|
The baseline tests did show a few anomalous results, especially the EMF meter, that
seemed to spike in several areas where there was no power source, but not with any regularity. Temperature also varied
within a very short period of time, with no apparent extraneous influences. The EMF meter did play an important role
later, when used as a method of communication, quite effectively.
The investigations began with David locking off cameras in the attic area. Apart
from a small light anomaly that seemed to follow David down the stairs there was nothing visual to report. However,
the soundtrack did prove very interesting. Footsteps could be heard quite clearly coming from the far end of the attic, at
various intervals. The strangest thing we heard, was the tinkling of bells, like the ones used to summon staff.
This happened quite a few times. No sign of any bells, anywhere.
The physical effects in the far end of the attic were quite dramatic. I felt
a tightening around my neck and felt dizzy and sick. I thought I was alone with this until I turned around and saw Ian,
our researcher, holding on to the door frame. He too, felt very dizzy. Given the feelings that were being experienced, I
could only put it down to some kind of hanging or strangulation.
Also, an interesting EVP was picked up on the video soundtrack, click on the link
below to hear it.
The EMF meter was running at just under two, throughout this time
and a lilltle light anomaly was caught on video camera, just to my left. As I began asking questions, we asked the spirit
to use the EMF meter to indicate the answers, at which time the meter quickened in it's audio capacity. When asked if
there was a major crime commited in the attic, there was no response. However, when asked if there were any bones behind
the walls, (as Lila suspected there might be), the EMF began peaking betwen two and three.
I asked about the rumours that a member of the clergy had carried
out abortions in the attic, again the meter peaked between three and four. When we said we didn't understand how a man
of the cloth could do such a thing, the meter peaked again, Julie felt someone breathing on her neck and a large light anomaly
appeared behind me. When I announced our departure a definite knocking came from the far end, the machine spiked and
a light swirled around us.
The EMF meter also proved useful when David, Chris and Darren visited alone during
the evening. It responded positivley to questioning, moving the needle quite high then dropping down again, between
questions. This was also accomapanied by lights on video and a noise when one was asked for.
During other visits there seemed to be a light show on and
around Toby, the landlord; Emma thought she saw a black shadow quite low to the ground, and thought that it might be some
kind of animal; lights towards David, and lights from the back wall.
A table tipping session did produce some results, with a slight
twisting and rocking. There was a slight breeze detected by Angela and the room did become very cold, with Julie shaking very
badly. After two loud knocks were heard from the other end, a glass divination proved unsucessful as the spirit responding
was misleading in it's answers.
| The Dining Room/Ballroom |
|
| A single large orb above Angela and Ian |
The Dining Room/Ballroom has proved quite active throughout all the visits, and one
of the places where we have been able to get documented proof of some of the spiritual vistors.
I mentioned three airmen that had made themselves known on the initial visit, and
they proved quite happy to participate in communication on our first investigation. They presented in a group of three,
the tall one in the middle with his arms around the shoulders of the the two. There was no doubt that he was the strongest
character of the three, and his name was, I believed to be Philip. They had been involved in a motor accident after
a visit to the Red Lion, and he was showing their vehicle running into a wall. Our researcher, Ian, came up with the
following facts. 8 airmen died on the 7th February 1943, when their transport vehicle failed to take a bend near the
Town Hall in Knottingley. It crashed in to the vicarage wall. The men had been on a night out in Pontefract.
When I tried to get information about the other two, he showed me covering their mouths,
laughing in the process, although I did get the names George and Albert. On the list that was produced from research,
two of the dead are called George and Albert, and one of the badly injured had a surname of Philips. It does not say
whether Philips succomed to his injuries later.
It was strange that when we later did an experient using a marble, three light anomalies
were picked up on tape. Click below to see the incident.
Watch for light anomalies, there are three altogether.
The Red Lion - January 2008 - Ballroom
It also seemed strange, that nearly all the stills photos that were taken on this
occasion that contained orbs, contained three! As shown in the example below.
The presence of another spirit made itself
known during another period, touching Julie on her neck and Emma on a her shoulder. It seemed very restless, rushing
around the room with great energy. It seemed to have negative effect on the airmen, who on this occasion declined the
offer to communicate. I can't tell you any more about it, because it declined every effort we made, to respond.
What I can tell you is, during it's presence, the room temperature dropped
from 21 degrees C to 12 degrees C in seconds. We had two occasions when the door rattled as though someone was trying
to gain entry, lights on video camera and orbs on stills photos.
When all the photos were examined we seemd to have the same one
showing on nearly photo. A couple of enlarged ones are shown below. The interesting thing, is that all the cameras
are different.
So far our efforts upstairs have been Rooms
14, 16 and 18 linked by a single corridor. Of these, the srongest spirit present in Room 16 turned out to be a previous
landlord, named Louis Smith. He had made himself known on the initial visit and seemed more than happy communicate with
our group, although he had shown a little hostility to the group of five who had preceded us.
Other than the name, which I had picked up on the initial visit, we knew
little of Louis Smith. Toby, however, was privy to much more information, that he had come across while researching the history
of the pub through the deeds etc. Because of this, he joined us in the investigation, although I think I can say
with some certainty, that he's not Louis' favourite person!
We began with a glass divination session in conjuction with the EMF meter.
Before we began speaking the glass made an odd little jump, which indicated to us that there was a spirit present. I
asked if it was Louis who was with us and the glass moved in a circle to indicate that it was. Then the light anomalies
began appearing on camera and the EMF began jumping between 2 and 3.
As we began asking questions from the information that Toby had given
us, (we were trying to obtain the truth of the matter), the glass moved in the following sequence.
'Did you murder your wife, as was reported in the Sunday papers?', no
movement.
'Did she fall from the boat accidentally?', glass moved to confirm.
'Did you throw your wife down the stairs?', no movement.
'Was that also an accident?', glass moved to confirm.
'Does it worry you that people think you are a murderer?', no movement.
'Does it suit your purpose for people to believe you were a bad boy?',
movement to confirm, and also a srtong breeze across the table.
'So you liked your mates to think you did those things?', movement to
confirm.
Throughout this period the EMF meter was jumping wildly, although there
was no logical reason for it.
Toby then began asking questions as to Louis anger, because he was convinced
that it was Louis that was causing all the crashes and bangs he had been hearing above his flat. Click on the link below
to see the reaction to the question.
Light to the right of Toby's head,
up, and then back down.
Room 16 Toby
It was then that we heard two very loud bangs
from the ceiling, that we can only describe as 'hollow'. If indeed it was from the above then we know for definite that
there was nobody there, because our other group had moved downstairs before we began!
After this there ensued a conversation
between Toby and Louis using the glass as a conduit. The essence of coversation was that Louis did not like the alterations
that were being made to the pub and was not happy with what Toby had done to it. When asked if it was, indeed, him that
was making the loud banging noise that was keeping Toby awake, the answer was yes.
| Room 16 |
|
| The group of five that experienced the hostility |
It was at this point that both Toby and David
thought they saw a dark shadow outside the room on the corridor wall. David went to investigate, taking the video camera.
The shot shows him panning round the corridor, wandering around Room 14, then, just as he enters the corridor again, he cries
out with shock. He had been poked in the head, nearly dropping the camera in reaction.
The conversation ended with us discovering why Louis was inhabiting the
hotel part of the building. Apparently, it was in that room that he used to meet up with his lover, Sarah. He
would not tell us one way or another whether it was before or after his wife had died.
We had noticed throughout the session that the glass always travelled
in the same direction across the table and we wondered why this was the case. When asked if Louis liked Emma, and reminded
him of Sarah, the glass began moving very quickly towards her, backwards and forwards. We took that as a yes!
Other visits produced many lights on video camera, but nothing further
on the information front.
This is the Red Lion, Pontefract, January
2008. In Room 16 you will see various lights emanating from the right half of the screen. (There is no sound on this
clip).
The Red Lion - January 2008 - Room 16
Room 18 turned out to be quite active, though
the spririt that was present was quite communicative one minute, then silent the next, although two bangs on the wall did
indicate his interference with our batteries! This spirit was Bernard, an apparent suicide, that was very graphic in
showing how he had acheived this result. I had the impression from the presentaton, that perhaps he was some kind
of travelling salesman, and from the late 1940's. He was very fond of showing his responses by lights, although I had
thought I had seen an outline of a dark man-shaped shadow in the doorway, which is what originally attracted me to the room.
Click on the link below.
Room 14 has been touched on briefly, but never
the less, produced some good light anomalies on video camera and some unaccountable blurring. It is thought that some
kind of accident whilst using gas was reponsible for the spirit activity, although further investigation to obtain details
will be required. ( It is interesting to note here that Chris did feel his throat tightening in this room). Just
before leaving though, something strange did occur. Dave complained of his ears burning, which they did for quite some
time after. Given that the room was not overly warm, strange to say the least.
The bar area had had some reports of poltergeist activity, with glasses
being thrown and a dark shadow being seen. However, the overwhelming presence there seemed to be a man who had stopped
to have tea! He was very helpful, giving his name as Arthur Cleave, who then showed himself in a white coat, behind
a counter. I immediately thought of the old fashioned chemists, and indeed, that is what he turned out to be.
He owned a chemist shop in the market area of the town in the 1930's and was situated next door to his brother who owned the
tobacconists! I was quite happy too when I found after research that the building did house a Tea Room at one time! The
only other encounter down here was a fast moving shadow which resulted in a scratch, but other than that no other
communication.
The Reading Room, situated at the front of the building, was visited
briefly by two groups. Group one discovered a spirit in the corner by the piano, by the name of Brian (who did
give his last name as well, but this is being witheld until research is finalised), when he was born and where. He was
very smart in appearence and looked as though he may well have worked in a tailors etc. Apparently he used to be a regular
drinker there with his friends, but had died from some kind of chest complaint at a fairly young age (born in Featherstone
in 1932). Details again were given, but due to the fact that the dates supplied were recent, they are being witheld
until the research is finished.
Group two completed a glass divination session, but the results obtained
were inconclusive.
No doubt more investigations will take place at the Red Lion, as it truly
is a very active location. Many thanks to Toby and his staff, and also to Ian our historian, who has shown true dedication
on our behalf. Below are some more photos of the various locations, showing orbs.
By Pat Adams-Wright for WYPG
| The Reading Room |
|
| 'Brian's Corner' |
| The Bar area |
|
| Where a shadow has been seen moving right to left |
| The Dining Room |
|
| Strange light anomaly |
| The Dining Room |
|
| EMF Meter |
|
| Showing fluctuation where there shouldn't be any |
|
