The Storyteller: Restoring Paignton’s haunted monastery

The other weekend, I had several invitations to attend a meeting, hosted by a committee, setting up a working party, to restore the old Paignton Monastery, and turn it into a community asset, that can be used by everyone.

Prior to that meeting, I had been aware of the building, but never visited, as it is set amongst woodland, at the end of Berry Drive, opposite Paignton Cemetery, the road where my stepdaughter's grandmother used to live, and we visited her quite regularly. 

I was both flattered and intrigued by this invitation, as I wasn’t entirely sure what I, personally, could bring to the project. However, it turned out they wanted me for my interest in spooky stuff, as there have been reports of unexplained activity, over the years, both in the monastery chapel, and the attached monks’ dormitory area, now converted into flats.

They had heard of my intentions to launch my Paignton Ghost Walk soon, and they thought the monastery might make an interesting addition to my route. Sadly, it doesn’t fit in with my plans, but I can certainly share stories about it, during my talks, but once it becomes fully functional, the plan would be to host events inside the building, and certainly around the grounds, as I’m already hearing stories about the woodland...

During the meeting of, what is now known as, the Paignton Monastery CIC, members of the committee outlined the plans for the future of the building, with the main focus being on community use, by many different groups, once it has been renovated, which might take some time. For now, requests have been made for practical help, building, repairing, decorating, and landscaping the property. All offers of help, at whatever level will be greatly received. As for me, those tasks are not my forte, but, until they are open for business, and I can host some events to help raise funds, I can use my writing skills to bring attention to this wonderful undertaking, and share some of the history, and folklore, of the area.

After the proposals had been outlined, and requests for help made, the floor was thrown open to the project's architect, who had brought along some wonderful old photographs of the monastery, and some drawings he had made of what the inside of the chapel area would once have looked like, before it was first converted into a community space. He also shared with us some of its history...

Built in 1883, by an order of Marist Catholic Fathers, the monastery was used to train students for the priesthood. In more recent times it became a conventional place of teaching, with one of its old pupils being the tennis player, Sue Barker, no less, and plans are already afoot to invite her, and any other ex-pupils, to lend their support, in any way possible, to this project.

Because of its position on a hillside, the chapel became a beacon to seafarers, for, on its roof, still stands a statue of Mary, with Jesus in her arms, that was illuminated, so it could serve this purpose. It is often referred to as the “White Lady”...not to be confused with the “White Lady “ of Berry Pomeroy...

In 1971, the monks moved on, the school was closed, and the council took it over, allowing the dormitory section of the site to be turned into a housing complex, whilst the chapel became a community centre, later given over to a food charity. The council had wanted to sell off the whole site for development, but the woodland is designated a conservation area, so this wasn’t allowed to happen, thankfully, and now, after a period of closure, and neglect, the wonderful space is about to have new life breathed into it.

The committee don’t officially get the keys to the kingdom, until the end of March, so I was wondering when I might have an opportunity to take a look inside, and then, at the end of the meeting, it was announced that the architect would have access the following Friday, as various surveys have to be carried out, before any work can actually start, and he invited anyone interested to come and join him. I thought that was too good an opportunity to miss, so I arranged for some of my mediums to meet me there, to give it a provisional once over, with a view to accessing its potential as a haunted property, worthy of further investigation...and we weren’t disappointed...

During the week prior to our visit, there were some interesting posts on the Paignton Monastery CIC Facebook page, including a lovely group selfie taken at the meeting, to which a comment had been added, by a member of the Friends of Oldway page, that there was a special tree in the woods that had a preservation order on it, but they didn’t know which one in particular. This prompted me to do a bit of research, which is how I found out that the Monastery Woodland is a conservation area, and several trees have a preservation order on them, but again the document doesn’t specify which ones.

Still intrigued, I messaged my friends that were joining me, that part of our visit might include a tree hunt! If an area of trees has been used for ritual purposes, some sensitive people can often pick up on that energy, and if a certain tree had been singled out for preservation, it could well be special enough to be used in rituals.

By pure coincidence, one of said friends was contacted by a friend of theirs, shortly after I’d sent my message, to share with her some information about Monastery Woods. The friend was a dog walker, and sometimes chose to walk those woods. On several occasions, at certain times of the year, she would come across offerings arranged at the foot of a certain tree...what are the chances of someone choosing that moment to share with us that particular piece of information?

Sadly, they couldn’t pinpoint the spot, but at least we now know there is something worth looking for. Again, sadly, on the day of our visit, it rained just as we were planning our own woodland walk, so we decided to postpone that until better weather, which we can do at any time, as it is public access land. Instead we concentrated on the inside, as our window of opportunity was limited.

As we drove to Paignton, on the Friday morning, I asked Sarah, my partner, if she had had any “thoughts” on where we were going that day, and what we might find. Although I trust my mediums not to do any prior research into the properties we visit, that’s my job as a non-sensitive, they can often pick up on images and impressions of a place if they let their minds wander there. This is a form of Remote Viewing. Some are gifted enough to actually be able to draw what they see, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have this talent at my disposal, during past investigations, from a member of the group.

Sarah said that she felt there were several panels, of religious significance, hidden away in the property, that might come to light during the restoration process; that there was a tunnel present; but the most powerful feeling she was getting was from the building itself, a need for it to be reconsecrated again, to be used for the purpose it was originally intended.

Now, weirdly, I’ve had similar feelings in other repurposed sacred sites, one in Dartmouth, which has been turned into a book repository and homeless shelter, and the other was in Marlborough. This one had been turned into a cafe and indoor market, whilst the area, where all the pews should have been, had been stripped bare.

The altar area, and stained-glass windows were immaculate. As I walked towards them, to get a better look, I passed through the bare area, and I was so overwhelmed by such a strong sensation of despair and negativity, that I felt physically sick. Fortunately, I wasn’t, but I just had to get out of there, and the feeling swiftly passed...

As we wandered around the chapel area, the extent of the work needed, became apparent. There are still signs of its previous use as a community space, with a bowling alley, toilets and kitchen area, but very little to show of its original use as a place of worship. Some window frames remain, looking like they once housed stained-glass; some ornate pillars disappear into a hung ceiling; whilst some tall arches look like they may still have the original paintwork on their very tips. The rest of the interior has been boarded over...it sounds hollow when you tap on it...and white washed, so maybe there is some old panelling to be unearthed, as Sarah suggested.

There is also a tunnel, not an underground one, but one that links the chapel to the dormitories, which was sealed up when they were turned into flats. During our exploration, the girls got a sense of activity involving the monks, chanting, organ music, and the smell of incense, as you would expect.

There was also the suggestion of cruel behaviour towards the students, verging on abuse, but on a more useful note, we think we’ve discovered where the organ might have been, and where the altar was situated, which is interesting as the alignment of the building doesn’t follow that of a normal church, which faces east, this is slightly off. The girls were intrigued by what they found, during the short time we had there, and are keen to visit again, when we can, and especially to explore the woodland.

Whilst there, we met some of the locals, who are just as much into the spooky side of the place as we are. One gentleman used to be the local milkman, and he was always warned to look out for the ghosts whilst he was doing his rounds. I’m hoping to be put in touch with the residents of the flats, which apparently has a very active basement area. So active, that burly workmen have often refused to go down there...

I’ve also been told that part of the woodland used to be a vineyard, from which the monks made wine. It stretched as far as Winner Street, below, the name being possibly a derivation of vineyard. As for the Pagan activity, local witches may have been employed to bless the crops, at certain times of the year, wassailing comes to mind, and maybe it still attracts that sort of attention to this day, hence the offerings left around certain trees. On that note, I’ve been instructed to check out the “Witches of Winner Street”, but a brief online search has so far drawn a blank. 

Obviously, I intend to continue my research, as there is lots for myself and my team to uncover about this magnificent building. If you have anything to add to our knowledge, then please get in touch with me via the usual email address davidtiptrips@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you, and possibly joining me on one of my walks.

One last anecdote, I’d like to share with you, concerns one of the Abbots. He became so incensed by the idea of the council building a cemetery on the land insight of his monastery, that when they ignored his objections, and built it anyway, it induced a fatal heart attack...thus making him the first occupant of said cemetery! I can’t help wondering, if we might come across his spirit, still clinging on to his beloved monastery, during our future visits...