Trepidation and excitement gripped me as I saw a narrow bridleway leading to my destination, an eerie church tower looming above a distant copse.
The ruined church in Thundridge has been attracting attention of late, with two reports in as many weeks of bizarre and menacing growling noises emanating from the decaying tower, off Cold Christmas Lane.
After being sent a video and hearing the growl myself I was unable to fend off my curiosity any longer, and yesterday (Thursday) decided that the Herald should investigate.
When I arrived at the clearing where the tower stands my mind raced as I recounted the research I had done into this place. It has for a number of years attracted devil-worshippers at Halloween, and is rumoured to be haunted.
Abandoned Church
Before venturi
ng to the site I read in the book Haunted Hertfordshire how, in 1978 a woman was confronted by a terrifying supernatural army which let out blood-curdling screams and walked straight through her.
Thankfully (or perhaps unfortunately) for myself and our photographer no such apparition transpired on our visit.
What we did see was lots of litter and signs that people had been lighting fires in the area.
I peered into the tower through a small hole hoping to discover what the "menacing groan" which Hoddesdon pensioner Ann Crump, and husband Leonard had heard a little over a week before, but the tower remained silent.
Thundridge Bernard and Marion Hill were walking their dog nearby and I asked them if they knew what the fuss was about.
Marion said: "It does seem to attract people, there's a bit of a fascination about it."
But Bernard added: "We come here twice a day, and have lived here for 33 years and have never heard anything.
Click on link below for video
(Original headline: The Herald investigates mystery growl church near Ware )
