The Lion and Swan Picture Gallery (Click to Enlarge)
	GHOST HUNT AT THE LION AND SWAN HOTEL,  CONGLETON, CHESHIRE Built in the 16th Century, this half timbered Coaching Inn is at the heart of the historic market town of Congleton in Cheshire. It is thought that there was an earlier building on the site which could date as far back as 1496 and that functioned as a Licensed Inn, Alehouse or Traveller's Resting Place, much as the current building does today. During the 18th Century the newer building prospered as stagecoach and canal travel become more popular, and in the early 19th Century it became the penultimate stop in the new London to Manchester stagecoach service. Finally, with the coming of the railways, The Lion and Swan was developed and extended and the way it appears from the outside today is pretty much the same as it would have done at the end of the 19th Century. While 20th Century owners spent £2 million on modernising the interior of the hotel, it has not lost its original features or charm. One of the strangest and most talked about of these features is the main fireplace which features ornate and intricate carvings of strange, erotic symbols and demonic figures. It is believed that this wooden surround would have come from two ends of a bridal bed, or from another, non-Christian source - that of a fertility aid owned by a sorcerer which couples desperate to conceive would pay to spend the night in. To add to the weird and wonderful aura surrounding this fireplace it is also the focus for one of the most bizarre and risqué hauntings you are likely to encounter. For on many occasions, in the dead of night, the apparition of a young girl with dark flowing hair has appeared and been seen to be tending the fire. Not too strange in itself, except that she is wearing nothing but clogs and a winsome smile. Many people have associated her with a young woman who died during the middle ages after drinking a potion designed to help her conceive - tying her to the fireplace's theme of fertility. And while this apparition is only witnessed by the fireplace, it is thought that the same spirit appears elsewhere in the building in the form of a brown shadow, which has led to this particular entity being nicknamed 'The Brown Lady'. Perhaps the most haunted area in The Lion and Swan however is Room 20 (which can be seen at the top right of this page). Many guests have woken in the middle of the night to a room that is so cold they can reportedly  see their own breath, before fleeing downstairs to request a transfer due to the terrifying 'presence' in Room 20. On more than one occasion guests in the room next door have complained to staff about all of the banging and scratching sounds coming from 20. Each time that this has happened there has been no-one staying in that room and so the noises remain a complete mystery, convincing many people that there are otherworldly residents in Room 20. The same room is also home to a spirit dog which has been seen and heard by guests and staff alike for many years, and which may explain the odd scratching sounds emanating from the area. The other apparently paranormal activity in the room involves the door which frequently flies open of its own accord. The other area which our overnight investigation will focus on is the large cellar, which even long serving members of staff are reluctant to venture into. The sound of a child or a female (reports vary) crying and talking is heard on a regular basis and there is also a rather spooky painting which legend has it results in the death of those who touch it. It has been hanging there for as long as anyone can remember... Another part of the cellar used to function as a nightclub in the 1970's. It was closed after the manager was brutally murdered during a break-in and has remained pretty much untouched since that time. Unsurprisingly this area feels particularly unpleasant and is perhaps the reason why it has never been used for anything other than storage in the past 30 years. Eerie Evenings are returning to The Lion and Swan after a period of several years due to the increase in paranormal activity apparently caused by the recent change in ownership and massive refurbishment. The building remains a largely unknown gem in the paranormal community, but we hope to change that with your help! Join us as we return once more to investigate the hauntings of The Lion and Swan in Congleton.   An Eerie Evening at The Lion and Swan Includes: ~ Welcome Drink of Traditional Mead ~ Two Course Evening Meal ~ Talk by Local Historian and Ghostly Tales ~ Platform Readings by Spiritualist Mediums ~ Opportunity to use Ghost-Hunting Equipment ~ Late Night Ghost Hunt & Paranormal Investigation ~ Take Part in Séance and 'Contact Experiments' ~ Optional Hotel Accommodation and Breakfast ~ Refreshments Throughout *The event will run from approx. 8pm - 2.30am* *Guests with hotel rooms can check in from 2pm and must check out by 11am* Ticket Price: £49   (Event Only)                        Use the link below to purchase places for the event without accommodation or book over the phone by calling 0845 201 3994 September 4th 2010               Please click here should you need any help! Ticket Price: £99   (Includes Bed and Breakfast) Use the link below to purchase places for the event with accommodation or book over the phone by calling 0845 201 3994 September 4th 2010 A deposit option of £25 per person is available with balance payable 3 weeks before the event. Please call us on 0845 201 3994 if you would like to use this option.   10% Discount for Groups of 10 or More (Contact us to Check Availability Before Booking) Please Read Terms and Conditions Before Booking To Pay by Cheque Click Here to Download Booking Form PHONE US ON: 0845 201 3994 EMAIL: queries@eerie-evenings.com Click here to find The Lion and Swan on Multimap