Undisclosed Manor House - Kent

Aim:
Another return to one of our favourite venues, the scene of one of our long term ongoing studies, with the hope of again witnessing some paranormal phenomena and to record evidence of possible paranormal activity.

Background:
Parts of this building date back to the fourteenth century as it was originally constructed as a medieval hall house. Many original features remain including the great hall itself.

Never before investigated until we chanced across it some years ago this venue has given us some astounding results, sadly less so in recent visits, so we are always hopeful that the next visit will be the night it all happens.

During our last visit Dave and Ian were in a adjacent bedroom when the noise of the stairs creaking was heard and recorded. This was investigated by them and the exact step was found. Similar sounds were also heard by Paddy and Kim whilst they were in the same location. Our main aim was to examine this more closely and see if it would repeat itself.

Apparatus:
Camcorders:
Sony DCR HC-62 with night vision and Sony HVL-IRM IR light
Sony DCR-DVD110E with night vision and Sony HVL- IRM IR light

Digital Camera:
Fuji Fine Pix S1600
Fuji Fine Pix S5500
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ-38 X 2
Pentax K-100D Digital SLR
Voice recorder:
Olympus VN-2100PC
Olympus DM20
HNSAT DVR958

Other:
Tripods, Torches, Video tapes (MiniDV).

Investigators: Ian, Kim, Paddy and Dave.

Method:
Using visual and scientific methods combined with spiritual theory, we adopted a more relaxed method. We find that a lot of things can occur during breaks or when we are not actively on a vigil. For this reason we decided to stage a couple of vigils during our time there but also to spend more time relaxing in the crew room in the hope that whilst we were doing so, and were more at ease, something unexpected may occur.

Trigger object experiment
Ian had taken time during the afternoon before the investigation to set up a trigger object experiment in the area of the afore mentioned stairs. This was five old coins placed on a pre-prepared card with their outlines drawn around them. Hopefully being able to show if the coins had been moved by unseen hands. The building was checked and secure with no one else present, then locked up.

First vigil -First floor landing
We chose to sit on the rather large landing as it gave easy access to the rest of the house and enabled us to hear from all directions, including the stair case previously referred too. Dave and Ian filmed on camcorder whilst Kim, Dave and Paddy recorded the session on their voice recorders. We spent a substantial period of time with Dave, Ian and Paddy taking turns calling aloud for some activity or responses.

Break, we had a lengthy break in which we chatted and revived ourselves but were always aware of the environment around us.

Second Vigil – Return to first floor landing
We decided to return to the landing as we were hopeful that not all of the noises we had heard before were random. This time we decided to break from the norm and do something we do not normally entertain, this time we experimented with a Ouija board. We spent time sitting around a table, fingers on glass asking as before for some responses and movement of the glass I must stress we do not condone the use of the board as an investigative tool as we feel any movement offers no evidential proof, this was an experiment only. We have never been successful in having either a glass or planchet move , which is why we thought we would have another go.

Trigger object experiment
Once arriving and after settling in Dave and Ian went to see the results of the trigger object experiment. Little or no movement could be seen although it appeared that at least two of the coins had moved about one or two mini meters out of their drawn outlines. There were no signs of any larger movement. The three hours of video of these object has been viewed and there are no visible signs of movement. What is of interest though are the noises recorded within the house whilst no one was there. Sound not unlike footfalls, shuffling, taps and knocks. Also the actual video footage appears to shift frame periodically, as though the video camera is moving on its tripod.

First vigil -First floor landing
Faint taps were heard periodically most appearing to be completely random and not in any way responsive. There was a moment where the till then pleasant atmosphere was interrupted. A chill descended on the area and the team remarked upon this and how suddenly there was an air of anticipation. This was felt more by Paddy who, having his back to the main stairs and open banisters felt very uncomfortably. A few knocks from behind him combined with this sudden sense of foreboding caused him to leave his seat and stand against the wall opposite. Paddy said that he had a real sense of someone behind him.
More noises noises were heard but not repeated on request. There was a coldness on Ian's right side drawing his attention to the area of a small flight of stairs to his right that lead to a bedroom. Nothing else occurred.

Second Vigil – Return to first floor landing
Despite our persistence nothing happened whilst the team used the Ouija board, there was no movement of the glass or the planchet, neither were there any responses away from the board.

After this session we decided to see out the rest of our time in the crew room, discussion our thoughts on what little had occurred so far and our previous, more productive nights here. Whist this was being discussed a number of loud cracks came from the kitchen area in the room adjacent to where we were. These were investigated.
There were no other occurrences between these two sessions or afterwards.

Trigger object experiment
At the time we were not aware of the content of the video footage so with little or no movement we decided that there was no conclusive results to comment on. However, the noises recorded by the footage are of interest. Some of these are clearly identifiable as noises outside and around the house, near by farm machinery, aeroplanes flying overhead, rain on the roof or even cars driving down the near by lane. However, more noise was heard to be closer to the recording devise and within the house. There were a lot of these so a full analysis has yet to be completed before any firm conclusion can be reached.

Regarding the frame movement of the camera we have concluded that this must be the result of oscillation of moving parts within the camcorder causing its centre of gravity to shift, thus resulting in minimal camera movement, this was not paranormal.

First vigil -First floor landing
Some of the taps heard were recorded on our equipment, but given their random nature it is not possible suggest that these were evidence of paranormal activity.
The atmospheric change felt by the team may well have been the result of a change in the weather outside, a draft though the house is enough to play on an investigators mind until the cause is identified. An example of this might be Paddy's experience by the stairs, which despite unnerving, can be explained as being a psychological response. The same can be said of the sensation felt by Ian.

Second Vigil – Return to first floor landing
The are no results from this session from which to draw any conclusion.

The cracks heard in the kitchen whilst the team were on the last break appeared to be of an electrical origin as we are aware of some relays in the rear of the building that cause this noise intermittently.

A video showing some moments of this investigation can be seen on our videos page. During our stay a certain amount of other information was forthcoming to the team of a clairvoyant nature. As Ghost Connections conducts scientifically based investigations we do not publish such observations, however, this information is held on a separate database and may prove interesting when compared to other peoples experiences. Should you wish to discuss this information please email us