Wednesday 8th May 2019
Within recent days, our old friend Johnny Witton posted a couple of photographs of Dudley Castle on the W.M.G.C. Facebook page (LINK), which prompted one of our members, April Orchard, to tell the story of her first 'ghost sighting' - occurring in 2016, on her very first investigation - at the aforementioned site!!
It appears that there were around 20 people present at the time of the encounter, but only 3 of those actually 'saw the figure'.... which they took to be the famous 'Grey Lady'!
The group were in the process of holding a vigil in what is known to be the 'Kitchens' area of the ruins, when a 'calling out' session was underway. April says that - lo and behold - every time they 'asked for a sign', they would hear a 'rustling noise' from the roofless room next door!! Everyone present was so elated that they appeared to be receiving a response to their questioning, it was suggested by April that they all move into the room where the rustling was originating.... which they did.
Entering the area, they were instantly rewarded with the sound of rustling again...... but then came the crushing anti-climax, when they realised the noise concerned was actually nothing more than a section of 'blue tarpaulin' that was flapping In the wind!! SOOO disheartening!! Laugh!!
However...... the now deflated group were in the process of looking away from their discovery, when the figure of a woman suddenly walked from one wall of the room - across the floor - and into another!! The form, which originated from the wall to the left hand side of the tarpaulin, was viewed by April from a side angle and appeared to be 'legless'... though the arms of the figure were clearly seen 'swinging', as in a normal, walking motion. The figure was that of a young - late 20's / early 30's - slim woman, with long, dark, 'straggly' hair, and the bottom of her grey dress appeared to be made up on different lengths of fabric......
To her credit - because the figure had seemed so real - April had subsequently looked around the area to see if someone had perhaps set up a projector, or some such equipment, to possibly 'fake' the experience? As mentioned, there were well over a dozen people in the room at the time, but only three of those present actually saw the figure concerned. (*This kind of 'some do, some don't' scenario, needless to say, has frequently been reported during alleged ghost sightings, over the years, at a variety of different sites). It should be noted that there was also a peculiar 'smell' noted at the time of the encounter, but those present were told that this was associated with a 'tramp-type-character' who used to 'hang around' the castle kitchens when they were still in operation.....?
While people do tend to react different to this kind of experience, April tells us that - while overwhelmed - she was left feeling absolutely ecstatic by her encounter! She reports having been left feeling truly 'privileged' by the experience!
It appears that there were around 20 people present at the time of the encounter, but only 3 of those actually 'saw the figure'.... which they took to be the famous 'Grey Lady'!
The group were in the process of holding a vigil in what is known to be the 'Kitchens' area of the ruins, when a 'calling out' session was underway. April says that - lo and behold - every time they 'asked for a sign', they would hear a 'rustling noise' from the roofless room next door!! Everyone present was so elated that they appeared to be receiving a response to their questioning, it was suggested by April that they all move into the room where the rustling was originating.... which they did.
Entering the area, they were instantly rewarded with the sound of rustling again...... but then came the crushing anti-climax, when they realised the noise concerned was actually nothing more than a section of 'blue tarpaulin' that was flapping In the wind!! SOOO disheartening!! Laugh!!
However...... the now deflated group were in the process of looking away from their discovery, when the figure of a woman suddenly walked from one wall of the room - across the floor - and into another!! The form, which originated from the wall to the left hand side of the tarpaulin, was viewed by April from a side angle and appeared to be 'legless'... though the arms of the figure were clearly seen 'swinging', as in a normal, walking motion. The figure was that of a young - late 20's / early 30's - slim woman, with long, dark, 'straggly' hair, and the bottom of her grey dress appeared to be made up on different lengths of fabric......
To her credit - because the figure had seemed so real - April had subsequently looked around the area to see if someone had perhaps set up a projector, or some such equipment, to possibly 'fake' the experience? As mentioned, there were well over a dozen people in the room at the time, but only three of those present actually saw the figure concerned. (*This kind of 'some do, some don't' scenario, needless to say, has frequently been reported during alleged ghost sightings, over the years, at a variety of different sites). It should be noted that there was also a peculiar 'smell' noted at the time of the encounter, but those present were told that this was associated with a 'tramp-type-character' who used to 'hang around' the castle kitchens when they were still in operation.....?
While people do tend to react different to this kind of experience, April tells us that - while overwhelmed - she was left feeling absolutely ecstatic by her encounter! She reports having been left feeling truly 'privileged' by the experience!
Following her sighting, April then saw the famous, 2014, 'Grey Lady' photograph that was taken at the castle, which was picked up by both National and International media sources after initially being seen on this very blog by 'Birmingham Mail' reporter, Mike Lockley! On the night of their experience April's group had, coincidentally, entered the kitchen area of the ruin through the very doorway featured in this photograph, some 2 years earlier!! (Mikes Article - HERE)*As an asides to the above matter - relating to the 'flapping tarpaulin' matter - we had to admit that we could wholeheartedly share in Aprils disappointment, as 'we too' also had a similar story to tell....!! Laugh!! During an investigation at the picturesque ruin of Lilleshall Abbey, in Shropshire, many years ago, the group took some sound recordings... which, upon checking the footage, were found to contain a lengthy sequence of 'rustling noises'!?! As these recordings had been made in a locked-off section of the ruin - the so-called 'Murder Room' - with no one physically present at the time, we were most excited to believe we had possibly caught something quite inexplicable!!
However, after a few minutes of excited checking and re-checking, it suddenly dawned on us that we had used a huge, blue, tarpaulin to line the lichen covered floor of the chamber concerned on the night in question....... A night, it had to be noted, that was particularly 'windy'........ Laugh!!
A big 'Thank You' from the W.M.G.C. - to April Orchard - for kindly allowing us to re-tell her story here!! If any of our page / blog visitors might be able to help April in finding the other two 'witnesses' to the sighting mentioned here.... then she / we would be forever grateful!? If anyone is aware of friends or relatives who have attended a commercial investigation in the past and believe they have had a ghostly experience during the event... then please could you possibly check to see if it might have been the same 2016 matter being discussed here, perhaps? If so, please drop a note to me - via wmghostclub@yahoo.co.uk - and we will pass your details on to April ASAP. Many thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment