M&M Embroidery Factory - Investigation Report

How we Heard About The M&M Embroidery Factory

As mentioned above - one of the Northern Ghost Investigation members of the time worked at the M&M Factory and invited us along for an investigation.

The Paranormal History Of The M&M Embroidery Factory

Julie had mentioned a few goings on that had been reported in the building by both herself and her work colleagues - namely, items moving by themselves, falling off shelves for no apparant reason, a few strange feelings felt around the building and a sense that you were never alone - even though, physically, you were

M&M Embroidery Factory - Baseline Report

Before every investigation we conduct a thorough examination of the location site to highlight anything within the environment which may interfere or influence with any later investigation through the night. For instance, if there is a railway line nearby which, with the passing of trains throught the night, could cause virbrations in within the location - we'll make sure it's noted down

We also take readings throughout the investigation site (see actual locations) so as to set a baseline which all further readings can be compared againt. At present, we currenly take readings concerning the Temperature, Humidity and of the local Electro-Magnetic Field.

Information Regarding The M&M Embroidery Factory Investigation

What follows is some general information regarding the investigation at The M&M Embroidery Factory.

Possible Environmental Influences At The M&M Embroidery Factory

M&M Embroidery Factory - The Main Workshop

This image is merely a representation of the location and not to be taken as an exact

The main workshop was effectively split into two distint location (although they weren't seperate).

Firstly, as the name implies was the workhop proper. Three rows of sewing machinary dominated the workshop. Amongst the aisles between the machinary were various boxes of T-Shirts, Jackets and Caps waiting to be worked upon.

At the bottom end of the workshop was a small kitchen area for the staff and next to this were a set of stairs leading up to a small balconey over-looking the workshop which at this time was being used for storage.

Baseline Report

Environment Readings

No baseline readings were taken in this location

Group Vigils

What follows are the group vigils that took place in this location.

Note : These vigils are presented purely in Group Order and in no way reflect the order
 in which each group visited the location during the night.

Group 1

NGIers - Lee, Julie, Phil

Guests - Kirsty

This area was the groups first port of call for the night, and as they began to settle themselves down the heater came back on. After tapping randomly on the settings it went off. They took a few photos and prepared to sit around a table to see if they could get it to tip when the heater went off yet again, blowing warm air and making a loud noise. They managed to get it off eventually, and then began to prepare for the vigil again.

Kirsty went to the area where she felt was the most active (the machine with the box, which later in the night 'attacked' Jay!) and stood there, leaning against one of the machines. She felt the pipe underneath turn, which made her spring forward, however when she turned to check what it was she had felt she decided she couldn’t be 100% sure she hadn’t accidentally knocked it.

Lee noticed the battery had died on the EMF meter so he walked over the kitchen area to change it. While stood there he sensed someone walk up behind him. He turned to speak to them, expecting to see one of the group there..... but looked into empty space – everyone was still sat around the table. He turned back to continue with the battery and then heard what could only be described as a single footstep at the same time as feeling the sensation that someone behind him. This time he was sure someone had come over but again, Lee was alone. He shouted over to the group if they’d heard the sound and all 3 of them said they had all clearly heard what sounded like a loud footstep at the same time. Unable to find a natural cause for this, Lee joined the others at the table and they began the vigil.

At this time Kirsty felt as though the group were being watched and that spirit energy was very close to the group. She asked asked for the spirit to touch one of them, and immediately felt a touch on her mouth and chin, which caused her to scratch the affected areas. As her guide normally touches the top of her head she found this a bit odd. Unfortunately none of the others felt anything except a cold draught above their hands which were placed on the table.

In the quiet of the workshop Kirsty called for confirmation of any spirits to move the table or the plastic cup the group had placed on top. Nothing happened. Knocks and taps were heard all over the workshop but these were put down to being completely natural. More focussed requests for taps, such as on the table in front of them remained unheard.

The rest of the time in this location was spent sitting and quietly chatting, waiting for things to happen. At times Kirsty noted she found it difficult to concentrate, notably when distracted by the screams from group 1 in the offices! But apart from one 'knock' response when Kirsty was calling out, which came from the far end of the room and was dismissed as being a noise made by the other group, all that was experienced in this location was the usual settling sounds and wind slapping the air vent on the roof occasionally.

Group 2

NGIers - Jay, Claire, Carol, Mark

Guests - Di

After being fed, watered and then entertained by Carol, the group begin the second of their vigils in this location.

Di immediately sensed lots of movement in the doorway, and had the sensation of hitting a brick wall with the thick atmosphere. She also felt her cheeks change and tingle as if they were emaciated and sticking out. As she ventured deeper into the workshop area she felt as though her heart was fluttering, and she got a fuzzy vice like headache, which to Di indicated the presence of a spirit. She felt this was the spirit of an old man. She didn’t pick up much information from this man except that he had frequently been seen.

At 23.39 Jay stumbled on the stairs but insisted he had not lost his footing. Jay also reported feeling a cold draught, for which he could find no obvious cause.

Di's spirit guide then told her to go down to the machine nearest the far wall, and she began to pace up and down the aisle there. At 22.40 A load 'knock' was heard heard by everyone. Claire said that this noise made her want to shout out. Di said she picked up on a guy in his 50s, who was quite an angry person, cantankerous and stubborn. Di then got a pain in her left arm and felt a heaviness on her chest, which indicated to her that this man had passed over from a stress related illness, as he seemed to be constantly edgy. She also felt cold spots between the 2 back machines, and when going to the same area a 2nd and 3rd time noticed it was a different feeling-a feeling of warmth then cold again.

She felt this man was Mr Johnston from Houghton, and that he was running backwards and forwards angrily, throwing things on the floor and shouting at what seemed like his staff, who would have been doing some kind of woodwork, because they were not working fast enough for him. Di could also see him standing on the veranda overlooking his workers, and shaking his head with disapproval. She got the sense that his footsteps had been heard often by workers at the factory now, but also that he hadn’t realised he had passed on as she felt he thought he was still in the workplace and that everything was as it was when he was alive. She described him as being quite a big man with chubby cheeks, and black hair, and she felt he was driven by greed. She sensed this man was either re-living his life in the 70s (like residual energy) or had died in the 70s, her instincts telling her the latter.

Claire then felt strongly drawn to the door leading out of the main workshop and into the small room leading to the corridor. As she stood there she felt the same feelings she had felt earlier in the manager’s office. She asked Di to come over and stand there and to say what she felt. Di described how she was feeling a tummy ache again and similar feelings to how she had felt in the managers office. Claire had not told her anything about what she felt here. After being stood there for a while Claire noticed that Di's face was beginning to transfigure into various males features. She called Mark over to video Di to see if the camera would pick up any facial changes. (This footage has been reviewed and no changes to Di are seen). Claire felt aggression from one of these male energies, and she had to resist drawing back as he seemed to be looming right up and into her face.

Claire noted that the energies were all mingling, and that Di was snapping in and out of herself, changing her features rapidly. Di confirmed to Claire that this was how she was feeling, again rooted to the spot and not fully in control of her body, however as she felt fully protected by her guide she was happy to continue. Di also confirmed that she felt as though she was looming into Claire, and sensed the energy on her wanted some kind of confrontation with Claire.

As they stood facing each other Claire noticed they were both swaying quite strongly towards each other at times. Di then noticed that Claire had transfigured into a man who Di sensed had had spinal problems from birth, which had affected his neck. Claire confirmed that her neck was actually hurting her, and as time went on Claires head seemed to get lower and lower and tilted to the side at an odd angle. Di also sensed several male energies she couldn't get details from, but the man who was on Claire told Di that although he had the spinal problem he was fully functional, and had 2 children - 1 boy, called Thomas, and a girl called Millie, as well as a scruffy looking sheepdog called Benny. Di sensed he had a wife, who was at home being the "typical" housewife and that he used to take his children and dog walking over hills nearby.

At 00.15 Jay saw a 'shimmering, hazy, shadow' in the far corner. Mark investigated but found nothing. As they were stood listening, a loud noise was suddenly heard, coming from the far corner. Cue more hell breaking loose. Jay suddenly leapt back, yelping and kicking his feet, much to the consternation of those close by, and a noise that sounded like a dog running through the small gap between the machine and the wall, rustling some boxes as it went, was heard by all present. Jay doesn't think he had knocked the box with his legs but can’t fully rule it out. Mark fetched a dog chew (from the supply he seems to carry about with him) to try and coax any dog spirit present into action but all the spirit dogs must have been well fed as there was nothing unusual to note from him doing this. Apart from the fact that he did it ...

The group, still laughing at Jays 'box fight' decided to call it a night for the vigil in there and regroup with the others to compare notes.

M&M Embroidery Factory - The Office Area

This image is merely a representation of the location and not to be taken as an exact

There were three areas of interest to the office area - two of them actual offices that were seperated by a glass and wooden wall. Both these areas contained everything you might expect to find in a working office.

The third area was the location near to the entrance to the M&M Factory and the small corridor leading to the Workshop.

Baseline Report

Environment Readings

No baseline readings were taken in this location

Group Vigils

What follows are the group vigils that took place in this location.

Note : These vigils are presented purely in Group Order and in no way reflect the order
 in which each group visited the location during the night.

Group 1

NGIers - Lee, Julie, Phil

Guests - Kirsty

At 11.30pm the group trawled through to their second location of the night. Lee noticed that every time he walked between the two locations, the small room that joined them gave him a weird feeling, more uncomfortable than anything else. But he bravely carried on regardless.

They sat in the Managers office. Julie took photos and Lee chatted to Kirsty about what spirits could be, mediums and why he was a sceptic. As they were talking Kirsty felt someone else was in the room listening to them, someone other than the other group members, which made her turn to look in the bottom right hand corner (no one was sat there). It didn’t linger after she looked towards it and she felt it disappear through the wall.

Kirsty noticed that this area was bitterly cold, an uncomfortable temperature to be in, and she found this made it difficult to concentrate. There were no major experiences that the group shared in this room, no noises or clicks, but she did feel that there was movement in the smaller room where the computers were but felt as though something passed through that area, through the whole building and into other buildings rather than lingered there.

Lee realised as he was relaying his experiences that he didn’t sound very sceptical and Kirsty noted this. At this point the conversation was more interesting than the location. The group all chatted about various experiences and opinions. Then the location was over and they were joined by the others.

Group 2

NGIers - Jay, Claire, Carol, Mark

Guests - Di

Temp:13.0 degrees

As this was the groups first location for the vigils and as it consisted of a series of small, interconnected rooms they decided to split up into two smaller groups. At 21.49 Carol, Mark and Di remained in the manager’s office, whilst Claire and Jay went into the smaller office at the front of the building.

Claire made herself comfortable at the chair in front of the first pc and Jay sat in the chair to her left, deeper into the small room. After 2 minutes of sitting in silence Claire traced a faint noise she kept hearing, which she at first thought was coming from a pc, to be distant traffic.

At 21.51 Claire was looking towards the external door when she saw what seemed to be a tall thin dark shadow there. She was looking trying to work out where it was coming from, as it appeared to be like a tall thin man but very faint, almost transparent. As she was doing this Jay said he had the sense of something in the door area. Startled, Claire asked if he could see the shadow but he couldn’t. Claire saw it clearly for about 30 seconds more but then didn’t see it again. Mark immediately set his night vision camcorder up on the area.

Claire said she felt cold, then Mark says he did too. Jay picked up a 'swooshing sound' on his listening device. At first Jay and Mark concluded this was most probably something to do with the PCs that were in the office. Claire then sat with the hearing enhancer on, but couldn't hear anything but 'fuzz'. Jay put it back on and reported that he could still hear the noise. Claire said she could hear the noise from earlier which she had put down to being distant traffic so maybe that was what Jay was hearing. They agreed to raise their hands to indicate when they heard the noise, and as they tallied almost every time, they both agreed that the noise was definitely coming from an external source, and this probably was distant traffic.

At 22.08 Mark looked at the screen of his camcorder and saw a streak of light come from half way down the doorway and move down to the bottom of the frame and out of view. The streak could then be seen to loop back up into shot and move diagonally up and to the left before disappearing. (To date, and after analysis no definite cause for this has been found as yet).

Whilst this was happening in the smaller office/corridor, back in the manager’s office Di felt the presence of a jovial male about 5ft 8". She got a scurrying feeling as though this guy quite liked to play cat and mouse with people, who would feel his presence. She also felt that this guy visited the area quite regularly but that this was not his only place of "play". She described him as being quite thin looking, with high cheekbones and wherever she went to try and gain more information from him, he would stand with her momentarily then move away as if knowing what she was doing. She felt as if he wanted to give her the run around. She felt his presence was toward the back wall in the small office and got a feeling of being watched in there by him. She said he also liked to move through the corridor into the larger office and kind of play "run around" between the offices and corridor.

At 22.09 Carol called out to try and gain some response from this male spirit. Over the next few minutes Mark felt a tightness across his chest (he doesn't usually experience this). whilst at the same time Jay felt the pressure change in his ears.

At 22.12 Di and Carol left the manager’s office to go and stand in the corridor after Di saw a light there. They both described, at the same time a feeling of coldness to their shoulders, as well as a swaying sensation. All hell then broke out. The pregnant silence was suddenly broken by a rustling noise, swiftly followed by an ear splitting scream. This was immediately echoed by the smaller, quieter screams of varying sorts from the others, who then grabbed the person nearest to them tightly, until they realised and let go sharpish....looking sheepish. Everyone then rushed over to Carol, who was bent over double, shaking violently and unable to talk. Concern for her, and fear and confusion heightened as the group tried to ascertain what had happened. They were soon put out of their misery when they realised that Carol was shaking with laugher, not terror...because she had stepped on a bit of paper, which had rustled, causing her to scream.....It was noted though by everyone, including herself, that Carol was unusually jumpy in this location.

At 22.14 Claire said she could suddenly smell perfume, or talc. After quickly sniffing everyone she felt the aroma didn't match any of the scents she could smell on the others. Carol, by then fully recovered, continued calling out, then stumbled backwards, saying she had been pushed, although no one was near enough to have touched her.

At 22.15 Carol asked for whatever pushed her to do it again, and again, stumbled backwards saying she felt like she was pushed. At the same time Jay said he felt a touch to his (once apparently pert) bottom. (Mark wants it noting that he was absolutely nowhere near Jay at this time).

Di then picked up on a male energy. She described him as a tall, thin, man who was called 'Fred Sebastian', who liked to give the "run around". She said she couldn't say for certain that was his name, so Carol called out and asked for 'Fred Sebastian' to confirm his name with 1 knock for yes and 2 knocks for no. 1 knock was faintly heard by all, and no obvious cause for this could be found. Di took this as conformation of the name. She felt that the energy in the corridor was quite strong and polite, but that it was stronger in the manager’s office.

Carol and Claire both started to feel colder in the doorway. The thermometer showed that it was actually warmer around them that it was in the rest of the area.

At 22.21 Carol was still calling out to 'Fred' when Di complained of a headache, and at 22.22 Jay described feeling 'pulsing sensations' in parts of his body. (note: Mark is still not near Jay)

Jay said he found the room leading to the main workshop strange and asked Claire to spend time in there on her own. Whilst in there Claire felt dizzy at times but also felt that she wanted to be on the other side of the door in the manager’s office, so she relocated to there. Whilst stood at the other side of the door, Claire felt that there was one spot she was drawn to. Jay entered and when stood in the spot Claire pointed out he complained of feeling pressure in his ears. He moved out of the area and it stopped, but when he went back to the area it started again. This happened several times. Although they both checked, no obvious cause for this could be found.

They returned back to the little room leading to the main workshop and stood there for a few minutes, both saying they found this area a bit spooky but not sure why. Claire noted that she still felt drawn to the spot behind the door in the manager’s office.

Di returned to the manager’s office alone and felt that Fred was in the smaller office now. However after a few minutes she sensed him moving through the door and into the corner where the door to the room where Jay and Claire were. Di moved to that area, and as she stood there she experienced a swaying sensation, and felt as though Fred was 'super imposing' himself upon her. She was aware of what was happening in the room but felt rooted to the floor, and quite numb as well as quite cold. She felt he was now willing to come forward, so she asked Claire to come in and asked her to stand in the spot and to tell her what she felt whilst stood there.(Just to note that this spot was the same spot Claire and Jay had felt strange not long before).

Then Claire described a strong male energy with a thin face and prominent cheekbones who was very strong here, and that she felt a dull ache in her stomach (without knowing what Di had experienced), Di confirmed this and Claire asked Di to stand in the same spot again, which she did. Di immediately got the same feelings as before, but this time with a 'tummy ache'. Claire felt drawn to Di and stood about half a metre from her looking at her face. As Claire watched she saw Di's features transfigure into a mans features, a man with a thin face, high cheekbones, large eyes and a receding hairline. Claire also sensed there were other male energies about but that this one was the strongest, as he was very clearly seen on Di. Claire felt he was trying to get a point across but couldn't understand what it was. Claire saw the mans energy as 'pulsing', and felt almost 'hypnotised' by him. She felt no negativity from him, but couldn't decide what exactly she did feel from him, apart from his strong energy.

This lasted about 5 minutes, Jay and the others were in and out of the room at various times asking them questions, and then the time was up so Claire broke contact and Di's features returned to her own and she was able to speak properly. When Claire asked her what she had felt Di said she had no recollection of anything other than feeling rooted to the spot, feeling as if she didn't have full control of her body, having a tummy ache and swaying forward. Claire confirmed that Di had been swaying slightly. Once they both felt grounded they rejoined the other group in the main workshop for a quick break.

M&M Embroidery Factory - Pre Invo Vigil

Trigger objects

Three trigger object experiments were set up by Claire in 3 different areas suggested by Julie, where it has been reported that things have been moved, or fallen for no evident reason. Random items from the factory were used.Each item was drawn round in pen on a sheet of white A4 paper with iron filings sprinkled on/around them.

A plastic bit from the machinery was set up at the far end of the machine near the fire doors at the bottom. A few small bits of plastic from the machines were used and set up on top of the cupboard at the opposite corner of the same end of the room. In the Managers office on the desk a religious magazine/leaflet was opened and used. Jay took photos of all 3 before and after the vigils. There was nothing unusual to note and it seemed that no movement occurred during the investigation.
Arrival and pre-vigil points to note

The NGI team and our 2 guest mediums had all met up beforehand in the Wessie, and set off in a convoy of assorted cars at about 8.30pm, following Julie to her haunted workplace, deep in the bowels of the deserted Crowther Industrial Estate.

Claire was in Jays car, with Carol and Mark. As they entered the Industrial estate she noticed her ears 'popping', like they do when she goes through tunnels on a train. The road they were on appeared to be flat, and they were driving slowly. Jay said he felt this too, although he said he'd thought he had some kind of ear infection so put it down to that. It was unusual for Claire to experience this travelling in a car on a flat surface at a slow speed.

The convoy pulled up outside the factory at around 8.45pm. Before entering Lee decided to take some external photos of the building.

The unremarkable shuttered building was not your typical creepy looking haunted location, but nonetheless an interesting photo occurred. Lee checked the shots after each take to make sure the focus had worked. On the third photo there was a mist that covered the entire shot. No one was near him and he’d held his breath prior to taking the shot after discovering a while ago that exhaled breath can cause the same effect. He showed Phil and took another shot to see it happened again but it was clear.

Upon immediately entering the building Di felt there was activity in the corridor and offices to the right, and Claire remarked that she felt a 'dizziness/disorientation' there. On first entering the main workshop Kirsty noticed a chill but did not at that point attribute it to any activity given the kind of building that this was. Claire felt this room was 'warm and thick', and asked Julie if the heating was on, to which Julie replied no. Not long after it was discovered the heating was set to auto and had been coming on and off.

What Kirsty did find unusual was the feeling of the energy in the main work room where the machines were. The room itself felt warm but this could have been attributed to a heating system. However the atmosphere itself felt unnaturally heavy and brought feelings of claustrophobia. Not long after being in the room Kirsty began to experience a headache – the kind of headache you would get from being under pressure (heavy atmosphere pushing down). As she began to walk up and down the machines she felt her eyes start to sting and water which she hasn’t experienced before and isn’t a normal reaction for her when she’s around spooks. She had the impression that it was caused by some sort of gas? Her throat felt really dry and her chest tight. She also felt teary and quite emotional.

She felt the energy of a male whom she felt had had some sort of accident as she got the impression he was dragging the right side of his body and he felt quite desperate.

At 9pm the whole group started to look about the place, setting up experiments and taking baselines, as well as doing a general assessment of the building. The long rows of sewing/embroidery machines stood silent (except when Julie turned one on to demonstrate how loud they were, and give an idea of the noise level during working hours).

In the far corner of the room Jay said he could feel a pressure on his head. Lee walked over to see if he got the same feeling and funnily enough he did. It was a heavy sensation of having his head pressed down. He noticed the machine he was beside was still switched on. He went to get his emf meter to see if it was radiating anything. Julie in the meantime had switched it off. The pressure had ceased too when he was standing back in the original spot. The EMF reading was nil but under the machine it went off the scale, but this was also where the transformer was housed.

Carol and Lee were stood at the far aisle of machines near the far end when they felt a strong cold draft blow past them. Mark had just walked past them and felt nothing. The temperature was immediately recorded and showed that there had been a drop to 15.5ºC (from 21.3ºC) in the space of 15mins.

The heater suddenly came on which confused people as it was not meant to come on. The settings appeared to be set to auto. The noise and draught it threw out meant the group could not start properly as some members felt it would influence how they perceived the location. Eventually it stopped so the investigation could begin.

Whilst in the managers office with Mark and Jay, Claire, whilst stood with her back to the door, saw a big black flash coming from the top left hand corner of the room, which she described as like 'black sheet lightening'. She asked Jay and Mark if the lights had just flickered, to which they both replied no. She asked if they had seen the 'flash - they hadn't. Claire usually associates these 'black flashes' to areas which have been extensively mined and have reported paranormal activity also. The area was checked by all 3, and Julie was asked if there was anything which could have caused it. No cause was found.

Claire then returned to the main workshop where Kirsty and Di asked her what she'd felt upstairs. Claire replied she'd not been up there yet, and set off climbing up the short staircase. As she reached the top she noticed she was breathing rapidly, as though she'd just exerted herself, which she obviously hadn't. She began to explore the wide gantry she was on, but as she walked towards the window she noted the nearer to it she got the tighter her chest felt, and the faster and shallower her breathing became. She felt as though she couldn't inhale deeply enough to get the correct amount of air her lungs needed, and she wanted to lie down. She stood experiencing this for about 2-3 minutes, and then decided to go back down as she didn't feel too clever. As soon as she was halfway down the stairs the feeling left immediately. She said this to Di and Kirsty, and Kirsty said that she had felt a similar thing up there too; however Kirsty did not include this in her own submitted personal report.

The group split into two teams. Jay, Claire, Mark, Carol and Di went into the office section while Lee, Julie, Phi and Kirsty remained in the workshop.