Copyright expressandstar

That view was tested though on my recent trip to a Heritage Open Day at Haden Hill House in Cradley Heath for a guided tour of the grounds, which included a rare trip down into the cellars beneath the Old Hall, and an underground passage that is said to be haunted by the spirits of a young miscreant monk who, legend states, was buried alive in the grounds and his lover, Eleanor, who died of a broken heart. Tucked away between residential lanes in Cradley Health is the entrance to Haden Hill House, next to Haden Hill Cricket Club and Leisure Centre. Located right next to Haden Hill House is the Haden Old Hall, also known as the Tudor Hall, and this is the building our tour guide Stuart Roberts would focus on. Outside we were told about how, in the early 20th century, a fallen tree damaged the front of the house and forced then-owner George Alfred Haden Haden-Best to redesign the entrance. And what a good job he did. The house is impressive to look at, and while it has required maintenance there is still a feeling of looking into the past when stood outside. That feeling continues inside, once you enter through the low doorways without banging your head. It is clear that the house was built in a time when the average height of people was little more than five feet, as a lot of crouching over is needed to complete the tour. As we headed down a set of spiral stairs into one of several cellar rooms we were told stories about the various jobs people would have had to do in order to ensure the house continued to run smoothly. One room was designated to chopping and storing wood, or coal during the Victorian era. We were also told that in 1977 a fire in that room almost caused the entire house to collapse, and that students on YTS schemes were responsible for rebuilding the damaged area of the house, ensuring it could remain open. Like the work done on the house's exterior, I found it very impressive that such work could be done without changing the character of the place. Had I not been told about the repairs I would never have guessed they took place. The wood room is where the first whispers about 'Eleanor and the Monk' were heard. We had walked down a passage to enter the room, and after finishing up in there we headed back up it and through more storage rooms, this time for food, drink and other general supplies. We were also shown remnants of secret trapdoors that would have been used by servants to come in and out the cellars more quickly, and told that a lack of spring water sources in the area meant everyone, including children, drank ale as a means of staying hydrated. Finally, we arrived at the cell, which proved as dark and disturbing as expected. It was only a holding cell for local magistrates, so prisoners would spend no more than a few days in there at a time, but I imagine it would have been a rather painful existence. In fact, I was 'locked' in there for just a few moments and, having been told the story of the bodies supposedly buried a matter of yards from me, I would call it an interesting experience to say the least. If you are a believer in ghosts, or even just intrigued by fantastical tales and local history, a trip to Haden Hill House and Old Hall is one to make. There are public open days throughout the year for you to look around the house, while the museum offers a lively programme of activities for all ages to enjoy. For more information you can visit Haden Hill House and Old Hall's website here.