntings; this is our story.

"Haunted Heritage Paranormal Events has been in operation since 1st April 2011. Initially it came about to raise much need funds for a Leicestershire museum.

"Since then, founders Gillian Hibbert and Michele Smith have been on approached to work with other museums and historical sites across the Midlands receiving several tourism awards along the way for supporting heritage sites and bringing night time tourism to Leicestershire.

"Gill and I met under unusual circumstances, we both worked for the local authority, Gill in a leisure centre, I worked in a museum.

"Due to the management roles held, we were part of the Leicestershire Disaster Response Team, which involved training days with hundreds of people across the emergency service.

"By chance, we were seated next to each other at East Midlands Airport covering admin for the makeshift morgue.

"During a coffee break we got chatting, naturally the conversation turned to ghosts.

"That's when we discovered we had a shared interest, Gill being a psychic medium and I had worked in many haunted places, the current one being the local museum.

"Gill was invited to visit for a behind the scenes tour.

"As it was Gill picked up on lots of paranormal activity on the site, which the staff had spoken about for years.

"'Wouldn't it be a brilliant palace for a ghost hunt? I thought. Then by shear fluke, fate, synchronicity, whatever you want to call it, the Curator of the museum sent a site communication out the following week appealing for ways to raise funds using the buildings at night time.

"We pitched the idea and went live a few months later. In the first year we did 9 events. We now operate over 100 events per year and we keep growing.

We have stayed true to our core offer, which is heritage and focusing on the ancestors who lived, worked and owned the venues.

"All of our guest will leave an event after learning about the sites history and hopefully experiencing some of the 'resident's' activities.

"The events run from 8pm till 1am, with a maximum of 24 guests. After an initial welcome and safety talk, the group breaks up into 3 small groups and go off to investigate a specific area. We do this three times in all with short tea break in-between.

"We discuss findings and suggest alternate investigation experiments. Where possible we will do some quick on site research to find any cross references which could substantiate the evidence captured.

However, after an event we bring in our Archivist Erin Dodd who is at Derby University, who then takes the research to the next level.

"We then line up the focus for the next investigation at the site to dig deeper. After we have been to a site several times, Erin will then produce archives for the that site.

"On an investigation we will use a variety of equipment and investigation experiments, even just sitting still and being quiet. The guests will have plenty of opportunities to work with all the equipment.

"Some of the Team Leaders are sensitive and often we have guests who are also gifted. We do look for layered evidence so not relying on just one persons skills, or piece of equipment. And we will chase down any unusual occurrences and try to debunk them....not everything is paranormal.

Why Tolethorpe?

"Whilst we work with many museums and heritage sites which are in the public domain, it is great to work with private ancestral homes or sites.

"Whilst researching old buildings in the area when I saw a photo of Tolethorpe...it was stunning. i had to find out more.

"Upon closer inspection it had a marvellous provenance and completely different type of venue, with it being a outdoor theatre.

"There is one key point to note, paranormal activity and theatres do have a special bond...speak to any of the London Theatre staff and actors, they will all have stories to tell.

After meeting with the Tolethorpe staff and having a staff investigation, they shared some of their personal experiences of doors opening / closing, the feeling that someone is in the door way but when they turn round no one is there, foot steps heard passing down the corridor.

"We have identified some unusual phenomena and sightings which will be the focus of the next event when we return on 2 October.

"Whilst I will have some historical awareness of the site, I find it best to see what occurs at the early events and let the spirit world lead the way on the period they want to make us aware of.

"At our first meeting with the Tolethorpe staff, Gill psychicly picked up a lady popping her head around the door to see who was here. It's quite normal for any ghost to pick up if there is a medium on site and make their presence known.

"This lady was possibly Victorian, due to the description of clothing that Gill gave. Whilst in the attic I was whacked, nothing painful and the emotion I picked up on was that someone was having a joke / laughing.

"Our aim is to discover, if any, energies, enterties, spirits reside at the hall. If so, from which era and then try to find a name that can be proven.

"We are very respectful and usually find that spirits want to have their stories told, and what a better place than at a theatre.

"If you enjoy local history, have an interest in the paranormal both believers and sceptics, are an experienced ghost hunter. If you watch all the ghost hunting programs ..but have never been on an investigation.If you want to be involved supporting a local heritage site, then a Haunted Heritage Paranormal event is the ideal way to go from an armchair ghost hunter to the real thing.

"There are not many venues in the Stamford area so this really is a unique opportunity.

"We don't guarantee that you will see a ghostly apparition, but what we will promise is that we will provide every opportunity for you to experience being a ghost hunter, proving instruction and guidance so that you can form your own conclusions.

"Not everything is paranormal, ghost hunting can be a very quiet evening....or the most exciting experience you will ever have.

"Everyone has a ghost story...What will yours be?

"We are always looking for venues which have reported ghostly sightings and an interesting heritage provenance and would be interested in running an event then do get in touch."

The website of Haunted Heritage can be found here.