Classified Abbey North Yorkshire

The last Abbot, Adam Sedburgh, became one of the leaders of the ill-fated Pilgrimage of Grace, an uprising against King Henry VIII’s religious policies, in 1536 but was captured. He and the other leaders were executed in 1537 and the Abbey and the boundary wall which, in all of its glory, was said to have stretched a mile around the abbey were virtually destroyed.

The Abbey was then granted to Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, by King Henry VIII and passed through many hands until it was purchased by S. Cunliffe Lister for £310,000 in 1887.

Although many names have been proprietor, it is the Croft family who have had tennantship for over 500 years.

All that remains of the 270 feet long church are several tombstones and a stone effigy to one of the Abbeys benefactors, Hugh Fitzhugh, who died in 1307 and is shown as a knight in armour.

The ruins today cast a lonely figure amongst the countryside but come nightfall its forboding atmosphere sparks the place into life.

The Abbey and it's grounds have provided fascinating results and experiences for Ngrit members. Does Adam Sedburgh still rule the roost over the abbey? What are the bright flashing red lights which dart across the abbey grounds? Why are Ngrit members lured towards the church area when the clock strikes 2.00am - the same times the monks held their first services hundreds of years ago? And maybe most intriguing, why are the EMF meters constantly activated when no electricity sources are within half a mile of the Abbey?

Some of the activity the Team have encountered includes:
Stones thrown
Notebooks ripped up
Voices - including voices over radio (which is out of range near
the road-side)
Trigger objects and equipment moved / hidden
Table movements (this was conducted outside as an experiment)
Strange moving lights - in response to questions
P.I.R. alarms triggered to distract attention