Location:
St Briavels Castle
Date:
10th November 2007
Moon Phase:
New Moon
Data Loggers:
The Oubliette
Prison Room
Trigger Object:
Playing cards on the table in the kitchen with locked off camcorder
Locked off cameras:
Prison Room
Hanging room pointing at doorway to guard room.
The investigation at St Briavels was a joint investigation between BSPRI, Parasoc and 3CPO. Parasoc and BSPRI had mixed groups and 3CPO had their own group. It was a second visit for some BSPRI members, and they couldn’t wait to come back to see what else the building offered!
Previous Activity
Lots of reported previous activity. Please see previous report from September 2007, I would also suggest visiting Phantomfest websites: http://www.phantomfest.co.uk/ and http://www.phantomfest.co.uk/forum/ as the members of Parasoc run this event at St Briavels Castle.
Group 1
Sarah (Parasoc)
Kath (Parasoc)
Chris (BSPRI)
Sue (Parasoc)
Group 2
Sarah (Parasoc)
Dave (Parasoc)
Andy (BSPRI)
Gayle (BSPRI)
Group 3
Clairo (BSPRI)
Gav (BSPRI)
Emma (BSPRI)
Group 4 (All 3CPO)
Alison
Nina
Steve
Evan
Group 5
Bruce (Parasoc)
Richard (BSPRI)
Jamie (BSPRI)
Group 6
Penny (BSPRI)
John (Parasoc)
Ann (Parasoc)
Group 7
Caroline (BSPRI)
Tina (BSPRI)
Dan (BSPRI)
The vigils took place as follows; the numbers indicate the group in the locations at the times stated.
Baselines
First Vigil
20.30 – 21.00
Group 1
Constable’s Room
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
Chaplin’s Room
20.36 A footstep was heard by Andy and Sarah, it was near the door.
20.38 Gayle’s ear’s started ringing. Andy heard a man say “I’m not here for your pleasure”. The man was stood outside the door and then came into the room. Andy felt that this was his room, his own private space and that he likes to scare people out.
20.41 There was a movement by the door
20.43 There was a movement by Sarah (she was sat on the bed opposite the door).
20.45 Sarah said that her knees and back felt cold.
20.46 There was movement on the stairwell that was visible through the glass pane in the door. Andy heard a sound like tin foil scrunching.
20.48 Andy slammed the door (incase other groups report hearing a loud bang at this time).
20.51 Andy and Sarah both feel that there is someone stood on the wooden stairs outside the door.
20.52 A wooden creak is heard which sounds as though it has come from the bed over by the fire door.
20.54 Sarah saw a green light on the wall opposite the door.
20.55 A noise was heard from just outside the door again, Andy opened the door and he saw movement.
20.56 Andy heard a tap outside the door and Gayle’s back felt cold.
20.57 A creek was heard on the stairs – but it may be attributed to the group below as they were leaving the room at the time.
Group 3
King John’s Room
EMF 0 Temp 17.1
20.35 Gav and Claire heard a rumbling noise. Gav thought it came from upstairs, Claire thought it may have also sounded like a cat purring.
20.45 Emma saw a flash of light to the left of the room. Claire saw a white light by the chairs on the left hand side of the fireplace. She also thought that there was someone stood in front of her and Emma.
Group 5
Prison Room
20.41 Richard got the name Anthony Corbilt
20.42 Jamie got the impression of a woman sat writing at a desk, she lived there for some time. He also had the impression of a man with a beard stood by the fireplace with his head in his hands.
Jamie saw large shadows moving around above the fireplace.
20.52 Richard saw lights and trails and got the impression of two people stood over by the fire door. They were stout and swarthy, he felt that they were Welsh
20.57 Richard felt the temperature drop and saw a shadow flit above the fire door.
Group 6
Old Kitchen
20.30 On the initial tour, Penny picked up on a dog running around the spit roast wheel. It’s hair was short and slightly curly.
20.50 Penny felt a presence under the stairs and could see a slight change in energy. She could see the figure of a man, behind the table over by the door. He was a large man and Penny didn’t feel safe. She was also picking up on a swirling of energy and more people stood over there, it seemed very cold. John and Ann both reported that it felt much colder to them too. Penny felt very upset, like she is going to be beaten; she felt afraid.
20.55 The atmosphere felt different and Penny is no longer afraid.
21.00 A low rumble was heard.
Group 7
Oubliette
20.35 No paranormal feelings and Tina feels calmer than her last visit in September.
20.36 Caroline feels nervous and breathless.
20.38 The group thought that they saw lights on the left hand side of the hatch. Tina saw a bluish flash on the wall by the door.
20.40 Dan saw white light flowing across the hatch, going from right to left. Caroline saw red light going the opposite way. Caroline senses movement on the floor, running like mice or rats.
20.50 Slight bang noted out in the corridor, possibly a draft. Caroline gets “This was his room” and the name William John Morris, 1793. He was hanged, Caroline asked him why but did not get a reply. She felt that he was in his mid 40’s to 50’s and had soft features, shallow eyes and a comical sense of humour. Physically he was very gaunt, probably malnourished. Tina got the vision of a pentagram (not an inverted one) and wondered whether white witchcraft was practiced in the area. Dan felt tickling on his ear.
20.55 The group called out to ask if William was still there and hear a bang. Tina’s pendulum swings in circles, the group ask if he was hanged here; the pendulum is still which indicates ‘yes’. Tina reports that it felt like someone was pulling the pendulum. The group ask if he is associated with the castle and the pendulum says ‘yes’. It goes on to say that he lived there all his life. It also says that a lady made the flashes of light that they saw and that she died there.
Second Vigil (Silent Vigil)
21.15 – 21.45
Group 1
Oubliette
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
Constable’s Room
Start temperature 16.1
21.17 A tap was heard coming from the floor.
21.19 It was noted that the door was moving – possibly a draft. Andy felt like someone moved behind him (he was sat by the door with the bunkbed behind him).
21.23 Dave heard a scrunching noise, Gayle heard a scratching sound on the floor in front of the fireplace.
21.24 Dave heard a sound that seemed to come from under his foot, which sounded like a footstep. Dave feels like someone is stood next to him and it has given him “the willies”.
21.25 A clicking noise was heard by everyone, and it seemed to come from under Dave’s foot.
21.26 Andy feels like someone is toying with us.
21.28 Andy heard a shuffling noise from the corner of the room, then he felt that there was a man walking around the room ‘sizing’ us all up.
21.29 Everyone reports cold legs.
21.31 Andy and Sarah report feeling a cold breeze – Andy feels it moving from right to left.
21.32 Gayle feels as though we are being mocked by someone.
21.33 A little click is heard by Sarah, Gayle and Andy.
21.34 The door is really moving a lot – but we can’t investigate incase we disturb other groups during the silent vigil. We think it is moving because of a draft. Gayle has a cold shiver.
21.36 Sarah feels a sold spot in front of her. The temperature in the middle of the room is 14.1
21.37 The temperature has gone back up to 16.3.
21.39 Andy called out, and everyone heard a creak behind him. Andy asked for any spirit’s present to come in to the middle of the room. Temperature 15.7
21.40 Temperature 15.4.Sarah again feels the temperature drop in front of her.
21.41 Andy saw someone walk past the door outside the room, then we heard 2 taps. I checked and there was no-one outside the door.
21.42 Dave, Gayle and Andy all heard a low bang – this may have been another group moving around. Dave asked for a knock on the door – 2 knocks were heard in response.
21.44 Andy got the name Richmond – he felt the first names were either Peter John or John Peter. Temperature 16.2. Gayle reports that her legs feel really cold.
21.45 Dave & Sarah think that they heard a creak in the room, but the group that were upstairs were moving past the door at the time; so they can’t be sure. Finish temperature 15.2
Group 3
Chaplin’s Room
EMF 0 Start Temp 17.2 Finish Temp 17.4
Nothing to report
Group 5
Hanging Room
21.20 Richard reports that he feels cold and that he hates the room. Richard’s hair is standing up, and he has images of ropes in his mind. He also reports feeling cobwebs on his face.
21.24 Jamie heard a knocking on the window furthest from the fire place, behind Richard. He thinks that it may have been made by the wind.
21.27 Jamie heard voices from the room below.
21.28 Richard gets the name Stephanie.
21.30 Jamie saw a shadow move up the alcove wall near the door.
21.40 Jamie heard a knock from below.
21.40 Richard got the impression of rats in the room.
21.43 Richard was getting the feeling of cobwebs on his face and hands, he could also smell faeces – it was very overpowering. Jamie heard a big bang from below and reported that he felt that there had been a woman stood in the doorway for half of the vigil.
Group 6
Prison Room
21.15 The room is quite, Penny felt depressed when she was in there earlier.
21.30 The batteries in the camera have gone. Penny is sat on the box by the door, to her left is the alcove to the window. She could see a man with his head in his hands, sobbing; he was only about 17 years old. Penny then got the name William De Bois. There is a tall man in black, with a white flat collar, long black hair and beard. He is tall and is wearing a cumberband and long boots, he looks like gentry; striding back and forth. There is a slightly battered looking young man about 30 with brown hair and a beard. He is wearing long brown boots and a cape, he is standing side on looking out the window. There is a connection to the sea, may have been in a sea battle, she can also see a cannon and sails. 1618 and 1621 are two dates that she picks up. She could also hear a noise like standing on straw matting and a child crying. She also had the impression of a woman huddling over something, possibly a child.
Group 7
Old Kitchen
21.15 Tina gets the name Peter Sutton and 1820.
21.16 Caroline senses a mid height young male, slim build walking past the window. He has short blond, well kept hair and is clean shaven. She then senses a middle aged plump woman wearing an apron, her name is Elizabeth and she was a main cook at the castle.
21.20 Tina plays with her pendulum in the dark. A faint rumbling from outside is heard.
21.25 No activity to report, the group feel tired and sleepy.
21.33 Caroline hears a female whispering behind her.
21.43 Tina felt the presence of a lady who had died from the black death.
21.45 At the end of the vigil, Tina said that her pendulum had revealed that there was a spirit attracted to Caroline, she reminded him of an ex-lover he lost.
Third Vigil
22.00 – 22.30
Group 1
Old Kitchen
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
Oubliette
Start temperature 13.8
21.57 Sarah felt a draft behind her neck.
22.00 Gayle felt a big chill then Andy said that the lady he felt on our last visit to St Briavels is in the room. She is over in the corner by the fire exit, Andy thinks her name is Mary.
22.03 Sarah saw a quick white flash on the wall above the radiator (next to the door).
22.03 2 taps were heard over by Sarah in “Mary’s corner”. Sarah feels like Sarah might be following her.
22.09 Andy is picking up that Mary had an illegitimate child – it wasn’t planned. He believed that the child was conceived through rape, Mary doesn’t know who the father is as this had happened to her on a number of occasions; by the people in power.
22.12 Noise heard from above – possibly group above moving around? Andy Andy and Sarah both feel sick.
22.13 Andy is bent double with the sick feeling, and report a pain across his stomach.
22.15 Mary won’t communicate with Andy because he is a man and she doesn’t trust him.
22.16 Andy can hear Mary crying, then Andy and Sarah both feel fine as Mary has left the room. Andy said that she left because a regal looking man has just walked into the room – it’s not King John.
22.17 A noise was heard by all over by the fire exit. Andy describes the man that has entered the room as follows: He is 5”4 to 5”5 with pale skin, straight gingery brown hair, with some curls at the ends – it comes to just below his shoulders. He is wearing a purple silky cloak over one shoulder and has a goatee type beard which is pointed, his eyes are brown. He has on purple beeches, white socks that some up to the bottom of his breeches. He is wearing ankle boots which have a big strap on them, with a big silver buckle on it. He is a ‘rich man’.
22.21 Andy heard a male voice from down in the hole tell him to “f*** off”.
22.23 Sarah got a man saying “I’m not going to talk to the likes of you” and she felt that he was a regal man. Andy feels that the man projects himself as a “hard man” but when push comes to shove he is a push over. He has a sword but he has never used it. It is a long silver sword in a black sheath. Andy try’s to ask the man who he is and the reply is “why should I tell you who I am, you should know”. Andy gets the initials H.J.
22.29 End temperature 13.5
Group 3
Constable’s Room
EMF 0 Start Temp 15.3 Finish Temp 14.9
Claire saw a few red lights, by the fireplace and by the door.
Emma also saw red dots of light on the left side of the room (from the door).
Group 5
King John’s room
22.00 Richard saw a movement on the ceiling.
He also report see dark patches in the room and change sin temperature. He got the feeling that whoever was there with them, didn’t want to play.
Group 6
Guard and Hanging Room
20.00 When Penny visited the room on the walk around she felt heavy breathing had been heard or felt, and she felt her breathing constricted – this was before she knew it was the hanging room.
20.10 Penny heard a strange groan.
20.12 There was the sound of movement from below.
Group 7
Prison Room
21.55 Tina says that she doesn’t feel intimidated like she did on her last visit in September.
22.05 Dan feels the atmosphere is oppressive. The group call out but there was no distinct reply (although there seems to be a general tapping noise coming from the corner of the room – but not in communication). Caroline feels like her head is covered in lice and is very itchy. Small pin pricks of light are seen by the main door.
20.10 Tina picks up on a thin middle aged man who says “when time in repentance in near I will soon be free of this tormented body” and “My life was between 1640 and 1700”. Caroline’s mole on her face starts to throb like it it swollen and stinging.
20.15 Dan feels apprehensive. Tina felt a cold draft coming from the doorway.
20.20 Tina gets the name Andrew, surname beings with D. Dan asks why he feels tormented, but Tina says that he is just laughing. He took too many goats, and this was silly and made him get caught. He was taking them to his family and he was hung with a bag over his head.
Fourth Vigil
23.20 – 00.00
Group 1
Prison Room
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
The Old Kitchen
Start temperature 23
23.23 Sarah was sat by the fire and reported a cold draft up her legs and on her feet. The temperature went from 18.2 to 18 then 18.4.
23.30 Low thuds were heard.
23.31 Andy knocked twice on the wooden staircase and then said someone had entered the room from the direction of the telephone room.
23.32 Andy and Gayle both felt a breeze (they were sat on the 3 seater sofa).
23.33 Sarah and Gayle both felt sick and reported that their noses were hurting. Gayle also had a cold shiver.
23.35 Gayle saw a slight movement in front of the stationary camera, from the corner of her eye. Andy thinks that we may have a prankster among us.
23.37 A low bump was heard by Sarah.
23.41 A low hum was heard by Gayle.
23.40 Gayle saw what may have been a reflection, but could have been a light anomaly move in a _____| shape, the group couldn’t recreate it.
2.48 Andy’s left leg felt cold, Dave can hear clicking on the sofa behind his head. Sarah’s legs and hard are cold.
23.49 Sarah’s hand has gone even colder. Andy feels like someone is hiding then jumping out.
23.50 Dave felt someone touching him on the side of his hip.
23.51 Gayle had a chill.
23.52 The clicking by Dave’s head sounds as though someone is touching the leather on the sofa.
23.54 Andy saw movement by the little radiator, opposite the camera.
23.56 Sarah’s legs keep going cold – it comes and goes.
23.57 Gayle had a chill.
23.58 Sarah’s trousers got tugged – her lower left leg.
23.59 From time to time, Gayle has felt as though her hair is being tugged.
00.01 Dave saw a little white light up by the dog’s wheel.
Final temperature 20.4
Group 3
Oubliette
EMF 0 Start Temp 14.1 Finish Temp 13.6
Claire saw a few red lights. Emma also saw numerous flashing red lights.
Group 5
Chaplin’s Room
Jamie reported seeing a dark human shape which was completely black, on one of the top bunks. It was moving slowly as if waking up.
23.55 Richard could see a black puddle over the floor to his left.
Richard got the impression that there were two separate entities present who were bored and were playing with him. They seemed puzzled over the groups presence.
Jamie felt like someone put a feather in his ear and tried to get inside, it wasn’t nice. Jamie could also see shadows that were liquid like moving around on the floor.
Group 6
King John’s Room
23.20 The room feels very cold. When Penny first visited the room she got the impression of a man with grey hair and a beard. She felt there was a connection to a war, he was pacing and had a connection with money. Penny also picked up on a tall woman with a Greyhound/Deerhound/Lurcher type dog.
Group 7
Guard / Hanging Room
23.30 Tina feels breathing in her left ear. Caroline feels that the room is predominately male, and that they are sitting around. The name of Jacob comes to her, he is a kind and gentle young man. Dan trys scrying, he says that he feels like he is wearing a helmet and his right eye is disappearing, he is blind in that eye. The room seems to get colder and Dan says that he is finding it hard to breathe, but thinks it could be because of dust.
23.40 Dan felt like pacing up and down near the window as if guarding. He then got the name William Daryn.
23.45 Tina got “William Shakespeare” after looking in the mirror. Tina saw the comedy and tragedy masks and then the face of Shakespeare. Tina then felt as though someone was sat on her lap. It was a young child, about 10 years old associated with schooling. The name Julia Anne Morgan was given and the year 1850. She passed of consumption. She said she wasn’t ready to pass but she did go into the light. She likes to visit, sit and watch; and maybe tug at bedcovers. She talks of a Christmas service and walks from this room to the chapel and back again. Her favourite lesson was English and she didn’t like the teachers, because she was scared of their canes.
11.55 Tina looked over at Caroline and her face looked white. Tina said that the girl had to go but she wants to come back.
Fifth Vigil
00.15 – 00.45
Group 1
Guard / Hanging Room
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
Prison Room (Sarah sat this vigil out)
Starting temperature 24
00.20 Andy heard someone over by the fire exit.
00.24 Andy feels like someone has just grabbed his jaw and is squeezing, and squeezing it.
00.25 Gayle got scared by a mouse that was heard going across the wooden floor and then disappeared in to a hole by the door.
00.27 Gayle could hear whispered conversation. Andy heard it too but thought it was upstairs.
00.28 Gayle felt like her nose was tweaked.
00.29 Andy heard a tap on the wall opposite the windows.
0030 All 3 of us heard a metallic noise (thud/bang) on the other side of the fire exit door.
00.32 Temperature 19.3. Andy and Gayle heard a creak over by the fireplace.
00.34 Andy and Gayle heard a tap on wood, possibly the far bedding box/bunk bed.
00.36 Andy heard a wooden tap on the far side of the room, over by the fire door.
00.40 Gayle has an unpleasant taste in her mouth, like blood or iron.
00.43 Gayle feels really flushed in the face. Gayle and Andy both heard a noise on the other side of the main door; it sounded like a trainer screeching.
00.44 Gayle felt like her back was being tickled and she also had a hotspot on her shoulder.
Group 3
Old Kitchen
EMF 0 Start Temp 18.2
Claire thought that she saw a cat walk down the stairs. No one else had anything to report.
Group 5
Constable’s Room
Richard had a headache as soon as they entered the room.
Both Jamie and Richard could see small lights moving around the audio recorder. They also reported that the room seemed to get darker and also went colder. Jamie got sinus pain towards the end of the vigil.
Group 6
Chaplin’s Room
00.15 No atmosphere really
00.30 The room feels colder
00.40 Nothing to report
Group 7
King John’s Room
00.15 After entering, Tina saw light come down from the wall to the chairs, she felt that out of respect she should sit down.
00.20 Dan felt jovial; as if the room was for food, drink and party games.
00.30 Tina has a headache across the left side of her head; as if someone hit her. Dan has a headache at the rear left of his head. Caroline feels sick to the stomach, she feels nervous; as though she wants to leave. She also reports a headache at the back of her skull.
00.33 The group hear two loud bangs behind them. Caroline feels cold and wants to shake. Her right foot is colder than her left, she feels like her feet are in snow. Tina can see Victorian ladies in waiting and men playing poker, around the 1920’s. Caroline picks up on a man near her, his name is Edward, he looks like he is of a high status and he may have been associated with the courts. Caroline also picks up on a nun or someone wearing a long headdress.
Sixth Vigil
01.00 – 01.30
Group 1
King John’s room
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
Guard Room / Hanging Room
Starting temperature 19
01.03 We were in the Guard room when Gayle and Sarah heard a knock come from the Hanging room, so decided to go there.
01.04 We all heard a noise come from the window area.
01.07 Temperature 17.1
01.11 Taps heard by all.
01.14 Sarah saw a light on the wall behind Gayle. Gayle heard a creak over to the left by the window, by the doorway.
01.15 Andy, Sarah and Gayle all heard a tap behind Andy – this was heard 3 times between 01.15 and 0.16.
01.21 We moved into the Guard room and Sarah had a big chill.
01.22 Andy saw a dark shape through the doorway into the hanging room, he saw it moved from the left window into the middle of the room.
01.28 Gayle has a dry throat.
Andy felt that the spirit flitted from the room we were in, to the other room; and when we left a room, it went back in there.
Group 3
Prison Room
Claire’s head felt heavy and she had a pain in the right hand side of it. When Claire sat in the window she felt the feeling of power, like the power rank of the prisoner dictated who sat in the window. No one else had anything to report.
Group 5
Oubliette
Richard got the feeling of overwhelming sadness in this room. He reported that there was a cruelty which pervades the whole castle. He could have easily burst into tears. He heard “Pity the poor wretches”.
Jamie could see a woman’s arms coming out of the hatch, they were reaching towards the corner bed. He also heard tapping on the hatch.
Group 6
Constable’s Room
01.00 EMF is high around the door handle, Penny thinks this is due to static as once John touched it, it went. Penny got the impression that someone was put in a job that they were not fit to do, something to do with adding up.
Group 7
Chaplin’s Room
01.00 No one feels anything but they discus the possibility of an altar by the window.
01.10 Tina gets the name Father John Murphy, originally from Cork. Also the name Father John Black and the date 1472. Caroline notes that the lights in the stairwell seem to dim slightly, she also gets a headache on the right temple, but thinks this may be down to tiredness.
Seventh Vigil
01.50 – 02.20
Group 1
Chaplin’s Room
No notes made by Chris (BSPRI member) as he was recording his own footage.
Group 2
King John’s room
Starting temperature 17.1
01.54 Ring O Roses popped into Sarah’s head.
01.56 Sarah and Dave started talking about a little girl that had been mentioned in their previous investigations of the castle. Andy asked them if her name began with E – Emma, Emily but they couldn’t remember.
01.57 Andy’s chair moved, like someone tugged the back of it. Sarah got the smell of rotting flesh.
02.00 Sarah reports that the smell has gone.
02.02 Sarah heard a little pop noise next to her.
02.03 Temperature 16.8
02.04 Gayle got a chill
02.07 Gayle had a cold breeze on her right hand side and when she started to write the notes she had a breeze on her hand; as though someone was blowing on it.
Nothing else significant to report.
Group 3
Guards Room
EMF 0 Start temp 16.8
Emma felt cold shivers as she passed the big mirror in the room. On the sensory mapping that she did with Bruce, she had a similar reaction over by the window behind the door into the room.
Hanging Room
EMF 0 Start Temp 18.4 Finish temp 17.3
No one had anything to report.
Group 5
Old Kitchen
Nothing to report.
Group 6
Oubliette
02.00 Penny got the impression of doors banging, rats, people shouting. She heard a whispering but the other members of the group didn’t hear it. She couldn’t make out what was being said.
02.07 The temperature felt like it had dropped and all the hair stood up on Penny’s body.
Group 7
Constable’s room
01.45 Nothing felt
02.00 Tina sees pin pricks of light in the middle pillar by the window. She feels that people may have seen something standing between beds. She then got a date: March 1825.
Conclusion
The group all agreed that St Briavels Castle was an interesting place to investigate. The only problem we had was that there wasn’t enough time to investigate all of the areas! Lots of lights (small dots as well as larger shapes) were seen all around the castle and this was something that 3CPO also reported seeing. St Briavels holds a lot of history, and the sensitives encountered spirits that make up this history; they came up with names, which we hope Bruce/Parasoc will be able to say whether they have heard these names on previous occasions. We extend our thanks to Parasoc and 3CPO for carrying out this joint investigation.
Quote:
Dan: St Briavels at night would scare the heck out of me if I was a school kid on a trip, I'm 35 and I was terrified just walking to the car and back on my own.
Gayle: I enjoyed my second visit to St Briavels, but felt that I witnessed more activity on my first visit. It is a stunning location and a great place to investigate.