To find out if anyone ever died in the house we just bought?

[Ginnyfromtheblock]

Currently having the house we just bought renovated. We aren't living in it yet and because it is near where my brother lives and we have a newborn we gave him a set of keys to go and check up on builders etc.

Yesterday he went to the house after work and video called me to show me the progress. While he was there he suddenly said how just saw a small child in the house and he ran out the house and locked the front door and left.

He isn't the pranking type and also isn't the superstitious type, nor am I. But I am a total wimp and cannot watch any type of horror or anything and I'm now terrified. In the loft there was an old cot and nothing else. I've also got a year's worth of maternity leave and imagine I'll be home alone with baby while DH is at work.

Does anyone know how to find out if there was ever a death in the house or a building? I'm in the UK if that helps.

'Unfortunately they are real. I've experienced a full apparition 6 foot away from me, been grabbed on the shoulder and pulled backwards violently when there's categorically been nobody else in the room. Witnessed several of my glass tumblers be picked up and thrown across my kitchen on more than one occasion when I most certainly wasn't tired/on something/trying to encourage anything etc. That was most definitely not 'in my imagination' I was sat getting ready for work a few months after my dad died.

The apparition & the grab on the shoulder were on an old WW2 RAF Airfield in a hangar which was being used for my friend's coach company.
The airfield had had more crashes than any other WW2 airfield, due to weather (this was discovered after)

I respect the fact that many disbelieve it, but when those people start telling others that they don't exist, then I feel it's only fair to point out what I've experienced. I will also point out that prior to all of the above, I was STAUNCHLY of the belief that Ghosts were made up and couldn't possibly exist - until I was shown that they very much DO exist'

I'm not saying that you imagined any of those experiences. What I am saying is that there are many, many, many other completely rational and mundane explanations so why does it have to be a ghost? Just because you can't explain it or find an explanation for it does not mean the answer is a supernatural one.

I've seen and heard things that I can't explain, but that's all they are, things I cannot explain and until someone can show me definitive, provable, evidence I'm going to say that ghosts don't exist.

When people say, 'There's a completely rational and mundane explanation' I always think, well what is it then? Perfectly rational people, often people who have previously said they don't believe in ghosts see something that is sufficiently odd/unexplainable for them to know it's outside of the normal experience they've gained in life. Sometimes two people have the same experience and it only comes to light when they share it.

As to the photo thing....well I guess these things don't happen on command. I saw what I thought to be a ghost and wanted to take a photo because the woman looked so fantastic in her Victorian style clothes. I didn't as my rational mind thought she was a normal human and would think I was an oddball. By the time I'd plucked up the courage to ask she'd disappeared.

Some people are in tune to this stuff. Some believe it. Some don't.

My house is 120 years old so I’m working on the assumption there have been multiple births and deaths in it.

I'd really like OP to come back and update whether or not her brother accidentally kidnapped a small neighbour.

Just think how many people have lived and died in your vicinity OP. Many many thousands.

Nothing to fear. The dead cannot hurt you.

Our estate was built in the early 70s. We've been here over 40 years. Next door, two people ( two different families) have died over the years. Various other neighbours have died at home, too. It happens.

My house is 300 years old, there must have been dozens of deaths right where I’m laying now and I’ve never seen so much as a spider let alone a ghost!

I grew up in a very old house that I'm sure lots of people died in. My Mum also died in the same house. I'd hope that would never upset anybody, she loved the house, she brought us up there, it was a happy home and I would hope that the occupants there now are happy too. Tell the child it's time to go and send them on their way. If you feel really unsettled, get a local vicar/priest in to bless the house. It'll be fine, nothing to stress about.

I sort of regret making this thread because so many of you have had quite scary experiences. For those saying it's ridiculous, I really would love to think the same, but I'm a wimp and no matter how rationally I think, I can have unhelpful and intrusive thoughts telling me there's spooky stuff in the shadows or something etc. In the daytime,.I'll tell myself it's dumb but at night any old creàk or whatever can creep me out.

My brother really isn't the pranking type. And I've since asked if he was messing about but he keeps saying that it was probably his mind playing tricks on him. Which makes me even more nervous because I think he's only saying that not to frighten me about what he saw. And he also doesn't want to talk about it..

Also, because it happened Friday after work, nobody has been since ie. builders are off for the bank holiday weekend

One of my parents died in their home.

And it’s a new build.

But honestly it’s not a creepy place or anything bad.

People die all the over the place. Especially in their homes.

I don’t think there’s any way of knowing yes/no on this. When we sell my parents’ property no one if going to have a clue someone died there.

Also - I don’t believe in ghosts. But who’s to say that if real a ghost would only haunt the place they died? If that was the case then surely hospitals and hospices would be so haunted that normal life couldn’t carry on.

If I’m ever a ghost I’d be somewhere much more meaningful to my life than wherever I end up dying.

Yes, but what are you actually going to do with the knowledge if someone did die there? Stop the renovations and not move in? Sell the house because you 'think' someone might have died there once? Can you not see how ridiculous that would be? You realise someone has probably died in most houses?

I probably won't do anything with the knowledge

I'd be annoyed at your brother not wanting to talk about it. I'd want more details like how old the child was, what they were wearing, did they just appear and disappear, where in the house it was? Also OP is the house secure and only accessible by key? Children do find building sites (incl homes) intriguing and a place to explore - I know we did as kids. Hopefully the child has managed to get out again!

If however your brother is genuine, then do what you need to do to feel comfortable living there, whether that's a house blessing, sage smudging etc
After all it isn't what I believe that's the issue here, it's how you feel that is.

I'm sure you resolved this by now but checking the title deeds for names and using a site like Familysearch will give you some good information. You could also check local archives for census results. Most old houses will have had people die there. Sage the house or have it blessed if you're concerned.

I'd also be pretty annoyed with the brother. You don't bring something like that up then say you don't want to talk about it. Either discuss it or don't mention it at all. I'd be letting him know how scared and upset this was making me feel and insisting he share more details.