Styal Mill was my most favourite "haunt" in all the world. In the 60s and 70s, I used to ride my horse along the lane, past the apprentices' cottages and past the mill, down the dirt track which eventually led to a farmyard. Every time I turned down the dirt track at the side of the mill, I felt someone was watching me from an upper window. Every time! I always looked up but could see nobody. At that time, the mill was closed and deserted.

Later, I moved to Canada and did not go back to the mill until 1993. I was shocked and horrified to see that the sacred quiet area which I so loved had been turned into a tourist attraction, and that the neighbouring farmer's field was now a parking lot. I took a tour of the mill anyway, and went up to the fourth floor. As I walked into the room where a tour guide was demonstrating the textile equipment, I closed the door behind me. However, it opened by itself with a very loud creak. Everyone turned to look and was quite surprised to see the door open by itself. The guide announced that it was "Annie". He said it was a ghost that is purported to look out of the window and people have seen her doing so.

So Annie was the one who watched me from the window.

During the early 70s, a girl I knew had ridden her horse down the lane past the apprentices' cottages and soon returned to the stable on foot, with shaking hands and horse. The horse was covered in foam and could not settle down.

She told the story of having ridden past the cottages and then heard a whistling sound. The horse was terrified and climbed up on an embankment. The girl could not control the horse, who was rearing and neighing and working up a foamy sweat. The sound of the whistling came closer and closer, and with it came the sound of hooves and creaking harnesses. It got louder and louder until it went right past the horse and rider and then faded.

She found out some weeks later that cotton was packed in to the mill by mule train, and is convinced that that is what passed her on the road that day.

I do believe Styal Mill is haunted. It has a very powerful atmosphere, and it was even stronger before the museum was opened and so many people came there.

Jean James, Writer Canada www.jeanjames.ca