14/05/2026
👻👻 NEW PRODUCTS COMING SOON 👻👻
Many of our visitors know about the ghostly goings on at The Reading Tree, but for our new followers, I thought I would pop a little background 👻👻👻
I have also found an amazing new range of products to add to our range of gifts...The Haunted Library collection will be hitting our shelves tomorrow...but here's a sneak peek.
👻👻👻
Firstly, a bit of background about The Royal Ordnance Depot, where we are located. The Depot is a truly beautiful site, full of amazing history, dating back to 1802, just prior to the Napoleonic Wars.
Strategically and purposefully situated in the centre of England, in Weedon, Northamptonshire, it was built for the services of His Majesty’s Ordnance and was used to store and repair small arms and cannons. Originally, the site included Royal Pavilions, an equestrian centre and barracks. It was an important and largely secretive arms distribution point for the next 150 years.
The Depot remained in operation throughout the Second World War and through to the 1950s. The site was decommissioned in 1965, and the buildings have remained under Grade 11 listing.
Today, this former barracks and military storage base is now privately owned and has been restored to offer local businesses workspaces with a heritage and creative feel.
The Reading Tree is situated across the whole of the first floor in Building 1. It truly is an amazing site, and a great place to explore!
There have been numerous reports of paranormal activity across the site, and myself and my team have witnessed things that we can't explain in Building 1. I'll also preface this with the fact that before opening The Reading Tree, I was a complete sceptic. I was always very much, if I see it, I believe it, but that has definitely changed since owning The Reading Tree!
Staff report hearing footsteps when the shop is completely empty, books end up in the middle of the floor, when there is no way they could have fallen there by themselves. Sometimes there are weird atmosphere changes where I've been convinced that there is someone in the shop with me, when there is no-one there.
I often catch sight of a figure out of the corner of my eye, but again there is always no-one there. When my dog comes in with me he will sometimes stare at something we can't see and growl softly.
There was one particular incident when I had returned from holiday. I had gotten in early at about 8am so I could catch up with some work, the building was completely deserted. I was midway down the bookshop tidying the kids books when the radio turned off, and a voice clear as day said 'remember me'. I crept out from behind the bookshelves but the shop was completely empty. I went out to the landing and looked down the stairs but there was still absolutely no one in the building.
With all this being said, I have never felt scared about being in the shop, and I am often in there alone. I like to think our ghostly visitors are having a grand old time reading through all the lovely books and playing the occasional prank on the booksellers who work there! 📚👻📚👻
