Alone In The Dark Entertainment

Marquis of Granby Investigation - 01 Oct 2011

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:35:00 +0000

The Marquis of Granby pub lies on Streetgate in Sunniside. Records of the premises being used as a public house date to 1861, but as the road is the route of one of the first wagon-ways, built in 1710, it is believed that the building may have been used for resting and watering horses in earlier times. Indeed, a man named Bill Dobson kept a public house here in 1841 and in 1856 it was known as the "Granby Arms". The pub is named after John Manners, the Marquis of Granby, born in 1721 and the eldest son of the third Duke of Rutland. He had a distinguished career in the army, but died debt-ridden at the age of 49. The pub was bought by Newcastle Breweries in April 1902. There was originally a row of three houses attached to the building, although these were removed in the 1930s. Another row of four cottages was demolished in 1914.

Mrs Margaret Pyle is noted as the first tenant of the building in its guise as a pub in 1861, and the pub became famous just four years later after a murder took place in August 1865. An argument erupted among workers from the nearby flower show at Ravensworth Castle, and a man named Joseph ended up in a dispute with a notorious local villain named Jack Bee. While walking home, one of the villagers found Joseph dead, propped up against a hedge. The murderer was never found.

While this is by far the most famous murder in the area, it’s not the only example of bloodshed. In the late eighth century, the North was being ravaged by the Vikings. Most villages succumbed to their taste for murder and pillage, but the villagers of Whickham managed to see the Vikings coming from their watchtower. They hurried up the heavily wooded bank, taking their livestock with them. By the time the Vikings arrived, there was little left to take, but after spotting a strange glow in the sky, they decided to keep going up the bank. Instead of trying to fight them off, the villagers invited them in, offering food and beer to their would-be attackers. Confused by this, the Vikings decided to feast, and simply murder and pillage in the morning. Once the drunk attackers had fallen asleep, the villagers set on them, and massacred them as they slept. The remaining Vikings sailed away and the village was never attacked again.

Three centuries later, the North was again under attack, but this time by the Normans. William the Conqueror dispatched knights across his new country to subdue the populace, and a knight named Hubert of Saxony took a liking to the Whickham area. According to a local legend, Hubert decided he wished to erect a castle, and a gate to control those who passed through his land, on the site of an existing village. He demanded that the villagers leave. Naturally, they were unhappy about this new course of events, but they did agree to meet the knights at a junction on the hill. We now believe this junction to be the bottom end of the car park for the Marquis of Granby. The knight and his party readied themselves to accept the land from the villagers, but instead, hundreds of arrows and rocks rained down on them. The villagers massacred the party, and the bodies of the men and horses are said to be buried on that spot. The legend goes on to say that on cold nights, you can see the warm spirits of the dead leaving their graves to seek a sick person's body to take over.

The Marquis of Granby was rebuilt in the early twentieth century, but it wasn't until the Scorer family took possession of the property in the 1930s that any supernatural activity was first reported. Since then, successive tenants have witnessed poltergeist activity, including exploding ash trays, candles that light of their own accord, and a jukebox that turns itself on and off. A ghostly figure of a woman is sometimes seen at the bottom of a staircase which was removed several years ago, and this figure is believed to be Mary, the mother of the murdered Joseph. Would we encounter Mary, Joseph, Jack or any of the other restless spirits from the blood-soaked area?

Hauntings are usually believed to occur indoors, but the Marquis boasts plenty of external activity. A passage runs along the back of the building in what used to be a barn, but is now a dead end, and figures have been seen coming and going along this passage. A dark figure has been seen in the beer garden, while growling and disembodied voices have been heard (see our report of a previous investigation at the Marquis). Phantom hitchhikers and ghostly highwaymen have been seen on the lonely stretch of road outside the pub, and the atmosphere in both the car park and the beer garden is thick with unhappiness. During Saturday’s investigation, the team heard unexplained noises in the hedges, as well as a woman’s voice in the deserted car park. Were these the massacred Vikings, the murdered knights, or some other lost spirit?

Inside the pub, the activity increases. Bells and alarms often go off without explanation inside the resident flat, while an engineer working on the generator inside the garage spoke to a woman who handed him a tool, only to be told by the manager that there was no one else on the property at the time. The back section of the pub is reasonably quiet as it was part of a stable block, although related sounds have been heard from time to time.

However, the front section of the pub is where most of the activity takes place. A table tipping session became more of a torch manipulation session as two different LED torches began dimming and brightening on command. The fact this happened to two separate torches, both of which continued to work as normal throughout the rest of the investigation, rules out mechanical faults. The torches also rolled across the level table apparently by themselves. Both of the investigators with the torches also reported feeling very cold during this experiment.

The ouija session held at the same table yielded mixed results as the spirit didn’t appear overly helpful, repeatedly choosing random letters before saying ‘goodbye’. However, when asked, the spirit admitted it couldn’t spell. During the session, the emergency light began flickering, before turning itself on and off. The landlady confirmed that this had never happened before, especially since emergency lights don’t have on/off switches. The only emergency light affected was the one over the remains of the staircase where Mary has often been seen. Was this Mary making her presence felt?

Another weapon in the investigator’s arsenal is the EVP recording, and we took several in the back room. We did appear to have recorded some kind of speech, although it was too low and distorted to make out properly. Several recordings yielded what sounded like the usual background hubbub associated with a busy pub, while others featured the same low, growling speech. Was this the notorious Jack Bee?

Although we witnessed less activity than previous investigations, several incidents remain unexplained. Hopefully further investigation will help us to locate the exact mass grave of the Norman knights, and may allow us to uncover the identity of the so-called Dark Man in the beer garden who has a penchant for scaring children.

Icy Sedgwick

Castle Keep Investigation - 30 Sept 2011

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:25:00 +0000

There are many fine examples of Norman defensive architecture around the British Isles, but perhaps few are as well-preserved, or accessible, as the Keep which gave Newcastle its name. Its location is ideal for defensive purposes, and there has been some sort of settlement on the site for over 2000 years. Built between 1168 and 1178 by Henry II, the Keep stands on the ancient site of Pons Aelius, the Roman fort, and a motte-and-bailey castle built by the son of William the Conqueror in 1080. The castle was extended by King John I in the thirteenth century, which saw the addition of the barbican, now known as the Black Gate, in 1247. Due to the addition of fortified walls, the Keep became redundant as a military base in the mid fourteenth century, and was later used as a prison. Now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the Keep is open 361 days a year, and is well worth a daytime visit. However, it is when the sun goes down and the shadows grow more threatening that the Keep really comes alive. Reputed to be one of the most haunted castles in England, would we be able to spend an evening here, alone in the dark?

No Norman Keep would be complete without a Great Hall, which lies near the top of the Castle. Originally accessible from the outside, through an impressive doorway that was restored by John Dobson in 1848, the lofty room would have once had floors above, and two storeys of balconies run around the room. A grey smoke like apparition has been seen and captured on film in the Great Hall, and the ghost of a girl who is believed to have died in the fireplace has been seen. Investigators Yvonne and Tonia chose to patrol the upper balconies, and reported the smell of beer and urine, smells believed to herald the presence of former guards. These balconies have seen a lot of activity over the years, including physical attacks on those using the staircases. Are the guards still determined to guard the Keep, even after death?

There is no evidence that royalty ever actually stayed in the Castle, but that doesn’t stop the Keep boasting both a King’s, and a Queen’s, Chamber. The King’s Chamber lies beside the Great Hall, and features its own latrine. Indeed, one brave investigator named Kev opted to carry out a lone vigil in the privy, and reported that he felt like his arms were being lifted when he sat on the crude toilet. The King’s Chamber presently contains two iron boxes, as well as a gravestone dated to the eleventh century. One of the iron boxes is known as the Cursed Box, and one team of investigators did an experiment with dowsing rods to determine which of the two boxes bears the curse. Four out of four investigators picked the correct box. A presence has been felt beside the box in the past. It was brought down from Scotland, but highway robbers waylaid the party and stole the contents, killing all of the guards. To this day, no one knows what was in the box but it is believed to be guarded by the murdered guards. Those who sit or stand on the box get a lot of EMF activity.

If you follow the stairs within the Great Hall, you find yourself in a small, narrow room. Dark red, brownish stains pepper the wall, giving this room its name of the Blood-Stained Chamber. No one is entirely sure if these stains are in fact blood, or rather deposits of iron, giving the stone its rusty look. Despite its sinister appearance, the room was believed to have been used as either a store room or as servants’ quarters for visiting officials. The spirits in this room appear slightly playful, as they complied with various requests made during a human pendulum experiment. Better still, a green laser pointer was used to create a grid of light across the walls, and the spirits managed to dim individual dots within the grid, even turning half of the dots off, while leaving the other half on. The grid is created by splitting a single beam with a lens, meaning that dimming individual dots should be impossible, and the phenomenon could not have been due to a faulty battery for the same reason – a physical loss of power should have dimmed all of the dots, not just some of them. Were these the spirits of long departed servants, eager to please the new human occupants of the room?

Not all of the spirits in the Keep are so harmless. One spirit in the museum room, used during this investigation as the hub, has been so thoroughly unpleasant in the past that he has been bound in the corner by investigators Steve Taylor and David Marshall. This spirit decided to make his presence felt during a ouija session, telling the team that our presence had put him in a bad mood. Further questioning led to him claiming to be “more than” a witch, as the spirit even claimed to be a god. He told us to leave, and on during an EVP experiment later in the investigation, a male voice could be heard to say “Get out”. We don’t know who this spirit is, but he certainly doesn’t like the share the Keep with visitors.

The Queen’s Chamber, mentioned earlier, is reached through the museum room. Again, we don’t know if it ever played host to a queen, but it has long been the tradition for the owners of castles and stately homes to include state apartments in the hope they would host royal guests. Instead of tales of royalty and pageantry, the room now plays host to a vicious spirit named Jacob, who thought nothing of indulging in both murder and infanticide. He particularly affects women, causing a variety of injuries, including stomach cramps and feelings of weakness. During our investigation, we thankfully suffered none of these, but did hear various unexplained bangs, as well as a clear “pffft” sound from one corner. Lights also moved inside the room that were unconnected with the passing trains outside. Was this Jacob making his presence known, or his unfortunate female victim?

It seems hardly surprising that crimes would have been committed within the walls of the Keep, since the Castle spent much of its working life as a prison (for more details, check out the Paranormal Prison Tour as part of this year’s Ghostfest). The chamber on the ground floor is now known as the Garrison Room, but in days gone by would have been a giant prison cell. Men, women and children would have been kept in degrading conditions, knee-deep in rainwater, dead vermin, human waste and rotting food. Indeed, we contacted a female spirit named Victoria, who told us she was unhappy because she was "goin to die". Asked when, she told us it would be in "the morning". Spelling words in the Geordie dialect, Victoria told us it was Friday in April 1666, but she didn't know the actual date as she'd been in there too long to remember. The most shocking part of Victoria’s tale was that she was only thirteen, and yet she’d been working on the Quayside, selling her body to sailors. She told us her parents were dead, and this was probably her only means of supporting herself. There is no way to verify this individual account but considering the Keep’s history, it’s all too likely to be true.

If you look at the western wall of Keep from the outside, you’ll see a narrow door one storey above the ground. This is the execution door, and can only be reached by passing through the Garrison Room, up the stairs on the south wall, and into the Condemned Man's Cell. This is another deeply unhappy and turbulent chamber in the Keep, which has also seen various attacks on investigators. During our investigation, those performing lone vigils in the cell saw a lot of EMF activity, which was so loud it could be heard downstairs in the Garrison Room – through thick stone walls. The variation in pitch and tone ruled out a manmade source, leading the team to conclude that the spirits in the cell are far from inactive.

The final location within the Keep is the Chapel, also found on the ground floor. A Saxon graveyard lies beneath the chapel, and Saxons have been known to make their presence felt in the room. It has also been used by monks, and there have been reported attacks on people who say the Lord's Prayer or make confessions. One very clear EVP recording was made in the chapel, and Latin chanting can be heard echoing in the room, accompanied by rhythmic thumping, as though the monks are walking around the chapel. On this occasion we had no real activity other than the sound of feet scraping on the stone floor, although an EVP recording made during a ouija session did feature bangs on the recording that were not heard during the session itself.

The real questions remains – is the Keep haunted? While there were no real sightings and no physical interactions, I think there was enough evidence gathered during the investigation to say that yes, it is. If you’re still not sure, then we will be holding a very special haunted camp out from 10pm until 8am on Friday 21st October, as well as holding investigations on the 28th and 29th October. Check out the rest of website for more details!

Icy Sedgwick

Black Gate Investigation - 23 Sept 2011

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:50:00 +0000

Tucked away in a corner of Newcastle’s centre is the Black Gate, one of the city’s hidden gems. Originally a gateway to the nearby Castle Keep, the Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument was built in 1247 by Henry III. Strangely enough, many years ago, Newcastle and Northumberland were separate entities, meaning that passing through the gateway took you from Newcastle onto Northumberland soil – leaving criminals free to escape the jurisdiction of Newcastle’s judicial system for the sake of a few metres. Northumberland didn’t get a police service until 1910, leaving the Castle Garth area beyond the Black Gate as a lawless den of violence and vice. Has this sordid past contributed to the Black Gate's dark reputation, earned over the course of 764 blood-soaked years?

The Black Gate didn’t take its current form back in the thirteenth century, as the upper storeys weren’t built until the seventeenth century. By the late nineteenth century, the building was a dilapidated wreck, composed of cramped tenements. With so much human activity over the years, it’s hardly surprising that the Black Gate is considered to be one of the most haunted buildings in Newcastle. But who among us could stand to be left alone in the dark at the Black Gate of Newcastle?

Many of the ghost walks lead the sceptical and curious alike through the Black Gate, and a range of paranormal attacks have been reported. Some of the victims have been the likes of teachers, doctors and council officials – not the sort of people who'd normally be prone to such tall tales. Indeed, the building was rescued in 1883 by the Society of Antiquaries, who made the Black Gate the home of its library. The library room is believed to be haunted by the spirits once attached to the objects kept there.

During a ouija session in the library room, the team contacted a German lady named Doris. She told us she was 64, and that she’d lived at the Black Gate in 1750. A disconnected telephone had been ringing in the room, while the bookcases were creaking without any pressure being exerted on them. We asked Doris if there were any other spirits present, to which she answered there were eight. Further questions revealed that the dark presence in the corner was one “Daniel Fenie”, a notorious killer who murdered five women and three children in the 1880s. We asked Doris if Daniel wanted to hurt anyone, and she told us he wanted to hurt “alle damen” – all women. Doris didn't know the names of any of his victims but she did say "knife neck" when we asked how he killed them – Fenie was known to cut the throats of his victims. It must be noted that up until this point, none of the team on the board were aware of Fenie or his crimes.

Fenie isn’t the only dubious character associated with the Black Gate. Thomas Heron, a notorious Sherriff of Northumberland, once lived here. The pit below the outside walkway is known as the Heron Pit, and the area includes an oubliette where unfortunate prisoners were thrown and, as the name suggests, forgotten. Many gruesome crimes have been ascribed to Thomas, including the practice of dissecting criminals after they were hung. The pit has seen much activity over the years, with stones, old coins no longer in circulation and even needles being thrown at investigators, while black shapes have been seen, and deep growling has been heard.

During our investigation, we had plenty of localised EMF activity, along with phantom footsteps heard on the walkway above, although it was confirmed that no one was on the walkway at the time. One of the investigators reported feeling something touch her shoulder, although thankfully the more volatile spirits normally found in the pit decided to make themselves scarce. A ouija session managed to contact a 27-year-old woman who’d died of cholera in 1749.

Phantom footsteps are also heard inside the building, as well as on the walkway. The sound of people running up and down the stairs, as well as doors banging, were heard. Indeed, one team was inside a first floor room and heard a lot of activity in the stairwell, despite the fact the other team were in the top floor flat at the time.

This first floor room features a pair of wooden pillars that initially look like little more than structural supports. However, closer inspection reveals a plethora of messages scrawled on or scratched into the wood. Soldiers lived in the Black Gate in the 1930s, and wished to leave something behind. If our ouija session is anything to go by, they left something more than graffiti. We managed to contact a particular gentleman who was born in Cork in 1898. He told us he’d been strangled on the Quayside in 1956, and while he named his killer, he also told us his killer had never been brought to justice. The names have been omitted while we investigate this claim. However, we did wonder why an Irish soldier who’d died on the Quayside would be at the Black Gate. According to the spirit, he had been a steward in the army, and lived at the Black Gate in 1935. This same spirit told us there were three other spirits present, although none of them wished us harm.

Naturally, a building such as the Black Gate requires a lot of upkeep, and up until the 1970s, a caretaker lived on site. The top floor of the building was added by the Society of Antiquities, providing a flat. The caretaker had been reporting a lot of activity until he was sadly found dead in the flat. He is believed to haunt the top floor, although one investigator was told by a woman to “get out” while doing a vigil in the bathroom. A presence was sensed on the stairs, and we contacted a man named David, who prescribed lavender tea for one of the flu-stricken investigators, because “flu not nice” – which just goes to dispel the myth that ouija boards are a portal to the damned! During the session, we heard a lot of tapping and banging in the flat, along with a feeling the distinct sensation of being watched. This presence was not the helpful sort, and when the temperature plummeted, we decided to leave the flat behind.

So is the Black Gate haunted? I think it’s fairly safe to say that plenty of spirits both dark and light haunt its empty rooms and stairways. Quite what they’ll make of the building being turned into a heritage centre is as yet unknown, so watch this space...

Icy Sedgwick

The Marquis of Granby

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Ghost Hunting with the AITDE Team, Steve Taylor and Steve Brownlee on 10th September 2011

The Marquis of Granby is situated on the Gateshead (Newcastle) road between Sunniside and Lobley Hill. From the outside it looks much like other traditional pubs, warm and welcoming, but it’s history tells tales of a much darker and deadlier past...

The Marquis of Granby Pub was built around 1710, when it would have been used as a coaching Inn. Somewhere to water and rest the horses on long journeys.

It was virtually in this place in 1865 that the body of Joseph Leybourne, a local Father aged 47 was found bludgeoned to death. Bloody rocks were also found close to his body, the perpetrator had obviously used them to smash his head open in a fit of rage. Witnesses that night claim there was an altercation between Joseph and a few other men after they had attended a Flower Show just across the road earlier that day. But no one was ever caught for this hideous crime and Joseph is now said to be one of the possible four spirits that visit the pub and surrounding area on a regular basis. Does Joseph continue to comeback because his spirit can’t rest until they find his murderer?

Jack Bee a notorious thief with a very bad reputation was also supposedly in the area the night that Joseph was murdered, locals said he was in the Marquis the night of the argument. His ghost has also been reported in and around the pub.

Is he reliving that fateful night even now that he is dead?

The Current owners also talk of a ghost of a local lady named Mary, she is often seen and heard all around the premises and seems to be searching for her son, Joseph ( the man who was murdered) She was so stricken with grief after he was killed that it is reported that she died of a broken heart.

The Landlord and Landlady have witnessed many a strange going on from broken crockery, to the jukebox turning itself on in the middle of the night at full volume. They have seen Mary on numerous occasions in the bar area, but have also heard her around the rest of the building. She somehow makes the place feel inviting, a place you would like to sit and stay a while. Not at all the normal creepy on edge feeling you get in most haunted places...

When speaking to some local people recently we learned that there is also a phantom hitch-hiker who gets into people’s cars only to vanish without a trace minutes later and the ghost of a motorcyclist who was supposedly killed after an accident just outside the pub. His ghost appears to be so real that passersby stop to help, only to discover that he has totally disappeared!

I couldn’t however find anything to back these claims up, but too many people have witnessed it to just dismiss it totally.

Well getting onto the Ghost hunt itself, we all enjoyed a meal prepared by the Landlord and Landlady,which was lovely (well worth a visit for a drink and a bite to eat!) then we split up into two teams to do Seances in two different locations. One inside in the back room and one outside in the beer garden, that overlooks the rear of the building towards the road. We were in the group outside, we all congregated under the gazebo over the BBQ. Using the actual BBQ to place our hands on while taking part in the seance. Spooky noises were heard all around us and everyone was on high alert, as we had been told by Steve that some customers had seen a man leering over the fence at the children playing in the garden. However when they spotted him again later in the day they pulled down the fence thinking it was an actual person watching the kids, but when they tried to pursue him, he disappeared through the hedge. They of course could not as there was a barbed wire fence stopping any solid being from advancing any further...

The strange noises continue, it sounds like something is stalking us, just staying out of view in the dark. We all screamed and ran after one of the team let out a massive shriek after being touched by an unseen force. A few of us even witnessed a strange mist like apparition forming in the beer garden near the pulled down fence panel. I was so gobsmacked I just stared, not even thinking to run away and I swear it looked like the side on view of a man’s torso. No legs were visible, but it was so weird, it was very pale grey when everything else was in total darkness. all this happened so quickly into the investigation and the night had barely begun, which left us wondering what else was in store for us...

The Ouija board also told of the four ghosts that seemingly haunt the bar area and garden. we also did Transfiguration, which was a little freaky as you could see people faces morphing into different people’s faces. When I did it, I also got the sense of a man shouting in my head to get out of the pub and not just the kind of friendly warning version either!

But one of the most astonishing things that happened was the huge candles in glass jars set into the fireplace re-igniting themselves! How and why? I have no idea, but nearly the whole group witnessed it happen. Firstly we were all commenting on how strong the candle wax smell was in the room, so much so that we wondered about checking to make sure they were all extinguished. Which of course they all were as they had been put out well over and hour and half previously. Then we all stopped after hearing a funny sort of popping and sizzling sound, by now it was almost purring like a cat. We traced it back to one of the candle in the fireplace but didn’t touch it, it then started to glow getting brighter and brighter, till it eventually lit itself fully, scaring the absolute bejesus out of us all in the process. Well this didn’t just happen once the other candle soon started the same process until it too was fully lit. We had no explanation for it then and we still don’t now. If it had just been the one, we may well of dismissed it but two we definitely couldn’t explain!

So all in all The Marquis of Granby was a lovely place to do an investigation at, even though it was small than most places we have done, it was however in my mind and probably most of the other Ghost Hunters too very active!

So just remember next time you are there in for a drink or one of their gorgeous meals, keep your eye out for one of their ghosts, you may well just see or experience one while you are sitting there!

Also take a few minutes to read the board on the front of the pub, it tells you a little bit of the history of The Marquis of Granby.

Demon Chick xx

Souter Lighthouse Investigation - 3 Sept 2011

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:55:00 +0000

Situated on the Coast Road in Whitburn, Sunderland, Souter Lighthouse commands impressive views over the North Sea. The sea looks rather empty these days, but in the late nineteenth century, the waters would be busy with ships taking goods for export, and an increasing local fishing fleet. The combination of a lot of sea traffic and the stretch of rocks between Whitburn and Marsden meant there were 20 shipwrecks in 1860 alone, and in response, the lighthouse was opened in 1871. Souter was the first to use alternating electrical current, and its 800,000 candle power light was generated using carbon arcs. The light could be seen for up to 26 miles. Its most famous lighthouse keeper was Robert Darling, the nephew to local heroine Grace Darling, who was keeper for 24 years.

The lighthouse actually stands on Lizard Point, with Souter Point situated a mile further south, but the visibility was believed to be better at Lizard Point, and the site location was changed. There was already a Lizard Lighthouse in Cornwall, so Souter kept the name of its intended location. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1988, and was opened by its current owners, the National Trust, in 1990. Younger visitors are catered for with indoor activities and an outdoor play area, while adults can explore the engine room, light tower and keeper's living quarters. If you climb the 76 steps to the top on a clear day, you can see as far as Coquet Island to the north, and Whitby to the south. Nowadays, the lighthouse sees around 27,000 visitors a year.

Naturally, for a 140-year-old building that once played host to so much hard work, and now sees so many visitors, it would be pretty unbelievable to imagine that the building could be devoid of spiritual activity. TV’s Most Haunted visited several years ago, believing to have made contact with Isobella Darling, while staff have reported various phenomena within the lighthouse. Cold spots are felt around the building, footsteps are heard in empty corridors, and things disappear from the kitchen area. According to National Trust Visitor Experience Manager, Simon Colvine, “a number of visitors have commented that they’ve had things happen, that somebody’s touched their arm, or pinched their bum on the way up to the lighthouse in the tower, and they’ve looked around and there’s nobody there.” It’s not just visitors who feel the effects of Souter’s spooky inhabitants, as Simon says that “workmen have had their tools moved, and they’ve only found them the next day.”

With all this in mind, would Souter live up to its reputation? Would we be too scared to spend time there alone in the dark?

While there is plenty to see at Souter, we broke the building into four sections. One of the highlights is the Keeper’s Cottages, restored to give visitors a taste of their Victorian decor. Lone vigils in the children’s bedroom upstairs yielded a strange atmosphere and a candle apparently moving of its own accord, while the EMF meter recorded a disturbance near the dollhouse. However, the main activity occurred in the living area on the ground floor. During a session with the ouija board, we encountered a woman named Faith, who told us she’d been married to a man named Edward – a man who, it transpired, was categorised as “bad”. We found out she’d lived in the area before the lighthouse was built, she’d died in a fire in 1780, and she practiced witchcraft. As yet we’ve been unable to uncover exactly what occupied the site prior to the construction of the lighthouse, but we are working to verify these details.

Faith’s testimony would have been interesting enough on its own, but we asked her what happened to Edward. Her reply was that “Death came”, and further probing to discover how he died simply revealed that “Death took him.” We were clearly none the wiser, until another ouija board session, this time downstairs in the engine room, made contact with Edward. He admitted setting fire to his house with his wife inside, although we’re not sure what prompted his actions – the fact he believed her to be a witch, or the fact he thought she was having an affair with a pirate. The caves further up the coast at Marsden were associated with smugglers, and Edward himself was a sailor, so the piracy link is entirely plausible. A pirate later killed him in 1784 – was it Faith’s lover, or someone who just took a dislike to Edward? During the séance, we could sense a man standing in the corner, and we were told by those in the hub that a shadowy figure could be seen on the TV feed from the camera in the engine room. We also experienced other phenomena, such as moving shadows that weren’t cast by any of the team, as well as cold spots and an extremely active table-tipping session in the hub room, next door to the engine room.

Souter Lighthouse is a great place to take kids, and both the exhibition room downstairs and the activity room upstairs offer plenty of things for them to learn about and do. The exhibition room would have once been a busy place of hard work, and we did experience some interesting activity. The temperature dropped from 32°C to 26°C, while one EMF meter went off entirely by itself (something they supposedly can’t do). The spirits seemed unwilling to communicate using the ouija board, but they were much more comfortable making their presence felt during a human pendulum experiment. Different members of the team reported being pushed, or swayed.

Of course, you can’t really visit Souter Lighthouse without mentioning the tower. 76 steps take you to the top, and while being at the top of a lighthouse in the dark feels somewhat eerie, the tower itself feels remarkably calm. There is a peculiar atmosphere in the corridor, particularly outside the battery room, and we heard a loud bang from inside the battery room itself after lead investigator, Steve Taylor, shone his light through the windows of the room’s door. It must be noted that not only was the door locked, the room was also empty, but the bang sounded distinctly as if someone had kicked the door from the inside.

The tower is still used as a radio beacon, and a signal is sent every thirty seconds which prevents the use of EMF or K2 meters within the radio room at the base of the tower. We did try calling out, and on the EVP recording we did hear a bang as a response to a request for interaction, although the bang was not audible during the actual investigation. During a lone vigil in the radio room, one investigator reported seeing what appeared to be a person passing a window at the base of the tower, but when he checked, the shadow had passed a blank wall. The investigator also reported having his attention inexplicably drawn to that corner. Perhaps a former radio operator was still going about his business?

So is Souter Lighthouse haunted? Based on our evidence, it would appear that it is. Old rumours suggest that lighthouse keepers were driven mad by the fumes of the one and a half tonnes of mercury beneath the light that helps it move, but it would seem fair to discount this as a possibility. Too much activity is reported in other parts of the complex, while little is reported in the vicinity of the light. If you’re still not convinced, then why not visit Souter and see for yourself? You can find more information about the lighthouse on the National Trust website for daytime visits, or contact Alone in the Dark Entertainment for information about future investigations at Souter Lighthouse.

Entry to Souter Lighthouse will be free on 10 September as part of Heritage Open Day, and there will be foghorn demonstrations on the hour from 12pm. The Heritage Skills Initiative Team for the North East Heritage Skills Festival will be holding a three day event from 23-25 September in the grounds, while there will be spooky goings on for kids on 29 October as part of their Hurrah for Halloween afternoon event.

Dont be fooled by Cheap / Budget / Overpriced Ghost Hunts!

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 05:20:00 +0000

Ghost hunting these days is big business, especially with all these TV shows at the moment. There are new paranormal groups and teams popping up all over the UK and worldwide.

Companies will charge you a small fortune or very little (which seems a bardgin at the time)to go on overnight ghost hunts with them, but please be aware that there are con-men out there. Don’t be fooled by cheap ghost hunt prices!

Alone In The Dark Entertainment feel we should advise you to do some checking up on the company or group you are going to use, before you part with your money.

Remember genuine ghost hunters will be very friendly, happy to answer any questions you have and they will not promise you loads of activity or even ghost sightings, they will simply say that hopefully you will see or at least experience something on the night.

We would advise you stick to the following guidelines and do some research before booking with a company or group for a paranormal event:

• Public Liability Insurance – they should have full Public Liability Insurance. You can request to see a copy of their certificate before you book.

• CRB – all staff who work within or alongside the company should be CRB checked.

• Online payments – PayPal seems to be the most popular merchant tool on websites, it’s safe and secure! Never disclose you’re bank details or debit/credit card, or PayPal details to anyone either via email or over the phone if asked to when making a booking.

• Contact Us – trust a company who has a landline number rather than a mobile number or a @virgninmedia or @hotmail email address!

• Venues are confirmed bookings – ensure that the event you are booking if for is actually booked by the company. In the past some companies have taken deposits or full payments for events booked at locations and when the customers have arrived there, there has been no one there to meet them. Basically the companies sold the event and did not have the venue booked, and were never to be seen again. Call the venue and check the booking for the venue is legitimate if you have any doubts.

• Health & Safety – they should have FULL Risk Assessments carried out and documented on every location they attend with the public and staff which you can request to see. Qualified Health, Safety & First Aid staff should be on location during an event and ensure the safety of everyone involved is maintained.

• Food & Hygiene – if they are preparing food to take with them to the location for consumption by the customer they must have the relevant Food & Hygiene qualifications.

• BEWARE of Budget Price companies and groups – you get what you pay for! Some new groups brand themselves as budget price teams with value for money! Don’t be fooled by these people, usually they pack in customers above maximum capacity and have a couple of bits of equipment between 30/40 people! We limit the number of people attending an event to between 12 and 30 depending on the location and have 5 x FULL paranormal kits containing 5 different gadgets PLUS other equipment available to use by the customers!

We hope this helps you in making the right booking with the right company for the best ghost hunt experience!

Kindest Regards

Jill Events Manager

Alone In The Dark Entertainment

jill@aloneinthedarkentertainment.com

Alone In The Dark Entertainments Health & Safety Advice @ Ghost Hunt Events

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Alone In The Dark Entertainment was established in 2007. Setting out initially running ghost walks in Newcastle, Cornwall & Devon, the company quickly evolved into a Ghost Hunting & Paranormal Entertainment Company selling over night ghost hunts to the public in locations all over the UK, mainly in the North East & South West of England.
Selling events to members of the public Alone In The Dark Entertainment is committed to adhering to ALL aspects of the Health & Safety Law. There are many Health & Safety issues which could arise from paranormal events being attended by staff & public, which is why we ensure:
• Alone In The Dark Entertainment maintain their FULL PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURNACE and have done since 2007
• Ensure qualified Health & Safety and First Aid staff are on hand at every event
• Ensure only qualified staff who hold a Food & Hygiene qualification prepare food which will be served to customers
• Limit the number of customers who attend an event for their safety, enjoyment to reduce the background noise during an investigation.
Alone In The Dark Entertainment - REDUCED PRICES
Some prices on events can be reduced. You still get the SAME VALUE FOR MONEY which includes, full use of all Scientific & Spiritual ghost hunting tools, experienced team leaders to guide you through the night, lone vigils and FULL access to the locations, Mediums, food and refreshments & discounts and special offers on your next booking.
Alone In The Dark Entertainment - PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURNACE & HEALTH & SAFETY
Alone In The Dark Entertainment have always carried FULL PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURNACE since 2007 when the company was first established. There are always qualified health & safety & first aid staff on hand throughout the night. Please note some groups /companies will advise that insurance is not a requirement but for your safety and the safety of the location we feel it is a VITAL. You can ask to see a copy of any group or companies valid Public Liability Insurance before booking.
Alone In The Dark Entertainment - GOLD Investors In Paranormal Excellence Award
In 2010 Alone In The Dark Entertainment was awarded GOLDInvestors in Paranormal Excellence Award. Also awarded GOLD were individual Team Members Steve Taylor - Manager, Jill Berry & Steve Brownlee - Events Managers
Visit Investors In Paranormal Excellence for more information on accreditied Paranormal Companies.
Alone In The Dark Entertainment - LIMITED ATTENDEE NUMBERS AT A LOCATION
Alone In The Dark Entertainment will ONLY allow a maximum of 25 CUSTOMERS plus the investigation team into a location for YOUR safety, enjoyment to reduce the background noise during the investigation. Please note some companies continuously break the maximum capacity rule and allow 40+ and sometimes 60+ customers in locations which is way over the maximum capacity limit. To ensure the safety for ALL our customers and staff we limit attendees on ghost hunt events. If you attend a ghost hunt with a group /company and feel there are too many people at the location inform a member of their staff and voice your concerns. You’re safety and enjoyment and that of others must be a priority for them.
Thank you for your continued support and custom over the years.
Please join our Alone In The Dark Entertainment Website or Face Book Group and stay updated with the latest news & offers.
Kindest Regards
Jill Events Manager
Alone In The Dark Entertainment
jill@aloneinthedarkentertainment.com

Haunted Singles Nights!!

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:16:00 +0000

So do you fancy something totally different, having a good time and meeting some new people!
Then join Cap’n Jack on Newcastle’s SINGLES haunted pub crawl with a twist!!
This is not like a normal pub crawl; we have some guaranteed pulling techniques that will definitely see you on a 2nd date!
Rule 1- You must be aged 18 – 40
Rule 2 – All singles need to be in pirates, wench, cut throat or parrot costume, become that inner pirate, the attractions in the mystery, ARRR!
Rule 3 – you must be up for a good time and up for a good drink or at least a side splitting laugh and the odd snog!
Rule 4 – beer goggles won’t be provided so you get what you see!
Join in on our outrages games and get up close and personal with some random strangers all in good fun! You will be guided to 5 pubs with Cap'n Jack as your guide where the ice will be broken bit by bit and every crew member on this voyage will benefit from one hell of a night of drinking, dares and comedy mixed with one or two haunting tales. You will finally arrive at your final bar to where you can remove some of your pirate clothing and reveal the true you and find yourself a quiet corner for whatever tickles ye fancy!!
Date: Saturday 21st August 2010
Take part in our crazy drinking games or relax and enjoy
Costume guided tours at all times
WARNING: they may be some use use of foul language and references to sexuality
PRICES PER PERSON (2010)
R.R.P £15 per person NOW only £10 per person for a limited time only!
CLICK HERE to buy your lucky ticket
STRICTLY NO PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE
Proof of ID may be required if. If proof ID is not provided you will NOT be permitted to attend the event. This is in conjunction with our Public Liability Insurance Terms & Conditions.

Launch in the Southwest of England

Mon, 31 May 2010 14:02:00 +0000

Alone in the Dark Entertainment Launch in the Southwest of England
Award winning entertainment company Alone in the Dark Entertainment have now launched in to the Southwest of England to bring you the best in NEW locations some never before investigated by the public along with NEW evening investigations, New Ghost Walks and much, much more..
Steve Taylor the owner of Alone in the Dark Entertainment was first introduced to paranormal entertainment (meaning a ghost hunt with the general public) in the summer of 2006. Steve was working as a surf instructor in Newquay Cornwall. He was asked by a friend of his about ghost's in Newquay and Steve painted a grim and ghostly picture of Cornish history. The friend mentioned and asked about ghost walks and asked if Steve would take her and 23 other friends on a guided tour. So Steve did and this became the start of Alone in the Dark Entertainment. It moved with Steve as he has always been a care free soul that has travelled the old lands of England. His journey took him to Newcastle to where his first guided ghost walk was born and this led the company to become one of the best paranormal entertainment groups for the public till this date!
But now we are back home! We a proud to introduce Heidi Lang as our Southwest Team Leader and events management with her unparalleled knowledge of the Southwest and its most haunted locations and need for your satisfaction and quality. We will only ever work with the best, true of heart and soul to give you an event like now other!
So join our Haunted Southwest Team on overnight ghost hunts, guided ghost walks, haunted pub tours, evening investigations, 3 course meals with clairvoyant mediums and much, much more.
Join the Haunted Southwest Team on there first public Investiagation for only £19.99 deposit at Bodmin Jail as seen on Most Haunted, click here for more info
All in the Southwest of Old England.
Visit the Southwest Teams Website www.ghosthuntsouthwest.webs.com

Jesmond Dean Haunting

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:17:00 +0000

New for 2010 From the EXTREME success of Newcastle's City Centre Historical Extreme Ghost Walk we are now brining you an even more intense Ghost Walk with the full use of NEW paranormal tools in the oldest part of Newcastle, on a site of Witchcraft, worship and many a suicide and murder along with mythical beast’s and vampires...

Jesmond Dean Extreme Ghost Walk was created in 2009 by Steve Taylor after a member of the public came to Ghost Hunter Team UK research team after having an extreme experience in the park late one evening while walking his dog.

What he witnessed people could not believe!
What he seen was impossible!
What he heard was so intense that he broke down and now questions life!
He and his dog were so scared and shaken by the experience he refuses to ever walk in the Dean at night ever again!

For his peace of mind we had to investigate it.

What we found confirmed The Jesmond Dean Haunting.....

In 2009 we underwent 7 full investigations into the Haunting of Jesmond Dean and the results where phenomenal, from the team witnessing monks to a phantom woman hitching for a ride to guttural growls ringing in our ears!!!
But if you want to know more about what really happend then please come with us if you dare....

NEW DATES FOR 2010 COMING SOON

Please note the following conditions before booking:
This is an EXTREME GHOST WALK and only people of a fit mind and body should undertake such an intense tour. These tours are like no other in the UK and can mentally affect you.

This tour is not suitable for people with physical health issues or under 16s. There is use of bad language and references of sexual distressing nature. We ask that any sceptics that totally disbelieve stay away due to these types of people been attacked. You must keep together at all times unless stated by the investigator. You must wear the correct clothing, flat shoes and no evening wear. The place you will be walking will be on uneven ground with loos ground and wet leaf and soil If you have attended the tour and have any issues after the tour, with physical markings or any other issues we will offer you free counselling available 24 hours a day. This tour lasts for approx 2 hours 30 minutes. This tour is out doors. No groups larger than 20 people for health and safety and your own enjoyment. £8 per person - pay £3 deposit (non re-fundable) via PayPal and £5 on the night of the event. Due to this event being run out doors, sometimes the weather does not permit as we use electrical equipment. Please ensure you add your contact number when checking out in PayPal in the event we need to contact you. We also have full Insurance in case something does go wrong, remember to always book with qualified groups with the right paper work.

Next dates for the Extreme Ghost Tours available soon in 2010 Prices from £6 per person

Visit our Blogspot at http://aloneinthedarkentertainment.blogspot.com/