NGI

They say good things come in threes......

Three times over the last year and a half Northern Ghost Investigations have been called in by The Butterwick ....to help them search for spirits .....

Three times giving people a chance to explore the reputed ghostly goings on at Preston Hall.......

Three times we've had the pleasure of working with Richard Felix (of Most Haunted fame),who's infected all present with his obvious enthusiasm and passion for 'ghosts' and 'ghosthunting' in general,whilst on the last two events we've been joined by Ian Lawman (Most Haunted, Living with the Dead),who has charmed everyone,believer or sceptic,whilst sharing his spirit experiences and demonstrating his unique approach to mediumship.

As the trilogy at Preston Hall closes, we'd like to share some of the things that have occured on all three of our nights there, things which have been experienced by people who've come along to see for themselves just who or what has given rise to the reported ghost sightings and alleged paranormal activity....people who have been brave enough to see just what does happen at Preston Hall exactly when the doors are locked and the lights go off..............

The Ballroom has been the focus of the early evenings activity each time,with Richard and Ian entertaining everyone in there with their theories and personal stories,answering questions and talking to people,as well as chatting to people as the 'Last Supper' (in this case Buffet Supper) was served.
However as night fell,and people were seperated and split up into small teams,when in darkness Preston Hall became a very different place.

These are a couple of 'excerpts' taken from submitted reports:

Outside the main doors

Group 1

The group formed a circle and linked hands in the area near the main doors where the medium and several of the guests were attracted to.

They called out and took emf and temp readings when guests reported hot/cold/tingly areas etc but nothing of interest came up on any of the meters.

Info from guests and medium:

- 1750 - Tom,aged 49,worked in the grounds,died of a heart attack

- Catherine 52 and a bloke with a black beard

- Several of the guests said thier feet/legs felt odd and one guest said her r leg felt 'funny' then she couldnt stop tapping it

- 2 seperate entities circling the group

- Aggie

- 2 children,(Tom and carl?) who needed to go to the light

- several guests thought they heard horse hooves and one guest said the heard a horse behind her..the noises heard all came from the same direction towards the main carpark

- 4 guests got the name Bob

- Robert got off his horse here

- 1 guest said her ears felt under pressure

- Male with a gangreous right leg

- Tom had a heart attack

Armoury

Group 1

Ralf and Richard joined us for this location,and people split up into 2's and threes to stand in the small alvoved areas.

Info from guests and medium:

- 2 guests said the 2nd tunnel 'flashed orange'

- 3 seperate guests heard 'knocks' on the door in the second tunnel 3x...no explanation found for this at the time,they were on their own in there when they heard them

Group 2

In this area of the Dungeon, off the main corridor (bottom end), which had arch way cut outs on either side of the room, one guest (lady) felt that this was occupied by the spirit of a male, by the name of Jacob Tanner. It was felt that this male was a feisty old git (her words) or at least a nasty piece of work. His occupation was thought to be that of a Game Keeper, as it was felt that a dog, possibly a hunting dog (a retriever) was by his side. It was also noted that the dog, which was black in colour, was shaking and appeared to be terrified of Jacob.

A number of guests also complained of headaches in this area of the Dungeon, and one guest felt that someone had been hanged in here too. Another guest felt that a holy person (female) or Nun resided in this location, while another guest sensed the presence of an old haggard woman by the name of Liza Fitzgerald. Liza was thought to be about 45 years old, but looked a lot older, the guest felt she may have been a prostitute but that her other occupation was selling rags.

A Blacksmith, or someone who worked with steel, by the name of Gilbert was also felt to be in the room. So too was an Arthur Sherwood, a general labourer, and the date 1848 was noted.

One guest felt the sensation of a broken arm, that the floor was trembling and shaking, which the guest described the feeling as that of being immersed in an ice bath, was also noted. Some guests felt the 'strong urge' to pace the floor, whilst a feeling of being trapped was also indicated at this point. One guest sat in the cubby hole on the right hand side of this room, the guest felt very shaky in here and had to leave it quite quickly. The name Arthur came up again, only this time it was felt that this particular male was a servant who worked in the kitchens - the date 1840 was noted. Arthur's full name was Arthur Frank James or Franklin (surname).

There was a feeling of hair loss regarding this gentleman, that his hair and long beard, were bedraggled & matted. His clothing was reminiscent of a sack cloth type robe, and he was of short stature. A sensation of cannons and ear drums been blown were also connected to this man (Arthur F.)

A baseline reading was taken in the Dungeon corridor itself, which was 13.1%, and at the end of the corridor the reading was 11.4%.

In the Dungeon, where the Armour is located, one of the guests felt that the Armour in the display cabinet had been repaired on the chest plate at some point - although NO repairs could be observed on the chest plate it has to be noted. The name Charles Bernett, and the connection with a flag and horse was also noted.

The room which housed the Sword collection, a guest felt that the door at the rear of the room led outside. It was felt that this was an outlet whereby people would have brought things up from the river. It was felt that this could have been a delivery entrance at one point i.e. sacks, grain, potatoes, baskets, where sensed.

The sensation of sitting on straw, difficulty in breathing and deep sadness was felt by one or two of the guests - once they removed themselves from this particular area, felt instantly better. Again the sensation of a shaky floor could also be felt.

One guest felt they were wearing a heavy square shaped ring on their left hand, in the shape of a letter H. There was an urge to play with the ring (NOT literally or sexually you understand, i am trying 'desperatley' Jay to write this bit about the ring without laughing honest...lol), while also having the feeling of heaviness in the ankle area, it was as if it was weighted or shackled. Another guest felt that persons had been transported by boat at some point, and that it featured heavily in this particular room.

The Dice Players

Group 1

Methods used include calling out/laser temp/pendulum

Soon as Claire went in her breathing became very shallow and fast. She noticed the mediums breathing had altered also. Calire felt the room was 'full of energy' and it felt linked to 'childbirth'.

Guests and medium:

- 1 guest got 'heaviness and pressure like in the last few weeks of pregnancy'

- 2 guests got pains in thier stomachs

- 1 guests had her hair touched

- 4 guests said they felt as tho they had breathing problems,couldnt breathe properly

- 1 guest felt pressure in her throat and ears

- 'jaqueline -pain in her heart - stabbed'

- 'Mary, in her 20's- cant breathe properly'

- 'youngish woman in childbirth - either she or the baby died during it tho'

- The medium sensed several energies in here

- One of the guests who had never done the pendulum stood in the area the medium felt the energy was strongest in and was amazed when the pendulum suddenly started strongly swinging from side to side.After about 45 secs it stopped dead,and the guest recording temp noted the following details:

A steady drop with in 30 secs from 13.1 - 8.5 (12.9,12.1,8.5).The pendulum was still for 30 secs then started swinging and when it did the temp went up again within 30 secs to 13.5...when the pendulum stopped again it dropped the same in 30 secs to 8.5....it did this in front of the whole group 4 times.

After checking with the staff on the night it was confirmed that this was a controlled environment and there was no explanation found for the temperature rise/fall. The guests who were doing this had not met before and did not know each other.

Group 2

In this particular location, a very strong feeling of heaviness, anxiousness, cold, tightness in the chest and fast heart beating, was felt by a few guests. This was also felt by one of our NGI members too, who incidentally felt this earlier in the room before the investigations began - this NGI member remarked that it felt like someone had walked over their grave. The Medium who was with the group, felt that it was the spirit of a male who didn't want to be there. The Medium also felt that there should have been a door at the right hand side wall of the glass partition, also an Orb was photographed near this site by one of the guests. Another Orb was photographed at the left hand side of the Dice Player picture too.

The name Percy or Perceval, who died of a drink related disease of the Liver, was also noted. This particular spirit appeared to have trouble with his teeth, as one of the guests felt the sensation of extremely loose teeth, which fell out easily.

A guest had to leave this location, as they were experiencing symptoms of chest pain, and felt as though they were being pushed out of the door- the guest stayed outside for the remainder of the vigil.

The names Molly and Josie, occupation may have been maids, around 16 years old, were felt in here - as well as a young man by the name of Peter.

One of our NGI members sat in the corner near the exit, and felt a cold sensation on their right hand side - NO draught could be detected in this area it has to be noted.

After we left this location, and just outside the Dice Players room itself, some guests commented that they felt a very strong, powerful energy at the right hand side of the corner (the picture wall), and some guests felt a gravitation to this spot too.

The Street area

Group 1

Methods used:pendulum, emf recorder,temp recorder

Info from guests and medium:

- shapes/shadow/figure seen in the toy shop window by 3 people - apparently the medium had caught something on camera in there earlier

- 1 guest felt she was touched on her l lower buttock/top of thigh

- 4 guests didnt like it outside the blacksmiths

- 1 guest got back ache and kep getting the old rhyme in her head 'stand on a crack,break your back'

The Toy Room

Group 1

Methods used emf/temp/calling out/energy raising (a guided visualisation with tactile movements) .

Nothing was experienced/sensed in the main room so the group settled on the snakes and ladder board and formed a circle,joined hands and tried to send the 'twitch' round - but they kept getting interupted by stray guests from the group behing us on the street.

- 3 guests had got the giggles when they first went in here...and as the twitch went on,and they failed to get in round even once,everybody seemed to be getting the giggles.Claire  changed the 'twitch' to a mexican wave so they could see where it was getting stuck and then got it round succcessfully 3x....to much laughing and cheering.A 'stray' person from the group in the corridoor came to have a look and tripped up...causing more laughter.

Basically the whole thing ended up with the group sat on the floor crying with laughter. This was cut short though wen suddenly several phones started beeping/ringing.

- 4 guests said for def that thier phones were definately switched off so should not have turned on

- 4 others could not be sure;they thought they were off but not 100% definate.

- 1 guest remarked that she'd ached and felt ill all day,and now all her aches had gone and she felt really good.
no recordings were taken during the laughing because no one was in a fit state to take them.

Group 2

The Medium who accompanied the group on the vigils, felt that this location had been a 'Hay Loft' at one time, and that the area near the window will have had no floor. It was thought there may have been some sort of 'pully system' installed, and that this was an area where things will have been hoisted up from the ground below. The Medium felt the presence of an adult male around this area of the room. It was felt that this male spirit had at some point, badly twisted and caught his right arm in some sort of Steam Engine Thrashing Machine - at this point a guest also experienced something wrong with their right hand/arm.

One guest felt the presence of a young female, by the name of Catherine, no age was detected, in the corridor off from the Toy Room Attic. It was felt that this particular female spirit was entering the Toy room area to look in a chest or dressing up box that was in this location.

Ian Lawman sensed the spirit of a little girl, around the age of 5-6 was in this location. Ian felt that this child spirit shouldn't have been in this particular room and was hiding from someone. He also sensed a male presence (unsure whether it was an adult or child) near the right hand side of the window, and it appeared to be calling out to her.
At this point Richard Felix used the pendulum in the corner (near the snakes and ladder board) where Ian had felt the presence of the little girl spirit who was hiding earlier. From this the name Bethany was noted. Upon further questioning it was thought that Bethany may have died via drowning i.e. she was very wet and so was her hair

The Corridor

Group 1

Methods used included forming a circle and calling out in the front room where Jays group had been geting activity in,standing on the top of the stairs and on the corridoor,temp/emf recorders

- on the corridoor 2 guests reported that their phones,both definately switched off had come on as they left the toy room

- 2 seperate guests reported feeling nauseous as they left the toy room and came on the corridoor

- 3 guests said the corridoor near the end towards the stairs had a 'horrible feel'

- 2 guests said they felt as tho someone was hanging here

There was quite a lot of activity in this particular location. A couple of guests sensed the presence of a female walking the corridor, occupation could have been that of a Scullery Maid. Also the presence of two children who appeared to be running up and down the 'small' stairs (at the rear of the corridor, away from the Toy Room). One guest felt that they had been slapped across the cheek bones, and they also couldn't stop pacing the floor. This particular guest also felt the presence of a Butler, who they felt was marching up and down the corridor, and the reason why they themselves felt the urge to pace the floor.

The names Catharine or Chandler, or Catharine Chandler were noted in this location. A guest felt this spirit was a maid, and that she may have died of a Lung related disease - this particular guest complained of tightness in the chest and feeling short of breath.

A sudden gust of cold air was felt by two NGI members in the dark area of the corridor, as if someone/thing was running past - twice, from right to left. The baseline was 21% then went down to 18%. It has to be noted that there were NO open windows or draughts coming from outside, which could have been the reason for this activity. At this point another guest mentioned that this could have been the two children they had felt earlier, also the presence of a dog and rolling ball was felt in this particular area of the corridor too

The Upper Room/top of the stairs area.

Group 1

In the front room the group sat on the floor,forming a circle.
Claire could feel energy,and saw in her minds eye saw a woman sat in the chair in the far corner near the window..she wasnt talking and wouldnt/couldnt/mute?scared?She just sat watching

The temperature flucutated through from 22.7 - 18.9

Info from guests and mediums:

- dog,dark,small-medium,collie?

- bald,plump man - william

- Emily - York association

- 2 children - was this an old nursery?

- maid sat in the corner

- woman in white who walks the woods

Everyone remarked that the atmosphere in here felt very different, much 'heavier', and most people were on edge.

There was a loud crack from the glass display cabinet,causing those sat near ti to leap up, screaming. Those sat near agreed that suddenly the glass had 'cracked' for no apparent reason, and no one had been sitting near enough to 'touch' it and cause it, and no explanation for this was found.

Group 2

The Medium who was with the group, felt this room had been a bedroom at one point, and that the gentleman who was 'also' in the Dice Players room earlier, was in this room now. It was also felt this particular gentleman spirit who didn't want anyone in the Dice Players room earlier in the evening, didn't like this 'particular' room, or want the group in here either - he was certainly not happy with the building it was sensed.

The Medium carried out a seance using the Ouija Board on the landing at the top of the stairs - near the black and white photograph/ mural displaying family members of Preston Hall.

The seance is as follows:

The word DOG and the word HCURT were spelled out 1st, then a conversation:

Question: Answer:

Can you spell? No

First letter? D, E, I

David? Yes

Age? 5

Die of illness? Yes

Affect breathing? Yes

Parents worked here? Yes

Here by choice? Yes

The Ballroom

Group 1

Methods used - emf,temp,calling out,pendulum.

The group sat in the circle of chairs and were joined by one of the men from Wraithscape, znd an older lady.

Calire was attracted to the door in the corner where she'd been stood earlier when Richard was talking, and she got the strong smell of dinner.No one else could smell this.

2 guests sat near said they could smell something but not sure what.It was a smell that was really strong for 10 seconds then totally gone.Claire swapped seats with another guest to see if she could smell it,and after 3 minites she said she could smell meat pie/sunday dinner....which she did at on and off for the resat of this location.

Guest and medium info:

- butler/George/important status either in the staff or the house

- 'something happened' end of Nov (21st/22nd?)

- several guests mentioned 'fire'

- 1 mobile phone went off that was set on silent;it was on silent before it went of and during and after as the guest showed us and said it should be impossible.

- Several guests smelt smells they couldnt describe,maybe floral/fruity but only faint

Group 2

In this location the group sat in a large circle. The Medium felt a chest pain and shortness of breath. Another guest described 'grittiness' in their throat and the feeling that they couldn't tolerate nuts was noted. The spirit of a male with a violin was felt in this room. Some guests felt a tingling in their feet. The names Harriet or Harry, and brothers Jacob & Issac were also noted. it was felt that Jacob and Issac were possibly Groundsmen or Groomsmen, date around 1912, and originally from New Aycliffe.

Another guest complained of feeling irritable, as though they were wearing a corset. The presence of a female child spirit by the name of Casey, was felt in this room too. It was sensed that Casey had difficulty breathing, possibly Asthmatic, and she appeared to be pulling along behind her, a toy cart. One guest sensed the taste and smell of shoe leather, polish too, at this point.

Another guest sat in the corner near the fire place. It was noted that the guest felt a sudden cold draught and a shadow in this area, which appeared to be in a curled up position- like a ball. It was thought that it may have been that of a small adult.

These are only a few of the many things experienced over our three visits to Preston Hall, more will be added to this shortly.

However as one door shuts......another opens............

We begin a new chapter with the Butterwick as once again they have called us in to help them search for spooks............

Once again we will have the company of the gorgeous Mr Lawman and the Charming Mr Felix.............

Once again we are sharing this with the public...............

Will you be brave enough to join us?

Acklam Hall - Friday 13th November 2009

IF YOU DARE....................................