On the 20th of February, 1582, Ursula Kemp was ripped from the arms of her beloved son on the orders of Sir Brian Darcy, the local priory owner and magistrate. The charge: Witchcraft! She and and 12 other alleged witches were thrown into the Cage prison, they will be known as the Witches of St-Osyth.

At the end of the trial three were found guilty, including Ursula, and were sentenced to death by hanging.

The Cage remained as a prison for men, women and children up until 1908. After this time it became a private residence. Many of the subsequent owners could not handle the paranormal activities and sold on quickly, and in recent years there has been a suicide.

It has been owned by Vanessa Mitchell since 2004, but she only lasted living there for just over three years because of the relentless paranormal activity. The house has been empty for over ten years.

The house has now been cleared of the many “evil residents” encountered over the years: vision of a satanic looking goat, growling, moving shadows, violent rattles, drop in temperature and vision of ghostly figures quite often trying to push the living down the steep staircase. All of that seems to have gone, it is still haunted but there seems to be a certain newly found harmony within.

It is time for someone else to take on this unique Cage, one of only seven cages left in the country, and none with the reputation of this one. Maybe someone interested in the paranormal? Or maybe someone wishing to invest and turn it into a lucrative holiday cottage for the ultimate paranormal experience?

Florent Lambert is the Agent selling “the Most Haunted House in Essex”

Could it be you?

Call or email Florent at Home Domus 360 to register your interest and book your special viewing experience.

First viewings will take place from Saturday 1st of June by appointment only, Vanessa Mitchell the current keeper of the Cage and co-author of “Spirits of the Cage” will guide you inside.

The Cage will choose the next Keeper from June 6th