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Newsletter – Summer 2006 ISSUED TO MEMBERS ONLY Copyright: The Ghost Club. All rights reserved “Nasci, Laborare, Mori, Nasci” a member of the Ghost Club, a cultural his- torian and worked as Press Officer for the The Ghost for more than eight years, so had a real insight into the properties and their ghostly residents. Cover: VictorianC Cartel deu Posteb P4 The AGM saw Council Members give a brief account of their work during the last Chairman’s Letter ...... 2 year and the new roles of Newsletter Producer and Scientific Officer were for- A Victorian Classic ...... 4 mally endorsed by the membership. Photographing ...... 5 Congratulations to Ian Johnson, who was elected as Science Officer, and to Sarah County Ghosts ...... 11 Darnell and Monica Tandy, who were for- mally elected as Newsletter Producer and Book Reviews...... 12 Newsletter Editor respectively. The remaining Council were re-elected to serve Personal acounts ...... 20 another year. (Details of the Council Members, their positions and contact Ghosts in the News ...... 24 details can be found on the back page). I News from AGHOST...... 28 would like to take this opportunity to thank the Council for all their hard work last year Meet the Council ...... 32 and am looking forward to serving another year with them all. Investigations ...... 35 The Council would like to thank every- body instrumental in organising and set- ting up investigations last year. In recog- nition of their hard work in 2005, the Council awarded the following Area CHAIRMAN’S LETTER Coordinators a year’s free membership: Derek Green Yves (Nobby) Clarke Carol Tolhurst Clarke n Saturday June 17th, members Steve Rose braved the heat and the crowds in Kellie Kirkman who were attending the Thank you all very much, for your time OQueens Birthday celebrations, to attend the and effort. 2006 Annual General Meeting of The Hastings Ghost Club. This was followed by one of Before signing off, I thought I would tell the best talks I have ever attended. The you an update on a well documented speaker was Siân Evans and her talk enti- haunted street in Hastings. tled “Ghost Writing” gave us a glimpse of Since moving to the area some fifteen how she came about writing her new book years ago now, I have heard many varied “Ghosts – Mysterious Tales From The accounts of a ghostly sighting of two fig- National Trust”. (Published by National ures in George Street some years ago. Trust Books, ISBN: 1905400373). Siân is 2xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 The first apparition was that of a man one of the , he stepped back into sporting a handlebar moustache and George Street and came face to face with whiskers, rushing eastwards about halfway the ghostly apparition of a "white-faced along the street. This ghostly figure wore a woman in widow’s weeds" who "wailed at dark leather apron and appeared suddenly him". His first instinct was to check that he in front in of a lady at around midnight one had zipped himself properly but on looking winter’s night - the poor lady was dis- up again the woman had vanished into thin traught. A gentleman saw the second fig- air. ure, a woman in widow’s weeds and she His audience nodded sympathetically was walking slowly westwards. She too with the exception of one woman, who was seen at midnight and "disappeared into after staring at him intently for a couple of thin air". minutes began laughing uncontrollably. George Street is a narrow pedestrianised When she finally recovered herself, she street in the Old Town of Hastings and is said with a grin that she too had witnessed allegedly rife with paranormal activity with an apparition in George Street some years practically every other building claiming to ago. have its own ghost. A rough area in its day, On returning very late one night from her it was the hub of activity for the local fish- amateur dramatic club to her flat above one ermen and smugglers alike. Many grim of the shops in George Street, a ghost of a tales of murder and poverty have been man with whiskers and a very large mous- passed down through the ages and even tache appeared suddenly about twenty feet now, with modern small shops moving into in front of her. Convinced this man was a the shells of aged buildings, the area can be ghost, due to his old style leather apron and eerie and unsettling at night. apparel and the fact he suddenly appeared Last Summer I was told of a very unex- from nowhere, the woman let out a scream pected turn of events. Earlier in the year and dived behind a large bin and crouched several of the local residential homes for cowering before recovering herself some the retired, were invited to an Arts Gallery minutes later. She was so affected by her preview event in the Old Town area. After experience that she flatly refused to contin- a very relaxed afternoon and over a few ue to her club unless there was somebody sherries, the guests got talking and began to available to take her home afterwards. share their stories of their lives in Hastings. You have guessed it - the woman on her Eventually, the subject of ghosts came up. way back from a dress rehearsal wore a A very elderly gentleman by the name of long dark Victorian style dress and veil, Joseph told of the night he came face to easily mistakable for widow’s weeds in the face with a ghost in George Street. After a dark. Far from "disappearing into thin air" long days work in his little cobblers shop in she had stayed cowering behind the bins one of the back streets, he would stop off for some time. Joseph, at that time, still every night for a quick half in George dressed in his cobblers apron and sporting Street before going home. On this particu- whiskers and a handle-bar moustache (of lar night, a half had turned into several and which he was very proud), had not with a weak bladder; he felt the urgent need "appeared from nowhere" but had just to relieve himself on the way home! After stepped into the street from a convenient doing so in an alleyway down the side of alley. Sadly it seems a comedy of errors The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx3 explains two of the better-known ghostly apparitions of recent times in Hastings!

A VICTORIAN CLASSIC ON E-BAY! n April of 2006 an interesting item was sold on eBay. From an American sell- er, a Carte de Visite of a painting was auctionedI along with a note and period transcription of a letter that accompanied it. Bidding was mediocre but in the final few seconds it suddenly shot up to over $400 - had it gone no higher than about $50 I would have attempted to acquire it myself. Thurstaton is a small village initially in but taken into in 1974. At the time of the haunting the vil- lage had about 100 inhabitants. It is also supposed to have a haunted smugglers' cave. On doing some internet research I Carte de Poste eventually managed to make contact with Aunt of Mr Hope. Mr Reg Turner, the current owner of Thurstaston Hall Thurstaston Hall. He had once seen a pho- Near Birkenhead tograph of the picture and knew about this 13th June 1882 particular story. He also told me the build- My dear Aunt Charlotte ing harboured other ghosts as well. We were much interested with the picture of Beneath the image is the handwritten our 'ghost'. I am bound to say we have inscription: 'Photo of a ghost seen by 23 never seen her, nor have any of our friends people at Thurstaston Hall Cheshire and for the simple reason that we never use the painted by W Easton RA in the Haunted room for sleeping purposes, but from time Room'. The Carte de Visite was printed by to time we have been much alarmed by the T Jones of 51 Broad Street, Ludlow. The violent ringing of the bell, rung so loudly transcribed letter that accompanied it and persistently that it could not be the reads as follows: work of rats. Copy of a letter to the Hon Mrs G Denman 4xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 Mr Easton stayed here about a year before PHOTOGRAPHING we came to the place. I never met him, I believe he is wrong in GHOSTS calling the lady a Clegg. The only female robably not since the latter half of Clegg who ever lived here is an old lady of the 19th century have so many 90 who is now in the flesh. alleged photographs of ghosts and The lady who haunted the arch room (so Pspirits been in circulation as in the first called because it is a vaulted room forming decade of the 21st century. Some recent part of the old private Chapel many cen- examples have been included in Ghost turies old) was one of the Whitmore family Club newsletters and many more examples who lived here for 600 years, or more. appear on TV programmes and on the Nothing more of her is known than that she internet – particularly so-called orbs. The was a Miss Whitmore and murdered her Society for Psychical Research sometimes child. The family died out entirely at the receives up to 20 such images a month early part of this century. There were 12 from members of the public. daughters and no sons and none left any The question of whether such anomalous issue. images represent ghosts or anything para- Mrs Lucy Brown of Marchwick Hall in the normal at all is not new. In fact the whole county of Denbigh who you know was one issue was one which interested Ghost Club of the 12 daughters and left the members some 130 years ago, in particular, Thurstaston Hall property to her Godson the Rev. Stainton Moses (1839-1892 ) who Clegg of Treby(?). was responsible for Your affectionate Nephew reviving the Ghost William Hope Club in 1882 and to A second sheet made up the final part of whom the present Club can claim a the auction and read: direct link in terms of Barbara F-? writes to me April /92 sending continuity of mem- a copy of above - she having received it bership. from her friend Mrs G Denman. "We first heard of the ghost from Mr The views of Easton RA who was doing a miniature of Stainton Moses are of Evy. He told us he had often seen the lady particular interest as he was one of the most and that she used to appear in the Early gifted mediums of the late 19th century, Morning and he had had time to take a against whom no allegation of fraud was likeness of her" ever made, let alone sustained. There is no This - though still in private ownership in doubt he was a believer in the spirit world the United States - was a nice find. A – indeed he resigned as vice President of Victorian classic that had previ- the Society for Psychical Research in 1886 ously not been in the Public Domain. as he felt psychic phenomena had already been proved beyond reasonable doubt Philip Hutchinson (whereas the SPR then as now claimed no corporate opinion). So it is therefore inter- esting to come across his extreme scepti- cism regarding . The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx5 By 1875 Stainton Moses already person- the photographs of their loved ones must ally examined some 600 alleged ghost be genuine. This was despite Buguet’s own photographs, showing just how wide- confession at the trial and the discovery by spread such images were. But his conclu- police of his large stock of fake heads at sions were damning: "Some people would his studio. recognise anything. A broom and a sheet are quite enough for some wild enthusiasts who go with the figure in their eye and see what they wish to see... I have had pictures that might be anything in this or any other world sent to me and gravely claimed as recognised portraits' ['Human Nature, May 1875, p202]. In no more than about a dozen of his hundreds of examples did Moses think that something psychical had been captured on film. Unfortunately, for him one spirit photographer he did give initial credence to, turned out to be a French spirit photographer, Jean Buguet, who confessed to fraud at a sensational trial the same year. Jean Buguet

THE BUGUET CASE AND Charitably, one might say that part of the THE WISH TO BELIEVE explanation must lie in that such pho- tographs were reaching a less visually The Buguet is case is one of the forgot- sophisticated audience. However, far more ten scandals of . The fraudster powerful was the wish to believe, proving Jean Buguet appears to have been written precisely the point Stainton Moses had out of spiritualist history, much in the same made. Indeed, Stainton Moses even fell way that details of Trotsky were wiped out victim to the will to believe himself. of in Soviet official records in the commu- Despite the overwhelming evidence of nist era. Buguet’s deception he struggled vainly to Monsieur Buguet claimed to have pro- defend Buguet, feeling that at least some duced psychic portraits of the recently of the images must have been genuine. But deceased with a camera and made a hand- it is noteworthy that after the Buguet trial, some profit from the bereaved in the Stainton Moses left psychic photography process. However, his racket ended when well alone. he was prosecuted in Paris in June 1875. This was in contrast to several other What was remarkable was not the fact that Ghost Club members, most notably Sir Buguet faked photographs but the refusal William Crookes who endured much of his victims to accept his guilt. Witness ridicule for his alleged photographs show- after witness – including the widow of ing the attractive spirit of a teenage girl, spiritualist movement leader Allan Kardec supposedly conjured by the medium – trooped to give evidence and insist that Florence Cook. 6xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 More pitiful was his acceptance near the 1. People who have seen or actually heard end of his life of some spirit photographs a ghost need no further convincing of the which purported to be his deceased daugh- reality of their experience. They simply tell ter but which strike one as a typical fake their story. The apparitions they describe today. are often detailed. Many of these appari- One can only feel sympathy for the tions are initially mistaken for physical pathetic and emotional faith which the human beings such is their clarity. bereaved attach to their photographs, then 2. In contrast, the people who produce pho- and now. The medieval deceptions prac- tographs of what they think may be a ghost tised by the Pardoner with fake relics in never actually saw or experienced the Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and numerous apparition at the time. The interpretation is spiritualistic tricks over the years become always as post-development construction. easier to understand and all the more repre- The images are often ambiguous (although hensible for their exploitation of the vul- the picture on the cover of the last Ghost nerable. Club newsletter, Spring 2006 for example However, lest it be thought that the emo- clearly includes a girl’s head), with imagi- tions are all on the side of the believers, one nation some could be seen as almost any- also notes the emotional attitudes displayed thing one wished. Frequently they show by sceptics to many alleged psychic and nothing unusual at all. anomalous photographs. Examples include 3. Furthermore , people who only have the Cottingley Fairy pictures and the infa- photographs want to be told that the picture mous George Adamski flying saucer pic- is of a ghost or spirit. Unlike actual wit- tures in the 1950s. Both sets were fakes but nesses – who need no further convincing – what is interesting is the extreme emotion the majority of those with photographs that seemed to be provoked in many of want to have their existing hopes/beliefs those engaged in debunking them. affirmed.

EXPERIENCES NOT ANOTHER ORB v PHOTOGRAPHY During readings by J.R.R. Tolkien of extracts of Lord of the Rings to his friends During the last eight years I have spoken at Lamb and Flag Oxford in the late to over two hundred people who have 1940s, his friend Hugo Dyson is reputed described their own ghost experiences to to have said: “Oh! ------, not another elf!”. me. Over the same period I have also been Whilst not prone to sulphurous language shown dozens of photographs which peo- myself, I sometimes have to suppress such ple have claimed represent ghosts. Almost expressions when offered yet another orb none of the photographic images I have photograph for perusal. Orbs as a phenom- seen resemble the often complex appari- ena date really from the mid-1990s and I tional images which people encounter in believe the explanation for the vast majori- genuine hauntings. Most are ambiguous ty of orbs has been supplied by Ghost Club and could be anything. I have also noted member Philip Carr – they are particles in the following: the air which are captured because on films today because the flash on modern cameras The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx7 is much closer to the lens. The people who claim to see structures, faces or messages in orbs are only seeing what they wish to see or imagine. Unless some cogent objec- tive evidence – i.e. something not based on a subjective opinion - is produced to show orb images are in some way demonstrably different to dust or moisture droplets then there is no reason to think these images involve anything paranormal. The burden of proof lies squarely with the proponents of the phenomenon.

FOGS, MISTS AND ECTOPLASM

Of the remaining peculiar photographs, a The immediate reaction of many people is considerable number appear to show fogs, to declare that these mists or fogs “must be mists and luminous patches. It must be said a ghost” despite the fact, as previouslynot- that - unlike orbs - such effects have been ed, most apparitions do not resemble mists turning up on films for many years. In all or fogs. Even more suspect is the label of such cases it is difficult to decide what they “ectoplasm” which is given by some represent; a number can be discounted as researchers to them! infra red from domestic equipment (e.g TV Ectoplasm was one of the words coined remote controls) or ordinary light pollution by psychical researchers to cover a myste- or reflections and water vapour or smoke in rious substance believed to exude from the out door locations. body of a medium and form apparitions. It Whilst some reported ghost sightings required a living medium to produce it, describe clouds or mists, the majority do with ectoplasm supposedly from the mouth not. Nonetheless, it is the persistence of or other bodily orifices including the ears such cloudy images and smudges on film and with some female mediums the vagina. over the years which are interesting. The Its existence was never accepted by more smudges do not look like apparitions – than a minority of researchers and there though some people claim to see figures were far too many cases of ectoplasm being within them – but their repeated appear- discovered to be regurgitated cheesecloth ance in many parts of the world is interest- or other substances. (Cambridge ing. Maurice Grosse has observed that they University library actually held some bot- seem particularly prevalent in photographs tled alleged samples in the SPR collection taken in allegedly haunted houses and sites a few years ago!). with a religious or spiritual significance. Ectoplasm was largely discounted as a phenomena by psychical researchers after 1945 when infra red photography became more common and an effective way to investigate séances (or it may have been a

8xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 coincidence that the number of mediums allow. supposedly producing the substance dwin- For instance, on a investiga- dled). Certainly, the revival of the word tion in 1971, BBC reporter Dick Tracey ectoplasm is one which will come as a sur- went to interview a couple in their “haunt- prise to anyone who has been seriously ed” home. After a five minute recording he interested in ghosts since the 1970s. found nothing on the tape but as soon as he There is a lot of historical data which went outside, the interview played back could be examined but I am not aware of perfectly well. Three times he returned to anyone previously claiming that ectoplasm the house and each time the recording just drifted around of its own accord inside seemed to have disappeared. haunted houses. Rather I would suggest At Enfield between 1977-79, Guy that at least two other possibilities might be Playfair and Maurice Grosse reported that considered as explanations. equipment “would frequently break down, behave erratically or not work at all”. The ELECTRICAL POLLUTION? persistence of such reports has led a num- ber of researchers to consider that electro- Given that many haunted houses have magnetic field activity is implicated in anomalous electrical phenomena, it is not haunting and poltergeist episodes. beyond the bounds of possibility that odd Researchers may even on occasion feel images represent electromagnetic pollution effect is deliberately targeted when equip- of some kind which has an effect on the ment failure occurs at crucial moments. taking of photographs. If so, the mist of fog Ghost Club investigations have proved no is a signature effect. It shows that a ghost exception to this pattern. Time and again may be around but is not the actually ghost, equipment seems to go wrong – often lead- rather like a ripple in pond may indicate a ing to the feeling is that something is out fish is swimming about but it is not the fish there having a game with the investigators itself. The fogging is caused by energy of or trying to thwart their efforts. If so, there some kind associated with the haunting but is a possibility that these effects might be is not a picture of the ghost. deliberately caused by the haunting enti- ty/energy to prevent its presence being recorded. Could this mean that the fogging is not a ‘ghost photograph’ but evidence of “A GHOST RUINED MY the ‘ghost’ trying to spoil your photograph? PHOTOGRAPH!” Alternatively, could it be the subconscious mind producing a psychokinetic effect? Another possibility – one which I do not Of course, I am happy to admit that these think has been proposed before - is that the as suggestions are potentially an even more mist or fogging effects recorded by cam- ‘off the wall’ than the idea ghosts might eras are actually an example of equipment actually be photographed. However, in the breakdown. A troublesome aspect of inves- current state of our knowledge I think we tigations is equipment failure. Batteries are have to be prepared to examine all drained, microphones fail, cameras jam hypotheses. Given the puzzling nature of and so on, more than chance or the incom- the phenomena we need to keep our minds petence of investigators would seem to open; I believe we are more likely to err if

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx9 we simply adopt what may appear to be an material world or as one of the aspects of obvious or preferred solution. the world currently beyond effective exter- nal investigation – like consciousness or BREAKING THE LOG JAM thought itself. ON GHOST PHOTOGRAPHY The last GC newsletter (Spring 2006) dis- cussed the deployment of technology at Ham House on an occasion last year with If ghost photography is going to go any- little in the way of results. One phenome- where, I believe it will need a fresh assess- non in particular, the smell of roses, was ment of the images. The question which identified as needing a human rather than should be asked is not “Is this a ghost?” but technological response. I feel that the same “What does this image mean in physical applies to apparitions in general and that terms?”. If a ghost – or energy associated ghosts may be as difficult to capture on with it – is capable of being recorded on film as dreams. film or digital cameras this means some I think that ghost experiences are on the physical process is involving the material same level as many other sensory experi- world and electromagnetic radiation is tak- ences, such as the personal experiences of ing place. Appropriate analysis with this as colour, taste, smell and our thoughts and the starting point might then yield some emotions in general. We cannot film clues as to the nature of the energy thoughts, feelings, scents, the sensation of involved. Rather than simply collect and a kiss and many other aspects of human examine alleged ghost photographs, ques- experience as they occur at a level which is tions need to be asked as to what they actu- too subtle to be captured by camera or any ally represent. Proponents of psychic pho- other existing technology. I believe that tographers need to come up with a plausi- real ghosts may turn out to be the same. ble theory on the physics involved which can be tested if the subject is to advance. Much as I would love to believe that Alan Murdie ghosts may be photographed, I would sug- gest that that the views of Stainton Moses on ghost photographs apply just as much COUNTY GHOSTS today as they did when he examined his 600 pictures back in 1875. The designation Introducing a new series of articles by our of an image in a picture as “a ghost” is a Ghost Club Archivist Keith Morbey on either a misidentification or a subjective, ghosts from around the country. wish-fulfilment identification. Many images are akin to an ink-blot, making faces and patterns in clouds or looking into a fire. Nonetheless, ghost photographs have n reading accounts of hauntings it is an enduring appeal because they fulfil a always instructive to go back to the need for tangible, solid proof of something original source. Most of the better intangible and elusive. With a few excep- Ianthologies give foundations for the story tions such as the fogging or misting effects, which can then be checked to see if the I suspect that ghost experiences are likely writer has embellished anything! Even if to occur at a level of reality beyond the the account has been faithfully reproduced, 10xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 a visit to the original source can often add My pony, Amber and I are frequently seen to the picture as the following instance to be trotting through Haynes and during shows. the winter, I am usually wearing a hooded In Betty Puttick’s excellent book jacket. Please, Mr. Steinmetz, do not ‘put ‘Supernatural England’ [Countryside your foot down and drive straight through Books 2002], she mentions a tale which us.” she came across in the Bedfordshire times of 6th August 1971. A newsagent was I think this shows that by going to the delivering his papers in the morning just original source, further details can often be after Christmas 1969. He had just visited obtained. Northfields Farm off the Haynes Church In addition the issue of the Bedfordshire End to Clophill Road when he saw a light Times for the 20th August 1971 printed on coming towards him. Thinking it was a another page, a story of a mad gardener of cyclist, he dipped his lights. As it drew Goldington Hall who had been seen in the nearer, he could see that it was a hooded grounds for Centuries. Surely, it was no man on horseback, carrying a lantern. The coincidence that the first report triggered newsagent stopped his car and turned off off the second narrative. his lights. The horseman just kept coming and rode straight through the car. He and Keith Morbey his wife were terrified, so he put his foot down and drove off. He thought the ghost was on it’s way to Chicksands Priory as the farm track is almost parallel to an old track leading to the Priory. These are essential details which appeared in the Bedfordshire Times and which were faithfully reported by Betty Puttick. However, a visit to the newspaper files reveals more. One further comment from the original report had the newsagent saying “It was a horrible experi- ence. I think if it happens again I shall put Have you booked my foot down and go straight at it!” In the issue of August 20th three letters your place for were published which commented on the original report. The first was from a lady The Ghost Club who reported seeing a similar hooded fig- BBQ ? ure in the same area. The second letter was from a lady who had never actually seen See pages 30-31 anything but had heard tales of a ‘Grey Lady’ near by. The third letter was in the nature of a cautionary tale. The writer said;

“Sir, I am very worried about Mr Steinmetz (the newsagent) and the ghost at Haynes.

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx11 (but rather more anecdotal) Countryside BOOK REVIEW Books publications. Tempus are to be con- gratulated and doubly so, if the new vol- umes match the standard of research and writing reached by our Events Officer. In his introduction, Philip - who also runs the Ghost Tour of Guildford every Friday night from March to October and at (www.ghosttourofguild- ford.co.uk), claims that "England is the most haunted country in the world. Surrey is said to be the most haunted county in England and Guildford is Surrey's historic county town". Few would question the first (or last) parts of his statement but the liter- ature to support the middle one is sparse, HAUNTED GUILDFORD compared to the groaning shelf loads of By Philip Hutchinson. books on and , Yorkshire and ghosts. Philip has listed Published 2006 Tempus Publishing Ltd, most of the sources on Surrey ghosts in a The Mill, Brinscombe Port, Stroud, short bibliography and amazingly, his is the GL5 2QG first study specifically on the ghosts of Guildford. Not that that is conclusive of Paperback: 96 pages, anything about how haunted Surrey is - it many photographs and short bibliography, may simply reflect that Surrey folk are ISBN 0 7524 3826 more interested in gin (and Jags) than other Price £8.99 spirits. Whether the county is less haunted or less researched than its rivals, Philip has empus have now published twelve assembled a wide ranging and fascinating of this series; the others cover collection or historical accounts and con- , Gloucester, , Cornwall, temporary reports, including first hand TCoventry, Leicester, , results of his own researches. Hastings, , Winchester and Oxford. The book is generously illustrated, with Our Legal Adviser and former Chairman photographs (mostly, it appears, by Philip Alan Murdie's "Haunted Brighton" is, himself) of the majority of sites mentioned, according to their website, to make the thir- which are of real help in imagining the teenth at the beginning of July, just after context in which the phenomena reported this edition of the Newsletter must go to occurred. print. Hopefully, it will be available for There are a lot of them. There is the ghost review in the next issue. Volumes on of Christopher Slaughterford, whose insis- Devon, Leeds, Birmingham and Hull are tence on being tried to clear his name of promised over the summer, which will murder took him to the gallows in 1709, his make this the most comprehensive series ghost appearing afterwards crying on English ghosts since the well-known "Vengeance! Vengeance!"; the C19th 12xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 Mittel-European soldier famously seen in Green himself, would be proud of the way the mirror at the Angel Inn; the ghostly in which Philip has tested his material, voice which spoke to our Press Officer dur- recording it but also leaving a sound criti- ing the GC investigation at Waterstone's cal appraisal for posterity. bookshop in September 2004; lovely The book is not perfect - it would be bet- Lorna, with her long golden hair and blue ter for a map, and mention of the Ghost eyes, seen in at least four buildings in three Club's website (hint for future editions?) streets around the centre of town (now that but those criticisms must lie against the is a ghost worth encountering); the piano- publishers. playing suicide on the top floor of the Museum, at the main door of which an umbrella rose from the umbrella stand and danced around behind Philip's back as he addressed a Ghost Tour, like a naughty child, or scene stealing of which any the- atre ghost would be ashamed; a literal 'hotspot' at 8 Rosemary (formerly Pisspot) Alley (no, I won't give more details - bloody well buy the book, it's worth it!); the female voice from the cellars of the King's Head in Quarry Street which help- fully called out "Fosters off!" when that lager ran out and, more worryingly, called members of staff by name; the front-of- house manager who, unnervingly, still fol- Reluctant though I am to praise a fellow lows his living successor to lock up round Council member so extravagantly, what the Theatre; the time slip (?) which in 2002 Philip has produced is a model of its type, led police to a corpse in a car which had which all GC members should buy both as crashed months earlier etc, etc. a good and informative read and as a study But there is more to this book than a fund of how to record, test and evaluate reports of well-written and well-recorded stories. of ghosts. Philip describes himself as 'mostly scepti- I met my oldest friend in 1965 at school. cal', although he has seen ghosts on sever- He has lived in Guildford since the 1970s al occasions - a tough open-mindedness and I have never yet felt inclined to go which I believe should be the hallmark of a there. Your book has changed that - expect Ghost Club investigator. He flags up where me on your Ghost Tour, Philip. accounts are anecdotal or unclear, and uses his deep knowledge of Guildford's history Lance Railton to test them, not hesitating to say when a story with which he has just entertained the reader, for all its bloodiness, romance or whimsy, simply doesn't fit the known facts. I can pay no higher praise than to say that our lamented late adviser, the great Andrew

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx13 Greenwich (the second will be reviewed in the next issue) is one of a limited number that has risen successfully to that challenge. The Old Royal Naval College was previ- ously the Greenwich Hospital and having a mixed history of pomp, drama and death one would ultimately expect a heightened sense of the supernatural. Henry VIII was born on the site, Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones designed some of the current buildings, Captain Cook lived here and Nelson lay in state here. There is a map at the start of the book showing the layout of the complex with markers denoting where ghosts have been encountered in one way or another. Granted, it is not the most extensive book in production (I managed to read it in about an hour) but it is profusely illustrated, with generally very well composed photographs and pictures of various rooms; it is an WALKING GHOSTLY amazing place. GREENWICH Malcolm is well placed to comment on Greenwich’s hauntings. Having served 28 PART 1 years in the Royal Navy, he and his family THE OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE By ended up living on site and he is now MALCOLM C GODFREY regarded as being the foremost authority on its ghosts, a subject which has intrigued Publisher : Time For Greenwich (2004) him for most of his life. 90 pages. There are 6 different types of introduction ISBN 0-9548752-0-6 before the accounts of the ghosts begin and we find ourselves on page 21 (or page 1 as here are very few books written numbered) by the time the individual tales exclusively about paranormal phe- start. However, the previous information nomena in one building or set of is not repetitious or superfluous but it Tbuildings. Obviously here, I am not includ- would have benefited from a more clinical ing offerings such as ‘This House Is accumulation in a more orthodox style. Haunted’ or any of the numerous books on The stories themselves were all new to Borley; these books are retrospective per- me, showing either a great deal of research sonal memoirs and not a compendium of on Malcolm’s part, or ignorance on mine, individual tales available to the reader in or both. Some of the tales are of first-hand accessible and headache-free pieces. experiences, which I find is always a good Malcolm’s first book on Haunted draw to the reader. Several of the locations claim to have

14xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 hosted sightings of the maligned yet dis- later that he had died the previous day. graced Admiral John Byng, executed at sea The book has clearly been undertaken in the 1750s and held at Greenwich. If the with a warm passion for the subject, which ghost is indeed Byng, he is supposedly a comes across though the tales. If I have benevolent apparition giving assistance to any reservation about it, it would have to people in the building in a small but prac- be the overuse of opinion or question to tical way. It appears that many of the conclude each story. Apart from that, I ghosts at Greenwich wear Tricorn hats so found it a very enjoyable and involving we can safely deduce we are dealing with a read without resorting to patronisation or plethora of 18th Century hauntings. dumbing down (or, at the other extreme, Elizabeth I and Anne Boelyn (who seems academia – which can be just as irritating)! to have the gift of omnipresence as she Malcolm can be contacted at yoursto- haunts everywhere from here to [email protected] and his website is Timbuktu), may be seen on the site where at www.ghostlyguides.co.uk. the previous Tudor Palace once stood. You will be able to buy copies of his Hauntings reach much further back than books in August, as the meeting of The that, however. Who was aware that not Ghost Club that month will be on Saturday only the cellar of The Treasurer’s House in 19th at Greenwich when Malcolm himself York has witnessed the spectres of a will be taking us on a tour of Haunted Roman Legion marching past workmen? Greenwich. There will be no charge to It happened here too – though at members for this as costs are being met out Greenwich they were above the floor of Ghost Club funds and we will finish up rather than walking through it. Some of at a pub (which will NOT be free…) so the Friars who lived here before the Palace make an effort to come along. Details of was built have been seen in various places time and meeting place will be circulated too. nearer the time. Ghostly practical jokers (or perhaps pol- tergeists) are also accounted for as Philip Hutchinson Malcolm regales stories of playing cards stuck to ceilings in inaccessible places and skittles being moved in the old mortuary from the time of the Hospital. Some of the hauntings are more recent. NEW MEMBERS One bizarre encounter is related of two Welcome to those members cleaners seeing the ghost of one of the old who have recently joined or retired seafarers floating towards them rejoined us: above some tables in the Upper Hall in the 1990s. In the same decade a Manager wit- Rhona McGill, Mr Frank Holt, nessed a headless man standing on stairs in Mrs Mairi Macleod the same room. and Mr Mark Ord A room to the north of The Mews was where a classic scenario occurred in the 1980s. A workman saw one of his col- leagues at his labours only to be informed

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx15 GHOSTS to come up to you and tell you that they MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM have had a strange experience whilst look- ing around it”. THE NATIONAL TRUST What has surprised me (although perhaps it shouldn’t have) is how many are still By Siân Evans reported. Most of the 72 sites Siân covers have yielded eye witness accounts by cur- Published 2006 by National Trust Books rent staff or visitors – who were willing to Hardback, 144 pages many photographs, speak to their experiences, often on record. and index Surely that is testimony to the impact (not ISBN 1 9054 0037 3 always unpleasant) which their experiences £14.99 have made upon them, as well as to the continuing wide-spread interest in ghosts host Club member Siân Evans’ after nearly two centuries of scientific wonderful new book is a splendid denial. example of a different type of pub- In her Introduction, Siân quotes a NOP Glication: a classy coffee-table top com- finding in 2000 that 42% of Britains pendium of the most haunted properties of believed in ghosts: that is a higher percent- the National Trust (where she was until age than the SPR found in the first large recently their longest-serving Press scale scientific survey, published in 1886. Officer). That continuing public interest may be With 166 mansions, 19 castles, 47 indus- what persuaded the Trust to commission trial monuments, 49 churches and 35 pubs this book; although I understand that they open to the public amongst its over 20,000 were also pleasantly surprised by the inter- buildings, 700 miles of coastline and est and approval shown by their members 600,000 acres of countryside in England, when the GC investigations at Ham were and Northern Ireland (The National reported in their regional and national Trust for Scotland is separate), the NT is newsletters. the UK’s biggest property owner. It is also In his autobiography “No Common Task” the biggest charity, with 3.4 million mem- (Harrap, 1983), Peter Underwood records bers - who will have seen reports of the sourly how he was asked to prepare a book Ghost Club’s long-running investigation at on the ghosts of the National Trust but the Ham House, at Richmond, Surrey. It has results were promptly spiked. That may 43,000 volunteers and hundreds of residen- have been because his manuscript failed to tial staff, 12 million visitors a year pay to meet the standards of historical accuracy enter its preserved properties, and 50 mil- and literacy required, rather than any lion visit its open-air attractions. That is a unease about the subject but my impression lot of people visiting a lot of sites, most of is that the Trust have only gradually which have seen major historic personal or warmed to recognise and now celebrate its political dramas and not surprisingly, over ghostly tenants. the years there have been many accounts of Local accounts have been creeping into hauntings. As one Custodian said “Living some of their more haunted properties in a house that is open to the public pro- (there have been two about Ham’s ghosts), vides an opportunity for complete strangers and Michael Morpurgo, the Children’s 16 The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xx Laureate, was able to edit a book of ghost Crom Estate, fell asleep on a flat slab and stories set in NT properties “Ghostly woke to find himself surrounded by armed Haunts” (Pavilion, 1994) but we have wait- Celts intent on sacrificing him; the single ed a long time for a comprehensive survey naked foot which materialised in the door- such as this. It’s been worth the wait. Elegantly pre- sented, beautifully turned out, articulate, charming, sensitive and erudite. The moody, grainy, black-and-white pho- tographs, many by the incomparable Simon Marsden, are what first catch the eye, a masterly combination of landscapes, room interiors and atmospheric details, which set the tone from the start. For fans of Simon’s work, it is well worth buying for those alone. way of the Blue Kitchen at Dunster Castle This is not just a spectacularly pretty (where a former NT volunteer Room book. The text repays close reading, and Steward also haunts the Inner Hall)… rereading as you plan your travels. Like I was particularly interested, after the Philip Hutchinson (Haunted Guildford), phantom smells at Ham, by how often NT Siân starts from the history of the proper- ghosts manifest themselves that way. The ties and their leading inhabitants but where Duchess of Lauderdale’s attar of roses per- he examines the accounts he presents with fume at Ham and the Duke’s Virginia pipe forensic detachment, she, after setting the tobacco (and the foul smells encountered in site in its history and landscape, effaces the Marble Dining Room) are matched by herself to let the witnesses be heard. perfume at Lanhydrock (Cornwall), round They have some excellent stories to tell - the fireplace at the Fleece Inn at the grand piano at Powis Castle which, (Warwickshire), in the ruins of Gibside moved to redecorate the ballroom, returned Hall (Tyne and Wear) and at Hughenden to its usual place by next morning without Manor (); a sweet smell triggering the alarms (which puts the noc- which presages the appearance of a Grey turnal wanderings of the 9th Earl’s wheel- Lady at Lower Brockhampton Manor chair at Ham in the shade!); the Lady in (); lavender at Washington Grey at Anne Boleyn’s Blickling Hall, Old Hall (Tyne and Wear); an unidentified Norfolk, who in 1970 signed for two deliv- but attractive herbal scent in the Punch ery men returning a portrait of her infant Room at Cotehele (Cornwall); fresh flow- daughter, later Elizabeth I, to the Dining ers in an attic room where a maid is said to Room - they didn’t notice that she was in have hanged herself, at Clandon Park, near Tudor dress, or whether she had an extra Guildford, and in an old hunting lodge at finger but when the Administrator got Uppark, (West Sussex); pipe or cigar there, he found the portrait leaning against tobacco at Aberconwy House (Conwy), the wall and no trace of a signature on the Newton House (Carmarthenshire), receipt; the man who in 1992 rowed out to Chertwell (Kent), Lanhydrock, an island in Upper Lough Erne, off the Nunnington Hall (North Yorkshire), Upton

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx17 House (Warwickshire) and Souter Lighthouse (Tyne and Wear); ‘unusual’ Member’s smells in the Knight’s Bedroom at Lyme Park, Cheshire; and, by contrast, a terrible Announcements smell in the spare bedroom at George Stephenson’s birthplace at Waylam, Newcastle on Tyne, until a baffled plumber accused it of being a poltergeist, where- upon it vanished for ever! As Siân says in her Introduction, “in some old places, when the circumstances are right, the events of the past are project- ed onto the present, just for an instance, like electrical interference”. Beautifully put! There is a lot to look and This is a new section of the newsletter listen for in NT properties – as one where members can share their good news! Property Manager put it, “things that go If you have cause for celebration and ‘bump’ in the afternoon” – smell and would like to share it with us, please drop sense. either Monica or Sarah a line by e-mail or This is a beautiful book, wonderfully post. Details as always on the back page. illustrated, sensitively written, capturing the feeling of place and events, ancient and present. I thought it was excellent value, a ongratulations go to our must for everyone interested in ghosts – Membership Secretary, Milton and a perfect gift for sceptical relatives and Edwards and his partner friends who think they know too much to CWendy on the birth of their second be open-minded. child. Baby Scott Tyler Edwards weighed in at a hefty 7lb 6oz and Lance Railton arrived safely on 13th April 2006. A little brother for 2 fi year old Jake. Turn to page 43 for details on how to *** order a tape of Siân’s interesting talk Our Events Officer, Philip given last meeting. Hutchinson’s popular book Haunted Guildford (see review page 12) has gone to a second print run within two weeks of hitting the book shelves. Haunted Guildford is published by Tempus and is available to buy from all major book outlets for the price of £8.99, or directly from Philip himself for the same price (including P+P). ISBN 0-7524-3826-3 *** 18 The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xx Congratulations also go to area co- ordinators Dane and Natalie Nye on DATES FOR the birth of their son, who YOUR DIARY was born on 30th May 2006, weigh- ing an impressive 7lb 2oz. All meetings are held at the Victory *** Services Club, 63 Seymour Street, Alan Murdie’s new book, Haunted London, W2, commencing at 2pm Brighton will be published later this (nearest tube, Marble Arch) month. The stunning photographs in this book were taken by another Ghost Club member, Anna Pearce. Published by Tempus, Haunted 15th July- Ghosts of the South-West by Robert Snow (Committee Room) Brighton will be available to buy from all major book outlets for the price 29th July- BBQ at Belmont House of £8.99 from the end of July 2006. see pages 30-31 ISBN-0752438298 *** 19th August- No meeting. Instead, a Sian Evans has published a wonder- Ghost Walk around Haunted ful new book Ghosts – mysterious Greenwich. tales from the National Trust. Sian very kindly spoke to members at the 16th September- Will Storr. AGM meeting in June about her Will Storr V the Supernatural. research for this book. ‘Ghosts’ (Committee Room). incorporates some wonderful photog- 21st October- Ciaran O’Keefe, from raphy by Simon Marsden and is avail- Living TV’s Most Haunted. able to buy from all major book out- (Committee Room). lets for the price of £14.99. See review in this issue. ISBN 1- 18th November- (Committee Room) 905400-37-3 *** 2nd December- Christmas Lunch at Warmest congratulations go to our the George Inn, off Borough High St treasurer, Lance Railton and his wife, London. Liz. As Hon. Secretary of the Association of Directors of Social Services and also Director of Children’s Services for County Council, she has been awarded the CBE on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for ‘Services to Local Government’.

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 19 PERSONAL ACCOUNTS far side of which were the standard 1970s BY barracks-like, breeze block ‘facilities’. On the night in question, an excess of Ghost Club Members Vimto saw me wandering across the play- ground to the washrooms. It was a warm evening. I was relaxed, contented (even if I was having to rough it in the boondocks for yet another year). I could hear Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ coming distantly from some fellow camper’s transistor radio. I recall joining in with the few words I knew: ‘Bye, bye Miss American...’ And then I saw it. Her: A translucent, wispy, skeletal image of a woman, draped The White Lady of Owermoigne in tattered funeral shrouds, her hands By Declan Leary clasped together. She came gliding out of the trees towards me, a couple of feet off of the ground, staring sightlessly ahead. She don’t like camping: The discomfort, the then turned sharply 90 degrees to her left, lack of privacy, the feeding out of tin drifted along the edge of the wood for per- cans, the general air of deprivation… haps six or seven seconds, turned sharply INo, I don’t like it at all. So the fact that a once more and slipped silently back to the staple of my childhood was an annual fort- gloom and adders. night under canvas meant that my summers I’d seen a ghost. And it had looked the were seldom full of sunshine. However, way ghosts were supposed to look- misty, one expedition back in the balmy august of blanched and insubstantial. It had even 1976, lead to me having an experience been wearing a sheet! Interestingly, I was which, if it wasn’t quite the Blair Witch left with the impression that the spectre had Project, was one that has haunted and puz- been both female and insentient- that it had zled me to this day. been something in the way of a cinema pro- It happened two nights after my family jection, a two-dimensional image, rather had pitched up at a campsite named than any animate intelligence. And the odd ‘Sandyholme’, in the vicinity of the thing was the apparition hadn’t frightened village of Owermoigne, not far from me; more, it had stunned me. Left the ten- Dorchester. I gather Sandyholme is now year old me quite dumbfounded. I just rather a swish, well-appointed holiday stood there astonished, thinking, ‘I’ve seen park; but thirty years ago it was a cheerless, a ghost. Wow!’ spartan place, very much a la ‘Carry on For years I kept the episode to myself, Camping.’ only beginning to tell others when I was a Sandyholme was bordered on one side by teenager, probably (and vainly) thinking it a copse, access to which was denied by a might make me more interesting to girls. barbed wire fence and signposts sternly Quite simply, it just seemed too bizarre an warning of the presence of dangerous occurrence for me, as a child, to rationalise adders. Directly in front of this thicket was or articulate. And I suspected, possibly cor- a rather dismal children’s play area, on the 20xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 rectly, that no one would have believed me in the area and my familiarity with the if I had told them. I was too young to be facilities of their comfortable home plausible. assured me that I would lack for nothing. I Explanation for this incident have I none. would have the chance to do some shop- Perhaps I was party to a rent in time; per- ping in Manhattan and perhaps visit some haps I did witness some ethereal spirit old haunts, since I had lived there for about emerge from the woods that night; maybe ten years. So I went up to my usual guest it was just a hallucination brought on by room on the first floor and hurriedly some pernicious chemical in the Vimto. I unpacked my suitcases. After a light sup- know no more now than I did then. It per I let the jetlag have its way and went to remains a bewildering mystery from my an early bed. childhood; the provenance of my ‘White The night was very quiet and since it was Lady’ forever unknown to me. But if any- quite warm without being unbearable, I one has any knowledge of supernatural thought I could manage by opening a win- happenings in or around Owermoigne and dow instead of resorting to the air condi- its environs, I would be very eager to hear tioning, which I’ve always disliked. I from them...Almost as eager as I was, woke up in the early hours, sensing that many years ago, for the telling of this West something was amiss. A strange fear came Country tale of the paranormal to make me upon me. Indeed there were quite a few more intriguing to the sirens of the Lower strange noises, creakings and squeakings Sixth! and worst of all, what sounded like distant whisperings. This was indeed very odd, Whispers in the night since nothing like that had ever happened By Lionel S Gibson in all the times I had stayed in the very same room over the years, always in the y experience took place in a summertime. I became seriously alarmed small town in Bergen County, and almost convinced that the source of the New Jersey. Some old and close noises, which obviously didn’t come from AmericanM friends of mine live there and I outside, was in the ground floor and it was have enjoyed their hospitality many times likely that burglars had entered the house. over the years for one or two weeks. The I reacted instinctively and without even town is one of those quiet, charming places thinking of calling the police I went cau- in the United States which inexplicably tiously downstairs armed with a stick and change very little over the years in spite of turning on the staircase lights, which was their proximity to a great metropolis, in perhaps foolish. However, I somehow this case New York City, which is only half knew at the back of my mind that there was an hour away by bus. nobody there. Indeed there wasn’t. Only On my arrival on a Friday evening, my the next day it occurred to me that my friends announced that due to pressing and friends might have been playing pranks but unexpected commitments they would knowing their temperaments, I dismissed regrettably have to leave me to my own the idea out of hand. When I returned to devices until Sunday evening, when they my bedroom the noises seemed to have would be back. I was of course sorry to ceased, even though there was a hint of miss their company but I had other friends soft, distant echoing. Just before I went to The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx21 sleep again, the idea came to me that there unusual nightly disturbance during their seemed to be a purpose behind the noctur- absence. Apparently the previous owner of nal disturbance – as if somebody was look- the house, who had used the room in which ing for something in a clumsy way. I had stayed as a nursery for her two chil- During the next day I was so busy that I dren, had died only about a week ago after totally forgot the events of the previous spending many years in a mental institu- evening but the memory came back with a tion. vengeance that night. This time it was even worse and I felt something I had not expe- rienced before, a sense of sadness and frus- tration all around me. My fear vanished and was replaced by an empathy with the undesirable longing that seemed to hang in the air. I fully opened one of the windows and looked outside. This was another wind- less night, warm and silent, with no traffic noises from the motorway only fifty yards away. I eventually went back to sleep in the small hours of the morning and dreamed of a strange and disturbed woman. When my friends came back on Sunday I The Visitor purposely refrained from saying anything By Justin Cooper about my disquieting nocturnal experi- ences. ust after my 21st birthday, my father It was only a couple of days later, after and stepmother bought their first house two nights without incident, that I managed together in Paignton, Devon. The to inject into our conversation a discreet Jhouse is around 30 years old, detached with enquiry as to whether anything out of the the rear garden and backing onto Paignton ordinary had happened in the house – and Zoo, which some mornings, treats you to a in the guest room – since my last visit disturbingly loud early morning alarm call about three years earlier. In spite of my from the resident lion. casual phrasing, they seemed rather sur- My parents bought the house as a reposses- prised at the question and said that nothing sion and as commonly in this situation, it indeed had, even though a number of peo- had almost everything of any value ripped ple had stayed there since. With some out of it, leaving its interior stark. This reluctance, I told them something about the must have contributed to what I felt on my strange noises I had heard. first visit, that there was a prevalently dark If the story had ended there probably I and negative atmosphere permeating the wouldn’t have set the account to paper; but place. it so happened that some days later, almost During their first year in the house, I on the eve of my departure, one of my experienced a number of odd occurrences friends told me that he’d received some on my frequent visits. news which might have some relevance to One afternoon I was sitting alone listen- what little I had related to him about the ing to some music when I heard the handle of the back door in the kitchen turn, then 22xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 the door opened and closed with a bang. I to sleep. Thankfully, I did and when I woke was not expecting my parents back till the again a few hours later and switched on the evening but still I was surprised, when I light, it had gone. Not unexpectedly, I was went to investigate, to find the kitchen a little on edge for the next few nights, empty. Curious to know what had made the waiting for the incident to repeat itself, but noise; I tried the door myself only to find it it never did. locked. To speculate on the cause of this noctur- On other occasions I heard loud bangs nal intrusion, from what I know of the pre- coming from upstairs as though heavy vious tenants, the household was never a objects were falling on the floor. Nothing very happy one. Maybe after the property ever seemed out of place when I searched was vacated, something was left behind or for the cause of the noises. an accumulation of negative energy had The event that most sticks in my mind attracted something else. took place as the atmosphere in the house I certainly feel that although the entity was improving after a long period of what was real, it may not have been a ghost, can only be described as paranormal distur- something different perhaps caused by pent bances. It was in the early hours of the up negative emotions. Equally the experi- morning whilst I was still in bed, I woke to ence could have been a product of my sub- find a tall black figure standing at the side conscious mind in a half waking dream of my bed. The impression I received from state. the figure, not necessarily only seen but My parents still live at the same house felt as well, was that it was smiling at me, and I have stayed there many times since not in a menacing way but rather in a without any disturbance. It is now very knowing way as if it knew things about me, pleasant and welcoming home. as if it were a naturalist watching and pre- dicting a wild animal’s behavior. Surprisingly the first thing I felt was annoyance that my personal space and the privacy of my bedroom had been invaded. Taking exception to its presence, I leaned We are always eager to over and threw a punch at the intruder publish accompanied by the appropriate expletive. accounts of your personal I then had one of the strangest experiences I have ever had – it felt that even if my arm ghostly experiences. Send was a million miles long, I would not be them with a picture of able to reach this entity, even though it was yourself to either Monica still standing right next to my bed. I felt or Sarah. this even as I was going through the motions of raising my arm to hit out. This left me pretty baffled and disturbed but sur- prisingly not really frightened. At this point, my instincts were telling me to just ignore it and hope it would go away by turning over and trying to go back

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx23 SEPTEMBER Ghost Calendar Grenadier Guard Public House, Wilton Row, London. During this month the ghost of a young soldier killed after found cheating at a card game, is said to wander up and down the corridors and in and out of rooms. 28th Sherborne Old Castle, Dorset. No less than the person of Keep a lookout for these spectral Sir Walter Raleigh himself has been regulars sighted walking the grounds and at midnight, is to be found sitting on Raleigh’s Seat. JULY 21st Horning Norfolk If you live nearby any of these sites Once every 5 years Horning is said and fancy a night’s vigil, we’d love to to revert back to how it looked sev- hear from you. We wait with baited eral hundred years ago. (It’s due this breath... year). 27th Killicrankie, Scotland. Look out for the red glow that hangs over GHOSTS the scene of the battle there which took place in 1689. IN THE NEWS 28th Borley, Essex. Often called by the most haunted site in Britain. The Sarah Darnell ghost nun walks the grounds of the old Rectory. ver the last couple of months I AUGUST have been collecting stories 17th. Clophill, Essex. Berta Rosata found in the media that are con- (yet another unhappy nun) makes an Onected to paranormal events, haunted appearance at Chicksands priory. locations or ghost sightings. If you come 11th and 22nd. Beeleigh Abbey, nr across any relevant newspaper or maga- Maldon Essex. Sir John Gate, zine articles or find anything of interest beheaded in 1553 for his part in the on the internet, please send them to me, ill fated Lady Jane Grey affair; lis- Sarah Darnell, at producer@ghost- ten for his mournful cries said to be club.org.uk or at my home address heard here each year. which can be found on the back of this newsletter. Thank you. 24th, Belaugh, Norfork. A woman in white stands and waits for her Viking lover by the riverside. 24xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 Auction halted at eleventh hour was in poor condition and had proved to be for Haunted castle. something of a 'magnet' for children. The auction of a derelict and haunted Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Jeffrey Elizabethan castle in south Wales was James expressed his disappointment the called off just days before it was due to go castle had been withdrawn from auction. under the hammer. He said the council would be discussing Potential buyers from over Europe were options with Cadw before proceeding fur- interested but the sale was halted after ther. Cadw - the statutory organisation responsi- ble for ancient monuments and listed build- The full story can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_eas ings - asked for more talks on its future. t/4874334.stm Llantwit Major Castle - known to the locals as ‘Old Place’ - has been unoccupied Publican insures against ghosts. Following a recent spate of Poltergeist activity in the 500 year old Royal Falcon Hotel in Lowestoft, Suffolk, landlord Terry Meggs has taken out insurance cover against ghosts following fears that the activity may hurt his staff or customers. He decided to take out the cover after claiming that he saw glasses 'shoot' across the bar one night. Llantwit Major Castle For the sum of £500 per year the policy since the 18th century. Local legend says it would pay out up to £1,000,000 if any is haunted by many ghosts, including that member of staff were to be killed or suffer of a Dutch sailor who lived there in the permanent disability caused by ghosts, pol- 17th century. Griffith Williams of tergeists or any other abnormal phenomena Candleston built the 16th century castle in on the premises. 1596 for his son-in-law Edmund Van. It is Mr Meggs claims that the place is known thought it was abandoned as a house in the by local people to be haunted by a monk early 18th Century and later fell into ruin. that supposedly committed suicide in The castle - a Grade II listed building and Room 10. He says "I never believed in a Scheduled Ancient Monument was due to ghosts until I came here." be sold at auction on 3rd April at a guide The policy has been taken out with insur- price of £5000 - £15000. Llantwit Major ers Ultraviolet, which offers cover for a councillor John Redmond explained: range of paranormal activity. The group has "Selling the castle is one thing but selling it met claims in the past. Several years ago it to a genuine person who will restore it is paid out £100,000 on its Spooksafe policy another. I feared it would get sold to some- after investigators looking into the death of one with a lot of money who was not inter- a woman who had been thrown over the ested in the conservation of the place and I banisters at her home in the US concluded think perhaps that was the reason for Cadw that a ghost was responsible for the crime. stepping in." Mr Redmond said the castle The policy does state, however, that The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx25 'claims arising from liquid spirits are base within the next couple of weeks. specifically excluded'. Although they did not see any ghosts, they had very good photographic evidence The full story can be found at that has yet to be analyzed. They also expe- http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/1/hi/eng- rienced unexplainable temperature fluctua- land/1913960.stm tions in the Hangman's cell itself. Commander Charles Crichton, to whom the report will be submitted has been quot- Ghostbusters say Docks are ed as saying; "The people who work here haunted report spiritual activity to me all over the After a two night vigil at Plymouth's place - it's rampant." Naval Dockyard, a ten strong team of 'Ghost Hunters' have confirmed that they The full story can be found at have detected what they believe to be para- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/eng- normal activity centered around the dock’s land/devon/3762015.stm Hangman's cell. This is where 141 French prisoners of war were said to have been Ghosts are 'all in the mind' executed and contains the only remaining Ghosts are the mind's way of interpreting working gallows in Britain. how the body reacts to certain surround- The Navy allowed the team in after ings, say UK psychologists. numerous reports of strange sightings A chill in the air, low-light conditions and around Devonport Naval Base. It is the even magnetic fields may trigger feelings largest naval base in Western Europe and that "a presence" is in a room - but feelings was founded by William of Orange in the are all they are, according to researchers 17th Century. from the University of . This explanation of ghosts is the result of a large study in which hundreds of volun- teers were led around two of the UK's sup- posedly most haunted locations - Hampton Court Palace, England, and the South Bridge Vaults in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr Richard Wiseman and his colleagues say their work has thrown up some inter- esting data to suggest why so many people can be spooked in the same building but Devonport Naval Base provides no evidence that ghosts are real. In fact they claim that hauntings exist but A spokesperson for the team, Barbara the ghosts do not. "People have consistent Jones from Abercorn in South Wales said experiences in consistent places but I think they believed 'beyond any doubt' that they that this is driven by visual factors and per- had detected paranormal activity at the haps some other environmental factors," he base. The Hangman's cell was particularly said. "We found little if no evidence that active, especially below the hatch from people's prior knowledge mattered," said where those hanged, dropped. They will be Dr Wiseman. “If anything, it made them submitting a report of their findings to the veer away from having experiences in the 26xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 known haunted sites." now believe a renovation to make the stage In Hampton Court - alleged to contain larger and to add a modern café has awok- the ghost of the executed Catherine en Jake. Howard, 5th wife of Henry VIII - the vol- Jake's story is thought to stem from a unteers were asked to reveal any prior stagehand who died in an accident during a knowledge of hauntings at the sight before circus performance inside the theatre. recording any unusual experiences during Mr Edi Swan, the theatre's archivist said: a visit, such as hearing footsteps, feeling "During the war years circuses had to cold or a presence in the room. The find- come inside. The horses had to be brought ings were then collated and compared. up on stage and taken down on the lift and In a "normal" setting, you would expect in those days it was wound by hand. A the ghostly encounters to be evenly spaced but in classic haunting, they would be clus- tered around certain places. The results were striking. Participants recorded a high- er number of unusual experiences in the most classically haunted places of Hampton Court, areas such as the Georgian rooms and the Haunted Gallery. In the Edinburgh vaults, the result was the same - the vaults considered most haunted were the locations where the most His Majesty’s Theatre unusual encounters occurred. The researchers interpret this as evidence stagehand was in charge of that winch that hauntings are a real phenomenon which was too heavy. The handle of the because they are concentrated in specific winch flew out of his hands. He went places over time. Dr Wiseman explains across to put the brake on and forgot that "Hauntings exist, in the sense that places the handle was coming round. It hit him exist where people reliably have unusual and it took his head off." experiences. The existence of ghosts is a "Now, when funny things happen in the way of explaining these experiences." theatre, it is a way of explaining things. If a screwdriver goes missing you'd just say The full story can be found at 'ach, that's just Jake, it'll be back tomor- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/304460 row', and right enough the next day it will 7.stmSceptics be." Contractors were working down at the Ghost back in old haunt wearing front of the stalls putting in seats. Just as heels. they were packing up to leave they heard A headless ghost said to have once the sound of footsteps going click, click, stalked a famous Aberdeen theatre appears click. One of them had seen the car to have returned - in high heels. belonging to the structural engineer, a A refurbishment in 1982 got rid of much woman, in the car park, so he called out to of the old stage equipment and seemed to her. There was no answer. They couldn't have taken Jake with it. However, staff lock up until everyone was out so he decid- The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx27 ed to phone her. She was in the hairdress- the other side. They have developed the PK er's. Maybe those footsteps were Jake Board which uses PK (psycho kinesis), the wearing high heels! ability to move objects with the mere Mr Swan concluded: "He's a beneficial thought or in our case, dealing with spirit ghost. He's not an evil ghost at all." activity. PK is being used to see if spirits that move objects can move a centrally The full story can be found at mounted needle on a circular board. This http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_e is only effective in locations where physi- ast/5097628.stm cal activity has been reported. At the meeting Ross presented the GC with a PK board, an unexpected and well received gift. News The PK Board which utilizes PK energy to allow the spirit to move a needle on a from board with letters and phrases. It is inspired by the Ouija board but eliminates AGHOST the living human factor by removing the t our April meeting we were treat- holding of a pointer. This allows the spirit ed to an entertaining presentation energy to communicate by simply moving by Ross Allison from the American the needle around the board to spell out Aghost club, AGHOST. words or in a simpler form, refer to a Our American friends have been working phrase or word, such as "YES or NO". on a new method in communication with In developing this new device, AGHOST have been running experiments at several haunted locations. The first experiment proved positive results when contact was made with a spirit in the room. They pro- ceeded to ask questions and received answers through the movement of the board. Unfortunately they missed out on capturing this data on video but results were witnessed. In recent events, the PK Board was used at a restaurant in Steilacoom, USA, where the physical results were recorded on video. These results will be shared at the next AGHOST meeting. So with this data and more to come, AGHOST may find itself in the history books, for the development of a new source The PK Board © 2005 AGHOST in speaking with spirits. Already other groups, such as us at The Ghost Club, are helping them to collect this data in support that there is something out there.

28xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 Letters Page

We would like to introduce a let- ters page beginning in the next newsletter. Sarah and I would Ross Allison love you to air your burning issues, observations, opinions, suggestions Keep an eye out for the other devices they etc. Tell us how you feel about the are working on, such as the Spirit Club, the newsletter, an article Typewriter, which uses other methods of herein or anything you think other spirit energy as communication. members would find interesting. You’ll find both e-mail and postal addresses on the back cover. Ed.

The Ghost Club meets AGHOST at the April Meeting

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx29 The Ghost Club

Summer BBQ Saturday 29th July 2006 from 6.30pm at Belmont House

Belmont Park, Throwley, Faversham, Kent ME13 0HH.

Cost: £7.50 for Ghost Club members and their guests.

RSVP by 21st July

with cheques to; Lance Railton, "The Bargemans House", Castle Wharf, Bridge Street, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2EB. E-mail: [email protected] mentioning any dietary requirements.

30xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 Belmont) and Madras. The 4th Lord Summer BBQ Harris drove the development of GC member Anne Partington-Omar, English cricket (and features with who has now left Ham House to be W.G. Grace in a photograph in the Estate Administrator at Belmont downstairs lavatory). House, has kindly invited us to hold Belmont contains fabulous memen- our 2006 BBQ at this unique and toes of the family's history and lovely property. BBQ, food, charcoal, travels - fine paintings, furniture, glasses etc will be supplied but Indian silverware and the finest col- please can you bring your own drink! lection of clocks in private hands in Belmont, a unique Georgian house, Britain, a collection assembled by the is set in beautiful gardens and sur- 5th Lord Harris. rounded by classical English country parkland, commanding stunning views Further details and pictures are at of the rolling Kent countryside. The www.belmont-house.org original house was built in 1769 and bought in 1780 by a Col. Montresor, Travel arrangements who had it enlarged and extensively Directions for drivers can be found remodelled by the leading architect at the Belmont website. Samuel Wyatt. Trains: Faversham is 1 hour 7 min- Montresor was (falsely) accused of utes from London, with fast trains embezzling Army funds and died in from Victoria on Saturdays at 03 and 1799 and the estate was bought in 33 minutes past the hour. Belmont is 1801 by General George Harris, who not served by public transport, but in 1798 had defeated Tipoo Sultan, taxis from Faversham station take the ruler of Mysore, at the Battle of about 15 minutes, and cost £10 or Seringapatam, which consolidated less, eg Allport Cars (01795 British rule in India. 539888); A1 Taxis (01795 538887); The house and gardens remained Abracabs (01795 535999); the seat of successive Lords Harris Faversham Taxis (01795 590949). until the 6th Lord's death in 1995. Numbers for other taxi firms, local The family played a leading role in hotels and B&Bs are at www.faver- British expansion overseas during sham.org the 19th century, the 2nd Lord serv- ing from the Cape of Good Hope to Any queries, please ring Lance China before distinguishing himself Railton on 07973 960838 or at Waterloo, and the 3rd being Anne Partington-Omar on Governor of Trinidad (bringing the 01795 890202 or world's finest collection of water- 07747 710364 colours by the Trinidadian artist Michel Jean Cazabon back to The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx31 INVESTIGATIONS Meet As well as her role as Chairman, Kathy TheGhostClub organises and supervises all Paranormal Investigations undertaken by the club. If Council you have an idea of a location that you would like to investigate or would like to t the Annual General Meeting on arrange an investigation yourself and Saturday 17th June, those members become an area co-ordinator, contact Kathy present voted to re-elect the former before contacting any prospective sites and Acouncil. During the year, four new Council she will do everything in her power to members had been co-opted onto the coun- assist you. cil, myself included. For us, it was even more of an honour to be properly voted on by the members. Council positions are voluntary so are therefore unpaid and can be extremely time consuming. All of the Council give their time freely. If you need to contact us, our details, as always, are to be found on the back of this newsletter. We thought it would be a good idea to properly introduce ourselves to you and tell Helen Johnson - you a bit about ourselves, so we can let you GENERAL SECRETARY know exactly what it is that we do for your Helen’s role is very – well, in her own club. words, general! She is responsible for tak- ing minutes at council meetings and AGM’s. She handles all non-specific enquiries about the club from members and the public and is responsible for organising the Ghost Club Christmas Party.

Kathy Gearing – CHAIRMAN Kathy oversees the smooth running of the club, chairs meetings and keeps the rest of the council in order! She has been in her Lance Railton – TREASURER current role as chairman since June 2005 Lance has been Treasurer for the last six and is the first ever woman chairman of the years, banking the hundreds of payment Ghost Club. cheques for subscriptions, sales, the 32xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 Christmas Party and summer BBQ. He pays the Club's bills and draws up the annual accounts. He is at present organis- ing this year's BBQ (details on page 30).

Philip Carr – WEB MASTER Philip, who was formerly the Newsletter Editor before Steve Rose took over the post, has been the webmaster of the www.ghostclub.org.uk website for over six years. He regularly updates the site with Milton Edwards – membership news, new links and investi- MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY gation reports. Milton processes all new member appli- cations and handles all membership enquiries. He is at present building a new database to hold all of this information as it is referenced by other council members for sending out newsletters and e-mails. The new database will be laid out in such a way that we will be able to use geographical mapping tools. This could help us do things such as finding local members to attend investigations where the investigation has been under subscribed and find members to Philip Hutchinson – utilise their local knowledge. Milton was co-opted on to the council in September EVENTS OFFICER 2005 after our previous Membership Philip’s job is to book speakers for Ghost Secretary, Helen Edwyn-Jones, was unable club monthly meetings which are held at to take up the position. Milton would be the Victory Services Club, London. happy to hear from you if you have a ques- He is also responsible for booking the ven tion or suggestion regarding membership. ue and the hiring of any equipment used at these meetings. If you would like to speak or know of anyone who would like to speak about any aspect of the paranormal at one of our lectures, please drop Philip a line.

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx33 wide range of requests including contribu- tions for articles, researchers of factual pro- grams, TV and film crew looking to film at haunted locations and radio programs who need an 'expert' to comment on encounters with ghosts. She has even been asked to appear on the German version of Blue Peter! Monica Tandy & Sarah Darnell– Halloween is naturally the busiest time NEWSLETTER TEAM for enquiries and many journalists want to The existing post of Newsletter Editor stay the night at a haunted place and see was found to be too much work for one per- what all the fuss is about for themselves - son and it was decided by the Council this of course usually guarantees a no show members to split this role into two posi- of the celebrity-shy ghosts themselves. tions to halve the workload. This was for- Rosemary can be contacted using the mally approved by the general membership details on the back of the newsletter. If you at the AGM. are interested in working with the media, The new post of NEWSLETTER PRO- Rosemary sometimes has opportunities for DUCER was created and taken on by Sarah Ghost Club members to be put forward to with Monica taking over the post of be interviewed by journalists. If you would NEWSLETTER EDITOR. be interested please contact her and she The roles have not yet been defined as the will let you know if an opportunity arises. girls are finding their feet. This issue is their first one. Responsibilities at present are shared between Monica and Sarah for the newsletter’s production and they would be, as always, very grateful for your views and for contributions of material.

Keith Morbey– ARCHIVIST Keith has been a member of the club since 1970 so is the longest standing Ghost Club member on the Council. As Archivist, he has catalogued the Ghost Club Archives which are held at the British Rosemary Murdie- Library and cover the period from 1882 to PRESS OFFICER 1936. Hopefully it will be possible to have these reproduced on a CD so that any mem- Rosemary is the central point for all con- ber can have access to them. tacts from the media. She responds to a 34xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 The hall is soon to be converted into apartments and a new hall is being built a few hundred yards away. The new building promises to be spectacular, with wonderful views of Guildford and enough room to cater for all the current lodges that use the existing building. Prior to the Masons occupying the hall, it was a school, so with a rich history including tales of tragedy, it promised to be an amazing night. Ian Johnson – The Groups SCIENTIFIC OFFICER Group 1 Group 3 As with Sarah and Monica’s posts, Ian’s Carline Woodyer Milton Edwards role is a new one to the club. He was co- Colin Flynn Jamie Dickie opted on to the council in May of this year. Soraya Badar Monica Tandy Ian’s aims and objectives are to see the Julia Dolling Sarah Darnell club building up a database of technical Philip Hutchinson Lez King findings from which trends can be pro- duced and examined, taking into account Group 2 Group 4 various factors including time of the year, Helen Johnson Darren Woodyer atmospheric conditions, temperatures etc, Ian Johnson Andy Hind to see if patterns are emerging. It is a very Keith Marshall Nick Seear necessary role to bring the club into the Louise Clark Lisa Bowell 21st Century. Monika Mike Pierce Markiewicz INVESTIGATION Temple 3 MASONIC HALL, Group 1 started in Temple 3 and Soraya GUILDFORD found that her Gauss meter shot up to 10 emg and remained there constantly until 26TH MARCH 2005 she left the room and was approximately 1 By HELEN JOHNSON meter from the door – possible wiring? Philip reported that the Negative Ion he Freemasons have, for most of Detector was beeping more than usual. their history, been a highly secret Caroline felt light headed – nothing more society whose members are to this of note was reported Tday, able to join by invitation only – not Group 3 went in it 01:36 when the tem- unlike the Ghost Club in its formative perature was at 18.8C. Lez felt a chill years. Access to its buildings and any through him at about 01:38 and a minute knowledge of its rituals has been forbid- later, a scream was heard coming from den, so we were delighted when Ghost another room. Using dowsing rods, contact Club member, Darren Woodyer, was able was made with a male spirit who had died to secure an investigation at the Masonic in the building. A flash was seen at the win- Hall in Guildford. dow at 01:44. It was picked up that the

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx35 male had fallen from the window but had not been pushed – this took place in 1962. The name ‘Stanley’ was picked up on. Group 4 reported nothing of note although Lisa did feel cold around her back. Main Temple Lisa reported feeling a build up of energy and a draft opposite the main door. She sat in the Master’s Chair and placed her torch on the table in front of her. The torch jumped back approx 1 inch. Using dowsing rods, the group contact J Bright of the Royal Edward Lodge. The presence was in visitation and was not Masonic Hall happy that Lisa was sat in the chair. He was her head – as if she was wearing a crash asked if he could make a noise, and a helmet. The feeling was that strong that she knocking was heard by Darren and Lisa. felt that she needed to move, which less- More noises were heard by the radiator. ened it, but did not completely remove it. Lisa sensed another presence (AGC Group 1 reported a number of orbs, but Kingwood – Pilgrim Lodge 1955). It nothing more of note. moved in front of the table by the trigger Group 3 picked up on 2 past lodge mas- object that claimed to be standing behind ters, using the dowsing rods – T Taylor Darren. An orb was see to flash past and 1989 and A R Smith 1990. another noise was heard by the radiator. Monica T reported feeling uncomfortable This second presence said that it wanted when sitting in the master’s chair. Sarah the group to leave and that he would be reported a lower back pain – something staying to make himself known to other that she does not suffer from. On the whole, groups. Lisa reported feeling as if someone the group felt that the general vibes in the was digging their fingers into her shoulder. room were quite welcoming – there The group then tried a table tipping experi- appeared to be nothing sinister. ment and some glass divination but with no real results. Lisa became aware of two fig- Attic ures sitting watching the group but the Group 3 reported a loud vibrating thud at seemed to be unwilling to make any move- approx 11:15 followed by 3 creaks on the ments. floorboards at 11:33. At 11:40 the locker Andy heard the knocks that were also heard room appeared to darken. Jamie picked up by the others but feels that the regularity of on 2 spirits – 1 male and 1 female. The them means that they could be easily female worked in the building when it was explained. a school. She was married with two chil- Louise saw some flashes of light and heard dren and when a number of the group some tapping but there was nothing else of reported having sore throats, she claimed to note. be responsible. Monika M reported a pressing sensation on Sarah heard a sigh, and Jamie sensed a con- nection to the name Christina. The female 36xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 is apparently aware of the other spirits pre- ment, and picked up on a presence who sent in the building and is happy for them had been hanged in the attic, and who to be there. She stays in the building to seemed to be afraid of going in to other look after Christina who died as a child in areas of the building due to the other spir- the building. The female was in her 60’s its there. Initially it appeared that this pres- when she passed. ence was not happy for us to be there but The male spirit was a Mason who did not as more and more questions were asked, it pass in the building. He visits other parts seemed to become much more receptive. It of the building and Jamie sensed that he appeared to be unwilling to communicate was happy for the group to be there. but it turned out that this was down to fear Lez and Sarah both sensed a 3rd presence. rather than unwillingness. After question- One of the spirits said that they would ing, it said that it wanted the group to stay. move the trigger object. This 3rd presence This seemed to create an energised feeling passed in the building but not in the attic. in the room and Monika M said that she Jamie felt pain in his upper arms and sug- experienced a tingling feeling. gested that this was due to manual work. Group 1 reported nothing of note except At 23:45 a cold rush of air appeared to for the possible movement of a curtain come from the dome. Lez admitted feeling over the chair positioned in front of it. dizzy in this area and as if they were being watched. Main Temple (Females Only) Group 2 reported nothing of note except Helen suggested trying a females only for Monika M who reported feeling a little experiment in the main temple to see if it off balance. prompted any reaction in what was a male Group 4 again did not pick up much dominated place. To this day, the Masons although Lisa reported feeling light head- exclude women, so it was thought that this ed. may be a chance to see if any kind of reac- Bar tion could be provoked. Glass divination Group 2 reported all seeing a flash of light was attempted which produced some by the door and the temperature appeared movement but nothing of any great signif- to drop towards the end of the vigil. icance. Monika M felt that the atmosphere was Monica T saw a flash of light on Lisa’s quite calm although she did feel a pressure head just as she was reporting feeling it on the back of her neck and in her ears. being touched. Sarah reported seeing a Lez reported seeing the impression of an green light by the radiator. older man’s face – quite weathered, with a Nothing else of note occurred and when beard and moustache joined by the men, this did not change. An Group 4 also picked up on a presence who experiment with a candle flame produced appeared to be quite friendly. no results of any significance. Group 1 reported nothing of note. Transcript of Ouija Board Experiments Temple 2 During the course of the evening, two Group 4 reported nothing of note, with a experiments took place involving an Ouija temperatures remaining constant. board – this transcript is available on Group 2 tried a glass divination experi- request.

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx37 INVESTIGATION TUTBURY CASTLE 19TH NOVEMBER 2005

sk most paranormal enthusiasts for a top ten wish list of locations that they would like to investigate it Amost would probably contain Tutbury Castle. Standing the edge of a Staffordshire market town, it is today virtually a ruin, following Oliver Cromwell’s orders that it be destroyed for harbouring Charles I dur- ing the Civil War. Its position means that there has been some form of fortified structure on the site for hundreds of years and a recent archeo- Tutbury Castle logical dig discovered evidence of habita- cover, were not accessible on the night. tion dating back to the Mesolithic period The adverse weather conditions meant that (5000BC). the South Tower, which has very steep Through its history, Tutbury Castle has steps down into it, was not going to be safe played host to a number of royal visitors, to enter and the keys to the Dungeon were but possibly its most famous (non too will- missing! There was however, see-though ing) guest was Mary Queen of Scots who doors and windows into these areas. was held there under house arrest by Elizabeth I when she was seen to pose a Outside Locations serious threat to the English crown. Mary is said to still roam the grounds and Great Dungeon Doorway Hall to this day. Looking through the door into the dun- This was the first time that the Ghost geon, Lisa B picked up on a female face Club had investigated this location, so it coming up to the window in the door. She seemed fitting that we also set a new GC was aged about 50, with unkempt shoulder record for the coldest investigation ever! length straight grey hair. She had a thin face with high cheekbones and looked des- The Groups perate. Initially, everyone was divided into one At about 11:45, Lisa saw a point of orangey of four groups but it quickly became evi- gold light in the top left hand corner of the dent that the close proximity of the Great dungeon. She then picked up on hands Hall to the King’s Bedroom, meant that grasping at the window bars in desperation. there was going to be too much distraction At 11:50, Sarah saw the same light, and felt for the two groups covering those loca- a burning sensation on her cheek as if tions. The other problem was that two of someone had put hot metal there. The gen- the areas that we were originally going to eral feeling was one of desperation and

38xxxThe Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006 desolation and a sweet musty smell was she approached. experienced by several members. John felt unsteady on his feet in the main Strangely, despite the severe cold, it was congregation part of the chapel – almost a felt that there was a warmth emanating dizzy feeling. from the dungeon itself. At the end of the Lisa K saw a flash of light coming from the vigil, both Marc and Mike felt compelled to Great Hall, but thought that maybe it was a return to the dungeon door to apologise for camera flash rather than anything paranor- leaving, so strong was the feeling of des- mal (11:20) peration. Towards the end of the vigil, she saw Lisa also reported seeing a face at the door- another flash of light, this time coming way again at the end of the vigil which from above the marquee. looked like a mist – she thought that it At 00:50, using dowsing rods before the could have been the woman that she had altar it was picked up that there was more picked up on earlier. than one spirit in that area. Both Julia and Marc reported hearing shuffling by the Lisa B picked up on a feeling of resistance dungeon, as if someone was pottering in front of the altar and Lisa reported feel- about in that area. He turned round expect- ing slightly nauseous. Five minutes later, ing to see someone there, but there was no- several members of the group reported a one. smell of straw and manure. When this area was revisited again later in The presence of a monk was also picked the night, Lisa B and Marc both felt the up on and when using the dowsing rods a desperation again but this time it seemed male presence was felt. At this time, Julia, almost to be a madness which had got Debbie and Lisa reported a feeling of being worse and felt as if were anyone to get too pushed forward as if being made to fall to close and put their hands through the bars, the floor. they would be grabbed, to either try and Later in the evening, Sarah was asked to pull people in or to attack them. walk slowly to the altar. She reported feel- Julia got impressions of specific torture ing heavy arms, as if being restrained and which she said was very graphic. She said felt as if she were being pushed towards it. that it seemed to be focused on the feet. The feeling there was one of oppression Paul later went to the dungeon door alone and it was felt by a number of the group and reported a very oppressive atmosphere. that this was the site of a number of mur- ders – possibly by decapitation. Chapel & Grounds Paul reported that for him, the area did not Paul reported feeling nauseous between feel as strong as on the previous vigil he the marquee and the tree on the graveyard. had done (see previous). He also felt a feeling of sadness. Approaching the chapel, he felt under pres- Folly sure to approach the altar and to stop before There were no significant occurrences by it. He felt an ache across the base of his the folly – the only thing that happened was neck. that Nobby’s camera battery drained after Carol reported feeling uneasy in the same only taking 38 photos. area and that she should be lowering her hood and making the sign of the cross as

The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx39 John O’Gaunt Gatehouse Dane also believes that noises are heard by Dane felt that although the gatehouse is guests and staff, coming from the room sit- thought to be 15th Century, looking at uated next to the King’s Bedroom. some of the stonework and mortar, some Nolan left his torch as a trigger object, on parts look to be Victorian – as if some mod- the rug and when he checked it moments ification has occurred. later, it had moved approx two feet onto the Nolan caught what looked to be light wooden floor. It was ruled out that it could streaking top to bottom, which he also have been kicked over as it would have reported seeing with the naked eye. made too much noise. The only sounds that Debbie reported feeling very uncomfort- were heard, were two strange clicks which able in the alcove where the arrow slit was, were heard by the window, but it was felt with her back to it. Lisa and Julia felt that that these could have come from the next their stress and tension levels were raised room. in this area and when looking out beyond Debbie and Lisa heard some music – just the gate, they felt on edge. a few bars that were repeated over again Marc and Lisa B also both reported feeling approx 3 – 4 times. The lights were also nauseous. reported to go dim and bright several times Several people reported feeling expectant (as before) but it was felt that this could be at the gatehouse, as if waiting for some wiring. There was a general feeling of force or entity to come towards the arch- coldness that seemed to increase as the way. On a couple of occasions, Debbie, vigil went on and there was also a feeling then Julia reported hearing light footsteps of great discomfort by both Julia and from outside the gate (coming from down Debbie as soon as the lights went off, to the grassy bank, leading to the castle) such an extent that the lights had to be put back on. There was also a build up of ener- The Great Hall gy at the front of the throne to the right but During the initial walk around when the this seemed to decrease when Julia stood whole group was being shown the Castle, a there. number of people, including Dane, Helen Both John and Lisa reported feeling dizzy and Ian reported seeing the lights dim quite and sick in the hall and there were signifi- considerably, before brightening up again. cantly high readings by the top of the stairs. Dane reported sensing a man who stands When this was tried a bit later, similar on the left of the fireplace. Only his torso is readings were recorded but in a different seen and he paces up and down the length place. of the room. Lights are seen by the window Carol felt cold and also felt as if someone at times and these are down to this man. was tugging at her jumper. Dane also said that the lights that he feels When the whole group carried out a vigil are seen by people on the outside of the in the hall at the end of the evening, the building are lost windows, which did exist EMF readings were again high and seemed over the castle’s history. to be concentrated on the area at the top of Some orbs were also picked up by the the stairs. Several members reported feel- chair. A blue light was caught in the fire- ing that there was a childlike presence who place and when checking, no reasonable seemed to be unable to come all the way up explanation could be found for this. the stairs. It was as if this child had stood

40 The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xx hidden and watched things going on in the from by the wooden chest hall but was never actually allowed in When alone in the room Sarah reported there. It felt quite playful but no-one was feeling a pressure, that appeared to be able to distinguish whether it was a boy or pushing her to the floor. Nobby and Carol a girl. also reported a similar sensation of pres- sure when standing by the stairs in the cor- The King’s Bedroom ner of the room. Carol also reported a feel- Initially upon entering the bedroom, Julia ing of great sadness and both she and Sarah felt a drop in temperature. Whilst the group felt cold in there. Both also sensed a small was settling into the vigil, there were child in there, although could not agree on sounds of furniture moving and then of whether it was a boy or girl. Sarah thought something falling over in the Great Hall. it was a little boy, whereas Carol thought it There were a number of sounds which was a little girl and picked up on the name could be heard, together with a number of Catherine. voices but it was thought that these were Later in the evening, Marc and Dave probably coming from the group in the spent some time in the room alone. Upon Great Hall. entering, Marc reported feeling uneasy and At 11:30 a noise was heard outside – it both sensed a feeling of being unwelcome was assumed by the group to be a fox. Over as time went on. Dave felt very tired and as the next 30 mins, Dave and Julie reported if his whole body was heavy. He also feeling a drop in the temperature. Julia felt reported feeling someone flicking his leg. it on her left hand side and Dave felt it on Over the course of 30 mins, these sensa- his left cheek, which he said became sore, tions got stronger and more overwhelming. as if he had a paper cut. The feelings took a long time to dissipate – A knocking sound was heard by several over the last 15 minutes of the vigil. It members – Julia and Debbie felt that it ended with the room feeling very cold. came from the far wall by the fireplace, Both agreed that the presence was male. whereas Rob thought that it came more The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xxx41 Conclusion Overall, the investigation was very inter- esting with a lot of good results. However, there were some factors that may have had a detrimental effect on the results. Firstly, the weather conditions were severe Ghost Club – it was freezing cold, which made any outdoor vigils difficult, as no-one really wanted to be out there for too long! Added to this was the fact that there were two areas that we were unable to investigate properly and given the results that we seemed to be getting from outside the dun- geon door, this was a pity as this seemed like we could have got even more interest- ing results had we been able to get inside. The other problem was that the Great Hall and King’s Bedroom are right next to each other which means that every noise one group makes in one room can be heard by the group in the other room. The King’s bedroom was also next to a room which someone was using on the night of the Ties investigation and this person was snoring rather loudly! Having said that, the location would def- initely warrant further investigations in more clement conditions!! Helen Johnson

These quality ties are 140cm long by 9.5cm widewith the Ghost Club logo woven into a black back- ground. The Great Hall

42 The Ghost Club Newsletter Summer 2006xx TAPES/CDs OF PAST TALKS

Alan Murdie - Roswell (February 2004) (109) Ted Babbs - Borley – The Final Analysis (April 2004) (76) Mike Hallowell – Ghosts Of The Peak District (May 2004) (120) Ian Franklin – Hampton Court Palace – An Update (June 2004) (107) Alan Murdie & Philip Hutchinson – Bealings Bells (July 2004) (41) John Spencer – (September 2004) (90) A Day With Jack – The Paranormal Aspects Of The Jack The Ripper Case (November 2004) * Alan Murdie – Springheeled Jack (45) * Stewart Evans – Jack The Ripper (70) * Stephen Butt – Robert James Lees (44) * Philip Hutchinson – The Ghosts Of Jack The Ripper (54) Philip Hutchinson – Haunted Guildford (January 2005) (92) Richard Jones – Haunted Britain (February 2005) (102) Lance Railton, Rosemary Murdie & Anne Partington-Omar – Ham House (April 2005) (109) Philip Paul – Fraudulent Mediums I Have Exposed (May 2005) (90) Maurice Grosse – Spirit Photography (June 2005) (70) Alan Murdie – New Light On Old Cases (October 2005) (87) Fiona Campbell – Social Psychology Of Anomolous Experience : Factors Of Mood, Belief & Group Cohesion (November 2005) (85) Tracy Owen Jones & Mark Norman – The Effects Of Witness Psychology On A Spontaneous Case Investigation (January 2006) (107) Keith Morbey – Sexy Ghosts (February 2006) (84) Ross Allison – AGHOST (April 2006) (44) INCOMPLETE Patricia Robertson – Haunted People And Haunted Places (May 2006) (80) Siân Evans – Ghosts Of The National Trust (June 2006) (71)

Lectures can be sent on either CD or tape. Please note that the maximum length of any CD is 80 mins and a tape is usually just over 90 mins. Members are free to mix and match, (eg. to get 4 shorter lectures on to 3 audio tapes). the costs are as fol- lows: Each CD: £4 inc p&p Each Tape: £3 inc p&p Cheques payable to PHILIP HUTCHINSON and sent to the address at the back of this newsletter. Please ensure cheques are blank with “amount not to excede £(?)” written at the bottom. This will ensure you are not overcharged should a talk not be available. Dependent on demand, delivery may take up to 2 weeks.

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