Bolebroke Castle 13/01/07

Weather: Cool, damp.

Duration: 19.00-05.10

Members: 10

Guests: 0

Well almost a year on to the day, it only seemed like yesterday that we were returning to this splendid location for another investigation. As Bolebroke functions as a hotel/guest house throughout the year it is somewhat difficult to find a slot. But when said opportunity arises you just cant turn it down.!  The group started arriving around 7pm, we started to unload, and a few members met up with Peter Hobcraft, the owner of Bolebroke to announce our arrival. At this point we were still awaiting the arrival of our illustrious leader, I'm sure he was just building the suspense......actually he got lost. But still, all arrived accounted for and in dare I say it high "spirits". Peter informed us that we could have access to the "Great Hall" this time around which was good news to us as it was locked last time. One drawback at first was that the room in which we had a base camp last time round, was occupied with guests. Quite interesting to see their faces as we arrived I can tell you.

Then came the fun and games of deciding where to put our equipment, it was decided that we would have a digital dictaphone in the great hall, in the hope of obtaining some EVP's. Craig, Clint D, and Neil setup stand alone cameras in the following locations; The landing last time around this proved to be a very active area indeed, orbs aplenty and odd noises and shapes. Also our wireless camera shot down the stairs where a variety of light anomalies were captured last time round coming up the stairs. Camera two was then set up in the Kings room, odd feelings had been described here, and colourful orbs have also been caught on still cameras. The life size model of King Henry VIII gives a somewhat eerie and authentic feel to the room.

Camera 1 pointing across the landing (wireless cam also in shot). Camera two (not in shot) was positioned in the far right aiming toward the King and his bed.

The usual array of monitors linked to these cameras via vcr's was setup in our base camp, a rather nice cosy alternative to last years abode. Before we had even started the orbs seen in the Kings room on the monitors were astounding, definitely something happening in there already. At this point the sensitives went on a walk of the building to try and get a feel for any odd goings on, there were one or two rooms that the sensitives refused to go into. Around this time a report of a big orb was seen on the monitor emanating from the kings room again. Franco then made it known that his fully charged torch had just blown on the landing during the walk round, very interesting. Spirits feed off electricity and power sources, could this have been something popping in to say hi? After our technical escapades, and a swift cup of tea we were ready to roll. So it was time for opening prayers and delegations of who was going where, and we were off! First up, Neil and Angie spent the first hour watching the monitors complete with radio contact should they see anything. April, Adel, Liz and Franco headed off the uncomfortable dining room downstairs and Clint S, Hayley and Clint D went to the great hall. For the group in the great hall in seemed somewhat disappointing at first. There were a strip of lights in the room, that couldn't be turned off, as we just couldn't find the damned light switch! Nonetheless, some nice orbs were caught on still cameras, and Hayley seemed drawn toward the huge fireplace. She commented that she could feel the presence of a lady in the room with us. She said that she wasn't nasty and seemed very happy, even mischievous. Hayley said she feels that this lady worked there as a servant and her name was Mary. The room did have a very warm and welcome feel to it.

The Great Hall: note the orb next to the bottom of the chandelier, right hand side.

The group in the dining room commented on a lot a of strange cracks of light and anomalies seen with the naked eye rather than cameras. Upstairs in the monitor room, no activity seemed to be reported as of yet.

Close up of another orb caught in the great hall.

The next vigils were being planned over teas and coffees whilst we discussed our next locations. Craig and Clint S were to take monitor duty, Clint D, April, Neil and Angie to take the landing and stairs area, and Hayley, Adel, Liz and Franco would take the Kings room. One person in each group had a headset as to hear what else anyone else was picking up. Within the first 10-15 mins, you could here Clint S radioing through to the group in the Kings room about the orbs that seemed to be raining in on them. The orbs seemed to either stay around the dummy of the King, or materialise from a picture by the dummy of Anne Boleyn, and float up toward the dummy, interesting. Craig noted over 20 plus orbs during that hour, the most we have certainly ever caught on film. Then the guys on the stairs weren't short on orb action either, they seemed to be shooting up the stairs, then up to the next flight. Then when Angie was calling out they seemed to be drawn toward her. It was on the staircase that Angie felt very uneasy indeed. She then felt a women descend the stairs and stop in front of her. Angie got the name Jane, but unlike Mary in the great hall this Jane character was apparently becoming very aggressive toward Angie. Angie asked who she was, then "Jane" replied to Angie, "you know who I am, you read about me in the books you know who I am! " Angie said she then felt her arm being "held" before "Jane" just drifted away, we had also noticed a considerable temperature drop on the stairs too. It became very icy, very quickly. It was whilst on the Stairs, that the group all heard rumblings coming from over head, and even downstairs which of course by now was completely uninhabited. A very eventful hour was bought to a close as we refreshed and prepped for the séance.

We decided that as the previous group seemed to have a real good hour in the Kings room that this would be the perfect opportunity for our séance, it was during the prep that a very odd occurrence took place. Clint D and Adel decided that there were plenty of chairs in the main dining room that we could use for the séance. As they bought a few chairs up at a time, Clint D noticed what sounded like a knocking noise come from a room in the corridor where the Kings room was, Adel said she didn't hear anything. At this point they were both outside the closed door of the Kings room, it was then the two loud bangs came from the other side of the door, as it physically moved in front of them. Without a thought, the chairs were dropped as they ran very fast indeed back to our base.

The séance itself seemed fairly calm, hopefully a review of the tapes will show otherwise. There were considerable temperature fluctuations noted throughout. Hayley was very uncomfortable for a while, again feeling as if she was being choked. When Angie was asked if she was picking anything up she replied very slowly, and not sounding like her "No, No I shant!" when asked about this after she doesn't remember saying this but, remembers hearing it, and visualised a very thin man with a long beard, who seemed quite stubborn. Ironically a picture matching Angie's description is on display in the castle lobby of a certain Mr Thomas Sackville.......you never know!

Another orb captured in the kings room around the dummy of King Henry

After a well deserved break post séance, it was decided that we would explore rooms we hadn't been in yet, or revisit areas we thought needed tending too. One point of interest was when Clint D and Liz were in the main dining room, and a strange knocking, or "sorting" noise was very audible indeed and seemed to be coming from a panel in the wall, which was soon to be revealed as a pantry. When the pantry door was slowly opened it stopped very odd. At this stage those that wished to rest or survey the monitors could do so, and the rest teamed up to re-visit locations or test out rooms that had yet to be looked at. Clint D, Clint S, April, Neil, Adele and Angie went into the dining room. There were, like last time, real odd feelings in here,  it didn't feel right. Clint D seemed to feel movement around him. A few members commented on the occasional cracks of light, seen in ironically the same place as they were on our last visit. Just above the dining room door. Then a very loud dragging / scraping noise seemed to come from out in the hall. All in the dining room seemed to hear this it was quite unsettling. One member seemed to think it was a scream rather than dragging or scraping. Who knows, certainly was strange bearing in mind that the hallways and main reception area were empty at this time!

After no activity whatsoever in the so called "spooky room" at the top of the building we decided for one more go in the kings room. More orbs were caught on camera and still cameras too, particularly around the dummy area again. At this stage fatigue was showing and it was time for some much needed rest, before packing up and hitting the road.

SPRG would like to thank Peter Hobcroft once again for allowing us into this wonderful establishment, we really appreciate it, and would love to come back, just say the word. Also a big thank you to what we can only assume was who we hope had come through that night, and to "Jane" and "Mary". Until next time. Thanks again SPRG.

SPRG 2007