Tuesday 19th February
The W.M.G.C. have investigated a number of sites around Warwick, Warwickshire, in fairly recent years, but it had been a break of almost 3 decades, since my last, casual, 'daylight' tour of the town.... It was, therefore, a pleasure to receive the opportunity to be able to visit such a beautiful and historic region again at the beginning of this month.
It probably goes without saying that the most famous, allegedly 'haunted', site on offer to visitors is the impressive edifice of Warwick Castle and there has been a fortification on this spot since a wooden fort was first built here by William The Conqueror in 1068. As you might expect, ghostly legends associated with the spot are many... though, it has to be stressed that pretty much 'all' are just that: myths and legends. However, this clearly hasn't slowed castle authorities any in manipulating their ghostly heritage to the fullest in recent years!
Almost definitely, the most famous ghost story associated with the castle is that of the ill-fated Sir Fulke Greville... and it is his legend that gives the sites 'Haunted Tower' its spooky reputation! James 1st gave Warwick Castle to Greville in 1604 and the latter utilised the stronghold as his country home.
It probably goes without saying that the most famous, allegedly 'haunted', site on offer to visitors is the impressive edifice of Warwick Castle and there has been a fortification on this spot since a wooden fort was first built here by William The Conqueror in 1068. As you might expect, ghostly legends associated with the spot are many... though, it has to be stressed that pretty much 'all' are just that: myths and legends. However, this clearly hasn't slowed castle authorities any in manipulating their ghostly heritage to the fullest in recent years!
Almost definitely, the most famous ghost story associated with the castle is that of the ill-fated Sir Fulke Greville... and it is his legend that gives the sites 'Haunted Tower' its spooky reputation! James 1st gave Warwick Castle to Greville in 1604 and the latter utilised the stronghold as his country home.
Just over 20 years later and, while staying at his London home, Greville was the victim of a murderous assault by one of his servants, Ralph Haywood. In a desperate endeavour to save the badly wounded man, his physician is said to have 'packed the wounds with pig fat'.... causing infection and, finally, an agonising death! His body was subsequently brought back to Warwick, to be buried in the Collegiate Church of St Mary. (Right). In late October 2007, Members of the West Midlands Ghost Club - along with B.B.C. Radio W.M. DJ, Danny Kelly - were allowed to investigate certain portions of the castle overnight. The resulting recordings were aired as part of a 'Halloween Special' show for that year.
Situated where West Street meets High Street, Lord Leycester Hospital, is a magnificent complex of buildings dating from around the 1100's, to the 14th and 15th Centuries.
In December 2005, members of the W.M.G.C. were asked to take part in a proposed Central T.V. documentary - on the subject of Midlands ghosts - and the picturesque Tudor House Inn / Hotel, on Stratford Road, Warwick, was chosen as a suitable location for the project.....
The Inn is said to be haunted by at least three different ghosts.... those of a young boy and girl and a gentle, female apparition nick-named 'Jennifer'. A further figure - a white, hazy 'form' - was also seen going up the bar stairs by two visitors to the hotel one evening.....
Numerous people associated with the site, both staff and visitors, have heard inexplicable, disembodied footsteps both moving across the bar area and in the (empty) 'Mary Tudor Room' directly above. The sound of music and singing has also been reported by numerous people in the bar area of the building. Some heavy gates, used to lock up the bar at night, have been heard 'rattling' quite audibly when there was no one around to interfere with them..... Further audible activity has been reported from outside the property, when people have supposedly heard the sound of 'barrels rolling' in the middle of the night, nearby....!?
The 30 minute documentary - 'Central Extra: Ghosts' - was aired in January 2006.
"BRIEF INVESTIGATION REPORT: The Tudor House Inn – Warwick – Warwickshire.
Date Of Visit: 11th / 12th December 2005.
Duration Of Visit: Approx. 7.5 hours.
Time of Arrival: Approx. 9.00 p.m.
Present:
Investigative Team - Leonard Jackson, Steve Chew and Nick Duffy. Also, for part of the investigation - Tudor House Manager ‘Sweetie’ and I.T.V. Film Crew x 3 persons.
For the duration of the night, three paying guests are housed in rooms situated on the 2nd Floor landing.
Aims / Inv. Process:
General investigation of property, mainly focusing on sections of building noted as being of particular relevance / importance regarding the alleged paranormal history of the site. Investigation procedure incorporating:
1st person audio / visual observation.
(b) Static (area based) audio / visual recording, incorporating standard / night shot camera’s.
(c) General temperature recording. (Incorporating ‘ambient’ devices).
(d) Trigger objects – listed below:
*12” tall mannequin figure – positioned on table in Restaurant area of building.
*Cross – outlined on white paper – on small, corner window ledge of Mary Tudor Bedroom.
*Childrens chiming ball – situated on dresser in Mary Tudor Bedroom.
*Bible – placed on chair at top of Bar Room Stairs.
Brief Investigation Notes:
*9.00 p.m. – W.M.G.C. members arrive at site. Speak with Tudor House staff and gather general data concerning alleged haunting of site.
*10.00 p.m. – I.T.V. Crew arrive. Begin with filming external views of building, followed by ‘interview’ sessions – in Main Bar Area - with group members.
*11.30 a.m. – I.T.V. crew film group members setting up investigative equipment in Mary Tudor Bedroom.
Camera (utilising night shot capacity) positioned in (door / main window) corner of bedroom, facing – diagonally – towards small, corner window (on the ledge of which the ‘cross’ trigger object is positioned).
Thermometer and childrens ball situated on small dresser against corridor wall of room.
Door to M. T. Room locked at 12.15 a.m.
*Approx. 12.30 a.m. – I.T.V. Crew leave building.
*1.00 a.m. – video recording session in Mary Tudor Bedroom finishes. (At this point in the morning, ‘Sweetie’ retires for the night to Room 5 on the First Floor landing).
*1.15 a.m. to 2.00 a.m. – Group members conduct vigil on staircase between Restaurant area and 1st Floor Landing.
During this period:
Video recording session running in Main Bar Area. Camera facing up Bar stairs to 1st Floor area.
*2.10 to 3.00 a.m. – Group members conduct vigil in Bar Area.
During this period:
Camera 1: positioned on 2nd Floor Landing, looking towards Room 10 area.
Camera 2: positioned on 1st Floor Landing, facing upstairs towards 2nd Floor Area.
Camera 3: positioned in Restaurant Area, facing rear of property.
At approx. 2.49 a.m. Len Jackson walking along Reception Area corridor (going to retrieve camera 3 from Restaurant Area) when he hears loud ‘hiccup’ type noise. Cannot find source of sound and admits that the experience causes him to be momentarily reticent to enter Restaurant Area.
*3.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m. – Group conduct vigil in Mary Tudor Bedroom.
During this period:
Video recording sessions in Main Bar Area. Camera 1 situated on Bar Balcony – 1st Floor level – filming down towards great fireplace end of room.
Camera 2 positioned facing Bar Stairs.
*4.30 a.m. – Group leave site.
Conclusions / Summary:
Nothing of an obvious ‘paranormal’ nature was detected during our visit. The only event of any potential significance was Len Jacksons experience at 2.49 a.m. in the Reception Area Corridor.
Temperatures within the building dropped steadily by 1.5 degrees during the course of the stay.
Doc Ends".
In more recent times, St Johns House Museum - a fine Jacobean house, set in its own gardens - appears to have become fairly popular with the 'Paid Ghost Hunt' / 'Commercial Ghost Venture' fraternity. While we could find no real written records re. the alleged, 'haunted history' of this site at all, a quick check 'online' is pretty much all it takes to both 'set alarm bells ringing' and merit more than a slight 'sceptical grimace'......
To quote advertising blurb found on the net: "There have been many reports of paranormal activity and ghostly sightings at the mansion by staff and visitors alike, including the sounds of footsteps from empty rooms, dramatic drops in temperature and even a figure seen at one of the windows. It is thought two sisters both met tragic ends at the house; one was burnt to death when her clothing caught light while trying to dry herself by an open fire and the other fell ill after the house was broken into and many believe she literally died of fright".All of the extremely limited data mentioned above seems absolutely standard from site to site.... which would basically lead the reader to surmise that all of the references are probably taken from the same, initial, very brief, source? Whatever, its hardly 'riveting stuff', is it - 'dramatic drops in temperature' and 'a figure seen at a window'!?! - especially if you are being asked to, on the basis of such scant detail, dig deeply into your pockets, pull out your hard-earned cash, and pay handsomely for the pleasure of staying here, eh!?
In mid-2009, group members paid our most recent overnight visit to Warwick, when we were invited to investigate the lovely 'Lord Leycesters Hotel' in High Street.
Built around 1600, the ghost of a little girl has been spotted darting around one of the staircases of the building. Upon being challenged by a member of staff, the child is said to have put her finger to her lips and - somewhat cheekily - told the person concerned to 'Shussshhhh....!!!' before disappearing!!
A much more disturbing apparition altogether was the naked 'torso' of what appeared to be an 'Afro-Caribbean Gentleman' that was spotted by a cleaner, moving between some of the hotel rooms on an upper floor!
In this same area of the property, hotel equipment has been interfered with - hoovers and lights switched on and off, seemingly of their own volition - and, on more than one occasion, 'shoes' apparently witnessed 'flying through a wall'...!?!
Visitors and staff have also reported uneasy and uncomfortable sensations, in a number of parts of the hotel, and a former chef claims to have had something forcibly 'brush past him' in the cellar of the site one day, even though there was nothing to be seen to explain the sensation........
In ending our little visit to Warwick, we thought we might part with a nice, gentle, historic ghost..... that of the genteel Thomas Oaken.....
A much more disturbing apparition altogether was the naked 'torso' of what appeared to be an 'Afro-Caribbean Gentleman' that was spotted by a cleaner, moving between some of the hotel rooms on an upper floor!
In this same area of the property, hotel equipment has been interfered with - hoovers and lights switched on and off, seemingly of their own volition - and, on more than one occasion, 'shoes' apparently witnessed 'flying through a wall'...!?!
Visitors and staff have also reported uneasy and uncomfortable sensations, in a number of parts of the hotel, and a former chef claims to have had something forcibly 'brush past him' in the cellar of the site one day, even though there was nothing to be seen to explain the sensation........
In ending our little visit to Warwick, we thought we might part with a nice, gentle, historic ghost..... that of the genteel Thomas Oaken.....
On my first visit to the town, the utterly gorgeous 'Thomas Oakens House' - a 16th Cent. structure, lying within a stones throw of the castle - housed a 'Doll Museum' and 'Doll Hospital'. However - today - is now a tiny, charming 'tea rooms', it seems!!
Oaken himself was born to a very poor, local family, but - through his hard work - he later became a very prosperous merchant in the region and was a great benefactor to the town! While little has been published on the associated haunting, it is said that the quiet, gentle, spirit of Oaken walks through his former home at night.......
Oaken himself was born to a very poor, local family, but - through his hard work - he later became a very prosperous merchant in the region and was a great benefactor to the town! While little has been published on the associated haunting, it is said that the quiet, gentle, spirit of Oaken walks through his former home at night.......
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