A woman has told of the spooky stories from inside the UK’s most haunted museum – including guests leaving with teeth marks.
When an old chapel, dating back to 1851, popped up on the property market, it received little-to-no interest.
Understandably so, as the building had been known to those in the area as “haunted”.
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And, as the spirits who lay inside grew lonely, it appeared the chapel would never welcome guests again.
That was, until spook-fanatic Laura Rowton came across the listing – and snapped it up instantly.
While intrigued by its history, the 31-year-old had other plans that would make the chapel’s paranormal beings rejoice.
And now, it operates as Rowtons’ Museum of the Paranormal and Spirituality, with ghost-hunters getting more than they bargained for inside.
“One day, I led a group of men upstairs to explore and left them to it,” Laura, who is based in Carmarthen, told What’s The Jam.
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“When they returned downstairs a few hours later, one of them told me to look at their arm – and they had an ugly burn mark surrounded by little teeth marks.
“He explained that while in the séance parlour, he’d felt a sharp scratching sensation on his arm.
“And that something attacked him.”
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It’s not the only run-in with other-worldly beings that Laura has experienced.
In fact, as a child, it was something she dealt with daily – and is the reason behind her fascination.
She said: “I used to live in an old Victorian cottage, and my bedroom was a converted cellar.
“Suddenly, the lights flickered, and I shouted upstairs to tell my siblings to stop messing with the switch.
“When no one replied, I stared at the light in horror.
“Then the music on my radio stopped, and the tuning dial turned on its own, filling the room with static.
“Terrified, I rushed to find my mum.
“I convinced myself it was all in my head.
“But then, a few years on, I began studying history at university – and my family came clean.
“It turns out, we had all experienced something strange in that house.”
Intrigued, Laura began researching folklore and ghost stories, as well as the paranormal and spirit world.
While dabbling in her passion, she met her now-husband, Erik, 36.
The pair began to collect haunted artefacts, particularly rehoming problematic objects from people who had experienced frightening supernatural activity.
And soon, their home was filled to the brim with exorcism scrolls, dolls and books.
In a bid to educate the public about the reality of the invisible, they made the decision to open up a museum to share their collection.
And then, in 2024, she snapped up the aforementioned chapel and the museum was born.
Laura read about the building’s history, including being home to angels during the 19th century.
It was even rumoured to be a place of spiritual and supernatural healing.
Many of the objects Laura cares for at her museum are paranormally active, including a walking stick which came from Broadmoor Hospital.
During a Halloween ghost hunt, paranormal equipment, including motion sensors, was set off around the item.
Laura said: “Whenever we asked questions about the stick, the sensors triggered, as if it was communicating with us.
“The name Victor also came into the minds of the people at the investigation.
“After that, he kept showing up again and again.
“Another time, a police officer came to explore the museum and experienced aggressive activity from the stick.
“Someone else said he got an electric shock from it.
“One of our regular visitors, a probation officer, said she often feels her head being struck as she passes by it.
“Victor has been known to play some nasty tricks on our guests.”
Thankfully, not all the spirits they’ve encountered have been as menacing.
During a séance, one spirit possessed an automatic writing planchette to write the name ‘Louis’.
It was in the same handwriting as one of the attendees’ grandfather’s – with the same name.
The couple prioritise connecting people with loved ones who have passed, as well as hiring out the chapel to paranormal experts.
Not only that, but they also allow haunted objects to be brought in and offer them a new home.
She added: “I lead meditation sessions here, too, to encourage communion with the angels.
“The paranormal is not only about the dark and spooky side of things.
“You can’t have darkness without light.”
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