£49.00
Dare to tread the haunted halls of 13th century Valence House, where the ghost of Agnes de Valence roams, and history’s chilling echoes await. Book now, if you dare!
Event time: 8 PM – 2 AM
If paying a deposit, the final balance is due one month before the event date.
In stock
Welcome to Valence House – a 13th century manor house with stories of murder, death, and poltergeist activity!
Valence House, the sole remaining beacon of Dagenham’s five ancient manor houses, beckons you into its shadowy embrace. With a chilling legacy spanning over seven centuries, filled with untimely deaths and whispered accounts of murder, this location promises an experience that will haunt your very soul. Can you hear the cries of a 14th-century tenant, a tragic figure who met her end within these walls and whose spirit is said to wander the lawns, restless and yearning for contact? Will you dare to reach out to her on your ghostly quest at Valence House?
Now standing as a museum, this house has worn many faces over the ages, each one etching a new tale into its dark history. The echoes of its past reverberate through the halls, where countless ghostly apparitions and inexplicable phenomena have been witnessed by those who dare to tread there. The question is not merely if you will encounter the unknown at Valence House, but whether you will ever be the same again after you do. Join us, if you dare, and uncover the secrets that lie waiting in the shadows.
In the year 1961, a chilling article penned by the granddaughter of Thomas May, the last private dweller of Valence House, unveiled a haunting tale that still lingers in the air. Agnes de Valence, a name whispered with reverence and fear, is said to have met a tragic end, her life taken by cold steel. Her restless spirit has been glimpsed wandering the lawns, once even by a gardener who mistook her ghostly visage for a living daughter of the house. A dagger, unearthed from the murky depths of the moat, is believed to be the very instrument of her demise. Could it be the key to her eternal unrest?
But Agnes is not alone in her spectral existence at Valence House. The well-documented apparition of Eliza Luxmore, the mother-in-law of Thomas May who breathed her last within these walls in 1913, continues to make her presence known. A diminutive figure, clad in mourning black, she appears so lifelike that many have mistaken her for flesh and blood.
The house itself seems to breathe with the echoes of its haunted past. Reports of paranormal disturbances are numerous and varied, from thunderous noises that shake the very foundation to objects that move of their own accord. Unseen hands reach out to touch the living, and shadowy figures linger in doorways, watching and waiting. Will you be the next to witness these eerie occurrences? Join us at Valence House, where the veil between the living and the dead is thin, and the past refuses to rest.
Spots will fill up quickly for this one, so hurry and book now!
Deposits are available for just £20.
For just £49 per person, you can enjoy the following:
Valence House, a relic of the 13th century, stands as the last sentinel of Dagenham’s five ancient manor houses. Earning its Grade II listing in 1954, this house whispers the name of its 14th-century tenants, Agnes de Valence and her brother Aylmer, Earl of Pembroke. Hailing from the opulent French province of Valence, Agnes was a noblewoman with royal bloodlines, her grandmother being none other than Isabella of Angouleme, the consort of King John of England. Though the estate changed hands, passing to the Dean and Chapter of Windsor in 1475 and later to the Church Commissioners in 1867, the wealthy tenants who graced its halls never truly owned it. Yet, they shaped its destiny, expanding its grandeur and wealth.
In 1921, the London County Council acquired Valence House, transforming it into the heart of the Becontree estate. It served as council headquarters, and under the stewardship of the Dagenham Urban District Council, it grew further, becoming a hub for offices and the council chamber between 1928 and 1929. Its role as a town hall lasted until 1937, when it evolved into the library headquarters of the district, its council chamber a showcase of local history.
But Valence House’s history is not merely one of governance and grandeur. During the dark days of the Second World War, it became a fortress of safety, an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) and fire-watching post. Here, staff handed out gas masks and ration books, a beacon of hope in a time of despair. The Dagenham Women’s Voluntary Service made it their base, providing solace and essentials to those whose lives were shattered by the bombings. Though the house itself suffered a scar in an air raid in April 1941, it stood resilient.
After the war, Valence House blossomed into a museum, its exhibits growing to fill room after room with the rich tapestry of local history. When the Library Service departed in 1974, the doors were flung wide open to the public, inviting all to explore the local history museum for Barking and Dagenham.
Event Location: Becontree Ave, Dagenham RM8 3HT
Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM (Arrive from earliest 7:30 PM)
Parking: There is plenty of onsite car parking at the front of the property.
Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of the venue, the location is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair users or for those with mobility issues.
Please Note: All guests must be 18 years or older. Not suitable for those who are heavily pregnant. Guests are strongly advised to wear comfortable shoes and warm layered clothing on colder nights.
You’re welcome to bring your own equipment, though we will be providing paranormal equipment to use.
The investigation will be in darkness so please bring a torch with you.
Although snacks and drinks are provided, you’re welcome to bring your own. There are also facilities to make both hot and cold drinks, which are provided also.
And of course, bring your phone/camera with you, the more pictures we have the better chance we have of capturing something!
Other than that, just yourself and an open mind!
On your ghost hunt with Haunted Rooms, you will have full exclusive access to the most haunted areas of this historic location. Together with our friendly team of investigators, you will join others on structured vigils, where you’ll have the chance to use some paranormal equipment and join in on group vigils such as Ouija board sessions, and seance.
Our event starts at 8.00 pm but you can arrive at the earliest 7.45 pm. Structured investigations will end around 12-1 am, at which point you will have the opportunity to investigate this location on your own using the techniques and information you have been provided with.
You will have the chance to look around the building before the event to familiarise yourself with its layout. Shortly before the event kicks off, we’ll run you through a quick induction and safety briefing, followed by a short talk and introduction from our team. You’ll then split into smaller groups with your family and/or friends if you’ve come together, and we’ll begin our vigils for the night!
If you have your own paranormal equipment we encourage you to bring it, if not we can provide them free of charge. Snacks, refreshments, and treats will be provided at intervals throughout the night, and we’ll have facilities to make hot and cold drinks too.
We do endeavour to have mediums and sensitives with us for every event, although circumstances out of our control can sometimes prevent this. Anybody that has sensitive abilities we encourage you to come forward, as it only increases the energy and enjoyment for all in attendance.
To get the most from the evening we encourage you to try your hand at as many things as you can, and if you’re feeling particularly brave you should give a lone vigil a try, as well as joining in with our table tipping experiments as we try to commune with the spirits and ghosts of the building.
Please dress weather appropriately, with extra layers of clothing if it’s cold, plus comfortable shoes and a torch if you need one.
In stock
