East Sussex Paranormal Investigators

"Seeking Proof of the Afterlife"

ESPI Woodchester Report 07

..:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />

All Included copywrite E.S.P.I. 2007

..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Woodchester Mansion - Gloucestershire

Investigation Report -August 2007

Introduction

This was to be E.S.P.I's second visit to Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire, England. The first, was in November 2006, a joint investigation with Crawley Paranormal, a flawed investigation on the account of it being too large, which made it impossible to tune into anything that could have been going on. It was useful though, in so far as we knew what we wanted to look into on our next visit.

Brief History and Background:- The area where Woodchester Mansion is situated has been inhabited for thousands of years, Long Barrows top the hills and Roman mosaics have been found in Woodchester village.

In Elizabethan times, the property was called Spring Park, a deer park.

Spring Park Lodge was located on the site, it is not known exactly when this structure was built, but there are references to it in 1750. Restoration was deemed too expensive, and the site was put up for sale in 1844. Bought by William Leigh in 1845, he embarked on a major building program, replacing Spring Lodge with a new structure, a large gothic mansion. Construction was never finished. Leigh was never satisfied, three architects and many years later Leigh ran out of money and now Woodchester Mansion lies half finished, a visitor attraction and a home for bats.

Paranormal background:- There are a fair few reported incidents of paranormal activity within the Mansion and surrounding park. I'll concentrate on the house as this is what was to be investigated.

Noises, similar to those of construction have been heard, described as the sound of a hammer hitting on stone, also dragging noises reported in the upstairs corridors.

A tall Victorian style gentleman, a small strange man, a female staff member in the kitchen area, a monk, American servicemen (an accident in one of the lakes led to the demise of a few,) Music/chanting, equipment batteries draining, and personal attacks, also a man with his dog has been witnessed, and also a solitary black dog.

It is worth noting that various hoaxes were uncovered in the early 2000's, mostly to do with the clock and the bell tower, and some of the construction noises.

It is widely believed that ritualistic behavior occurred in the area, Witchcraft and black arts, but research has not shown where this idea comes from, whether it is derived from actual evidence/knowledge or has originated from legend or a "Chinese whispers" type of activity.

The Investigation

We met at the car park, at eight o'clock and navigated the long bumpy drive down towards the Mansion. It was nice to see daylight play across this landscape as our previous visit had been in November and our descent into the valley had been in darkness.

As usual for Woodchester investigations, the group set up base camp in the drawing room.

Eight members were present on this investigation, these were:- Jan, Michelle, Wendy, Shaz, Sarah, Nina, Tracy and Dave. Once settled, we were given a re-acquaintance tour, and a plan was formulated.

The group was split into two.

Group A - Tracy, Shaz, Wendy, Sarah. Group B - Jan, Michelle, Nina and Dave.

Group 'A' was to investigate the first and second corridors and bathroom area. Group 'B' the Cellar.

To start with, we'll follow group 'B's investigation of the cellar.

Jan, Michelle, Nina, Dave

First Location - Cellar Time - 21-40 hours

Equipment Used - Audio recorders, pendulum, crystals, Kii EMF meter, Crucifix trigger object, DV Camera, Digital Stills camera, temperature device.

Description

The Cellar at Woodchester is accessed via staircase, and takes the form of a corridor with five anti-rooms or casements. There is open access to the outside via small windows or openings, located near the ceiling.

It was first decided, to place a trigger object in the corridor, to be in situ throughout the length of the investigation. Photos were taken by Nina and Dave in order to use as reference later. (1min 16 into the cellar invest.) The object was a large crucifix, and its outline was traced onto a piece of paper. The crucifix was placed opposite the room used to house display boards.

At 1 minute 24 into the cellar investigation, Dave reported "I'm just wondering why I hear men's voices" (Dave being the only male on the investigation.) Michelle agreed, claiming that it sounded almost like a chanting, ritualistic sound. This was too feint to be picked up on audio.

We resumed placing the trigger object.

(The time code on the left represents the amount of time that has passed while in the area.)

3mins-31 - Dave headed back towards the opposite end of the corridor in search of the male voices. Not in evidence.

3mins -51- Michelle calls out in a side room

4 mins-10- Dave calls out in the furthest room to the right, uses the K2 meter, no response.

4 mins 50 - The Sound of a large dog barking - this was recorded on tape, but not heard by the group (There were no dogs on the premises or known to be in the surrounding area.)

5 mins 24 - Michelle calls out.

5mins 44 - Dave calls out, asking if anyone wants to join him in a song!

6mins - Nina hears voices - but it is Michelle reviewing her audio.

6mins 46 - Dave calls out, to try and get communication going via the K2 meter. No joy.

7mins 41. -All 4 members of the group head into the far room on the left (the Dracula room)

Nina picks up an energy while using the pendulum. Which she claims to be "strange", Dave fails to register any EMF fluctuations.

9mins 03. - Nina begins placing a crystal grid to focus the energies

9mins 09 - Nina says "something keeps tickling my eye!" Dave claims a similar sensation on his arm.

10-30 - Nina resumes crystal work

12-14 - Nina calls out

12-30 -Nina picks up a link.

12-45 -Another dog bark picked up on tape

14-15 - Nina urges the spirit to draw the energies from the crystal.

15-04 - Nina asks "is there any way you can make a noise or any sound at all, or scraping, that you know, that we can hear."

15-19 - A strange voice says "KILL." Caught on tape, not heard..

http://www.mediafire.com/?2tjmnhwjhej

15-24 -Nina "The crystal's signaling "no".

15-34 -Nina "Are you able to communicate with our electronic devices? That's a definite "yes."

15-49 -The same voice that said "kill," now, louder and stronger is caught on tape saying "You were a witness"

http://www.mediafire.com/?92zmhey0uhv

long version http://www.mediafire.com/?2bozz9mznz1

15-51 -Nina "Ok, thank you"

16-30 - When Dave asks "Is it the recording that they can use? Or maybe it's the device? (K2 meter)" A voice caught on tape, huffs the word "Yes".

http://www.mediafire.com/?5vl2yi4xuzb

17-05 -Jan claims she is boiling - temperature reading 61 *F.

17-31 - Nina can't understand what the spirit is saying,

17-40 - Nina. "Can you actually communicate through me?"

17-51 -Nina "Oooh, got someone else stepped in now"

19-18 -On the request of Nina to a specific place, Michelle measures temperature which has risen to 67*F. The rest of the room is measuring in the 50's.

19-27 - Temperature of the spot in question rises to 79*F - surrounded by a temp of 63*F, which was dropping.

20-28 -Jan's flashlight starts draining power.

22-40 -Nina says her contact has got ""a strong cockney accent "Here Ducky" She would have been a woman that looked many years older than what she really was, through sheer hard work, Dora. She's got a long skirt on, almost like sackcloth, over faded tattered cardigan on; she's got it wrapped round her so tight ..............

21-43 ...... cause she's very cold."" Jan claims she's cold now ... freezing.

21-49 -Three more dog barks caught on tape. Jan's breath condensing.

22-05 -Nina - "She's trapped here, she can't go beyond the trees, they won't allow her to go beyond the trees, her baby is in the trees and she can't get to it. She sits and waits, waiting for them. She came here from London on the promise of a job, a job and a husband, she had a child out of wedlock, (Nina asks her contact to slow down as she can't understand what she's saying)""they took my baby, they took my baby, told me I was not worthy of that baby cause I had it out of wedlock""

23-41 -Dave's K2 meter suddenly registers an "off the scale" reading, but does not occur again.

24-18 - Nina says "Dora" has gone back out to the woods and seems far away. She looked very grey, all over.

29-00 -We check the crucifix trigger object, but determine that it hasn't moved.

30-47 -Two more dog barks caught on tape. Feint though.

30-50 -A discussion ensues as to whether the trigger object has ACTUALLY moved or not. But decided not.

Nothing further was experienced between here and the end of the cellar investigation, at 45mins.

Summary

The significant and noteworthy events of this first vigil are:-

-The Dog barks.

-The EVPs

-The Story of Dora

-The Temperature fluctuations, the brief EMF spike, and the power drain.

The Drawing Room

After the Cellar investigation, group 'B' headed back to the Drawing room for some table experiments, later to be joined by group 'A' upon the conclusion of their investigation upstairs. Earlier in the Investigation a crystal trigger object had been placed by the fireplace in the Drawing Room, similarly drawn around on a piece of paper and photographed.

Report From group 'A' and 'B' Time 22:26

A lesser audio recording device was used to record this session; unfortunately, the voices of the participants are not very clear, probably due to the inadequacies of the internal microphone. The good news is, EVP's still came through.

2-43 A massive burst of static was recorded on tape, which lasted 40 seconds.

4-13 EVP recorded, woman's voice, whispered "Rape me."

http://www.mediafire.com/?7dn5mb9luzc

4-39 EVP recorded "Michael"

4-53 Evp recorded in response to Nina saying "Can you show us you're here?" - EVP says "Yeeeaaaa"

http://www.mediafire.com/?4dovpnjaiiz

8-41 Shaz, Tracy, Wendy and Sarah enter the drawing room.

9-01 EVP recorded, "many others ... Kill."

http://www.mediafire.com/?bxhyunxbzyk

9-25 EVP recorded "Let them take me" same sounding whisper as 4-13

http://www.mediafire.com/?0dwztyynzjx

9-36 EVP recorded - same voice "Let them Know"

http://www.mediafire.com/?ffybqzcebyz

10-13 EVP recorded, same voice "Make them jump."

http://www.mediafire.com/?4r2zxsj9ovz

11-25 EVP recorded, Voice though still a whisper, sounds different "Don't know the .... ????" Couldn't make out the word.

http://www.mediafire.com/?bz1ojzusjek

11-35 EVP recorded, seems to say "can't, ray's/raise/ a victim.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7nzndi8qt9d

12-19 EVP recorded, different voice, seems to say "Howard"

http://www.mediafire.com/?2n2noxb4mdx

14-50 EVP in response to "do you feel like staying" - "yes"

http://www.mediafire.com/?72vg5unmm5e

15-21 EVP "Go"

16-03 Table Tip experiment begun, all members present and getting settled

17-05 EVP recorded "Got to get through" followed by a different voice "yea"

http://www.mediafire.com/?dhetjmfjkyj

20-44 Nina says "The energies feel flat to me" Jan first begins complaining of feeling cold. Other people are fine. Under the direction of Wendy, we all join hands in a circle, to build energies.

27-55 EVP recorded. "Hello"

http://www.mediafire.com/?6gmwizttzpi

During this period, we took it in turns to call out, never letting it go quiet, just kept badgering spirit to show itself.

Although on a couple of occasions the table was felt to "judder," we could not conclusively say that we attained movement.

32-46 The spirit badgering continues, Michelle calls out "come on" directly followed by an EVP that says "No"

33-55 EVP recorded that appears to say "hate you"

http://www.mediafire.com/?6np49jaxb2x

38-22 The badgering continues. EVP recorded "I'm so cold"

http://www.mediafire.com/?dj2zrdx4tpm

51-47 In response to Wendy, a feint whispered "No" recorded.

During this period, we took it in turns to call out, never letting it go quiet, just kept badgering spirit to show itself.

Although on a couple of occasions the table was felt to "judder," we could not conclusively say that we attained movement.

57-17 The Name and presence of "Simon" is picked up. But he seemed to be observantly distant, and wouldn't come closer.

61-05 Efforts are still being made to get Simon to communicate.

66-07 Wendy is urging Simon to touch one of the group, EVP's have started to appear over the last couple of minutes, but they've been very feint and thus discounted. At 66-07 they begin to get clearer. In response to a question from Wendy a feint whispered "yes" is recorded.

74-05 Table tip closed down.

After closing the table tip, glass moving was attempted; I shall summarize this as it was quite lengthy. We join the investigation during contact with a Spirit called Simon, who says he was murdered.

Wendy - Did somebody put you in the water?

(Glass is moving but very slowly)

Nina - It's very weak isn't it?

Michelle - Dunno, it's getting colder.... can you spin the glass Simon?

(Glass doesn't move)

Wendy - Simon, did you have any children?

Sarah - Were you very young when you died?

Wendy - Were you 21?

(Glass moves towards Tracy. This is in contrast to the earlier movements. Previously, the glass had moved in a circular motion.)

Wendy - Were you the same age as Tracy?

(The Glass resumes its circular motion to indicate "yes".)

Wendy - Was anybody else murdered at the same time you were?

(The Glass continues its circular (anticlockwise) motion, but with doubled intensity.)

Wendy - You don't mind us talking to you, do you Simon? You're quite happy for us to be here?

(The Glass continues anticlockwise, but slows to a more sedate pace.)

(The Glass stops.)

Michelle - are there others here?

(A pause, then the glass resumes its circular motion.)

(Wendy asks for the glass to stop. Which it does.)

Wendy - How many of you are there here at the moment Simon? Are there just you?

(No glass movement)

Wendy - Are there two of you? ( No Movement) Are there three? Are there four? Are there more? (No glass movement.) Are there less than ten? (Glass confirms)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt two - Glass moving - Drawing Room

Communication continues with "Simon"

Wendy -Simon, were you having an affair with someone? Did you see something outside Simon which you shouldn't have done?

EVP recorded, a throaty voice, a sentence, but the only word I can make out clearly is - surrender-

http://www.mediafire.com/?0zyfs2to4kz

(Glass moves in large anti-clockwise circles.)

Wendy - Simon, stop the glass.

(Glass, stops instantly)

Nina - Did it have something to do with Dora? ...... Or her baby?

(Glass moves in large, fast AC'wise circles.)

Wendy - Was there a sacrifice (glass stops) here? (Glass starts moving quickly) For devil worship? (Glass is moving so quickly participants have trouble keeping their fingers upon it and many loose contact.)

Michelle - Was there more than one Simon?

EVP recorded - "Three"!!!!!!!!

http://www.mediafire.com/?6emzdxtumjk

Wendy - Was the baby taken away from her to sacrifice? (Glass continues its rapid motion, each time a question is asked it slows slightly as if listening, and then rockets off in affirmation.)

Wendy - Simon, stop the glass Sweetheart please. (Glass instantly stops)

Nina - Is Dora still here? (Glass moves slowly anticlockwise)

Wendy - is she with you now?

(Glass picks up speed, more fingers loose contact,)

Wendy - Is she behind us now? (Glass slows to what appears to be, half the speed)

Wendy - Simon, stop the glass (glass stops) for a minute, cause I need a definite answer.

Wendy - Simon, is she standing behind Jan? (Glass moves off on its course is that why she's so cold? (Glass continues.)

(The glass stops)

Nina - does Dora want to go to the light?

(No movement.)

Wendy - Does she want to stay with you?

(Glass starts moving. Usual motion. Then stops. )

Nina - Does Dora want to find her baby? Has Dora found her baby since she went over?

(Glass moves, usual movement.)

-----------------------------------------

Other information that was determined. Simon came from outside the area (Gloucestershire); he came to Woodchester to work. He agrees that everything that was going on at the site was wrong, it was to do with the money that they were going to be paid, he got much less than what he was told originally, he was told he was going to get land as well as money. Simon was murdered, but not because of this, Henry was the name of the man that murdered him. It was confirmed that Henry was also present. but Simon was not afraid of him. Simon was involved in the "ritualistic activities" but tried to pull away from it. It was when they killed the babies that Simon didn't agree with it. And they killed him to keep him quiet. He says, they are still practicing their acts from the spirit world, and to be careful outside in the park. Simon did not want to leave or "cross over."

We also communicated, with another worker from the site, maybe the previous building, a date or 1700-1750 was given, the worker was male, a carpenter, the name Francoise, who knew another called Jean-Claude who was someone he worked for. Francoise finished his work at Woodchester and returned home. He was married and had children but they remained in France. Francoise is here now because he "fell in love with the building" and he's waiting for the day that it will be finished.

Other names that were garnered- Henry, Oscar, Michael, Howard.

It is also worth noting, that throughout these experiments, Jan got increasingly colder, so much so that coats were administered. Everyone else was fine in t-shirts, the only possible "normal" cause of this was that she was sat with her back to the fireplace, and there may well have been a draft, although it was a warm, clear August night.

Dave had also been perplexed by seeing a bright golf ball sized light travel across the ceiling, but many factors could have caused this, so, not much was read into it.

First and Second Floors

The groups once again split into two. Group 'A' headed down to the cellar, Group 'B' headed towards the upper floors and the ground floor. We follow Group 'B.'

Upper floors and bathroom

Apart from a few orb pictures, no anomalies were picked up, whereas on our previous visit, this was one of the more .... interesting areas, where a brief conversation had taken place

with a spirit , using an EMF meter that was being "spiked" to indicate 'yes' or 'no.' Similarly, the bathroom provided little in the way of experiences.

The Group headed down to the kitchen.

Group 'A' had more luck in this area. In their bathroom vigil, they started with a temperature of 15.1c, and by the end of their vigil it had dropped to 10.5c; Wendy's head had been touched during their investigation. They also heard a dragging sound coming from upstairs, but on investigation, nothing was found that could have caused the noise.

The Kitchen (Group 'B')

The first interesting thing that happened was recorded on tape, 1 min 50 into the kitchen investigation - A loud breathy "ARRRRRRRR" was recorded closely followed by another. The group was unaware of this at the time.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7ctwgrdebct

At 4-15 into the investigation, Nina picks up "A quite tall, slender man, dark hair pulled back, and he's got a cane, that he's playing with. shiny shoes, Ian or Dudley, quite drain pipey trousers, only they're suit trousers with a double breasted jacket, It's almost like he's .... passing through ... yes, he's gone now." Then a few seconds later, he's picked up again. "I feel there's something wrong with his back, a very fun-loving jolly person who, would love to have a laugh at someone else's expense. But I don't think he's anything to do with the house, he's just passing through.

At this point (7mins), Michelle coughs, and there is an answering cough out in the corridor,

http://www.mediafire.com/?5jmfwez2emj

Dave and Michelle head out to investigate, but there is nobody there. Unfortunately interrupting Nina's description. Group 'A' were located, (at 9mins) but they were in the opposite side of the house.

Jan and Nina were bought into the corridor by Michelle. It was decided to carry on round the corridor towards the tool store area. At 10-20 a strange thing was recorded on audio, which lasted 3 seconds, and sounded like a pig speaking. A very low pitch. Upon raising the pitch by six tones, the words "Perhaps, perhaps we could" suddenly became clear. Another example of this pig voice was found at 9-46 and again at 10-15 , and after the same procedure was applied 10-15 sounded similar to "hello" but due to its lack of clarity .... it was discounted, as was the earlier one due to too much noise from the group).

Anyhow, back to the "Perhaps, perhaps we could." This seemed to be in response to Michelle who asked "shall we see if (drowned out as pig man starts to speak) ... just quietly?"

http://www.mediafire.com/?e0m5mnxbyz2

At 10-29 a feint dog bark appears on tape. At 10-31 two knocks sounded in the corridor behind the group, and it determined that none of them were responsible.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ajydsdddjwr

At 11-00 another dog bark is recorded.

At 11-11 Another EVP appears on tape, "Now I hungers." Doesn't sound like the pig man, but a higher pitched, whisper? None of the group were whispering at this time, all were talking normally.

http://www.mediafire.com/?bstygyqjhng

Right after this, at 11-23, Pig man is recorded again. With the pitch raised, he appears to say ... "breakfast."

original http://www.mediafire.com/?6xdtntnwhvn

Pitch adjusted http://www.mediafire.com/?53pympnytxs

He again is recorded at 11-30, with a short word. By this time the group had moved back through the kitchen to the store area which is attached to the kitchen. It was decided to attempt a silent vigil for a few moments. This began at 12-10, at 12-30, what appears to be pig man can be heard on the tape, but it sounds distant, as if he was still in the corridor to the tool shed. Again, he is recorded at 13-30, one word, indistinguishable, and very faintly again over the next few seconds. At 14-00, a voice similar sounding to the "I hungers" voice, is recorded with what sounds like "you were Ray" or something similar. http://www.mediafire.com/?fvmvtbbpmxn

At 16-07 Jan and Dave actually hear pig man, and comment thus, this is also caught on tape.

http://www.mediafire.com/?8jwnjvncmed

At 16-30, Nina becomes aware of tapping from behind her, the group are all sat with their backs to a bench that runs along the wall. Everyone hears the tapping, and it is caught on audio. Two taps.

http://www.mediafire.com/?9cnvi1cpm52

The silent vigil was ended at 17 mins 32 into this part of the investigation. At 17-42, the first "Ching" sound was heard by the group, a metallic sound which was faintly picked up on audio, and it appeared to originate from the kitchen.

http://www.mediafire.com/?25whmjegr4o

The group heads in there to investigate, but find no explanation for the noise. At 18-56 the group heads back out of the kitchen into the corridor that leads to the tool store. Pig man appears on audio again at 17-00, a two syllable word. By 19-48 the group has reached the tool store, and yet another EVP is recorded that appears to say "Enter," but this is very different voice from that of pig man. http://www.mediafire.com/?e0gj2b0mmym

At 20-29 Nina tries Psychometry with a chisel that was laying under the blocked tool store entrance. Nina empathically describes (while holding the chisel) the amount of noise that

was capable of being created with such a tool, and the monumental amount of dust, and how

horrible it was to breath it all in, like working with flour. This would seem logical as Woodchester is built from sandstone. She also, was able to say that the tool she held did not originate from the time of Woodchester's construction, but was in fact forged far more recently.

Michelle suddenly becomes aware of movement around the corner (22-07) in the passage that leads to the chapel. But upon investigation it was discovered that it was caused by one of the many bats that inhabit the Mansion.

At 25-05 the group enters the rooms near the chapel. And 26-34 the private Chapel and main chapel. Nothing further occurred from 25-05 till 40-00.

Group 'A' - When they were in the area, had found the front door open, when moments earlier it had been closed, no-one from any group had been outside throughout the entire evening, so this was deemed .. Odd.

So, at the end of this investigation, we can definitely say that it was far better tackling Woodchester with a smaller team, by lessening human involvement you reduce the potential of human activity being confused with anything anomalous that could have been happening. Besides ... It was definitely more spooky :-D

Evidence

So what did we get that corresponds with previous documented cases?

Construction Noises - We heard and recorded a metallic "ching" which seems to match the description of the phenomenon. We couldn't find any cause of this.

Dragging Noises - Group 'A' experienced a dragging noise from upstairs, but could not determine its source.

A tall Victorian style gentleman and a small strange man. - Nina picked up on her "dapper" gentleman in the kitchen, well attired and with a cane, but her impression was that he was passing through and not a "resident." No, sign of the small, strange man on this trip, but an entity with a similar description was found on our previous visit.

A female staff member in the kitchen area - The singing of an Irish tune has been heard here, but alas, nothing was witnessed by us in this manner.

A monk - Not on this trip, but on our previous visit Jenny produced psychic art featuring a monk.

American servicemen - Nothing was experienced.

Music/chanting - During their Cellar investigation, Michelle heard chanting at the same time as Dave claimed to have heard men's voices from upstairs. It's worth noting again, that Dave was the only male member of the group.

Equipment batteries draining - Jan experienced her flashlight batteries draining (Cellar) and also her video camera during the drawing room experiments.

Personal attacks - Wendy had had her head touched, and Nina had an experience where her eye had been tickled.

A man with his dog has been witnessed, and also a solitary black dog. Numerous dog barks were recorded on audio, and heard via group members. It cannot be discounted that a stray dog could have been at large in the park outside.

Witchcraft and black arts - This is where our findings come into their own. This was a recurring theme throughout the entire evening.

We had the story of Dora, whose baby had been taken into the woods. Also, Simon who had been involved in the ritualistic activities, tried to get out, but had been murdered to keep him quiet.

Also, several EVPs that were in this theme. We got the answer "three" to a question about how many babies were sacrificed. And also "kill" and "you were a witness" from the cellar. "Rape Me" and also "Many others .kill," were recorded in the drawing room, as were "let them take me" "can't raise a victim."

Evidence Individual to this investigation.

A surprising amount of EVP was recorded, interesting that some of it seemed to answer or comment on questions and statements made by investigators. Most notably "pig man" and a few others which can be read about above.

Knocks and taps were also experienced in the Kitchen area, and the front door being open. (I'm fairly sure I've read this happening in another group's report, but at the time of writing I cannot recall which one.)

Also, worth noting is this EVP , as clear as it is, it couldn't be less clear, but who was it ? No one can pin point who it was or could've been , or what exactly is beeing said , what do you think ? Almost sounds American.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dolpyjxlwom

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vote