The Cage, a 16th-century Essex property steeped in history and rumored hauntings, has finally been sold for £250,000 after a 12-year struggle to find a buyer. The former medieval prison, which once held accused witches, garnered notoriety for its paranormal activity, leading previous owner Vanessa Mitchell to flee in 2008 after experiencing a series of terrifying incidents. This most recent sale comes just four years after Mitchell finally offloaded the property for £240,000, only for it to return to the market in 2024, having been used as a holiday rental during the interim. The property’s eerie past and chilling reputation have made it a subject of fascination and fear, capturing the attention of paranormal investigators and the public alike.
Mitchell’s experiences at The Cage ranged from commonplace poltergeist activity to more unsettling encounters. She reported doors opening and closing on their own, appliances turning themselves on, and objects moving inexplicably. More disturbingly, Mitchell described witnessing a dark apparition, feeling icy chills sweep through rooms, finding mysterious blood spatters, and experiencing a physical push while pregnant. One particularly unnerving incident involved CCTV footage that appeared to capture the ghostly image of a satanic goat, which proved to be the final straw for Mitchell, driving her and her young son to abandon the property and seek rented accommodation elsewhere. She spent the following years desperately seeking a buyer for the notorious house.
The Cage holds a significant place in local history, with ties to the witch trials of the 16th century. Perhaps the most famous figure associated with the property is Ursula Kemp, who was imprisoned there on suspicion of witchcraft before being hanged in Chelmsford in 1582. Kemp’s story, along with the tales of other accused witches held within the property’s walls, has contributed to the unsettling aura surrounding The Cage. The property continued to serve as a prison for men, women, and children until 1908, before being converted into a private residence.
Despite its dark history and reputation, The Cage possesses a unique charm and character. Described by its recent owners as a “cosy and eccentric holiday let,” the two-bedroom property boasts three reception rooms, a kitchen, a ground floor cloakroom, and a bathroom on the split-level first floor. A plaque on the building commemorates Ursula Kemp’s imprisonment and execution, serving as a constant reminder of the property’s chilling past. This blend of historical significance, architectural intrigue, and alleged paranormal activity has undeniably contributed to the property’s enduring allure, despite the challenges in finding a buyer willing to embrace its unusual history.
The protracted sale of The Cage highlighted the difficulties in marketing a property with such a notorious reputation. Previous estate agents struggled to attract serious buyers, often suggesting auctioning the property at drastically reduced prices. However, estate agent Florent Lambert of Home Domus 360 took on the challenge, eventually securing the recent sale. Lambert acknowledged the previous attempts to sell the property since 2008, highlighting the skepticism of other agents who doubted its marketability. His successful sale marks the end of a long chapter for The Cage, and the beginning of a new one for its latest owners, who presumably embrace the property’s unique history and character.
The story of The Cage has captured public imagination, fueled by media attention, including a Channel 4 documentary titled “True Horror: The Witches Prison” which aired on Halloween night in 2018. Paranormal experts from across the globe have visited the property, hoping to experience its otherworldly phenomena firsthand. Mitchell herself chronicled her experiences in a book titled “Spirits of the Cage,” further solidifying the property’s reputation as one of Britain’s most haunted houses. Whether the new owners will experience similar phenomena remains to be seen, but the sale of The Cage ensures that its story, and the legends surrounding it, will continue to be told.
