According to youth leader Janet Gilbert, 37, of Burleigh Road, Hertford, the ghostly figure of a lady has been evident for some time.
"The first time I saw her I was quite startled because I was in the building on my own," said Mrs Gilbert. "She was wearing what you might think of as workhouse clothing, with a long black dress and a cowl over her face, which I couldn't see.
"She looked quite solid and I thought it was somebody else. But when I started walking towards her she disappeared. Since then I've been seeing her quite often. I don't really mind, I tend to see these sorts of things."
The same could not be said for cleaner Michelle Riddle. She was working in the kitchen on the ground floor of the building when she was confronted by the apparition of a man in a black cloak and top hat who was standing in the door looking at her.
She fled the building and has been reluctant to return ever since.
Neither woman has seen both of the ghostly figures, and as yet no other workers nor the youngsters who meet there twice weekly have spotted the ghostly, long-term residents.
Voluntary worker and Ware town councillor Eddy Selby, who helps with the three-hour sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays for under-15s, said: "I don't know whether it's because I know about it now, but the place does seem very eerie. Nothing's being moved around though, unless it's by the kids!"
Staff at the WareHouse believe the key to the deathly disturbances may lie in the change of use.
Mrs Gilbert explained: "I'm told the place was previously used as a sleepy little antiques shop, and now it's full of noisy kids and loud music. It may be that is what has set them off."
Centre organisers are appealing for information that may explain the building's unusual visitors.
Victorian Ghosts Spook Youth Centre Staff
Spectral apparitions from the Victorian era have begun to trouble staff at the WareHouse youth centre. [Original headline: Youth club troubled by some high spirits]
Herts and Essex Mercury - July 7 2000 •
