Old Admiralty House - Mount Wise - Plymouth

[Ray]

Old Admiralty House, Mount Wise, has an interesting history. Built by public subscriptiion in the late 18th century, it first was the home of the military Govenor of Plymouth. In the 1920's, it was transferred to the Royal Navy to house the Port Admiral, finally closing in 1996. It has since been sold, and now has a new life as a hotel.

The old house is fascinating. From it's old wine cellars, to the original use of the top floor, as accommodation of the house staff. It hs a ballroom, complete with stage, dining rooms and lounges. The bedrooms on the first floor to the rear of the house, have superb views over the river Tamar, and Plymouth Sound. The rear garden, once formed part of the "Devonport Lines", a defensive position to protect the Naval Dockyard of Devonport.

Instances of various paranormal visitors go back many years. A figure has been seen stood at the top of the stairs leading to the wine cellar, just outside the ballroom. the figuew is that of a woman in a long dress, who appears from time to time, even during the day. In the ballroom itself, the sound of lively music and the sound of laughter, has been heard, when the room has been completely empty. In the top foor staff quarters, the smell of freshly ground coffee, was smelt, even after the building has been empty for many years.

As you look at the house from the front, the building to the right was once used as a stable and coach garage. Inside, the smell of burning candles, was noted until recent times. Also in this building, reports were made of the smell of baking bread and lavender flowers in the office once used by the Admiral. That particular room was once a kitchen, before it was moved into the main house, many years previous earlier.

Who was the man seen walking up the stairs, just to disappear into thin air> These are but a few of the stories relation to this splendid old house. Let us hope that it will continue to be a success in it's new role. Along with it's older inhabitants, who prefer not to leave.

[sambo79]

so glad i came across this, just to let you know i work there now, turning the place into flats, me and my friend are open minded about ghost and we have experience a few things there, we went down the cellor and used my sound recorder on phone and someone said my name, sounded like a women, also my friend was taking the mick out of me allday about tickling me and in the cellor we caught an evp saying tickle something tugged on my friends shorts aswell, tomorrow (19th june} our boss has giving us the keys so we can investigate the house iam scared now lol.... the house feels so positive but errie lol

[Ray]

Thank you for your interesting post. Indeed, I felt paranormal activity was most active in the house. I worked as the Mount Wise Facilities manager from 1996 to 2005, when the estate was put up for sale by the MOD. After the Flag Officer Plymouth, who used it as residence, left in 1996, the house was used as a senior officer’s mess until 1999, when it stood empty until 2005 and some time after. From 1999, it was part of my job to check the house on a regular weekly basis to check all was well. With quite reports of ghostly sightings, I made a few notes of what went on. Of course the areas I refer too have no doubt been converted to other uses with the change of use to flats. Some guys working in what was the ballroom, came into my office, to ask if someone was playing a joke on them. Out of nowhere Christmas decorations appeared on door handles leading into the Ballroom. I explained to them it must be a ghost as they were working in the house. When they finished the job, they left saying they would not work there again!

I hope your visit goes well tonight. 19th June 2020. As you mention, the place has a positive feel to it, and I feel the ghosts who still live there are friendly.

I would be most interested on your findings.

[sambo79]

We left a recorder in the basement and at the top floor, wow, there is definitely a women there! I picked up 3 evps so far on my recorder which was left in the basement and caught what sounds like a women saying hello, sounds posh and young really gave me goosebumps, and one saying don't make a sound! And one that sounds like a sigh, iam just waiting for my friends recorder so I can listen too see there is on it. To me it feels like who ever is there is happy to be there!

[Ray]

What a great result. I wonder if the voice of the woman in the cellar is that of the figure in the long grey dress, which appears at the top of the staircase on the ground floor. One sighting was accompanied with a strong smell of perfume. Further up that staircase, between the ground and first floor, a smell of perfume was noticeable on one stair only. The stair above it and the one below, there was no trace. The voice caught on the top floor, could be the same spirit, it will be interesting what the second recorder turns up.

Coming through the front door, the passage leading off to the right from the hall, was also quite active. On one visit, a lady who was accompanied me could not move due to something stood behind her, holding her back. She eventually made it to the side door after much encouragement.

It would be good to hear about any further developments.

[sambo79]

didn't get much on my friends recorder other than a few knocks and bangs and a sigh, i do believe there is a few spirits there, cant wait to go back tomorrow, we are thinking of sleeping there one night, to be honest i'am not sure of that but we will see

[Ray]

Yes, I think you are correct, there are several spirits still frequenting the house. I understand, in the past, there were a maximum of 22 staff members plus the residents and guests living there. Many famous people have stayed over the years, from Nelson to members of the current Royal family. There used to be a guest book held there, but removed when it became empty. Where it is now I do not know, possibly in the museum.

I should imagine more encounters will occur during your work. I do not think the site can support audio, but there is a MysticDevon.com group Facebook page.

[Ray]

Correction – audio can be posted here.

[sambo79]

hi i have gone on facebook and sent you a clip!!