Living in a haunted house can have a profound psychological impact, pushing individuals to the edge of sanity.
The belief in a haunted house can be influenced by both psychological and supernatural factors, creating a complex and unsettling experience.
Deep dives
Growing up in a haunted house
Milly Wes recounts her experiences growing up in a haunted house. Built in 1667, the house had a history of strange occurrences even before Milly and her family moved in. From a young age, Milly felt uneasy and sensed a presence watching her throughout the house. As she got older, the experiences intensified, with objects moving and strange noises occurring at night. Milly's fear reached a peak when she attempted to hang herself, feeling as though something had taken over her actions. Her mother, Mary, also experienced unsettling encounters in the house. Despite some skeptics suggesting that the experiences could be due to stress or fabrication, Milly and Mary both strongly believe in the haunted nature of the house.
Experts weigh in
Psychologist Chris French and parapsychologist Evelyn Hollow offer their insights on Milly's experiences. French highlights the possibility of mundane explanations for some phenomena, such as objects being moved by mice or hallucinations due to stress. Hollow, however, believes that the house is haunted, specifically categorizing it as a poltergeist case. She points out that the experiences extend beyond just Milly, with the grandparents also reporting strange occurrences. While they differ in their beliefs, both experts acknowledge the impact of fear and the genuine distress it can cause, regardless of the supernatural or psychological origins.
The legacy of the haunted house
The haunted house's history adds another layer to the unsettling experiences. Local research reveals that in the 18th century, a young girl hanged herself in the house, potentially due to being pregnant out of wedlock. Milly believes that the ghost of this girl was showing her what she went through and why she haunts the house. The attic, where the tragic act is believed to have taken place, holds a significant presence of fear for Milly. The complex case leaves different interpretations, with some questioning if it's a genuine connection to a supernatural presence or a result of familial fears and beliefs influencing each other.
Teenager Millie moves with her family into her grandparents remote historic farmhouse in the English countryside. It is a house with a tragic past that seems to be returning to haunt the family in a way that feels dangerous and disturbing, pushing them to the edge of sanity.
Millie tells Danny Robins about her ordeal in this terrifying episode that reveals the true impact of living in a ‘haunted house’.
Featuring expert help from psychologist Chris French and The Battersea Poltergeist’s Evelyn Hollow.
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Experts: Chris French and Evelyn Hollow
Editor and Sound Designer: Charlie Brandon-King
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme Music by Lanterns on the Lake
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode