Upon entering the pub and grabbing the keys for our brief stay, I have to admit to being a little disappointed about not picking up on a single thing. No Treeves, dogs – nothing. Just the warm and relaxed atmosphere of the rather inviting surroundings. As we were welcomed and made our way upstairs – this changed! As we entered the Cromwell Room, I felt something as we crossed the threshold. I wasn’t sure at first, but there was definitely something building up. It seemed strongest from the doorway to-and into-the bathroom. As we sorted our gear out and I spent more time in the room, this build up grew stronger. Nothing worrying, in fact, I felt quite excited. However, before we began investigating in earnest, we had a far more vital task to perform – dinner.

During dinner, we were sat just across form our previous visit, close to the entrance of the kitchen. Again, I was hoping to pick up on Treeves, alas, this was not to be. But there was this same sensation of build up – charging – as in the Cromwell Room. The more relaxed (and full!) I became, the more I could feel it. Again, not really an unpleasant feeling. More expectant.

After our really quite pleasant dinner, we had spent a good couple of hours in the pub, and I was definitely more in tune with the place. We began setting the cameras and equipment up, and made our way down to the cellar. As we entered, the taste and stench of blood immediately assaulted my senses. The image of stacked bodies, weeping blood onto the floor entered my mind, as before. Really not what I wanted after a meal! The blood could have been a result of exceptionally bad dental hygiene on my part, but I am quite particular about keeping my teeth clean! Bodies were definitely stored down here at some point in the building’s past – of this I am sure.

Once cameras and equipment were set up, we began exploring. We had the run of the place, bar the landlord and some of his friends, so we free to move around at will. I picked up on a small white dog in the kitchen again. Very friendly, but could grasp no name though. Again, no Treeves. The name Serena Whitethistle did become very apparent to me – in the same area (close to the kitchen entrance) as Treeves did. No image, but the impression of a young, in her mid twenties, girl. Interesting to note that a previous guest had tripped on the stairs, claiming she had been startled by a woman who ‘wasn’t there’ (not her words). I’m the first to admit the name does seem odd, almost fairytale sounding. But it was now firmly rooted in my conscious. I did ask some of the remaining guests if the name meant anything to any of them, but to no avail. Though we were told of mysterious flooding and a foreboding atmosphere emanating in the room adjacent to ours. So back up we went.

Entering the room, it was not immediately apparent there was anything odd there. Until we walked into the bathroom – same feeling as in the Cromwell room. Quite likely the rooms were once joined. The hallway leading back to the Cromwell Room was now positively buzzing with energy. We decided to got back into the Cromwell Room have a short vigil there. The joy began!

The build up of energy was strongest by the door. After a few minutes and some attempted EVP capture, I felt compelled to stand in front of the door. With my hands resting on it, I could really feel the energy. It was flowing through me. Bizarrely, rather than top me up energy wise, I felt incredibly drained. I’m not sure how long I was standing there, but after a while something extremely unusual happened: For all intents and purposes, I was apparently and albeit momentarily possessed (not a word I favour). I’d say it’s more accurate to say I was being very heavily influenced by something. I remember coming to having lurched towards the camera in the room (pointing at the door), much to the alarm of poor Clare who was sitting on the bed just to my right! As per the others’ description as to what happened – I appeared to physically change. My face at least, slightly. My voice apparently quite significantly. I expressed – it expressed – its displeasure at being filmed. Hmm. That reads a little ‘out there’ for me. But that is what happened. After sitting down for a few mins to recover’, it was now apparent to me that at some point in the history of the room, somebody had been fatally wounded in the back of their head whilst standing in the doorway. They managed to stagger along the hallway towards the adjacent room before mercifully shuffling off their mortal coil. I have no idea who this unfortunate person was, or the exact circumstances leading to their violent end, but bloody it most certainly was.

Phew. After that little escapade, we made our way back downstairs. It was now just us four exploring the place. I was still to be rewarded with one final encounter before the end of the investigation. This one far more pleasant. Put quite simply: The image of an elderly, bearded man appeared in the left high-backed chair in front of the bar. No name or any other indication (not Treeves) as to who it was, but I got the impression this was an old regular at the place. From years ago, still keeping an eye on the place in the landlord’s absence. Made for a rather fitting end to the investigation, for me at least.

The general feel I got of the pub was a rather pleasant one. The pub itself has a very friendly atmosphere, very welcoming. I’d quite happily pop in for a meal and a drink if I ever found myself back in Arundel. Even the cellar wasn’t too bad. Nothing active lingering there, just the trapped remnants of its history. It was only the doorway to the Cromwell Room that really made me feel uncomfortable. I can quite understand that previous guests have had odd experiences there! However, I would quite happily spend a night there. And dare anyone else to as well!