BOOKSHOP IS HAUNT FOR GHOST HUNTERS
Published on Friday, June 3rd 2005
By LYNDSEY WRIGHT

ANYONE leafing through a paperback at Priestpopple Books might think
someone is reading over their shoulder.
For loud footsteps, slamming doors and glimpses of a shadowy figure are
all part and parcel of running the Hexham book store for owner John
Patterson.

And he has become so accustomed to living with a ghost that he even
chased a customer who took it upon himself to try to perform an exorcism
in John's store.
Now psychics, from a Darlington society are planning to spend the night
in the shop to research the spooky goings-on.
The ghostly sightings have scared off many – including the estate
agent who showed John around the property.
"When I first asked the agent if she could show my wife and I around we
were both struck by her reluctance to do so," John said.
After five years of the premises standing empty John took over the
tenancy in March 1998, and since the building was in a derelict state he
lived there whilst renovating it.
"My first inkling that something was not quite right was on my first
night here," John recalled.
"It was exactly 1am when I was awoken by the sound of the front door
slamming and heavy steps walking up the stairs.

"Then another door slammed shut and it was quiet. I actually thought
that someone had a spare key and was dossing in one of the rooms.
"I searched the building, but not only did I not find anyone, I
discovered that there was no upstairs door to slam."
For the next three nights events repeated themselves, and John began to
realise why the estate agent had been so reluctant to enter the
building.
"I was getting fed up with being woken every night so eventually I
shouted for him to stop, and the nocturnal visits ceased."
John got some peace and quiet, but not for long.

"About a week later I woke up with the certainty that someone was
standing by my bed.
"I glanced over my shoulder and I could see the vague outline of a man
standing by my bedside.
"I was unable to move and it was very cold. When I glanced again he had
gone."
John eventually got the shop up and running and the regular hauntings
became such a part of life for him that he stopped taking any notice of
them.
"There have been many instances of sounds and sightings; the sounds are
always footsteps that are quite clear," John said.
"The sightings are of a man dressed in what I take to be working dress
of the 18th or 19th century.

"It is not just me that experiences these sightings, my customers do as
well, including one religious gentleman I found on his knees trying to
exorcise the spirit.
"But it was him I chased because, as I told him, the ghost wasn't doing
me any harm."
Four years ago, when the British Psychic Research Society held its
annual conference at the Queen's Hall, in Hexham, one of the member
visited John.
He said: "A woman asked me if I knew that my shop was inhabited by a
spirit, and she seemed surprised when I said 'yes'.
"She went on to tell me that it was the spirit of a man and, thankfully,
he liked me."

Over the years sightings of the ghost have become less frequent, but
John is still visited by psychic researchers.
John said: "My house ghost must have got used to me and my customers as
sightings and sounds have been less frequent.

"As I have a room partly dedicated to mystical and New Age books I
suppose I must attract customers that are in tune with the spirit
world."