This post is from Tim Shaeffer and Denise Towns – thank you both for your contribution!

Most old places have an atmosphere – think of Port Arthur, Norfolk Island, Fremantle Gaol and the old Teachers’ College, on the site of the even older Armidale Gaol.  What goes on inside its walls, after dark or even in broad daylight?  Some stories of the darker side exist, maybe imagination, maybe not.  Keeping in mind that six people were executed on the Old Teachers College site.

When the College was in use as an educational institution it was a busy place, with corridors, lecture rooms, offices, staircases full of people.  Too occupied with everyday affairs to think of anything out of the ordinary.  Just occasionally someone would mention something …

Like the staff member whose office was located on the lower ground floor, past the boiler room and adjacent to the art studio, affectionately termed “the dungeon”.  At some time, the lecturer found it necessary to leave her room and work elsewhere.  “I just can’t stay in that room”, she would say.  “It is freezing cold, I have to leave it for a while”.  And this would be in the summer term…

At the end of that corridor the stairwell went up from the lower floor to the ground floor then up to the top floor, with the outer door adjacent.  This became the entrance to the College at night, when the students requested that the library be available after ordinary hours.  Not very many students took advantage of the extended hours, except for exam times, and it was not uncommon for the librarian on duty to spend the hours alone.  “Anyone about last night?” the staff would ask.  “Only the ghost…”

Whatever it was never bothered anyone, except to raise the expectation that someone was coming up to use the library.  The door downstairs would open, footsteps come along the corridor and up the first flight of stairs, then stop.  And come no further…