Employees get spooked over Vernon Gate History

Posted on Oct 19, 2011

With over 1,000 paranormal sightings and spooky goings on, Derby certainly deserves its title ‘ghost capital of the UK’. And with Vernon Gate residing at the heart of it’s activity, the brave Vernon Gate members turn ghost buster’s at night to learn more of its dark history and seek out any paranormal activity with non other than the famous historian and renown ghost hunter, Richard Felix.

Stories of ghostly activities span generations. In fact it’s difficult to turn a corner in the city without hearing a tale of things going bump in the night. And you don’t have to go too far to find one such tale for Vernon Gate!

“So many things have happened, so many people have passed though these gates, even the last hanging in England happened here,” explained Richard.

The curious employees learnt more about the brutal murder of P.C. Moss in 1879, by Gerald Mannering and the many bodies that we laid to rest at the foundations of the magnificent façade after they were hung.

After the history of The County Gaol, the group of hopeful ghost hunters, visited The Derby Gaol in the basement of 50/51 Friar Gate, that was used as a prison from 1756 to 1828, where all viewed the actual cells where prisoners were kept and investigated artefacts that were retrieved during the excavation of foundations for the offices which now stand behind the Vernon Gate façade.

Derby has been quick to respond to the many tourists and ghost hunters, providing a variety of ghost walks, and with a passionate Richard Felix and a committed Vernon Gate Management Team, the employees of Vernon Gate are making sure that Vernon Gate becomes a major hot spot for future tourists!