Meet Devon's new team of ghost hunters

A brand new team of paranormal investigators with a wealth of experience between them has started a ghost hunting business in historical venues around Devon.

The next event you can buy tickets for takes place on Friday, October 18, in Great Fulford House near Exeter.

Matt and Will founded Ghostly Nights in 2024 after they crossed paths during a paranormal investigation at a grand manor house several years ago.

Noticing an opportunity in the paranormal events market, they swiftly joined forces to create a business, offering professional events that are welcoming to all.

Above: Image: Ghostly Nights

Exeter Today spoke with one of the founders, Matt, to learn more about what participants can expect from their ghost hunts.

Matt explained that they start the evening with an energising activity, helping participants get comfortable with their group, adjust to the darkness, and understand the structure of the evening.

“Everyone has an aura or a kind of energy around them, which is how the spirits interact with us," Matt said.

"Most people find that when they start concentrating on this energy, they meet resistance or experience tingling feelings and pressure. One of our exercises involves having one group face the wall while the other group picks someone at random from behind. The group facing the wall must try to tap into their ability to sense what’s behind them, similar to what you might feel when sensing that someone is observing you at an ATM.” 

Above: Image: Ghostly Nights

Matt explained that this encourages people to begin using perceptions outside of the norm.

“Then, we do a couple of watch and wait vigils, where we go into different rooms of the house and create an opening circle for grounding and protection. Without using any equipment, we introduce ourselves to the spirits and ask them to engage with us in some way, whether this be auditory, physically, or through changes in temperature.”

When the paranormal team eventually brings in their equipment, this can include what Matt calls “Victorian techniques” such as Ouija boards, table tippings, spirit dyes, and crystal pendulums.

They can also include more modern styles of investigation, like the Estes method, where participants wear noise-cancelling headphones and a blindfold before flicking through different sound frequencies. 

Above: Image: Ghostly Nights

Matt also said that the level of paranormal activity varies with each event and is typically concentrated in specific hotspots rather than occurring steadily throughout the night.

In the past, participants have witnessed unexplained phenomena such as candles lighting on their own, ghostly faces materialising in mirrors, and humanoid figures appearing on infrared sensors.

“We try as many methods as we can because you never know what is actually going to work.”

Matt attended his first paranormal investigation five years ago, after his girlfriend bought him tickets to one in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

“It wasn’t what I expected,” Matt admitted. 

“I arrived and thought, this is actually really interesting. There’s all these things happening that just shouldn't be. I started attending events every other weekend and then ended up working for another company as a host. Eventually, we decided to give it a go for ourselves.”

Matt is originally from Exeter and Will is from Dawlish, so they’ve tried to keep the majority of their events closer to home. 

Depending on the location, these paranormal investigations will usually run for six hours between 8pm and 2am, or 9pm and 3am.

Upcoming venues include Coldharbour Mill in Cullompton, Mansion House in Cardiff, and Shepton Mallet Prison.

There are plans in the works to hold events at even more paranormally exciting venues next year. 

You can browse the full schedule of events and purchase tickets through their website.