Monday 5 November 2018


Monday November 5th 2018

In my youth, I was prone to wandering certain parts of the general Black Country region - with a group of friends, as you do! - and we would frequently 'discover' little corners of the region that subsequently became fairly 'familiar' to us through subsequent, sporadic, visits and related, teenage shenanigans..... 

One such location was the 'Coseley Tunnel', situated on the Birmingham to Wolverhampton Canal, between Bilston and Dudley.  At around 330 meters in length, this is an imposing and 'creepy' location, even on the brightest of days, but - I'm a little embarrassed to say - it became a firm favourite of ours.... especially during night-time walks.... and especially so when we happened to have groups of 'jumpy' young ladies in tow; the sort of young ladies who would need to hold onto a hand or youthful, brawny arm for comfort while passing through!!  Chuckle!!  (Ahh - the childhood innocence of yesteryear, eh!?  We took our - wholly wholesome - pleasures where we could back then!!  Laugh!!)

At this point in time, the spot was nothing more than a fairly 'cool' and spooky location for our juvenile adventuring... and, as far as I can recall, we had never heard of any associated 'ghost stories' whatsoever back then?

Subsequently, throughout my adult life, I'd often thought back on visits to the tunnel - re-living old capers in my mind, or reminiscing with childhood friends, etc - though I had little cause to 'physically' visit again, as, at least as far as my life has gone, the location itself has always been a little 'off the beaten track' as far as I was concerned and Coseley itself was not an area that I had any real cause to visit.  One of the very last times I saw the place was a particularly 'icy' period one Winter, around 15 to 20 years back and, just taking a few minutes to simply go and view the Bilston-end entrance to the tunnel, 'something' had sufficiently leaked above the mouth of the opening, resulting in masses and masses of immense icicles hanging down over the frozen canal!!  It was an absolutely mind-blowing sight, I must admit, but, typically for me, I didn't have a camera with me at the time!!
      

Anyhow, moving forward a handful of years or so, and I suddenly hear of a couple of local ghost clubs supposedly conducting 'investigations' there?  Intriguingly - at that point in time - there were never any details or stories given to account for this interest, so I had naturally been led to wonder whether the groups themselves had actually heard of any data to lead them to believe the location was supposedly 'haunted'.... or, as does frequently happen in this day and age, whether some form of ghostly activity / presence was a pure matter of 'presumption', simply because the place concerned happened to simply be a little eerie in itself!?  It has to be suggested that, purely logically speaking, such locations can easily generate so many different sensations and impressions, even in the mind of the most level-headed visitor or passer-by - for completely obvious and naturally occurring atmospheric / sensory reasons, I guess!?

In spite of the above-mentioned considerations, a couple of years further along and I suddenly came across a reference to a real-life occurrence at the tunnel, which certainly constituted an affair that a great many people would - given popular, paranormal culture - certainly suggest was conducive to the development of a 'ghostly situation' of some kind?  It transpires that, In 1901, a woman named Hannah Johnson Cox had murdered her two youngest, female children in the canal here, by tying them together with an apron - face to face - and 'slipping them into the water'......

This horrific act carried out by Cox - while heinous in the extreme - wasn't entirely without mitigating circumstances.  The woman had previously been greatly neglected by her cruel husband who had finally left her and their five children in a situation leading them to be thrown out of their home and, if not for the kindness of a neighbour, destitute and 'on the streets'.....  As a result of this, Hannah was said to have fallen into a considerable depression, leading her to this terrible, desperate act.....

At her trial, it was revealed that she had been assessed by more than one authority and it was clear she was suffering from 'temporary mental aberration'.  As a result, directed by the judge, the jury had returned a verdict suggesting she had not been responsible for her actions at the time of the crime and she was sentenced to be detained at his majesty's pleasure.....

As a result of the above, a ghostly legend had quite naturally 'developed', associated with the site, in the form of a fairly typical, 'white lady' style ghost.  However, such suggestions do still very much seem to be little more than a matter of pure 'legend', resulting from the crime in question... as it is never reported or recorded anywhere that the 'ghost' in question has actually 'been seen' by anyone at first-hand!?  If anything, a lot of written sources still seem utterly baffled as to 'who' the ghost actually is, or precisely 'why' she might be there?  Despite seemingly knowing her name, one account - published in book form - reports her as nothing more than the 'shrieking phantom of H.J.C.', who, we are bafflingly informed, 'stabs passers by.... the same as her husband stabbed and murdered her'!?!?   That local bastion of misinformation and frequent 'dubious reference material' - The Black Country Bugle - had also carried articles on both the murders and the ghost itself in more recent years..... all of which had served to spur me on towards another visit to the location.


As an ending to this somewhat rambling post...  I eventually took the time to pop along and finally visit the tunnel again in late September this year.   For the first time ever, I entered and traveled along one bank - crossed the canal at the far end - and exited (back in the direction of Bilston) on the other side.   This latter stretch of my walk wasn't without interest, as the initially distant lights from a party of (middle aged) people on bicycles - passing along on the opposite side of the pitch, black tunnel - did afford me a bit of a 'what the hell is that?' moment, before I caught any tell-tale sounds from the party concerned! Laugh!

Moving on to finally exit the tunnel and I realised where all of the 'pouring water noise' was coming from when I had initially entered, on the - in comparison - bone-dry opposite bank!  Yes - there were a couple of, completely unavoidable, 'mystery showers' that had to be dashed through on the way out.....  I sincerely hope that it was probably just seeping ground water of some description, but, if I'm honest, you really have no idea at all what you are running through!?  Shudder!

Monday November 5th 2018

Well.... I had thought that I'd be sitting at home on Halloween evening - as recently predicted - but I ended up being kindly asked to pop along to the site of a 'strange experience' by my old mate Wayne Pickrell instead...!!

One February evening in 2006, Wayne was making his way to a UFORM meeting at Stourbridge - around 7 pm - and was, at the time of 'his encounter', traveling along the A449, just outside Himley, South Staffordshire.  As he approached the entrance to the village Cricket Club - situated on his right-hand side - he suddenly spotted what appeared to be a 'figure', standing on the grass verge, a short distance in front of him to his left......

Now, the verge on that side of the busy thoroughfare is quite steep and narrow..... bordered on one side by the high wall of Himley Hall grounds and sloping quickly down to the road on the other, with no pavement.  The night was dark, overcast, and it had been raining most of the day, so Wayne had instantly though:  "Look at that fool.....!  If they slip, I'll have no chance of avoiding them....!!"

As he was traveling around 60 mph at the time, he conscientiously checked his mirrors.... slowed down.... and - when he looked back - the figure had now gone!?

Within a matter of a second or so, he had covered the distance to where the figure had been standing and, as he reached the spot, what he describes as a 'persistent knocking sound' - like knuckles rapping hard and repeatedly - suddenly began on the windows of the car around him!?!

Wayne readily admits he is no mechanic, but he certainly knows his way around a car..... and no simple explanation for what he was now experiencing was forthcoming!?  Amazingly, the noise continued until he reached a point some distance further on - as he approached the traffic lights in Himley village itself.... where the sounds stopped as abruptly as they'd begun!?!

A rational thinker, Wayne instantly pulled onto the forecourt of the nearby Himley Hall Hotel and, exiting the vehicle, checked the car over.... but to no avail!?  Continuing his journey, he had no further issues of any kind and the rest of his journey - to attend a talk on 'Shadow People' by Russell Kellet - was completely uneventful.......

To this day, he has not been able to find a rational explanation for the events of that evening.... but, remaining open minded, this strange encounter potentially seemed to presage a brief series of other, 'peculiar' happenings that subsequently occurred in his own home!?

Moving on briefly to a wider view of the area in which Wayne had his strange experience, it should be mentioned that a great many would not regard such an encounter as 'anything out of the ordinary' for the location in question.  To say Himley is regarded as something of a 'haunted area' is a considerable understatement and the ghostlore of this - rather small - region is VERY rich and varied indeed!


Referring to the satellite map above, the majestic Himley Hall is said to be haunted, as are a number of sites that fall within the confines of the Hall grounds.  The area around The Great Pool, for example, were long believed to be haunted by the apparition of a Grey or White Lady.  Needless to point out - as the crow flies - the site of Wayne's encounter, just opposite the entrance to Himley Cricket Club, lies just a stones throw from the Western edge of the lake in question.  The woodland to the immediate North of Himley Hall has long been regarded as having a strange reputation and it was here, some years ago, that a couple of walkers saw a somewhat unusual, dark, human-shaped figure which - on being spotted - was said to have 'taken off' vertically and 'flown' up into the tree canopy above them....!!    

To the South East of Himley Hall lies the aptly named 'Crooked House' pub, which has previously played host to investigations by both Wayne's 'Black Country Paranormal Society' and The West Midlands Ghost Club.... as well as a number of other, local paranormal groups.  However, it's not only the pub itself that is said to be haunted, but some of the grounds surrounding the location too.... including the nearby woodland and the drive leading to this fairly secluded watering hole as well!?  In fact, most of the nearby roads and trackways have some form of spooky reputation associated with them, with a number of supposed 'apparitions' - figures in 'Cavalier-style' garb and so on - being encountered by numerous, passing motorists over a considerable number of years.....

Moving back into Himley Village itself momentarily, Himley House Hotel, the Dudley Arms public house opposite and the nearby crossroads all have some form of ghostly reputation attached to them, it seems.  With regards to the latter, pale, indistinct figures - frequently crossing the road in front of passing traffic - have been reported on numerous occasions.... similar incidents also being recorded as occurring along the stretch of the B4176 leading to the entrance to Himley Hall grounds too.

To the South and West of the village are two sites linked by a particular aspect of our tumultuous history.... namely the 'Gunpowder Plot'.  Holbeche House is the location where fleeing members of the conspiracy finally held out against pursuing government forces and were (mostly) caught.  Not only is the historic structure itself said to be haunted, but, supposedly as a result of the aforementioned siege, a 'phantom horseman' has supposedly been seen galloping through the general region.  His presence is also supposedly felt in Himley Plantation - off to the North West - as well as a number of the fields and roads surrounding this heavily wooded area.......

While only giving a brief 'taste' of some of the associated hauntings and legends here, readers are urged to check out the work of local paranormal researcher and author, Andrew Homer, who has covered a number of the locations mentioned here in much greater detail in his numerous works.  We have mentioned a couple of Andrews publications (mentioning such cases) on this page previously - HERE and HERE - but a further article on the ghosts associated with Himley Hall itself can also be found via this LINK.   


Monday 5th November 2018

Every July for a number of years now, the town of Middleham in North Yorkshire has actively celebrated the once close relationship between King Richard III and this most historic region.  The fortress of Middleham Castle was, for many years, the home of this controversial monarch... so it is only fitting that what remains of this impressive fortification should rightly play host to this annual revelry in the form of the popular 'Richard III Festival'......   

This year, however - amid the throng of historical encampments, demonstrations, crafts and related talks - our good friend Susan Lamb, and fellow author, Joanne Larner, 'set up stall' to display their related wares!  As regular visitors to this page will know, the ladies concerned are passionate 'Ricardians', who have turned their 'love for everything Richard' into a brace of humorous publications, telling of the fictitious shenanigans of their favourite king at 'his castle of Muddleham'...!


The popular volumes concerned - 'Dickon's Diaries: A Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' and 'Dickons Diaries 2' - have been mentioned on this blog previously and are available through Amazon HERE and HERE.

Sunday 4 November 2018


Sunday November 4th 2018

In 2004, I visited a particular spot - on the West Midlands / Staffordshire border - that had been of passing interest to me, for a couple of reasons, for some time.  I initially came across the place while searching for local examples of 'deviant burial sites'... i.e. places where, in previous centuries, 'undesirable types' like suicides and murderers were sometimes buried.  The lore surrounding such matters is varied and long, so, suffice it to say, such places as crossroads, gibbet sites, or perhaps the area where a particular wrong-doing was perpertrated, were often utilised for these interments.

The location being discussed in this post was a rural crossroads in Codsall Wood - a few miles outside Wolverhampton - formed by the meeting of Husphins Lane and County Lane.  It is known locally as 'Deadwomans Grave' and, if that monicker isn't sinister enough for you already, there is a boulder situated at one side of the crossroads that is widely said to be the 'grave marker' itself!? 

As often occurs in these matters, however, this is pretty much all that is known of this intriguing subject.  Exactly 'who' the 'Deadwoman' is - if she ever existed, of course - is a detail lost to history.... but one local legend suggests that this is actually the grave of a 'witch!?  Another story claims it is the last resting place of a 'murder victim'... while yet another says that the woman concerned was some poor, unfortunate, soul who was 'hanged for stealing apples'!?  Needless to say, we sincerely hope that this latter was not the case..... and it is more likely that the spot probably serves as a grave for some unfortunate local who simply 'took her own life' and was dispatched according to the rather unfeeling, superstitious laws of the time...... probably?

Also, as often occurs with such places, the spot has also attracted something of a 'haunted' reputation over the years.... though, it has to be said, the details of the matter have always seemed to fall into the category of 'legendary haunting', records mainly consisting of a 'the location is said to be haunted by...' suggestion, rather than anything more substantial?

During my early-January, 2004 visit, however, I happened to cross the path of 2 locals who rode their horse regularly through the crossroads and (it goes without saying) I couldn't resist asking them if they knew anything of the sites more 'spooky' reputation?  One told me that she had passed through the locality at all times of the day and night for many, many years and had never seen anything untoward.  However, she added, her horse had previously shown unrest at 'approaching the crossroads' along Husphins Lane, for whatever reason, for some time......?

Moving forward in time to more recent months now and I happened to find myself in conversation with a number of people who knew the Codsall Wood area rather well on a social networking site.  Having raised the subject of The Deadwomans Grave with them, I was surprised to find that many - mostly long-standing residents of the region concerned, who actually knew the crossroads in question - had never actually heard of the 'grave' association at all!?  


Contrary to what I had been told previously, one woman said that she had ridden a number of horses in the region for many years and could pretty much 'never' get a mount to pass by the location involved!  "Never could get a horse near it!" she said.  Another informed me that the site had caused many horses to shy and play up over the years.....

One story - of course a 'missed opportunity', given the date - says that the ghost of the graves occupant is said to appear 'sitting on the marker stone' at midnight, on Halloween!  Others spoke of seeing 'mists' around the crossroads.... but this was something they had generally put down to early-morning atmospheric conditions in frosty weather, perhaps?

During some renovations to the crossroads a number of years ago, the local council actually removed the stone and are said to have unceremoniously dumped it in a marl-hole known as The Black Pit.  Subsequently, there was uproar over the act and it was suggested that 'the ghost of the deadwoman had been released'!?!  Whatever - the Council are said to have quickly retrieved the stone and replaced it in its former resting place..... where it has stayed - unmolested - ever since!! 

As a parting note on this particular subject, it's interesting to note that a 2nd 'Deadwomans Grave' appears for the general Codsall region..... this latter example appearing on the Oaken Tithe Map, located at the crossroads formed by Heath House Lane and the A41 Holyhead Road at Wrottesley......


Sunday November 4th 2018

Not exactly 'ghost-related', but certainly an aspect of local, historical 'lore' that might interest many of our visitors....?

As most will know, the name Wednesbury comes from the Saxon God 'Woden' and the term 'BURY' derives from the Anglo-Saxon BURH or BYRIG..... meaning a fortification or fortified settlement.  Of the many thousands of name places in Britain, less than ten have the name of Woden associated with them and, of course, WE happen to have 2 such names within a very few miles of one another... Wednesbury / Wodensbury and Wednesfield / Wodensfield. 

Unlike Wednesfield, however, Wednesbury has always seemed to maintain at least tentative links with it's Pagan heritage, mainly in the form of - albeit small - tantalising references and tributes to such matters:  'The Woden' public house, for example, with it's ceramic plaque on one of the walls showing 'Sleipnir', Odins 8 legged mount;  an immense, metal sculpture of 'Sleipnir' again, erected on a hillock overlooking the town in the late 1990's, and even a stained-glass window in the Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew, depicting the hill-top, 'Pagan fortress' that once occupied the same site........

As a previous Vicar of St Bartholomews mentioned about the latter a few years ago:

"On the lofty hill, raised above all the surrounding country, rest our Parish Church, the glory, the ornament and the beauty of the town.  It stands as a beacon visible for many miles around it, its spire pointing towards the heavens, thus teaching, by mute but significant sign, where our thoughts and final hopes should tend.

This hill, with its spire crowned Church, was not always the teacher of heavenly things.  There was a time when Woden, the fierce and sanguinary idol of the Danes and Norwegians, stained this hill with the blood of human beings offered in sacrifice to him.  This Woden is supposed to be the same as Odin, on whom our poet Gray has composed a wild and beautiful ode, entitled The Descent of Odin.

This 'devil worship' passed away as the light of Christianity arose and spread on our island; but the foundations of the material building were not yet to be laid".

Some readers may well recall the furore concerning the erection of the aforementioned statue, back in 1998, most of which boiled down to church-related moaning about 'being reminded of our Heathen past' and so on!!  Rolls eyes!!



While not a practicing Pagan myself - I'm not a 'spiritual' person at all and find that I cannot invest 'faith' in any form of religious belief - I have held 'sympathies' for certain, related subjects and systems for many years now... and find a strong affinity with certain motifs and symbolism.  As a result of the latter - and basically cutting a long story short - I had been meaning to go along and actually 'visit' the 'Sleipnir statue' for a very long time now..... but, for a variety of different reasons, had just never got round to it! 

Frequenting Heathen-related pages on social media, I had seen that, in the past, a great many followers of such beliefs had indeed taken the time to visit the site.... as had some friends of mine who, while not actually holding any interest in such quasi-religious topics, had merely 'spent some time at the spot', due to it being a local landmark and slightly 'out of the way' for such a busy, little town!  I must admit that one of the reasons I'd dragged my feet about going there over the years was that I'd long though - simply given its location - the statue would have been tightly and safely 'fenced off from the public'.... but it isn't, apparently!?!



Anyway - a few weeks ago - I finally took the time to make the (albeit relatively small) ascent up to the statue.... and what an absolute bloody disgrace the site actually is currently!!  Rolls eyes!! 

First of all, any romantic notions that old Sleipnir was basically 'watching over Wodensborough from his lofty position' - the actual 'meaning' of the statue, I've always presumed - were immediately dispelled, as, with all of the industrialisation of that part of the town over recent years, you can barely even 'see' the poor bugger from literally anywhere in the region now.... because of the multitude of factories and office complexes that surround the site!  From anywhere within a few hundred yards of the spot, the statue is almost invisible and could simply be 'missed' or 'over-looked', if you're not specifically keeping an eye open for it!  Having not attempted to get close to the site before, I had a hell of a time keeping it in sight and ended up doing a bit of to-ing and fro-ing in an endeavour to even find it at relatively close quarters, amid the surrounding properties.....  Rolls eyes!!  The overall situation - visually speaking - is made all the worse by the simple fact that the local Council presumably haven't been bothered to visit the spot for a long time now, meaning that the shrubbery surrounding the structure itself is, literally, almost as tall as the statue these days!!  Seemingly some - though I'd hazard to suggest a 'bare minimum' - of maintenance has possibly been given to the location, so that Sleipnir is still 'slightly' visible from the direction of Wednesbury itself.... though I'm quite open to the thought that this is actually just a 'happy coincidence', given the otherwise disgusting state of the overall location?

Actually coming to get 'up close and personal' to the statue was not only a terrible anti-climax, but was also... well.... basically an 'unsavoury' experience!!  After trudging along an overgrown, barely visible trackway - strewn with everything from the expected beer cans, to discarded items of clothing, to copious amounts of excrement - you finally reach the statue to see that the surrounding foliage is right up to its base on 3 sides.... making the only point you can even get close to it these days from the 'rear end'!!  (I did, however, find this quite fitting, given the overall experience!!  Laugh!!)  To add to the delight, even this - less than salubrious - approach is completely strewn with general 'crap' left by the local drunks and junkies!!  Being modern Britain, the former opportunities afforded by a nice, quiet, 'remote spot' clearly hinge entirely around 'getting out of your tree' currently.... and the resident ne'er-do-wells certainly haven't missed an opportunity here!!  There are clear and copious signs of 'revelry' of different kinds at the base of the statue, including 'druggy paraphernalia', literally tons of 'beer cans' - more excrement, that I'm presuming isn't 'canine' in origin - and camp fires!!   


Having said the latter, I was musing elsewhere that I didn't suppose the 'Old Gods' would actually be bothered by a bit of 'partying' - in fact, they might actually appreciate or even encourage such things? - but the remnants from such revelries are, basically, not at all nice for people interested in just visiting the statue, of course!! 

Personally speaking - as a by-product of all of the above - I had been recently wondering exactly 'who' would need to be contacted re. suggesting a 'move' for the statue... perhaps 'into' the town centre, or, at least 'nearer' the town, so that people could actually 'see it' again!?  There is a sizeable, open 'green' area - grass and park-like land - at the base of the hill that holds the aformentioned St. Bartholomews Church and Woden public house.  The area concerned is more than suitable in size and historic location to perhaps play host to a re-sited 'Sleipnir'....?  

Wednesday 31 October 2018


Wednesday October 31st 2018

Here's wishing all of our visitors - old and new - a very safe and happy Halloween 2018!!

Monday 17 September 2018

Monday 17th September 2018

In recent weeks, I happened to spot the accompanying photographs on social media and have been kindly granted permission by the owner to reproduce them here.  The images are pretty self explanatory - click on them to 'enlarge' - with pics 2, 3 and 4 being 'the same' / 'views from the same' photograph.

 
   
The images were taken by a young man while he was out walking his dog in Wythall, North Worcestershire.  The location concerned is a spot known as 'Packhorse Field', which is situated opposite The Packhorse public house and directly behind the parish graveyard.

Regarding the pictures - by way of simple explanation - the man had briefly said:  "I took two pictures of my dog and can't believe if I've caught a 'ghost' or not?  The pictures were taken one after the other, and, while the first shows nothing, the 2nd shows what appears to be a 'white mist'......  I'm intrigued to see what you think it is?"

Personally speaking, I believe that the anomaly simply shows some form of naturally occurring 'artifact' - bug, dust particle, or some such 'item' - situated too near the camera lens to be 'represented properly' in the resulting image.  This is exactly the same sort of effect which leads to the so-called 'Orb Phenomenon'.... where simple dust particles are - through close proximity to the lens of the camera - represented as perplexing, out-of-focus, spherical artifacts and so on.

However, despite this simplest of explanations for such effects, the 'tone' or make-up' of the image concerned will always carry a lot of weight in the mind of the beholder.... and the picture shown here especially (in my humble opinion) is a rather interesting and impressive example of how such photographic glitches can sometimes 'take on a feel of their own' and potentially lead people to read more into the image than there actually is?  

To use the aforementioned 'orb' - as a convenient example - such things will generally appear as a blatant, round 'blob', usually superimposed 'on' or 'over' whatever scene is portrayed in the picture concerned.....  In the dog walkers photograph, however, the 'anomaly' concerned genuinely gives a feeling of 'being in' the scene itself......  appearing in a position on the pic to convey an impression of 'sitting within' the scene we are viewing.....  It - would you say it is somewhat 'head shaped', perhaps? - appears to be almost, 'coming out of' the darker, open patch, within the hedge-line seen?  

Of course, these observations and suggestions are nothing but an optical illusion.... but, of course, a great many would neither recognise it as such or - more importantly - 'wish to accept it as such' once an explanation was given!? 

What do you think on the topic?         


Monday 17th September 2018

Just over 2 months ago now, we reported on the strange experiences of a young lady - Kelly Fullard - and a friend, when they happened to visit the site of the 'Battle of Bosworth Field' in Leicestershire....  On the weight of this peculiar encounter (click HERE to visit post concerned), Kelly informed us that - on August 22nd - they would both be taking part in a 'guided ghost walk' of the area..... coinciding with the 533rd anniversary of the battle!

Well, needless to say, the date concerned came and went..... and Kelly was kind enough to send us a detailed account of her eventful visit:   

"We began our walk at the top of Ambion Hill, where the monument is for the fallen of the battle.  We were just becoming familiar with our settings and taking in the natural sound of the place we were in.  No expectations were set by anyone at all, it was very free flowing and what we encountered happened very naturally.  The company involved with the event were very well organised and the main historian that guided our walk was actually from the Bosworth Museum.  They were so full of knowledge.... not only on the battle itself, but on that entire area, which we discovered is steeped in history from the Roman times...... 

We walked down to the bottom of the field - so we were now looking up at Ambion Hill and still on the main path - and this was when things started to happen!  There were several people in the group who claimed to be sensitive to things and they seemingly picked up on things quickly?  There was said to be a gentleman, sitting on a bench in what was described as 50s clothing, and he was picked up by several people present... although not by myself.  I believe he was just resting and taking in the view, posing no harm or ill will.

At this point, several people in the group - including my friend - saw the spirit of a girl, in 18th Century clothing.  I personally caught 'flickers of white', showing slightly round the bend, which the people who saw her tell me was her, but that was just how I 'saw her'.  Most of the people in our group also reported seeing some ‘Smoke’ - high up, in the distant trees - and it supposedly looked as if it were possibly from a steam train?  The effect just appeared and went within seconds; it was very strange indeed!

The group then made our way down into the trees, where the 'K2 meters' that we were given started to flash and pick up on things.  The mood within the group really changed:  I found myself very aware of my surroundings and felt like there was someone there with us!?  I felt the need to keep turning around (I'd like to add that I felt very safe and I was very grounded.... so im sure that what I experienced wasn’t just me being nervous!)  My friend, holding the K2, followed the energy and it was flashing like mad when she held it near me!  Even one of the mediums said that there was something 'right in front of me', but they just didn’t want to communicate!?  They were simply ‘checking us out’!!

We then - surprisingly - made our way to a little train station.... which I hadn’t realised was so close to our position.  It wasn’t used at all, we were told, other than the odd open day.  I asked the guide about the smoke that we'd seen earlier, because it had originated from this direction...., but the historian told us that there were NO steam trains in the area running!? 

I felt a little excited!

While we were in this same location, myself - and a lady that I was standing next to - saw what we could only describe as ‘legs’, walking on the track for a few moments only!  Initially, I was petrified when I saw the legs... then I thought I was mad - all within a split second - but, as soon as I said "Look!!", the lady next to me also saw the exact same thing! 

The legs were white in colour and seemed to belong to 'two men'.  I believed them to be the legs of ‘red coats’ (soldiers), only because I sensed as much, and also they were so white in colour, like what you see red coat troops wearing.  Their white ‘tights’......

There were two men 'picked up' by the sensitives present, although I didn’t 'feel' these myself.  There were also said to be several children there too.... which I very much DID pick up on.... mainly on one called ‘Sally’ and another named ‘Sarah’.  I felt a boy too, but there was no name for him?

The K2's again were picking up energies.   Most of what I experienced, my friend - who is also 'sensitive' - reported picking up on the same things.  There is so much history present there.... and so many 'layers' of activity, which we picked up on! 

After some time here, I genuinely felt like our presence there was welcomed... and that the children very much enjoyed us being there!?  I didn’t personally want to leave that spot; I hadn’t felt we, or they, were ready to part, and we could have done so much more!? 

We then made our way into Ambion Wood, which felt perfectly fine.  The group was happy, chatty and still on a high from the experiences we’d had so far....   However - all of a sudden - it DIDN'T feel ‘ok’!!  I personally felt very threatened and uneasy, like we were being followed by something negative.....?  We stopped half way into the wood and we were told that two men, who - putting it very kindly 'were not the nicest of people during their natural lives' were 'here with us' and following close by!!  They were said to be 'moving in and out' of the attendees and our K2's seemingly picked up their progress....  The group was very uneasy, as the men made their presence known!

We continued deeper into the site, to the point where you have a view of the battlefield through the framework that the museum have made.  Here we all felt sombre, defeated and drained!  Horses, mens voices, humming, and the sound of horns were all detected here by several present.

We then made our way towards ‘Richards Well’.  During the walk to this location, several members of the group spotted several 'figures':  all men.... and all in what they described as ‘battle dress’.  Here, I felt the most uneasy: I had felt like I needed to run... and I didn’t want to look up!?  My friend picked up on something 'walking beside her' that made her feel very uncomfortable?

As we approached the well, the medium present said that she wasn’t 'feeling anything'.....  Myself and another member of the assembly did pick up on something, however.  I felt like we were being 'circled'; almost as if being 'rounded up', like sheep!?  It wasn’t a good feeling and I wasn’t sure of 'their' intent?   It just felt like 'they' were going round and round us.... and it was rather unsettling!

This point in proceedings heralded the end of the walk, and we made our way back to the museum for a well earned cup of tea and to discuss what we had all experienced......!"


An eventful night indeed, eh!?

Kelly tells us that this was the first such event that she and her friend had taken part in.  She admits that it turned out to be far more eventful that she could ever have imagined and she is still shocked at what she actually saw, felt and heard even now!    Needless to say, we're happy to hear that Kelly and company enjoyed their intriguing experience!!  No doubt inspired by the aforementioned, Kelly and her friend are now looking into further, organised visits to haunted sites and she has kindly indicated that she will 'let us know what happens' on any subsequent forays.....!!  

Saturday 4 August 2018


Saturday 4th August 2018

Within the last week or so, I was contacted by a young lady who asked if I would like to see a perplexing photograph she had taken at an allegedly haunted site in the Black Country.  I must admit that I was intrigued to see the image in question - I always am - but, in learning the actual location involved, I was particularly interested to hear more on the subject, as this was a site that I'd known fairly well myself, for over 30 years, because of its 'haunted' reputation!

The lady told me that she had always been interested in the paranormal, but had done very little about this interest until last year when she ran an online search on local, haunted sites to potentially visit.  She ended up going to the site concerned with a friend on a Thursday evening.

The area involved is a narrow, dark, lane and visitors - while standing in the midst of a fairly bustling, built-up region - could easily be forgiven for imagining they were in the middle of the countryside... absolutely miles from anywhere! 

The haunting associated with this spot is mainly said to feature the apparition of an old woman - carrying a lantern in some stories - though the ghosts of two men have also, supposedly, been seen in the same area.  The woman is said to roam in a state of terrible anguish and despair, following an horrific tragedy in her family in centuries past.....

While situated at a certain point in the lane, my correspondent says that she suddenly 'felt' there was someone 'situated in front of her':  a presence that, she believed, was the spirit of the old woman in question.  There was nothing to be physically seen, but there was just an impression that there was indeed someone there?

In all, a series of 3 photographs were taken, but, unfortunately, the image shown above is the only one still extant.  Because of some strange events on the day following this visit, someone suggested that the images should be deleted.... and they were.... except for this one!  Apparently, the other two shots - taken prior to this - showed what resembled a 'white, hazy, sheet brushing across the image'!?

It should be noted that the night in question was warm; no breezes, fog, or street lights in the vicinity.  The camera-phone pictures were not taken using a flash, or with any other form of artificial light present.

On the same visit, the lady attempted an E.V.P. session with her phone and, it would seem, managed to obtain a rather peculiar snippet of sound.  In giving context to the recording, she says that the first 10 seconds of the session contain, what appears to be, heavy breaths followed by a mans voice.... saying something which she couldn't personally make out.  As with many such situations the world over, she has subsequently asked friends to listen to the snippet, but they haven't been able to make out what is said either?

I was sent a copy of the recording concerned and - while we all know such things are frequently a matter of conjecture when it comes to what is actually being heard - I (in my humble opinion) 'clearly' heard the aforementioned breathing noises, followed by a male voice saying:  "I'm fine..."

While also at the site, they had utilised a particular parking area at one end of the lane, facing the entrance to the thoroughfare itself.  While parked in this spot, there was a loud 'knock' on one of the car windows;  a considerable knocking sound, but there was no one present to account for the noise.....

After returning home - approximately 2 a.m. - my confidante had checked through the images on her phone and it was now that she noticed the peculiar pictures outlined above.  She awoke again at around 9 o'clock the following (Friday) morning and says that she couldn't begin to understand what was happening with her emotions, as - from the time that she awoke - she couldn't stop herself from crying......  Incredibly, she reports that she cried from this point right through till around 3 a.m. on the Saturday morning!  Interspersed with the weeping, she felt what she can only describe as massively overwhelming feelings of pain and sorrow;  like nothing that she had ever experienced in her normally happy life previously....  the tears and shattering sorrow were unrelenting throughout!

As a result if these emotions, she had stayed in her room all day long and says that she just couldn't allow anyone to see her in such a condition.  She admits she knew that this episode wasn't anything to do with her own 'self'.... constantly trying to make sense of what she was experiencing, while the feelings were still, unrelentingly, passing through her!  Needless to say, she was terrified by these events, to the extent that she had even sent a text message to a workmate during late evening voicing concerns about her personal safety......    

All of these utterly alien feelings and emotions just wouldn't cease.... no matter how hard she tried to stop them!?

Finally - thankfully - sleep eventually came at around 3 a.m., but she had to wake again at 5 a.m. to ready herself for that days work.  Fully roused, she had looked around the room and found that everything was completely different:  her previous sadness had changed to an unusual sensation.... a peculiar 'lightness' - like a haze - now covered her?  She recalled full well what had happened to her, but simply couldn't believe it?  


Subsequently - in trying to make sense of what had happened - she had contacted a psychic.  She had been worried that the spirit of the old woman had potentially followed, or attached itself to her in some way?  She reports that she revealed nothing to the psychic in question, but they had told her pertinent details first.... saying that she was an 'Empath'.  (*Needless to say, in paranormal circles, this would doubtlessly explain the bulk of what she had experienced previously!?) 

She had finally showed the photograph to the psychic and was told that the 'green aura' present in the image was indicative of 'healing' that the spirit had received when she had passed over......  She also suggested that the ghost hadn't 'followed her home', but the disturbances encountered were a by-product of her having 'picked up the spirits essence' during the visit to the site!?  The spirit had basically wanted her to experience what she had gone through herself.......

Despite all of the above, I'm told that the lady concerned still feels drawn to the site involved and has indicated that she will be visiting again at some future point.  She has assured me that she will be in touch again to let me know what - if anything - goes on during this follow-up visit!

Friday 3 August 2018


Friday 3rd August 2018

A long-term, 'Facebook friend' recently tagged me in a post, concerning something that they have been 'noticing' at their home in recent months.  He said:

"Here's something a little weird for you Nick.....  I'll set the scene:

My armchair is in the front room - just to the right of the hallway / living room door - facing the fireplace. Over to the left is the bay window and, in that corner, there is our television. Situated right opposite my position, above the fireplace, is a large mirror. When sitting down in the evening... and the room door is open... the mirror shows the open doorway and the hall.
(*See accompanying diagram, showing just the positions of the items discussed above and ignoring other, unrelated furniture in the room, etc).

Now, almost daily, towards darkness, while I'm watching the telly, in my peripheral vision - reflected in the mirror - I see what appears to be 'someone' walking past the hallway door... This doesn't happen if I face the mirror directly, only when I'm looking to the side of it....

It shook me up the first few times it happened, as I thought somebody had walked in the front door........ any guesses?"


My friend has lived in the property concerned for 9 years and they have never noticed anything 'unusual' there before.  The 'effect' concerned only happens at dusk - or just later - and nothing noticeable has changed in the make-up of the overall situation to bring about such an illusion, environmentally speaking.  It is definitely noteworthy, however, to find that the family only moved into the small, front room concerned at the start of Spring (this year), so it may well be an effect caused by the ongoing changes in daylight, perhaps?   

Looking at the matter rationally, they have said that they are wondering if it is possibly their imagination.... or perhaps some visual issue at play here?

With regards to the 'changing light' and 'visual issue' angle, it has to be stressed that the peripheral vision is particularly prone to anomalies in certain, usually subdued, lighting.  Paranormal lore suggests that ghosts and / or spirits are 'often seen peripherally'..... and some sources go as far as suggesting that they are 'only' seen in this manner?  However - needless to say - this is a terribly biased suggestion from the get-go and it could be accused of blatantly using naturally occurring peripheral / lighting anomalies as an excuse to believe that you are experiencing something ghostly and so on.....

From my own experience, I have visited quite a few sites that manifest such anomalies, one certain public house in the Walsall area being particularly prone to this kind of effect.  We had been warned that the cellar of the building - and particularly the bar in that section - was a place where staff and customers were constantly seeing indistinct, shadowy figures flitting around.  On entering the area concerned for our investigation, the effect concerned was immediately noticeable.... in fact, it became something of a burden having to 'stake out' the cellar because of this visual disturbance constantly at play!  Needless to say, there was clearly nothing 'ghostly' actually happening and all 'movement' - as far as we could ascertain - was down to the subdued lighting levels playing havoc with our peripheral sight.....     

Saturday 14 July 2018


Saturday July 14th 2018

The first of our posts in this most recent update is - I am embarrassed to admit - a VERY long overdue note concerning a pair of books co-written by a lovely friend of ours, Susan Lamb.  

Sue and her friend Joanne Larner are passionate 'Ricardians', devoted to the knowledge that Richard the III was certainly not the hump-backed, evil, 'prince killer' that popular history has mainly portrayed him.  Avidly studying the history of one of our most famous monarchs, both ladies were struck by the emphasis constantly being heaped on the 'negative' aspects of his life... all of the death, destruction and - greatly thanks to the work of William Shakespeare - inferred skullduggery and evil machinations!  Greatly as a result of this, they decided that the horrendously maligned Richard needed to show his more humourous side.... and..... as a consequence, 'Dickon's Diaries: A Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' was created!!

This intriguing book is, according to Joanne's biography, 'A humorous collection of anecdotes about Richards's escapades at his castle of 'Muddleham'; and readers are warned that the book is 'NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY' as they are invited to..... well....... lets just let his Highness tell you himself, for best, eh?:

"Deare Dames and loyalle Subjectes, hear ye this! 'Tis your Liege Lord and Sovereign King, Ricardus Rex Tertius, but ye have Oure permission to calle Us Dickon, for We are a right generous and kinde prince and We knoweth ye loveth Us right welle (especially ye Dames). We hath been keepyng Oure own personall diary, a diary whyche telleth of Oure lyff here at Muddleham and ye adventures of Us, Oure wyff, Anne, the Quene and Oure loyalle and trustie friend and servaunt, Francis Lovell. We hath wryttn down alle Oure thoughts and anecdotes for your pleasure. We know ye follow Us on Ye Booke of Faces and enjoy Oure wordes of wisdom, so now can ye owne a whole booke of them. And, We hope ye shalle agree, right entertainyng it is, by Oure troth. Let not any saye your King is not a generous and kindlie monarch! Now readeth ye on!" 

While the aforementioned volume is clearly light-hearted fiction, Sue herself - through her passion for Richard and his ultimate demise in Bosworth, Leicestershire - has experienced some related 'strangeness', which she believes is most probably paranormal in nature!?  As page visitors will see when they read on, her peculiar encounters at the battlefield itself are mentioned in one of our most recent posts below.....  

Copies of 'Dickon's Diaries: A Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' are available via Amazon at this LINK   

Unfortunately - and this is where we are truly embarrassed - it has taken us so long to report on this volume, our post actually comes at a time when a 'second' installment is now almost ready for release!!  Word of 'Dickons Diaries 2: Another Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' - due for release shortly, in early August 2018 - can be viewed HERE  

Saturday 14th July 2018

I have recently been looking into a supposed matter of Birmingham 'ghostly history'.... namely the alleged haunting of Edgbaston Old Church (St. Bartholomews), by suicide victim, Thomas Jackson.  Local legend has it that the unfortunate Jackson entered the church one night and - for whatever reason - 'put an end to his life' with a cut-throat razor!!  It was widely said that Jacksons 'ghost' then haunted the site.... not only being seen in in the church and churchyard, but also in the surrounding streets!?

No doubt you will notice the usage above of words like 'supposed' and 'alleged', as - in coming to recently chase up details of the actual suicide itself in contemporary, newspaper archives, it appears the case of the self-destructive Jackson is wholly 'conspicuous by its absence'? 

The suicide is said to have taken place at some point during the 1840's and the above is a story that I've personally seen numerous references to, over the space of literally decades, in a number of different sources.  Well-known, local, historian, the late Chris Upton, wrote an article on the matter for a Birmingham-based newspaper in the early 90's, seemingly as an aspect of bona-fide 'history'.  Another piece, from a short-lived periodical called 'Midland Murders, Mysteries and Legends' (released in 1995) also mentions the 'case'.... though pretty much all references that I've seen contain exactly the same details, so, I guess, they probably all originate with the same references?

The only, moderately 'historical', piece that I have managed to find (so far) that even touches on the subject is an article from a local newspaper for the mid-1800's: a ridiculously over-the-top 'ghost story' that basically sounds 'cheesier' than a wheel of Stilton! Intriguingly, despite the suggested 1840's date for the suicide, the piece - only around a decade after the supposed tragedy - seems to already treat the topic as an aspect of 'distant history' or even 'folklore' at very best.... which perhaps suggests that the suggested date is pure fantasy, on behalf of some storyteller or other?

Interestingly - during the aforementioned newspaper searching - I did happen to discover that a number of suicides from the Edgbaston area were actually committed with straight razors..... a reasonably higher figure, it seems, than any other place (locally, at least) that I've happened to look at in the same vein!?  (Canals and other bodies of water seem to have been the 'No.1 favourite' - by far - when it came to self-destructive Victorians!!)  Not that these statistics could possibly have any bearing on the matter in question, of course, but I did find it rather peculiar that Jackson was said to have ended his life in such a manner in a place that is (in comparison) fairly 'rife' with suicide by similar method!?
 
As is suggested in many searches, 'going to the source' is frequently the best course of action and, as a result, I wrote to the authorities at St. Bartholomews Church itself.  Kindly, - and somewhat surprisingly, I must add - I received an immediate reply on the topic.  Unfortunately, however, they seemingly have no record of the supposed suicide, though the aforementioned piece by Chris Upton does reside in their files....

In speaking on the matter elsewhere, the vicar of another Birmingham church suggested that I contact the Birmingham Diocese to ask if St. Bartholomews had ever been 'reconsecrated' at any point?  He said that this would have certainly had to occurred if someone had committed suicide inside the building!?  As a result, I immediately typed an email to the diocese, though - apart from advising me to contact other, 'historical' sources - they could offer no help at all in this search.......?

It should go without saying that I shall certainly be adding to this matter, here on the blog, if I unearth any further detail..... though, in the meantime, I would like to take the chance to ask if any page readers had ever come across word of this most perplexing topic previously!?

Friday 13th July 2018

Great news to be able to let page visitors know about a 'new' publication dedicated to the myths and traditions associated with our capital city.... but even better when it happens to be written by a friend of ours, Worcestershire author, Polly Jones!!

Released only last month, 'Legends And Folklore: London' is an 80 page book that offers a taste of some of the customs, events and characters that have become part of London’s fascinating and varied culture.  Leafing through the volume, the reader will discover a selection of some of the odd events and people populating the myriad streets of this magnificent, old city over the centuries.  Spanning from legends of King Arthur and ancient Britain... to superstitions and witchcraft...  tales of giants, legends and myth throughout the checquered history of our bustling metropolis......!!

Regular visitors to this blog may well have seen a mention of Polly and her work previously, but - for the uninitiated - she is a freelance writer, with a keen interest in history, folklore, and.... well.... basically.... anything with an 'unusual' slant!!  Polly admits that she 'loves the weird and wonderful' and is fascinated by anything magical, macabre, or mythical.... which clearly makes her the perfect choice for penning the publication mentioned here!! 

Her previous writings are varied and have taken the form of numerous projects for a number of different sources.   Her interviews, reviews, articles, and other works have appeared in periodicals, online, and in non-fiction publications... including such sources as: 'Magical Folk:  British And Irish Fairies:  500 AD To The Present', 'The Celtic Guide' magazine, 'Worcestershire Life', 'Mythology Magazine', 'The Spooky Isles' website, and Radio Rivendell. 

Copies of 'Legends And Folklore: London' can be obtained via your usual High Street stockists, or ordered online from Amazon at this LINK 

Thursday 12 July 2018


Thursday July 12th 2018 

Going back to just over two weeks ago, the W.M.G.C. received a lovely little note, from a lady called Kelly Fullard, regarding the 'Bosworth Field' battle area, situated in the Leicestershire countryside.  She informed us that she came across our blog while looking for anyone who had encountered anything potentially 'paranormal' in the area concerned.  The reason for her search was because - while recently visiting with a friend - they had both had a rather peculiar experience..... 

Kelly tells us:

"I am a huge history lover, as is my, friend and we went to the 'Battle of Bosworth' site on a Wednesday school time, as we both wanted to the chance to enjoy the day in relative peace and quiet. When we arrived it was very quiet indeed; a lovely sunny April day. There were at most 15 people around.  We went through the museum / visitor centre and then off onto the ‘walk’.... in which you can’t actually get that close to the field where the battle took place.  It’s also worth mentioning that we were not on a ghost / guided walk at all; we did not go to experience anything at all other than the history.  We walked as far as we could and then started walking back, seeing no more than 3 elderly people, with dogs, on our entire walk.

We stopped at the bench just by ‘Richards Well’ for a spot of lunch.  Again, it was a lovely spring day and it was a nice quiet spot.  We were just chatting about our children and such when, at the same time, we both heard rather distinctive ‘drumming’.... and not the kind of drumming that you would hear in music, this was maybe a single drum being beaten and what we could only describe as a ‘war drum’ based on what we have seen in films.  It just had that rhythm about it.

We both looked at each other and then, before we could say anything, we heard ‘several’ men shouting.... and then it stopped.  The whole experience lasted several seconds.  Suddenly the peaceful surroundings didn’t feel peaceful and we both (admittedly we were a little shaken) didn’t feel like we should be there, so we grabbed our bags and walked back up towards the visitor centre / museum.

We spoke to a lady who worked there and actually asked if they had sound effects or actors around, to which she said no and that we weren’t the first to ask this or have an experience like ours.

It caught us off guard completely and we can’t explain what we heard. For anyone who has been there you will know there isn’t anything nearby and it’s a secluded area indeed"
.

Needless to say, we were greatly interested to hear about Kelly's experience, as this is a place that we have taken a fair amount of interest in, in the past.... and also investigated ourselves, just over a decade ago. 

A good friend of mine, Su Lamb, is an authority on the history and life of Richard the III - and related heritage - and has also had a couple of peculiar experiences during previous visits to the site of Bosworth Battlefield herself.  (To see Su's account from late 2013, please click HERE).  

In sharing Kelly's story with her, Su commented that:  "The lady who related the story certainly isn't alone, as other people I know have heard drumming there too... and yelling!"  (*I'm sure that little snippet will be both 'of interest' to Kelly and her friend.... and, possibly, a little reassuring too, perhaps?)  Su also added:  "My own experience there was more 'peaceful', I suppose.... but it is an extremely haunted place!  In saying that, I have never felt 'threatened' there; I have had the sensation of being watched though.... especially near 'Dickon's Well' and in Ambion woods". 

On a separate visit to the site, Su and a friend saw a group of 'knights' situated behind a hedgerow, on the opposite side of the field to where they were standing.  Her friend managed to take photographs of their view (See nearby pic), but, because of the distance concerned and the general 'distortion' involved in enlarging digital images, etc, the resulting shot generally fails to allow viewers of the pic to really 'share in' what they saw that day, unfortunately.....

Su says that the strange thing about these 'apparitions' was the fact that they seemed to 'interact' with the witnesses!?  Her first thought was that there were a group of 'bikers' in the area, because - at first - they could see the reflections from their helmets.... but, as they looked again, they had realised that they were definitely looking at 'medieval armour'!!   At the time, the friends were standing on the slope which leads up to Ambion Hill, facing down towards Ambion Wood.  When they saw movement and reflections, they had naturally stopped to look in that direction.... and the figures ALSO seemed to stop to - potentially - return their gaze!?  The friend started to snap away with her camera, but Su admits she was totally transfixed and really could not believe what was in front of her eyes!! 

At this point, the main figure they could see - wearing a heavy, wine coloured cloak - appeared to 'point up towards them';  not exactly a 'finger pointing at them', but more of an 'open handed indication' towards where they were standing....!   Both parties stood staring at one another for several, long moments.... before the armoured assemblage just seemed to melt away!?  Su admits that, although it really felt as if the figures were interacting with them, the 'pointing figure' could well have been indicating to nearby Ambion Hill - which was just behind the friends - perhaps outlining a good vantage point in the surrounding topography? 

Afterwards, they went to take a look at the area where these intriguing figures had been situated.  All of the 'knights' appeared to be very tall, but they now realised that they couldn't have actually been standing at modern day ground level, because, on the edge of the wood where they were seen, there is quite a deep ditch!?  If anyone had stood in the position concerned, you would have barely been able to see the top of their head from the ridge where the friends were previously situated....? 

In a previous conversation on this general topic - on the W.M.G.C. Facebook page - a gentleman by the name of Garry Davies also said that, during a visit to the battlefield in 2010, he and some companions had spotted the figure of a tall man, seemingly dressed as a monk, in the Visitors Centre.  Thinking the person was perhaps a member of some form of re-enactment group, they had followed close behind the man, but, as he turned down a long corridor, they discovered he had vanished!?

In ending her recent email to us, Kelly mentioned that the whole encounter had prompted them to book places on a ‘Ghost Walk’ at the site - on the anniversary of the battle - and they hoped to perhaps gain some insight as to what they had heard that day.  Kindly, she has said that she will share any potential experiences that they might have with us, as a form of 'update' on the situation!  Needless to say, we hope that Kelly has something to relate to us, from her forthcoming trip to Bosworth - as long as it's nothing too unnerving, of course!!  Chuckle!! - and hope that this blog entry will contain some data that may prove 'food for thought' on this return.....!?! 

Thursday 3 May 2018


Thursday May 3rd 2018 

I found myself recently 'tagged' in a picture on social media by a friend and asked what I made of the image....?  Not having been aware of the photograph previously, it was interesting to learn that a second, similar picture - obtained by a different person, not all that far from the first - had later been taken!

The first shot (above) was taken by a fisherman - Clive Lloyd - on the River Trent, in late July 2017.  The site in question was near Branston Golf Course, at Burton On Trent, Staffordshire. 

Clive was taking some pics for an angling site when he obtained two images.... the second of which seemed to contain what appeared to be a misty figure standing on the opposite bank?  His first shot - albeit a little 'fuzzy' - contained nothing of interest, it seems.....

Comments left on a media related site pertaining to the picture suggests that the 'figure' could perhaps be little more than the effect of rain falling past the camera lens..... an interesting theory, given the fact that a smaller, slim, light-coloured 'blob' can be seen directly above the 'figure' in the picture?

However - adding further intrigue to this matter - it transpires that a local man, John Anderson, was boating with his son some months later, when they spotted a 'white figure' again on the bank of the Trent near Burton!?  While Mr. Anderson maintained that he didn't believe in ghosts, he did seem perplexed by their sighting, saying:  " I don't really know what it looked like. It did look a bit like a person but it seemed to stand out more than a person would. It seemed as though it stood out a lot more in reality. It was all very bizarre..... Whatever it was seemed to appear and disappear too quickly to be a person, so I don't really know what it could have been.  I guess there are just some things out there that cannot be explained....."


Thursday May 3rd 2018

As regular visitors will know, we have - over the past few years - mentioned a number of ghost-related, regional publications on this page.... and this update brings yet another gem to add to any serious library on the paranormal!

'The Haunted History of Huntingdonshire' - written by Mark George Egerton - was released in October 2017 and, as far as we can ascertain, is the only publication to ever cover the fascinating ghostlore of this most historic county! 

The author himself is a very experienced paranormal investigator in his own right, with literally decades of extensive, first-hand research under his belt.  Having become interested in the subject of ghosts and haunting as a youth - following a strange encounter of his own - Marks early interest in the field was greatly encouraged and nurtured by his uncle, Trevor Kenward, who was a long standing member of 'The Ghost Club' (of Great Britain), which was established in 1862. 

Released in
A4 size format, the book runs to a whopping 332 pages in length and contains over 300 illustrations!!  This impressive 108 thousand word volume has already received considerable praise from a number of sources, including the likes of Robert Snow, the former General Secretary of the aforementioned Ghost Club! 

For anyone wishing to learn more about the volume - including details on how to obtain a copy - please visit this page:  https://thhoh.weebly.com/