Saturday 23rd July 2022

Just a little note to say that we've recently been made aware of a cracking website, 'Mysteries Of Mercia', created by the author, Hugh Williams.  (Click on highlighted title for link to page). 

While I've only had time to briefly skim over the page currently, it's clear that it's a well constructed and most informative site, which I'm sure will be highly interesting to our page visitors!  As a proud 'Mercian' myself, I love nothing more than to see the folklore of our Midland counties being outlined and discussed in such a manner.  Fascinating reading for anyone that makes this region their home... or, equally, for any of you pesky 'outsiders' simply interested in a highly enjoyable trudge into 'the lore of our land', for that matter too!  Lol! 

 

Within the last year or so, Hugh has also released a book - 'The Mystery Of Mercia' - the intriguing publicity release for which describes it as:

"A fascinating journey around the Midlands of England, walking the borderlands between history, folklore and the paranormal. The name Mercia means "borderlands" in Old English and this is the concept Hugh Williams uses to take the reader on a series of strolls, hikes, even overnight camps - around some of the most mysterious and iconic places in the Midlands.

Expect to learn about cunning folk, ritual murders, Arthurian legends and cryptozoological beasts on this ten chapter journey, nicely illustrated along the way".

If the brief description above has served to 'whet your appetite' - as it most surely should have done, we reckon! - then copies of Hugh's book can be obtained from this LINK. 

 Saturday 23rd July 2022

I thought I might post this little 'dive into the archives' here, as this was an item of conversation mentioned to my friend John Chance, during the recent trip into Oxfordshire.  Sadly, it's only a fragmentary account at best, but I still hope that it might be of passing interest to visitors, possibly...

Back in the very early 2000's, we were contacted by another, regional 'ghost group' who told us about a churchyard, local to their area, that had a reputation of being (allegedly) haunted.  At that time, I'd never knowingly heard of the location previously - it being well out of our usual, geographical area of interest - but, in checking up on the place (on my bookshelves), I was gratified to discover that it was, indeed, an historically 'known' site...  (This in comparison to the usual 'Oh, it's a graveyard... Dead people are in there, so it just HAS to be haunted!' style scenario that we've seen so much of over the recent years!)

As well as the ghosts / haunting associated with the graveyard area, there was also a crossroads - within a stones throw of the plot - which was also said to be haunted by a figure in historical garb.  Interestingly, it seems there were probably more sightings of this figure than anything associated with the aforementioned cemetery!?  There was also an historical property just a short way along the road that was also said to have played host to a number of 'ghost sightings' too...  Needless to say, they were researching the church / graveyard - and the surrounding area - and had unearthed a number of of legends about the general locality, it seems.  

Because of only having recently learned of the overall location though, members from the group concerned visited the locality, but reported that - as far as their simple 'presence on site' and 'observational' work was concerned - it was an uneventful journey...

However, in subsequently coming to view the footage that they had taken during their visit, they realised that they had, seemingly, caught the inexplicable voice of - what appeared to be - a 'young girl' on the tape!?  They told us that they hadn't got the technology to 'clean up the recording', but would desperately want to hear it clearer, if at all possible.  As a result, they asked if we might have been able to help?   Encouragingly, it was immediately suggested that there were 'a few things to bear in mind when watching the recording'...  It had been shot by the older brother of our contact and two friends.  The tone of the visit being recorded was 'light' (*which I prefer anyway) - jokes, conversation, slight messing around, etc, etc - mainly, it was suggested, as those in attendance were probably trying to conceal their sense of trepidation and so forth.  The date on the camera was wrong... basically because no one had been able to figure out how to change it.  We were warned that the sequence to watch out for was when one attendee - the person carrying the camera - said that he 'sees a dog', at a point when the camera focuses on three certain graves.  At this point, one of the radios goes off (of it's own accord) and one of them responds (to the 'dog' suggestion) by saying: "It looks like a bird, XXX..."

Our request for a copy of the recording was soon met and - if I recall correctly - the VHS tape received actually seemed to be their original video!  (I had promised to send it back to them as soon as we were able to sample the footage involved, however).  At the point of sending the footage, it had been mentioned that - after further scrutiny - they believed that a 2nd, anomalous voice appeared on the footage... this being that of a woman,  coming through a walkie-talkie, just after the investigators had settled down on a couple of the tombstones.  They could not agree on what they thought this voice said, although our correspondent suggested something like the word 'Coffin', possibly?  supposedly, none of those present heard it on the day and the radios were said to be pretty cheap models - working within a miles radius - while the location involved is literally 'in the middle of nowhere'.....  
   
In sending the recording, it was mentioned that the group now planned yet another visit to the site - within a few days - with a local psychic and a little more equipment.  (*Neither of which would be of any use, I had delicately suggested in response!)  However, the hope of the team was that they might obtain a little more evidence and research the local lore more in depth, possibly. 

Unfortunately, this follow-up visit seems to have been something of a failure - 'Went a bit tits up!', they had suggested!  Lol! - as the 'psychic' was said to have 'freaked out big time' as soon as she got to the gates of the location!  Rolls eyes!  She had apparently 'refused to go in', saying she saw 'something with a candle, guarding the gates'...?  Interestingly, our contact admitted that they did seemingly see a 'light across the gates' ('moving across the gates', did this mean, perhaps?)... as did a few of the others in attendance at that time.  A dictaphone had been left running in the graveyard but, when later retrieved, nothing of interest had appeared on the footage... 

Another weird situation was said to have occurred as they were subsequently traveling home with the psychic mentioned.  She had seemingly never viewed the tape concerned and they had allegedly not told her anything of the legends associated with the site, or of what they believed about it, etc.  However, she began talking about a dog in the graveyard and that she had seen the face of a little girl, who was lying 'face down' in the nearby brook!  It was stated that the girl was 'saying sorry' for having 'run away'!?

*At this point, I have to say that this kind of scenario is exactly why we have never 'used psychics' in investigative situations and precisely why I have no interest in such matters, personally.  Simply put... for an investigative / research framework...  what is the actual point?  All of the above is, IMHO, absolutely typical for such a scenario; the usual, random-seeming 'waffle' that anyone expects - and will generally get, time and again - from such an alleged 'interaction'.  If indeed 'true' and / or accurate to the case in question, then what actual use is this information anyway?  Where has the data concerned actually come from... 'the great beyond', or - as invariably denied in such scenario's - a quick look on a bookshelf or the internet before visiting a site?  Of course, we invariably see the 'The psychic didn't know where they were going before the visit!' protestation from the groups / individuals concerned (almost always in defence of their 'psychically produced' data, it seems... which is somewhat revealing, I always think?), but, even if this is true, allegedly haunted sites are generally 'known' to the inhabitants of a particular region... and, if someone is supposedly involved in the local(ish) paranormal field, then more so to those specific people, eh?*    

At the time of writing this latter note, they were supposedly planning yet another daylight expedition... with a different psychic (One who might actually go inside the graveyard, this time... they optimistically said!  Lol!)  This latter was said to be an internationally acclaimed medium.  (Her name and credentials were supplied).
 
Upon receipt of the recording, I'll admit that I did initially sit through it without noticing the relevant 'anomalies' to begin with.....  Upon a 2nd viewing, however, I managed to eventually find the brief, tiny voice!  Lol! (The most interesting feature of the tape - the 'little girl voice' - occurs early on in the hour-plus recording, appearing at 5.00 / 5.01 mins on the timer?  It has to be said that the 'radio' voice wasn't anywhere near as clear and impressive and simply sounded like a simple / typical 'glitch', to me).  I don't mind admitting that - upon actually identifying the anomaly - I was quite blown away by the voice... IMHO clearly that of a small child saying: 'Please help me!', with obviously female characteristics!  While certainly quiet, the voice - unlike most alleged EVP recordings that you come across - was remarkably clear indeed!  (*I hasten to add here that I'm not at all believer in so-called 'EVP', though I am quite open to the simple fact that 'anomalous voices' could possibly - somehow - become recorded on some form of recording media, etc.  I mention this, as I'm certainly not a 'believe every gnats cough on a recording is a disembodied voice' type of person!  Lol!)  

Having received permission to share some of the details of the case - along with a sample of the voice involved - on our (then) website, we subsequently posted a write-up.  The piece concerned was - as with this note - left free of detail re. the actual location of the site, as requested by the group concerned.  (*Quite understandably, IMHO).

Sadly, this pretty-much draws our association with this matter to a bit of a scrappy-ended conclusion.  As this wasn't 'our case', then our brief involvement with it was 'done and dusted'.  It goes without saying that we'd have loved to take a look at the location involved, but I don't believe an invite by the group concerned was mentioned (?) and, besides, as noted earlier, the place was well outside (what we would have then regarded) our usual 'catchment area' re. cases, etc.  It's been so long ago now, I can't actually recall how the association was concluded, but I don't believe we've ever heard anything from the people concerned since?  Most unfortunate angle of all is the simple fact that I 'lost' the samples of the voice concerned many years ago, so there is no way of actually hearing the recording again today!  Rolls eyes!

It goes without saying that, if you are one of the people involved with that group - or perhaps 'formerly' involved with the group - then we would absolutely love to hear from you and find out what eventually became of all of your focus on the site concerned.  Please do drop us a line... it would be fantastic to hear from you again! 

 Monday 18th July 2022

Over the Summer period (so far), an old acquaintance of mine - the veteran 'paranormal investigator', Peter Crawley - has been making a most determined effort to investigate the magnificent ruins of Minster Lovell Hall, in Oxfordshire.  For anyone who has read more than a couple of books on the paranormal heritage of Britain, I'm sure that the aforementioned site will be highly familiar, as it certainly ranks as one of the most famous (historically speaking) haunted locations on the map!

During one of his most recent visits, my good friend John Chance (of Midlands-based 'GhostcallersUK'), traveled down to Minster Lovell to meet with Peter, for a few hours, and get a look around the location for himself.  He was so impressed by the site, he subsequently chose to visit again a couple of days ago (Sat. 16th July) and kindly invited me to go along with him for the journey...

 

The hall remains that you can see today were built around the middle of the 15th Century, though there were earlier structures on the same spot.  One of the main 'paranormal associations' ascribed to the building is that it served as the location for the rather famous 'Mistletoe Bough Bride' legend.  Of course, I have to use the words 'associations and ascribed' there, as the hall is only 'one of a number of' properties across the country that have actually been suggested as the source of this tale...  For anyone not actually familiar with the story, it is said that, in centuries gone by, there was a grand, Yuletide, family wedding being held at the hall.  The service over, celebrations were now in full swing... food and drink being consumed and party games played.  Someone (it is sometimes said the bride herself makes the suggestion) declares that they should play 'hide and seek' and the beautiful, young bride is picked as the 'quarry' for the other guests.  She runs away to hide... finally choosing a large, linen chest - in a remote part of the building - as her hideaway. Sadly, at this point, joy turns to tragedy, as the catch on the chest clicks shut, trapping the unfortunate girl within!  The 'seekers' fail to hear her muffled cries and, despite a considerable search being launched, she is left to a lonely and tragic demise!  Wracked with horror and mithered to madness by uncertainty, the young groom spends the following years in a constant, manic search for his beloved... until the fateful day someone finally discovered the chest and opens it... and the truth of the tragedy is revealed!  (*In furtherance to the Minster Lovell claim to the 'M.B.B.' legend, the actual 'chest' said to feature in this particular version of the story is kept at Greys Court, Henley, Oxfordshire!)      

Whatever the basis of the aforementioned legend, if any, of course, there is said to be the apparition of a young woman in white, sometimes seen around Minster Lovell Hall ruins.  Tending to appear mainly in December, it is suggested that SHE is actually the shade of the unfortunate 'Mistletoe Bough Bride'?

One sighting of the ghost - which took place almost 30 yrs ago now - witnessed by two men.  They had visited the ruins when they saw what they described as the figure of a very young woman or girl - they estimated around 14 to 16 yrs old - with long, dark hair and a garland of flowers on her head.  The dress she wore was white, like a night dress, with a long, gold cord tied around her waist...  As they watched, she moved across the Great Hall area and was seen to 'walk up a staircase that wasn't there any longer'!  At a height of around 15 feet, she simply vanished...!  (*The badly drawn, 'orange arrow' on the image immediately below shows the general location of the missing staircase.  Clearly, when the property was in original condition, there would have been a stairway here).

 

 

The men instantly went over to investigate the spot concerned, but, apart from a cold chill where the staircase would have begun, there was nothing to account for what they'd seen!?  They later admitted that they felt privileged to have witnessed such a sight!  (And rightly so, of course!)

Yet another 'ghost' associated with the hall - and tying in another legend of grim, lonely death - is that of a mounted knight, in full armour.  I have emphasised the word ghost in inverted commas here, as the experience - if true - might not actually be 'ghostly' as such... but an example of a time-slip, perhaps?

In early 1983, a group of American women were staying in Witney (2 miles distant) overnight and chose to take a look at Minster Lovell.  Upon visiting what they'd expected to be a ruin, however, they were amazed to find themselves looking at a magnificent, old mansion house instead!?  They describe seeing doors, stained and plain-glass windows and a roof (all of which the ruin certainly doesn't have!)  While admiring the site, they suddenly became aware of - in the nearby courtyard - a large horse being led by an old man in smock and leggings.  Sitting atop the mount was a long-haired man, wearing a breastplate and chain mail armour, carrying a visored helmet.  They reported that the horse was clearly mud spattered and covered in lather... and the feeling they got from animal and rider was complete exhaustion.

 

As they watched this bewildering, little procession, the figures moved from left to right... and simply vanished from sight through a wall in the complex!

One of the sites former owners - Lord Francis Lovell - was forced to go into hiding after the 'Battle Of Stoke' (in 1487), when the forces that he supported were defeated.  Local legend has it that he took refuge in a 'secret chamber' at Minster Lovell Hall, relying on one of his most trusted retainers to bring him food and drink.  Unfortunately, it is said that the servant suddenly took ill and died almost immediately... meaning that his master was left to an horrific and solitary death, somewhere in the bowels of the building!?  It is said that, in 1708, renovation work being carried out at the site revealed this long-lost chamber...!?

 

 

Ghosts aside, the little village of Minster Lovell itself appears to have come straight from the pages of a 'Beautiful Britain' calendar... although, situated in the stunning Cotswolds, I guess this is something most would already expect, basically!?  Lol!  The hall ruins - edged on one side by the pretty River Windrush and St. Kenelm's Church on the other - is a particularly peaceful and charming location to spend a few hours.  I'd imagine the area might possibly take on a slightly different aspect after nightfall, perhaps, but it's certainly one of the most charming locations I recall visiting and somewhere that I'd love to investigate personally, at some point...

As with any such adventure, I'd like to extend a massive 'THANK YOU!' to John Chance for his unfaltering kindness!  VERY much appreciated indeed matey, I assure you!

Monday 18th July 2022

Around the beginning of April, this year, I happened to be reminded of the Paul Screeton book, 'Quest For The Hexham Heads', and - being a subject that had fascinated me from an early age - I decided to check online prices.  Being a miser, I genuinely balk at paying more than a couple of pounds for a book (99% of my purchases are from charity shops), so, with the ridiculous prices constantly found online for such things, 'internet shopping' has never really ever been a consideration for me.  (In all honesty, I think I've only ever bought a small handful of books online, over the years).  Having previously looked at the Screeton book, I'd found asking prices to be far-too-much for my tightness and, in searching again in April, the same results appeared once more... £16 and upwards for a paperback copy.

Somewhat fortuitously, my partner had - at that point in time - happened to ask me what I might want for my birthday in early May.  Pretty much never knowing what I want, I decided to 'kill two birds with one stone' and asked her to buy the volume for me.  The matter ended with her placing an order with the popular High Street shop 'Waterstones', some 3 weeks before my birthday.  I can't recall the suggested 'waiting time' now, but there was one, and we had been informed that - when the order came in - I could pick it up at the Wolverhampton branch of the store.  With such a readily available book, we had hoped 3 weeks would probably be sufficient time for it to be obtained, but, if not, I didn't mind an extra week or two (perhaps) wait.

We now scroll forward to a week or so into July and - my partners queries to Waterstones re. the book having been ignored - I finally decided to 'cancel the order'... which I did with no real comment from the Waterstones sources that I spoke with on the matter!  (I genuinely got the impression they either didn't give a toss - no explanations were given as to why the 'in stock' book hadn't actually appeared yet - or such cancellations were a regular, daily occurrence, maybe?  A close friend tells me he has been waiting literally months for something he ordered from them?)  Whichever, as I was hanging up the phone, my partner was tapping the title into Google - despite my protestations not to bother, as it was too expensive online - and she informs me that someone is selling it on Ebay for just £8!?  Of course, it's a 2nd-hand copy, but this doesn't bother me as I only own about 10 books that were actually purchased brand new anyway!  Lol!

So - long story short - she responded to the sale on Ebay and, 5 or 6 days later, the book plopped onto my doormat!

Beginning to slowly work my way through the volume, I'd basically found it to be everything that I'd hoped for. My concentration levels being well into minus figures, these days, I have taken to snatching an hour or so of scrutiny whenever I get the opportunity.  In settling down (with our chickens) in the garden recently, I did the usual, page flicking, 'Now where the hell did I get to?' search and happened to spot 'Cannock Chase' being mentioned (on a page I'd not reached yet).

 

 

Wondering how this (distant from Hexham) topic might be related to the overall subject, I was delighted to spot the 'West Midlands Ghost Club' being mentioned in the text below!  Okay, okay... it's only a 1 line mention, but - by God! - I'll take it!!  Lol!

Despite being an incredibly pedantic researcher, Screeton didn't bother contacting me over the Chase-related content, otherwise I could have saved him the time it took to tap out that (albeit fairly brief) section.  Whatever - it was doubly delightful to eventually get my hands on a copy of the volume concerned AND discover that the W.M.G.C. had merited a small mention therein!