Herne Bay Memorial Park

Doris Birch is a resident of Margaret Court on King’s Road in the Canterbury town of Herne Bay. The 73-year-old became so frightened and frustrated at an apparent petering poltergeist that she went to the local papers for help.

It seems that the ghost has a thing for groping people.

In This is Kent, Birch notes;

“It’s like an octopus. It started four months ago. I was lying in bed when I felt this creepy pair of hands.

“I kicked frantically and it went away. Next time it came I hurled the duvet on to the floor!

“But the ghost keeps coming back. I’ve tried sleeping without the duvet. But it started shaking my mattress.

“I even threw the mattress off the bed and bought a new one but it has made no difference.

“I told my 16-year-old granddaughter and she was gobsmacked. She said I must be joking.

“People are going to think I am mad but it is as real as the day to me. I’m not lonely. I love living alone.

“But this is very creepy and is giving me the jitters. It’s harassing me. I need to call in the Ghostbusters.

“I told the vicar and he said it is a lost spirit. What I want to know is, why has it got lost in my flat?”

Doris’ experiences sound very similar to the symptoms of hypnagogia but the local press makes no mention of a doctor being involved.

King’s Road appears to be in a modern area of Herne Bay. As you would expect it’s not far from the sea and it’s near the Kavanagh Cinema and Herne Bay Junior School. Google Maps doesn’t reveal any nearby graveyards or Churches although King’s Road does include the entrance to Memorial Park.

Herne Bay Memorial Park was completed in 1930 as a memorial to those that lost their lives in the first World War.

Methodist Minister Hugh-Nigel Sheehan of Mortimer Street’s United Church admits the grandmother approached him for help.

“I was approached by Mrs Birch but I fear I am not in a position to help. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

“I have no expertise in this at all. I am neither a trained counsellor nor from a church with a tradition of exorcism such as the Catholic Church. It is very difficult to know how to respond.”

It does not sound as if the Methodist Church was much good to Birch.

However, reporters at This Is Kent contacted the husband-and-wife team of Ray and Beryl Herne who have experience as ghost-hunters and mediums. They plan to use a ‘vortex of light’ in order to send the spirit back to the other side.

In the paper, Beryle Herne said;

“Sometimes spirits need to be here. There is usually a reason. Sometimes it’s family. Sometimes we have to alleviate some stress.”

In Pure Spirit

Do you have any experience of paranormal activity in or around this area?

Do you think this is just a case of hypnagogia and the local media bringing in ghost-busters in order to sell papers?

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A note about the strange name – because it certainly made this blogger worried. Nigger has his own Wikipedia entry and it is explained that at the time Nigger was not an uncommon name for a dog and it, thankfully, has since become culturally unacceptable. Some edits of the famous Dambusters film change the dog’s name to Trigger.

Nigger would go flying with Gibson. Bruce Barrymore Halpenny noted in “Ghost Stations” that a ghostly hound, believed to be Nigger, has been sighted on multiple occasions around RAF Scampton and even at the Dambusters Memorial at Woodhall Spa.

The Telegraph is reporting that a team of paranormal investigators, filmed by the BBC, have managed to make contact with a spirit they believe to be Commander Gibson’s dog.

You can see the BBC’s video at World War II hero Guy Gibson’s ghost hunted.

The team was led by Paul Drake (aka @spiritsearcher) of Paranormal Lincs International .

The BBC’s coverage report that RAF Scampton staff believe there may be as many as six spirits in the airfield. It was the dog, however, that captured Drake’s attention and it may be the dog that they managed to encounter. He told the Telegraph;

”I saw a picture that had the dog in it, which the photographer said was not there when it was taken, and that has stayed in the back of my mind for a few years.

“After I saw the picture I got in contact with RAF Scampton to see if we could do an investigation. I never dreamed they would say ‘yes’ as it is still an operational base and everything has to go through the base commander.

“But they have been absolutely brilliant and have welcomed us with open arms.”

The group believe the ghost of Nigger may have been present as readings on their electronic magnetic detectors would surge whenever the question; “are you there?” was asked.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Lincoln’s RAF Scampton and sensed any ghosts? After our RAF West Raynham post numerous residents and ex-staff stepped forward to say they felt something on the base and an equal number disagreed.

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The pub is not very old and was built as recently as 1932, however it is believed that the building stands on ground used for hangings in the 17th century. Lillian Campbell, pub manager, moved into the Court Oak in 2000 and now believes in ghosts. Current pub manager Anne Tyler also made the news this week by talking to the press about the local ghosts. In a further twist, one of the suggested spirits is most active around Halloween.

The Mirror reveals The Court Oak’s problem with a ghost called “Corky”. According to Nuala Gallagher, who works for Sizzling Pubs, Corky smashes wine bottles unless they’re of good quality.

“It isn’t so much things that go bump in the night as things going smash in the night at the Court Oak.

“People have spotted the figure of a man, aged about 60, behind the bar and the staff have felt his presence numerous times over the years.

“But it is Corky’s insistence on certain wines that set him apart as a spirit.

“It only ever happens at this time of year when Halloween is in sight. If the pub has a house wine that is not to his liking, he makes his feelings known by smashing bottle after bottle of it in the cellar until it is changed for a wine he approves of.”

Before this week’s story, Lillian Campbell had given permission to paranormal investigators to examine the pub. The group looked into the legend that a woman was tried and executed on the harge of infanticide. It is believed the woman was hanged even though she was innocent.

In Pure Spirit

Do you believe in a Halloween ghost that appears just in time to ensure customers of the pub get good wine?

Have you been to the Court Oak pub in Harborne? Did you sense anything odd about the building while you stayed there?

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It is believed that the de Lathom family occupied Turton Tower around the year 1200 – when it was part of the barony of Manchester. The famous pele tower was rebuilt by the Orrells in 1420. In 1628 Humphrey Chetham bought the tower. A few years later (1642) the Civil War broke out; Chetham sided with the Roundheads and allowed troops to be garrisoned inside the estate. The Orrells, however, were Cavaliers.

It is now owned by the Blackburn with Darwen Council.

In November and December of this year small groups of visitors will be given ghost tours. The tours range from 3am and 4am visits and are for 18+ only.

Hauntings at Turton Tower

It is said that two skulls are kept in the Towers that have been linked to previous hauntings elsewhere – in particular the appearance of two ghostly men who appear to be duelling.

A woman dressed for mourning is said to stalk the staircase of the tower, sobbing and shuffling slowly. A security guard is reported to have gone to the aid of a woman leaning against a fence – only for her to disappear as he got close.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Turton Tower? Do you think it’s haunted? Do you think the council are doing the right thing, raising money for its keep by letting ghost hunting tours inside?

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Chavenage House is perhaps best known for the stay of Oliver Cromwell after the Civil War. Chavenage’s owner, Nathaniel Stephens, was an MP and therefore a Roundhead but he had been one of the less radical ones. He did not support the rough treatment of the captured king Charles I.

In fact, Oliver Cromwell called on the house in person to speak to Nathaniel Stephens about his support and loyalty. It is said that Cromwell left the next day and Stephens had dropped his objections to executing the king; to the disappointment of his daughter.

Charles I was beheaded by the Roundheads. A few months later Nathaniel Stephens fell ill and died. The uncharitable suggest that his own daughter had cursed him.

The ghost story of the headless horseman is actually of a headless carriage driver. The story says that on the night of Nathaniel’s death a ghostly carriage, with a headless driver, and waited while the ghost of Nathaniel Stephens climbed on board. Once the Stephen’s soul was in the coach, the headless driver cracked the whip and drove off. Legend says the carriage burst into flames as it crossed the boundaries of Chavenage’s grounds before fading from view.

It is said that any of the family who die in Chavenage House can expect to be collected by the headless coachman.

Who was the headless horseman? Could it have been Charles I himself?

Other ghosts at Chavenage House

It is said that the room Cromwell slept is haunted to this day – as the room once used by Princess Louise. The ghost in Princess Louise’s overnight room is believed to roam from room to room and likes to watch sleepers.

There is an 18th century chapel that stands adjacent to Chavenage House. It is said by some that a ghost of a monk haunts the chapel. Witnesses to this haunting include many RAF pilots covering after the Battle of Britain.

A White Lady, the ghost of a young woman, is also said to haunt the lands between Beverstone and Chavenage. Beverstone Castle is about two miles from the House and was held by the Royalists. The Roundhead Colonel Massey became suspicious that the Castle always seemed to know when an attack was planned. He discovered a young woman – the chatelaine of Chavenage – was using a candle to signal to her lover in the Castle when it was safe to leave his garrison and visit her. Of course, this meant her lover, a Commander Ogglethorpe, also knew when an attack was planned. The girlw as found out and locked up at Chavenage House. The Roundheads lit a candle in her window to trick Ogglethrope into thinking it was safe and then attacked the castle. The attack was successful, the Roundheads took Beverstone and Ogglethrope’s dead body was put on shown on the castle ramparts. When the young woman found out what had happened to her lover she took her own life.

In Pure Spirit

Have you visited Chavenage House? Do you think it’s haunted? Have you heard of any other stories of murder, death or mystery in this historic house?

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Kim Dunster and Matthew White, however, have a video of their haunting – and I’m not talking about moving chairs. Currently, you can see it on The Sunday Sun newspaper. The video is set to autoplay, don’t these papers get the internet, so either have the sound off or make sure you’re able to have random sounds bubbling out of your computer.

This blogger can’t find the video on YouTube. Dunster and White may have “released” it exclusively to the newspaper. The video shows orbs appear and then move.

The usual explanations apply. Most experts agree that orbs are particles of dust reflecting light back to the camera. In fact, when put on the spot by the paper, Paul Green of Extreme Ghost Hunting, did not take the chance to associate himself with a media covered ghost story. He said;

“I didn’t sense anything unusual in the room. The orbs are transparent, you can see the room through them. Most orbs that are spirits are more solid as they are energy.”

The family point out they have a young life at stake here. They’ve described an incident to the paper in which their baby had been pointing around the room and then, at one point, held his hands around his neck and screamed.

Are the ghosts trying to strangle baby Thomas?

Matthew White told the paper;

“I’ve never believed in ghosts but I just can’t explain this. There’s a chill in Thomas’s room and we get goosebumps when we’re in there.”

Thomas does seem to be in the centre of disturbance. Mother Kim noted;

“We’ve filmed in other rooms of the house but the orbs only show up in Thomas’s room.”

The housing management firm responsible for the house, Your Homes Newcastle, have confirmed they’ve been asked by the couple to find a new home for them, they’ve described the video footage as “inconclusive” and have stressed they are offering advice and support to Miss Dunster and her family.

Your Homes Newcastle, however, point out that none of the previous residents have made similar reports nor have there been any reported encounters nearby.

Kim Dunster knows of nearby problems, though. She said;

“A lady at the bus stop said she lived in the house next door and her daughter’s toys under the bed used to move at night.”

Their home is a bungalow in Newbiggin Hall in Newcastle. It was built in 1964. Newbiggin is not a small area. Some simple internet research has unearthed a mysterious death, murder, or two.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Is the family really haunted? Do they really think they are haunted?

Or is this just an attempt to move to a different, hopefully better, house?

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The village of Oystermouth, commonly called the Mumbles, is surrounded by the sea to the east and south, and part of Swansea in Wales.

The castle grounds are open to the public and enjoys some 5,000 visitors every year but it is hoped that when conservation work finishes on the castle itself in 2014 that many more tourists will visit.

Hauntings

There are reports that Oystermouth Castle is haunted by a White Lady. The apparition is sometimes described as wailing, crying and suffering from a series of open wounds on her back. Some say she is the ghost of a Oystermouth Castle prisoner who was whipped to death on the Whipping Post that still stands by the dungeon.

In May 2011, a construction worker was tapped on the shoulder while trying to re-open a murder hole. Murder holes were used by defenders to pour boiling oil, water or even burning tarred sand down on attacking soliders – the scene of many horrific deaths. The incident made the local press and the worker, Mike Smith, told reporters;

“I don’t usually believe in the paranormal but it was a strange experience and I know other staff have experienced some odd goings-on at the castle too.

“Nothing like this has ever happened to me before but there are also stories of people walking dogs close to the castle and seeing their dogs barking hysterically at absolutely nothing at all.”

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Oystermouth Castle? What did you think? Could the castle be haunted?

Picture credit: Mark Hogan, released under Creative Commons.

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This ghost prank keeps on giving. There’s more to it than the initial set up and if you’ve seen any Japanese horror movies you’ll recognise the imagery.

In Pure Spirit

What did you think? Evil or fun? Would you wish this on your best friend for a wind up or your worse enemy for revenge?

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The list includes 26 ghosts, 20 UFO sightings, 11 witches, two vampires and two zombies. In none of the cases did Dyfed Powys Police find any evidence of supernatural or paranormal activity. In one case a zombie was a character in a horror film.

The list comes from the police force in response to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. Over the last five years, there have been more than 3,300 requests of information and Dyfed Powys Police say that it has cost more than £500,000 to provide this information.

The relevation comes at a time when we are beginning to see reports in British media that ghost hunters are costing councils hundreds of thousands of pounds with paranormal based Freedom of Information act. Earlier this month the BBC reported that Cornwall Council had spent £340,000 responding to ghost hunters and others.

Dyfed Powys Police were also asked how many of their officers were Pagan but could not respond as they do not record Pagan or any derivative (Druid, Wiccan, etc) as a religion.

In Pure Spirit

Do you think paranormal investigators need to exercise self restraint when it comes to invoking the Freedom of Information Act? Or are these queries exactly the sort of public insight that the Act is designed to protect?

Photo Credit: Rodolpho Reis, released under Creative Commons.

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Image via Wikipedia

This is not the first time we’ve heard about haunting and ghosts at Thorpe Park. In 2009 there was an incident, believed to have started after the use of a Ouija board that resulted in speculation as to whether Thorpe’s Saw Ride was haunted. Now we’re asking if the water slide, Storm Surge, at Thorpe Park is built on ancient burial ground and is haunted by the ghost of a monk.

Trouble began during the construction of the new water slide. Builders working on the Storm Surge attraction apparently reported sighting the ghost of a headless monk. The usual reports of things moving around and sudden shivers have also, apparently, been reported by staff.

The divisional director of Thorpe Park, Mike Vallis, told press;

‘It became apparent that something strange was going on when teams started clearing Storm Surge’s initial site.

‘Staff reports of eerie goings-on shot up and the only physical change in the park, at that time, was the beginning of ground preparation work for the new ride.

‘As employees were getting freaked out, we decided to call on an expert to see whether there was anything to report but had no idea of the dramatic effects.’

As it happens the area in which the 64-ft tall ride is being built was once known as “Monk’s Walk”. It was a footpath which once connected Thorpe Church to Chertsey Abbey.

It’s South West London Paranormal who have been called in to investigate. Speaking for SWLP, Jim Arnold also told press that;

‘We carry out these kinds of investigations quite regularly, with medium to weak results being reported on a weekly basis.

‘Thorpe Park, however, was more striking as results were picked up immediately, with orbs, ghostly images in photography and ouija reaction results being strongest around the site where they were proposing to build Storm Surge.

‘The results were so strong, we felt the only explanation could be that an ancient burial ground or settlement was being disturbed, prompting the extra paranormal activity.’

Given Thorpe Park benefited from the publicity over last year’s ghost scare there is every reason to be sceptical about this current claim. Is there any science to the sighting at all?

The park have also invited a geophysical expert in to examine the site. Peter Masters from Cranfield University hasn’t commented on ghosts or monks but he has scanned the site and does appear that some of the signature readings detected by the equipment are similar to that of a burial ground, one that could be ancient, but not definitely so. The readings could also be caused by the remains of an old building.

In Pure Spirit

Reports suggest that they may have moved the site of the Storm Surge game because of this or altered the design. The question is – a marketing stunt from Thorpe, do the builders really think the site is haunted by a monk or could this be a mixture of them both?

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