It is the remains of a burial chamber of the type known as a long barrow. As with most of these structures it has lost its original form but the entrance is plain for all to see projecting as it does from the escarpment today. Uniquely in Kent it is surrounded by fallen sarsens which may have once formed a ring around the barrow. The size of each of these stones has to be seen to be believed.

The area is one of natural beauty. It lies below the line of the North Downs just off the Pilgrims Way. Who knows if they even knew it was here. The view from the barrow itself towards midwinter sunrise is across the fertile Medway Valley roughly in line with Kits Coty. Ley line theories abound as to power sites and positioning of ancient tombs but who is to say why it is here. It is on the edge of an escarpment which is neither the top of a hill or the valley floor.

The practice of tree decorating is increasing here. A practice (depending on your source) stemming from the pagans or the druids and perpetuated by the early Christians who Pope Gregory encouraged to make good use of pagan sites for their new churches.

22 bodies were found here in 1901 excavations.

Aim:

To investigate reports of paranormal activity at The Coldrum Stones.

Background:

This is a place of pilgrimage to many and so tales and theories abound of spirits present here. These tend not to be of the ghostly kind but of the ancient belief kind. Would they appear to or influence us?

Apparatus:

Digital Camera-
Fuji Fine Pix S5000
Fuji Fine Pix S5500
Fuji Fine Pix S5500
Nikon Coolpix 3100

Team:

Kim
Paddy
Ian
Dave

Method:

Using visual and scientific methods combined with spiritual information investigate the possibility of any paranormal phenomena at this venue.

Investigation:

We arrived at the Coldrums having walked from the car park. Thankfully it had been dry for some time so the swamp of a track was bone dry.

The night was still and the sky clear – stars were abundant and the lights of civilisation glowed in the middle distance. The low rumble of motorway traffic could be made out in the distance from the M20 and M26. The occasional disturbance from a passenger jet over flying us combined modern technological advances with the massive feat of engineering that assembled this feature thousands of years ago.

Cutting to the chase we took a few photographs and sat and pondered in this tranquil place.

Somewhat naturally ones attention ends up being drawn to the heavens on a night like this and we spent our time gazing at the stars and noting the endless stream of satellites progressing in monotonous orbit around us, aircraft approaching at various altitudes from all directions, some looking like aircraft and some not until they reached us. The occasional shooting star was also seen, pieces of the heavens we were observing burning out as they naturally headed on a collision course with our atmosphere.

Did we sense any spirits? No

Did we learn anything about anything? Yes

A more chilled and tranquil atmosphere is hard to find among the bustling world that is now North Kent. This whole place has the effect of concentrating the mind on thousands of years of achievement and what man is capable of if he tries hard enough.

The night sky is a wonderful thing away from light pollution.

Man built a wondrous structure here and its worthy of marvel in the 21st Century.

Is it haunted or frequented by earth spirits? Something here has a profound effect if you allow yourself to be absorbed into the atmosphere of the place.

We leave the last word to William Borlas, who in 1754 wrote of the name, that the word Coldrums is derived from the Cornish 'Galdrum' meaning place of enchantment.