The Lady in the Mirror at Wymering Manor

The Lady in the Mirror - (C) Paranormal Hunters UK

As seasoned paranormal investigators, we’re conscious to be sceptical, to question everything we see, hear, or feel during an investigation. We seek tangible evidence, an EVP, a temperature drop, an EMF spike. Yet, every so often, something happens that defies logic, challenges our understanding of reality, and leaves even the most grounded among us utterly captivated.

This is one such account.

Background to the Lady in the Mirror

We were conducting a scrying session inside a historic building, Wymering Manor, well-known for its high levels of spiritual activity. The air itself felt heavy with presence, as though we were being quietly observed by eyes unseen. Over the years, this building has been associated with countless sightings, whispers in empty rooms, unexplained footsteps, orbs, and now… something more.

Scrying, for those unfamiliar, is a method of divination in which a reflective surface, usually a mirror, is used to perceive visions, often with spiritual or supernatural undertones. It’s a practice that demands patience, focus, and a healthy respect for what might be revealed.

There were ten of us in the room, all experienced investigators and intuitive sensitives. Two of our group, took turns at the mirror, while the rest of us observed from a respectful distance. The lighting was soft, ambient, designed to help relax the mind and shift focus away from the physical.

It was during both of the scrying sessions that something extraordinary occurred.

Searching for Answers at the Haunted Wymering Manor, Portsmouth.

The Lady's Appearance

During the scrying, photos are taken and we saw, and were shocked to find the image of a young lady staring back at us. We checked for possible explanations, reflections, paintings, one of us perhaps? With no explanations. So, we all moved aside to allow the next individual full access to the mirror.

Importantly, at this point, no one was standing in the reflection’s line of sight. The mirror should have shown only the second scryer, or nothing at all. Yet, when the next images were capture, quick photographs taken instinctively to document the session, it revealed something none of us had expected.

In the mirror, alongside the scryer, stood once again the third figure.

She was not present in the room. A younger woman with jet-black hair, styled in a classical fashion, possibly adorned with a decorative hair slide. Her expression was calm, almost curious. There were no paintings or portraits nearby that could have been reflected. The room was plain, minimal by design to prevent distractions or accidental interpretations. Most compelling of all: everyone in the group saw the same image. Not just a vague shape or a trick of light—an actual person.

Now, let’s address the obvious.

Could it have been pareidolia? The psychological phenomenon where the brain sees patterns, especially faces, in randomness? We considered that. But what makes this different is that all ten of us, independently and immediately, saw the same woman in the mirror. There was no suggestion, no interpretation offered beforehand. As investigators, we know how easy it is to lead the mind. So we said nothing. And yet, every person described her the same way, down to her hair and possible slide.

More curiously, she had also moved.

Yes, moved—but not in the room. In the mirror. Over the course of a few minutes, we noticed that her position shifted. In one photo, she was behind the scryer’s left shoulder. In another, she was further away, more side-on. In the third image, she was closer and looking more directly outward. We had not seen her in real time with the naked eye—but the camera had. And after each photo, we checked immediately. There was no manipulation. No filters. No AI. Just raw, untouched photographs.

At Wymering Manor; We were stunned.

Naturally, our curiosity turned to the identity of this lady. She seemed... familiar. Classical, elegant, from another time. Several of us commented, completely independently, that she bore a striking resemblance to Jane Austen—the famous author.

It was an instinctive, gut-level feeling, something in her expression and presence. At first, we dismissed it as fanciful. But then someone mentioned the church.

Just meters from the building stands a historical church. And as we later discovered through research, Jane Austen’s brother once served as the warden there.

Could it be coincidence? Perhaps. But in this field, we know there are often no coincidences—only clues waiting to be interpreted.

There is no solid proof that Jane herself ever visited the building we investigated. But given her brother's role and the proximity of the church, it would be highly plausible that she had at least walked past, if not stepped inside. The architecture dates to her lifetime, and the energy of the building suggests layers upon layers of emotional and spiritual residue.

If this was Jane—or some spirit choosing to appear as her—the intent felt benign. She wasn’t threatening or sorrowful. Instead, she radiated a calm curiosity, as though she was watching us with the same fascination we felt for her. She chose to be seen, to be captured in a moment when the veil was thinnest.

We’ve reviewed the footage, examined the angles, tried to replicate the lighting. But nothing comes close to what that mirror revealed that night.

This is not just about a ghost. It’s about connection. About history bleeding gently into the present. About a woman long gone still having the power to appear, communicate, and maybe even seek understanding.

Was it Jane Austen? Was it another spirit from the time, simply resonating with our energy and our location? We may never know. But one thing is certain: we all saw her. The same woman. The same look. The same mystery.

She is now affectionately referred to in our group as The Lady in the Mirror.

And we hope… she returns because the mystery and adventure continues...

The Mirror during the walkthrough earlier in the day