Merchistoun Hall was a Lesson in How Not to Investigate the Paranormal

Merchistoun Hall - has potential

There’s something incredibly exciting about stepping into a new location with the promise of paranormal activity. In horndean near Portsmouth, Merchistoun Hall, with its rich history and atmospheric charm, had all the ingredients to become a standout venue for genuine paranormal investigation.

However, sometimes, it’s not just the location that defines the experience it’s the people you share it with. Recently, I attended a ghost hunt at Merchistoun Hall alongside a group that identified more as ghost hunters than paranormal investigators and I have to be honestin my opinion, that it showed. While they were friendly enough and certainly well-meaning, their approach reminded me why I hold the values of patience, respect, and quiet observation so dearly in this field.

What happened at Merchistoun Hall?

From the start, the atmosphere was anything but conducive to meaningful spirit communication. The group was loud and overly excitable, more focused on the thrill of the hunt than the subtle art of investigation. Laughter echoed through the halls, demands were made of any spirits present, and rather than allowing the building’s natural energy to reveal itself, the group filled the silence with their own noise. On several occasions, members deliberately made noises to startle each other, turning what should have been a respectful vigil into something resembling a late-night ghost tour.

It was a masterclass in impatience and sensationalism, absolutely the very approach that drives away genuine activity. If you were a spirit, would you want to use your energy in communicating with loud and demanding people?

Yet, despite the chaos, the location itself seemed to respond when given the space to do so. For the first 30 to 40 minutes, there was a calm, almost serene atmosphere. Both Barry and I felt that familiar tell-tale sign of a presence, a delicate cobweb sensation across our hair and skin and then moments later, a noticeable coldness settled over us, moving through the space as if something unseen was circling, curiously checking us out.

As we always do, we then employed our quiet, respectful approach. No grand demands, no theatrical invitations, just calm conversation, patience, and observation. Thankfully, it paid off again... Cat balls lit up on request, a clear and direct response to our presence. Even more impressively, we captured a beautiful string orb, an elegant, flowing movement caught on camera that seemed almost purposeful. It was a reminder that genuine phenomena present themselves quietly, subtly, and without drama.

Interestingly to us, as soon as the larger group returned, bringing with them their noise, their jokes, and their restless energy, the activity simply stopped, moved away and the atmosphere closed down, the room seemed heavier somehow. That fleeting window of connection we’d experienced was gone.

Merchistoun Hall

Reflection and Values

For me, the night at Merchistoun Hall was less about the evidence we gathered and more about the lessons learnt. It was a clear reminder of why both Barry and I approach investigations the way we do. It is a note to one's self why I always will.

We don’t sensationalise. We don’t shout demands into the dark. We don’t chase cheap thrills.

Instead, we focus on the real. We show respect to the locations we enter and to the spirits, and if they choose to make themselves known we will listen more than we speak and ask about their experience of being beyond the veil. We will always remember that the greatest discoveries happen in the quiet moments when you’re simply open, aware, and waiting.

The Future for Merchistoun Hall

Merchistoun Hall holds a lot of potential, and I have no doubt it will yield fascinating experiences in the right circumstances on the right night. I witnessed first-hand how easily a promising location can fall silent in the face of impatience and performance.

If you’re considering exploring the paranormal yourself, take this as a valuable lesson, sometimes, the most powerful connection you can make is simply being present, respectful, and willing to wait. For us, the adventure beyond the veil continues...