Essex Mother's Dream Home Purchase Descends Into Paranormal Terror
An Essex mother has revealed how her dream property purchase turned into a living nightmare, forcing her to flee what she describes as a genuinely haunted house. Vanessa Mitchell, who grew up in St Osyth, Essex, purchased the historic 16th-century building known as The Cage in 2004 for £144,000, only to encounter terrifying paranormal phenomena that made her existence there unbearable.
Historic Property With Dark Past
Despite local rumours about the property being haunted and awareness that someone had taken their own life there, Vanessa felt compelled to buy the building when it came onto the market. "I knew someone who had friends that lived there and they said it was haunted, but you've got to remember I live in St Osyth - it's an ancient village," she explained on the What It Was Like podcast. "Our entire village is pretty much haunted, so why would I care?"
The building carries significant historical weight, having served as a prison for witches during the 1500s. Records indicate that fourteen women were convicted of witchcraft in the town, with Ursula Kemp being the first. Historical evidence suggests Ursula was a poor midwife who fell out with another local woman, was accused of killing her child, imprisoned in the local jail, tried, found guilty, and ultimately hanged.
Paranormal Experiences Begin Immediately
Vanessa's troubles began almost immediately after moving into the property with her childhood friend Nicole and Nicole's partner. Within twenty-four hours of receiving the keys, she sensed something unusual in the house. "It was the first day something felt a bit off," she recalled. "I was just making a cup of tea. Nicole was going back and forth, and I was busy in the kitchen and thought she'd come in."
Then I saw something in my peripheral vision and heard a noise. I said, 'Your tea is here,' but when I turned around, no one was there. Instead, a huge black mass-shaped figure was gliding slowly behind me. Initially unnerved but determined not to panic, Vanessa resolved to monitor the situation as weeks turned into months.
Escalating Terror and Unexplained Phenomena
The homeowner claims the atmosphere in the house deteriorated significantly over time. "The feeling in the house started changing. It's a feeling you can't make up, a sixth sense," she explained. The paranormal activity reportedly intensified, with Vanessa witnessing:
- Ghostly figures appearing throughout the property
- Taps switching on without human intervention
- Doors flying open unexpectedly
- Unexplained pools of blood appearing
In one particularly frightening incident while expecting her first child, Vanessa claims she was physically shoved. "In my case, it turned out to be worse than some of the stuff I've seen in movies," she shared, describing the cumulative effect of these experiences.
Forced to Flee After Years of Fear
After her housemates moved out, Vanessa found herself alone with her son, "living in one room" through sheer terror. She finally abandoned the property after four years, putting it up for sale, though it took nine years to find a buyer. "I had no choice. I had to leave, I had to get me and my baby to safety and that's what I did," she stated emphatically.
Reflecting on her ordeal more than two decades after the purchase, Vanessa noted how understanding of such phenomena has evolved. "I understand it more now because now you can actually turn on the TV and watch about this stuff. But back in my day you couldn't, there wasn't Discovery+ and all these channels, so I never had the experience of any of that."
Pattern of Previous Occupants
Following her departure, Vanessa discovered she wasn't alone in her experiences. Several former owners had also encountered paranormal activity in the house and hadn't remained longer than three years. "I think all the other people that had left that house over 300 years shouldn't have had to leave," she continued. "I think they were feeling some kind of way the same as well, that they knew it was bad. They had to get out."
The property has since changed hands, purchased in 2025 by Amy's Crypt, an Australian paranormal investigator, and her partner. The new owners are reportedly refurbishing the building to establish a "safe place for spirits" while maintaining its historic heritage, offering a very different approach to the property's challenging history.
