Lea Hurst

The ghost of Florence Nightingale, whose family lived here, has been seen in the grounds, and also on the stairs and the upper corridor.

Update 14/1/22: I enquired whether anything had been experienced recently and was told by Peter Kay, "I have heard a number of first hand stories and comments about the ghost of a lady (Florence Nightingale?) here, from staff who worked here in the years when Lea Hurst was a nursing home (closed in 2004), to workmen who renovated the house for me (2012-2014) and from guests who stayed here whilst we were offering several rooms for B&B guests in celebration of Florence Nightingale’s bicentenary year (2020-2021)." In a telephone conversation he told me that a figure had been seen going down the stairs, in the garden and observed inside the building from outside by witnesses. An electrician (2012-4) said that things were moving upstairs, and when rooms were offered as a bed and breakfast, 3 or 4 guests noted "a presence" with one even saying that it touched her shoulder - however, the ghost is thought to be benign. Two years later I recontacted the establishment to inquire about any recent phenomena and on 27/1/24, Pete again replied; " Yes we have had feedback from several guests who have felt the presence of a lady figure resembling Florence Nightingale. Staff at the house when it was a nursing home also regularly reported about seeing the ghost of Florence Nightingale. I personally haven’t seen her!"

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