Ghost hunters to investigate William Wordsworth's Lake District school

Paranormal investigations Cumbria UK will travel to Hawkshead Grammar School Museum on Sunday March 31 armed with equipment and psychic mediums.

Led by Sarah Simmons, the team has investigated many haunted homes and businesses all around Cumbria.

READ MORE: Ghost hunters called in to get in contact with Kendal pub ghost

This includes uncovering the resident spirit of Kendal's Ring O' Bells pub, 'Edward the Ghost', with comedians Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar.

Now the team hope they can reach out to one of the school's most acclaimed scholars who went on to be one of the greatest poets of the English language.

The habit of carving names on the surface of the school's wooden desks was popular among the pupils - and among those still visible today is that of Wordsworth.

"We could certainly call out for William," Sarah said. "We plan to exhaust all our methods of communication to contact the spirits there are are especially excited to try out our new SLS camera to see spirit."

Wordsworth was not the only trailblazer to attend the grammar school.

Other students included Dr William Pearson - co-founder of the Royal Astronomical Society, Lord Brougham - Lord Chancellor of England, Dr Joshua King - President of Queens’ College, Cambridge and Edward Baines - politician and newspaper proprietor. 

Also in attendance was Dr Christopher Wordsworth, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge and William's brother.

The Hawkshead Grammar School was founded by Archbishop of York Edwin Sandys in the 16th century.

The museum gives insight into school life from 1585 to 1909 with its classroom housing a collection of historic classroom furniture and artefacts - some of which date back to the 17th century.

Visitors often report feeling 'weird sensations' and things that move out of the corner of their eye, said Ellie Evans, who works at Hawkshead Grammar School Museum.

The museum's conservation and collections specialist has been there since 2022.

She said: "I often get a very weird feeling when I'm here, it's just an energy that I'm not alone and I've often seen things move out the corner of my eye.

"I'm convinced I saw a shadow move up the stairs that looked like a headmaster's cloak so I'll be joining the team to see what's here.

"It'd be great if they could contact someone from the Wordsworth era - or perhaps we'll find out about some people who we never knew attended."

To find out more about the investigation, please visit the Paranormal Investigations UK Facebook page.