BACK

Investigation Date: 20th October 2006

Investigators present: Drew Bartley, Darren Ritson, Fiona Vipond and Lee Stephenson

After the pub had closed its doors we were ready to begin. Our first job was to conduct a thorough baseline test in all locations and rooms. This took quite a while, as there were at least 16 rooms to test for basic room temperatures, EMFs and the rest of the usual array of pre-investigation analysis. Draughts were located and squeaky floorboards were tracked down so we knew exactly what was what. If anything occurred, we had our baseline readings to compare with in order to determine if it was paranormal or not. Trigger objects were placed in various locations around the pub, upstairs and down. These included a crucifix in the function rooms, motion sensors were placed either side of the corridor where the ghost was seen walking. A flour tray with some objects was placed in the snug area, and a doll was left in the private flat on the very top level of the pub. We were ready to split into small groups and begin the investigation.

I was working with Lee Stephenson and our first location was the bar and pool room on the ground floor. We ventured in at 02.00am and it was not long before we caught a nice moving light anomaly on night vision video camera. I took some digital stills in the hope we catch something paranormal only to no avail. At 02.05am I called out to the atmosphere to see if any spirits present would give us a sign and almost straight away we both heard the sound of a footstep or two coming from along the corridor near the main bar. Upon inspection we found no one was there; no one of this world anyway! An ice-cold breeze suddenly rushed through the room and was felt at head height. Both Lee and myself could not work out where this breeze had come from. On the baseline tests in this area the windows were checked for draughts and nothing was found so this breeze remains a mystery. Was it denizens of the other world trying to make themselves known? Suddenly a loud crash is heard as if a tin tray had been dropped in the snug (which was empty at this point). Again on checking it out we found nothing out of place and everything was in order.

Drew Bartley, Fiona Vipond and the Barman, Ben, at this time investigating the function room on the next level up at the end of the building. When they swept the area with the EMF meter it seemed to go off for no apparent reason. It is then reported by Ben that he feels a breeze on his left hand side and at this point a light anomaly is caught on video camera to the left of Ben. At 02.25am a séance is carried out and filmed. Nothing seems to have happened during the séance, or so they thought, until they checked the trigger object of the crucifix that had been placed on the table prior to the investigation. The investigators had checked this object before they started the séance and when they looked at it afterwards, to their astonishment, it had been completely moved. Ben, although a believer in the paranormal was absolutely blown away and could not believe what he had witnessed. I don’t think he was expecting a result like the one he got. 

Dale Bartley, his wife Kath and guest investigator Terry were assigned to the mid section of the building to investigate three of the end rooms. Nothing paranormal was reported during this vigil. The manageress and her friend Beverley Jackson were investigating the courtyard and they too experienced nothing.

Our second location (for Lee and Myself) was the upstairs function room where not less then 20 minutes ago the trigger object was moved. When we ventured in I noticed that the serving hatch doors between this room and the other bar were fully open. Earlier I had noticed they were closed so I radioed down to Drew’s group and asked how they left the doors, if indeed they were touched at all.

“We left those doors closed” Drew said.

“Closed!” I say. “Are you sure?”

“Of Course I am” he said back.

“Well the bleedin things are wide open now”

At this point I decided to play with the doors to see if the hinges were broken or to see if the doors would somehow open on their own. I could find nothing wrong with these doors and when closed, they stayed closed. After 30 minutes of sitting in silence and observing, waiting and monitoring this room we headed back to base for a break. Nothing at all happened.

Drew, Fiona and Ben were now investigating the downstairs bar. A small EMF reading was made in the corridor but one very interesting thing was noted. The entire group heard creaking noise and what they described as footfalls emanating from within the corridor just near the main bar. Exactly where Lee and myself heard them during our first vigil. It seems we have a phantom that likes to walk this area of the pub but who it is we don’t yet know. Perhaps a reading from the North East Ghost Research Team and G.H.O.S.T psychic, Suzanne McKay is required. This may shed some light on the matter.

The two other groups, once more failed to experience anything untoward during this vigil. Not that it bothered the manageress and Beverley, as they have experienced plenty in the past. However for Dale, Kath and Terry it was proving to be a quiet night. We now ventured upstairs as one big group to hold a large séance in the function room. We prepared for the séance by placing the seats in a circle and set up the video cameras to record the séance. The séance lasted for about 20 minutes and the phenomena experienced by the sitters, in all honest was very subjective.

Different techniques were tried to entice spirits in and attempt communication but nothing at all much happened in the way of good phenomena. During the séance (for some unknown reason) I was given the name Elizabeth and I thought this might relate to the alleged Green lady that is said to haunt the inn. A single flash of light was then seen by myself but I figured it might have come from Kath, who at this point was taking notes and had a torch. However she did say at that time the torch was turned off!  After the séance we headed back downstairs for another break.

Onwards with the investigation and at this point (as Lee had went home) I joined Dale and Kath. Terry had agreed to stake out the cellars…on his own so we investigated the snug area. Although this snug room is reputed to house the presence of a woman (not the Green Lady) nothing at all happened during our vigil in there. Terry also reported absolutely nothing during his vigil in the cellar. Drew, Fiona and Ben however caught some odd light anomalies while out in the courtyard while using the video camera. The manageress and Beverley, although they felt they were not alone and being watched while staking out the flat on the upper levels, said very little had happened. The last vigils were now underway as the cleaners were due in real soon to get on with their work. It was 05.10am so I decided to spend the last vigil alone in the cellar.

I was feeling brave and although I was beginning to tire, I knew the ice-cold atmosphere and freezing cold air would wake me up. It certainly did! Along with the deafening noise of the generators pumping away in the pitch-blackness and my only source of light was coming from the LCD screen from on the video camera. I called out to see if could get any results and I was rewarded with a nice show of light anomalies. But that was it. After 10 minutes the batteries ran out throwing me into total darkness so at this point a climbed up the ladders and made my exit. The rest of the vigils were quiet.

While preparing for a second séance in the snug area we all heard noises and movement coming from along the corridor. We were all accounted for in the snug and then we realised…the cleaners had arrived! Nothing paranormal there!  But it did signify the end of our investigation. We packed up our equipment, said thank you for the hospitality we had received and left the premises.