Description of Area

St Nicholas Priory is a Grade I listed building located on Mint Lane in the heart of Exeter, Devon. Founded in 1087, it is widely recognised as the oldest standing building in the city. The structure is a remnant of a much larger Benedictine monastery, with architecture spanning the Norman, medieval, and Tudor periods.

The interior layout is divided into several historically distinct areas. The ground floor features the Romanesque Undercroft, characterised by low, vaulted stone ceilings and heavy pillars. The first floor contains the Great Hall with its original timber-framed roof, the Kitchen with a large open hearth, and the Parlour. The upper level houses the Great Chamber and the Prior’s Bedroom, which features a reconstructed Tudor bed.

During the investigation, the team was granted access to the Undercroft, the Kitchen, the Great Hall, and the upper-level chambers.

Reported Possible Activity

The Benedictine Monk – One of the most frequently reported sightings involves a male figure dressed in dark, traditional monastic robes. He is typically seen in the Undercroft or moving through the Great Hall, often described as a residual figure that ignores observers.
Phantom Footsteps – Staff and visitors have reported the sound of heavy, measured footsteps on the wooden floorboards of the upper chambers and the Great Hall, even when those areas are confirmed to be unoccupied.

The Kitchen Presence – Reports from the kitchen area include the sound of shuffling, moving pots, and the sighting of a small, child-like figure. Some visitors have claimed to feel a tugging on their clothing in this area.
Temperature Fluctuations – The stone-walled Undercroft is a noted site for sudden, localized cold spots. Investigators frequently report a sharp drop in temperature that does not appear to be caused by drafts or external weather conditions.
Poltergeist Phenomena – There have been various accounts of small objects being moved or falling from surfaces in the kitchen and parlour areas. Some visitors have also reported the smell of traditional cooking or incense when no such materials are in use.
Feelings of Unease – A sense of being watched or followed is a common report, particularly in the narrow corridors connecting the main rooms and within the low-ceilinged Undercroft.

Brief Summary of History or Legend

St Nicholas Priory was founded in 1087 by Benedictine monks from Battle Abbey, following the instructions of William the Conqueror. For over 400 years, it served as a wealthy and influential monastic house. The priory was a centre of religious life in Exeter until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in 1536, at which point much of the complex was demolished.

The surviving wing was purchased by the Mallett family, wealthy local merchants, who converted the monastic quarters into a high-status Tudor townhouse. The interior features many additions from this period, including wood-panelled rooms and decorative plasterwork. In the early 20th century, the building was acquired by the city of Exeter and restored to reflect its dual history as both a religious priory and a Tudor home. It now operates as a museum, preserving nearly a millennium of the city's history.

St Nicholas Priory - Public Event - 23/05/2026

Arrival & First Impressions

Upon arrival at St Nicholas Priory, the team noted the heavy atmosphere of the historic building. Before the first official session began in the Great Hall, all investigators reported audible phenomena: creaking floorboards, the sound of footsteps, and a distinct shuffling noise suggesting someone standing still but moving their feet. These sounds occurred while all team members were stationary.

Great Hall

Human Pendulum
Brett took the centre of the circle after a previous guest was unable to establish a connection.

Spirit One – Lady Catherine: Identified herself as a visitor to the Priory (not a resident) who came seeking comfort and refuge. She indicated she was religious and visited often. She warned the team to be wary of a "nasty monk" present in the building.
Spirit Two – The Nasty Monk: Described as unfriendly and the source of the "heavy" energy.
Spirit Three – The Child Spirit (Crossing): A spirit initially appeared as a child but acted as a "joker." Eventually, a genuine child spirit expressed fear of the "nasty monk" and stated he was too frightened to leave. Ros guided the spirit toward a "white light," during which Brett (the subject) became extremely emotional and sobbed. Immediately following the crossing, the atmosphere in the room shifted from "dense and static" to calm and quiet.

Auditory and Physical Effects:
During the session, the REM Pod and Envirobell both triggered heat-increase alerts simultaneously. Guests reported localized cold spots around their legs, and a strange clicking sound was heard outside the circle.

Small Cabinet Room

Estes Method & Word Bank
A guest conducted Estes in the cabinet room while the team monitored from the Great Hall.

Communication: A humorous exchange occurred when the word "Foundations" came through (the council had recently repaired the building's foundations). This was followed by a spirit remarking "The worst" in response to a guest mentioning squirrels.
Walter & Martha: Later words included "Disgusting," "Sin," and "Whipped." A spirit named Walter claimed to be "trapped."
Synchronicity: The word bank said "Flashlight" at the exact moment the motion sensor in the doorway illuminated.
Auditory: Ros and Andrew both heard movement and a loud bang in the corner of the cabinet room. Ros also reported a faint whistle.

The Tile Room

Candle Séance & Mirror Scrying

Séance: Dragging sounds were heard from the floor above, and K2 meters illuminated to red levels throughout the session.
Scrying: Facial transformations were reported. One male guest’s face appeared to shift into an older Asian male with a sad expression. Another guest, Sophie, reported seeing a female face with a beard and short, balding hair.
Sensory: Ros experienced a sudden, overpowering smell of ammonia/urine that caused coughing and watery eyes. The smell vanished after three minutes; no one else in the room could detect it.

Crystal Pendulum (Personal Connection)

Group One: Communicated with the "angry monk" who confirmed he was a joker and had been there during the dissolution of the monasteries. He mentioned a fire that occurred nearby.
Group Two: A guest using the pendulum connected with a spirit named Thomas. Through specific family-verified questions, it was confirmed that Thomas was the guest's deceased baby brother. He provided a message for their mother, stating he was at peace and acting as a protector for his sister.
Auditory: A spirit requested "a cup of tea" through the pendulum. At the same moment, the Alice Box vocalised the word "Knock" as a physical knock was heard.

The Bedroom

Dominique’s Group

Visual/Physical: Black shadows were seen in the doorway. A guest felt the sensation of hands resting on his shoulders. Two cat balls triggered simultaneously, and a lady guest reported the floor "pulsating and vibrating" under her feet.
Estes: Words included "Haunting," "Harry," and "Help someone."
Visual Anomaly: The bottom of a green curtain was seen moving independently.
Scrying: A guest saw a hand appear on his shoulder in the mirror reflection. Another guest saw a mist pass across the front of the mirror.

Ros’s Group

Physical: Ros felt the floor vibrate heavily in the same area previously reported. Andrew was physically pushed. Ros reported her hair being pulled at the back of her head, followed by a sharp poke to her arm.
Mirror Scrying: Ros reported a distressing image of her head appearing as a skull with black holes for eyes. Nathan reported seeing his face shift into a small boy with unkempt hair.
Smells: Ros detected a strong smell of sulphur/rotten eggs. Andrew reported a recurring distinct scent he had detected earlier in the evening.
Auditory: Multiple clear bangs were heard on the wooden floor in an inaccessible corner of the room.

Communication Experiments

Human Pendulum: Successful contact with Lady Catherine and a child spirit. Assisted one spirit in "crossing."
Estes Method: Used in the Cabinet Room and Bedroom. Responses included "Foundations," "Whipped," and "Dead play."
Crystal Pendulum: Facilitated a deeply personal family connection (Thomas) and contact with a Benedictine monk.
Alice Box/Word Bank: High volume of words including "Flashlight," "Knock," and "Casket."
Mirror Scrying: Extensive facial changes reported, including a skull, a child, and an older Asian male.
Candle Séance: Used for energy building; resulted in K2 activations and dragging sounds.

Auditory Phenomena

Pre-session: Creaking, footsteps, and shuffling in the Great Hall.
Cabinet Room: A loud bang and a faint whistle.
Tile Room: Dragging sounds from the ceiling/floor above.
Bedroom: Clear bangs on the wooden floor.
Alice Box Synchronicity: The word "Knock" spoken as a physical knock occurred.

Environmental & Physical Effects

Ros:

Experienced an overwhelming ammonia smell (watery eyes/coughing).
Sensed sulphur/rotten eggs.
Reported her hair being pulled and being poked in the arm.
Visual of her head as a skull during scrying.
Felt the floor vibrating.

Andrew:

Reported being physically pushed and pulled.
Experienced a sudden, escalating headache in the bedroom.
Detected a specific, recurring scent.

Brett:

Experienced involuntary movement and a profound emotional release/sobbing during the spirit crossing.

Nathan:

Documented multiple facial shifts during scrying, including a young child.

Guests:

One guest (Sophie) reported a facial shift including a beard.
A male guest felt hands on his shoulders.
Multiple guests reported a "dusty" or "dry" mouth sensation in the bedroom.
Sensation of the floor "pulsating."

Conclusion

The investigation at St Nicholas Priory was highly active, with a clear distinction between the protective, calm energy of Lady Catherine and the oppressive, authoritative presence of the "Nasty Monk."

Key Evidence:

Intelligent Interaction: The "Flashlight" word bank response coinciding with a motion sensor activation.
Physical Manifestation: The vibrating floor reported by multiple investigators in the same area across different vigils.
Personal Verification: The crystal pendulum session where a guest received specific family information from her deceased brother, Thomas.
Visual/Sensory: The high frequency of mirror scrying transformations and the specific, localised foul odours (ammonia and sulphur).

The successful "crossing" of two spirits (the child and Thomas) resulted in a noticeable lightening of the atmosphere, though the "nasty monk" and the "disfigured" entities in the bedroom suggest a significant residual and intelligent presence remains.