Hi everyone,

This is my first post so please go easy on me ok :D

I am a member of the renowned "West Midlands Ghost Club" which has been in existence for 20 years.

What I'm seeking from the members of this forum is hopefully some ideas of places to contact in the hope of conducting an objective no nonsense investigation.

We would prefer buildings that are less well known to the general public because the well known ones have either been exhausted or charge ridiculous amounts of money or are simply out of bounds.

Pubs and clubs are basically a no no these days because of the late night licensing hours but any old buildings in the form of shops, village halls, Theatres, Offices etc... will suffice.

If anyone reading this is interested in this sort of thing, they might find our website of interest as we have been to countless places over the years and we pride ourselves on investigating places that have never been investigated previously.

www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

Many thanks

Conna ;)

Welcome. Our town crier, Martin Wood, has written a book called "Haunted Shrewsbury" and might be a good contact

http://www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/counci...n/towncrier.htm

From past history on this forum try HERE Happy Haunting :ph43r:

Thanks for the links guys, much appreciated ;)

Does anyone recall this Shropshire Star article from March 08?

I found it highly intriguing and wondered if anyone on the forum might be able to add anything at all???

Walker’s ghostly encounter

former-sugar-beet-factory.jpgA Shropshire lorry driver was astonished to meet an elderly man dressed in traditional milking gown who apparently vanished into thin air near the county’s former sugar beet factory.

West Midlands Ghost Club is now hoping to make a site visit to investigate the apparition.

It was spotted by father-of-three Garry Smart, of Trench, Telford, who has enjoyed the countryside around Allscott for at least 30 years.

Mr Smart, 37, said: “I started walking in the area as young as I can remember with an uncle of mine, progressed to rabbiting when I was about 15 and still walk my dogs there to the present day.”

He said the mystery sighting happened at 5.30pm last Sunday as he was walking his two dogs close to the old factory.

His nine-month-old pup began barking and he looked to see what had attracted the dog’s attention.

“I saw an elderly man wearing what looked to be a long, sandy brown coloured gown, like farmers used for milking the cows, and a flat cap. I said ‘all right’ to him. He looked towards me, continued to walk without acknowledging me.

“I picked the pup up as he was still barking, walked about 10 paces and looked in the direction the man had walked but he was nowhere to be seen.”

Nick Duffy, of West Midlands Ghost Club, said: “We hope to make a visit to investigate. We are also keen to hear of any ghostly encounters in Shropshire. People can call us on 07944 478708.”

Best wishes,

Nick

chilling stuff! :D

We had always intended to visit the site mentioned above, but, as we could never find any further / pertinent information about the place, we cancelled any such plans in the end....

Over the years, the W.M.G.C. have investigated a number of sites in Shropshire however, including Lilleshall Abbey, the Horsehay Shunting Sheds near Telford, Madeley Court Hotel (with Beacon Radio), Maws Craft Centre at Ironbridge, Acton Burnell Castle and so on.

It's such a lovely shire with such an impressive ghost-lore, I'd have thought this section of the forum would have been bulging with input by now???

Regards,

Nick :o :o :o :o :o
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

Hi Nick,

Welcome to the forum, I'm going to share a strange experiance I had a few years ago. I have been on a few paranormal investigations in Cornwall and Shropshire.

One summers night I think about 5 years ago I was driving from Heathgates Bank with a passenger in the car along Whichurch Road. As I got past the bollards where pedestrians can cross just past First Avenue I thought I saw someone walk out into the road from the right so I slowed down.

The traffic lights then changed to red and what I can only describe as a mist came down past the left side side of the car and which by then both the passenger and I felt the hairs on our neck stand up and the car temperature plumet.

Lets just say on that occasion I did go through a red light as there where no other cars around, its something I will always remember and if I'm driving at night around 2am I take the Sundorne Road route home instead :)

That's interesting Chris. Did you ever do any research on that part of the road to find out if anyone had died there in a road accident etc? Can you remember roughly what time it was when you had the experience?

Regards ;)

Hi Chris - belated thanks for your welcome to the forum mate!!

I was just wondering whether there might have been some other stories from the Heath Gate Bank area of Shrewsbury to coincide with your experience? I shall have to take a look a little later to see if anything crops up.......??

Better yet - we can run the details past Martin Wood (Shrewsbury Ghost Walk related) and see if he knows anything on the matter?

By the way - we did carry out our investigation of the Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury on Friday night (the 9th) and pics of the visit can be viewed in the topmost album here:

http://westmidlandsghostclub.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php

We're working on a report at the moment, so I will post that up later, in case anyone might be interested.

Best wishes - and thanks again,

Regards,

Nick
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

Hi Nick,

Yes it would be interesting to see if there where any further reports out there.

I've just had a look at the Prince Rupert Hotel investigation very interesting; I have been down in the cellars in the past an amazing experience.

Hello Chris,

I've contacted Martin Wood about your experience (mentioned no names, as I didn't check if it would be okay with you first), so lets see if he comes up with anything(?)

Re. The Prince Rupert Hotel - yes..... the cellars were incredible!! I've posted a very rough (and unfinished) version of our report below, just in case anyone was interested....

Investigation Notes: The Prince Rupert Hotel – Shrewsbury – Shropshire.

Visited: 9th to 10th January 2009

Duration of visit: Approx. 5 hrs.

Attendees: 5 members of the West Midlands Ghost Club and Chris Kennedy, Shrewsbury Ghost Walk guide and ‘sensitive’. Also present for the first part of our visit was Shrewsbury town crier, local historian and Ghost Walk organiser, Martin Wood.

Investigation: Group members visited the Prince Rupert with a view to investigations certain sections of the property which are believed to be of potential, ‘paranormal related’ interest. The regions concerned were:

*The Prince Philip Suite: Believed to be haunted by the ghost of a male suicide (by hanging) victim.

*The Prince Rupert Suite: Where visitors to the room have experienced a feeling of someone sitting on the end of the bed, with indentations in the bedclothes accompanying this sensation.

*The Conference Room: Said to be haunted by the ghost of a female suicide (by hanging) victim.

*The Cellar Area: Believed to be haunted by at least four ghosts, including a maid, a young boy, a man called Henry and a dog.

Environmental factors (for the sake of recording / vigil sessions): While touring the building, it was noted that - in all of the rooms concerned - mild external noise could be detected: i.e. people passing the property, traffic, etc.

Visit Notes: (Rough note form / grammar throughout).

Group arrive at Hotel approximately 8.15 p.m. and are met in reception area by Chris Kennedy. We speak briefly with Hotel manager NAME OF MANAGER who relates some of his experiences at the building to us. Martin Wood subsequently arrives and some time is spent speaking in the lounge area before we embark on a tour of the property, lead by Martin and Chris.

On visiting the Prince Philip Suite (which was utilised as our ‘base room’ for the duration of the stay) two group members briefly noticed technical problems with their cameras. Peculiarly, Chris has previously mentioned that camera malfunctions – particularly ‘battery drain’ situations – had occurred in the property previously. The problems with members cameras were only short lived however and no further problems experienced. (Interestingly, to date, we had never experienced such problems at any other investigation).

While still in the Prince Philip Suite, Chris mentioned that he felt uncomfortable and indicated to some discomfort associated with his neck.

After a tour of the property, Martin Wood left the premises. We re-visit the base room to gather equipment in readiness for the forthcoming investigation session.

Session One: 10.30 pm to 11.30 pm

*Prince Philip Suite: Camera placed in doorway to ante-room / en suite area, facing towards the small flight of steps leading into the suite. Recording session run in darkness, utilising the camera night-shot capacity, boosted by infra-red torch light. (Cam and torch set up on tripods).

*Prince Rupert Suite: Camera placed on table in front of left hand window of room, facing across the four poster bed (with foot of bed in clear view), towards the doorway into the room. Recording run in darkness, utilising cam night-shot capacity.

*Cellar Area: Camera situated in far cellar room where spirit of man called Henry (accompanied by a dog) is said to haunt. It had been intimated to the group that one particular wall of the room was where the presence of Henry manifested. As a result, a camera was set up in this room – directly in front of the doorway into this area – facing towards the wall indicated. The recording was run in complete darkness, utilising cam night-shot capacity, boosted by an (on board) infra-red torch.

On previous visits to the site, Christ has set up some trigger object experiments in this room – namely, a block of wood and an Irish coin outlined on pieces of paper. He reported to the group that – on past occasions – these objects had been seen to have moved. On one occasion, the coin is said to have inexplicably moved from it’s usual position, being found inside a glass jar (lying on it’s side) near Henrys wall.

As a result of the above, a chiming ball and an artists mannequin doll were placed on the floor of the room, just in front of the wall concerned and within camera shot. For the sake of the experiment, Chris also moved his coin trigger object test to the floor too.

In the far, left corner of the first cellar room (as you enter cellar area) a large wooden cross was placed (outlined on a piece of paper) along with three coins (ringed on a separate piece of paper).

A digital audio recording device was hung from a metal hook situated in the arched ceiling, directly opposite the cellar / spiral staircase door.

*Conference Room: While aforementioned recordings are taking place, all group members perform a vigil. Casual attitude / speech throughout session.

At end of session one, all recording kit (though not trigger objects) retrieved by group members.

Session Two: 11.55 pm to 12.30 am

Group vigil staged in cellar area, with particular emphasis put on the far cellar room known as ‘Henrys Room’. Casual attitude / speech throughout session.

During this session, Chris indicated that he could detect the presence of Henry in the section of the room where he is said to appear. Chris informed the group that Henry wasn’t happy with our presence there and described him as appearing to be ‘rocking from side to side’. Chris later said that Henry had taken something of a ‘lascivious’ interest in the female members present. None of the W.M.G.C. group members saw / felt anything of potential interest during this period.
At one point, Chris spoke out loud to the room and asked if Henry would ‘give a sign’ of his presence. Nothing was detected. Chris later spoke in old Salopian to the room and said that he had felt a definite tap on his shoulder just after speaking. Towards the end of the session, he said that he had developed a pain in his left side – coinciding approximately with the stomach, just below the rib-line –and expressed a belief that Henry had been stabbed in this area, possibly in the cellar room.

Session Three: 12.30 am to 1.00 am

Group vigil staged in the Prince Rupert Room. Casual attitude / conversation held throughout session. Nothing to report.

Session Four: 1.10 am to 1.40 am

Group vigil staged in the Prince Philip Room. Casual attitude / conversation held throughout session. Nothing to report except for some uneasy feelings expressed by Chris.

1.50 am: Investigation ends and group leave property.

Best wishes,

Nick
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

The only spirit I've experienced is in a glass. Do you really believe this exists? Even Derek Acora has been exposed for 'faking' a 'possession' its all on youtube.

Personally I have witnessed quite a few things I can't explain.

I'm not saying they are related to the spirit world and maybe there is a rational explination but I think its good to keep an open mind.

Hi Andy,

I'm very outspoken about my beliefs in the so called spirit world. The short answer to your question is a most definite 'NO' I don't believe in spiritual existence after death.

I certainly believe people have (what we've come to term) paranormal experiences, but I don't think that there is any evidence to suggest that such things have anything to do with 'spirits'. I echo Chris' last paragraph wholeheartedly.

For an idea of how we look at this subject, please see the first few paragraphs of our group history page:

http://westmidlandsghostclub.com/page11.htm

All of the psychic-type events mentioned in the notes on the Prince Rupert were reported by a non-group member, I hasten to add.

Regards,

Nick
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

I would like to keep an open mind Chris to but I think the mind can play tricks too. I think that dabbling in the occult can be dangerous as well.

Thanks for that Nicholas, I will beleive these spooks when I see them :rolleyes:

I can fully appreciate that Andy - it sounds as thought we're pretty much the same with regards to our mind-set on that front. Being truly objective though, I must admit that I'm not sure whether I could trust my own mind 100% (and I don't think anyone should, no matter how 'well grounded' you are, to be honest) though a personal experience would probably be a belief altering encounter, non-the-less. I know of a few, devoutly sceptical, researchers who've changed their views on a single, personal experience. One of our founder members went completely the opposite way and lost all faith in paranormal research (gave it up after a lifetime of interest) following his own ghostly encounter. I hasten to add that this wasn't through any 'fear' of the subject thereafter, by the way.....

At the end of the day, I'm primarily involved in the cataloguing and recording of other peoples experiences, so my personal beliefs don't have to come in to play in such situations. Paranormal experience is evidently a subjective affair, so - as an objective thinker on such matters - who am I to judge and so on.

Best wishes to you mate.....

Regards,

Nick
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

Wellington Market is haunted. A visitor reported seeing a scene of penned animals (cows, sheep, fowl, etc.) and thought they had imagined this. However research showed that until the Wellington Smithfield was created, livestock markets were staged at the Wellington Market in Market Street.

Thanks for that Wellintonian.

That's very interesting as to me that's more like a time slip that a haunting. Are there any other reports similar off anyone else that you know of?

Regards ;)

I used to work in a haunted office. A ghostly presence on the stairs outside. One of the girls could see someone behind the frosted glass in a door, quickly opened the door and there was nobody there. Except 'someone' blew cigarette smoke in their face.

Thanks for that Wellingtonian

Where is this Office? If you don't want to put it on here pm me.

Thanks ;)

It's in Market Street, Wellington. Used to be an agricultural machine maker, years ago. Showroom filled with seed drills, harrows, etc., when I was a nipper! :)

Hi all,

I just thought I'd add a brief note and says that the West Midlands Ghost Club have recently launched a new blog dedicated to their dealings with ghosts and hauntings from around the Midlands. (Including Shropshire related stuff). We've just added a brief piece about Chetwynd and Madam Piggotts Ghost.

The blog can be found here:

http://westmidlandsghostclub.blogspot.com/

Best wishes and we look forward to hearing from you all,

Regards,

Nick
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

Yes. That's exactly what I said. And then I saw one... :o :)

There's nothing like experience to teach you a thing or two!

Hi everyone

The West Midlands Ghost Club of which I am a member conducted one of our investigations at Shrewsbury Library on June 26th and this is the Shrewsbury Chronicles Report on it if anyone is interested. I have to say it is a magnificent building and it was a pleasure being there.

http://www.shrewsburychronicle.com/2009/07...p-in-the-night/

There are also some photo's of the investigation from our website www.westmidlandsghostclub.com

If anyone has any interesting true stories regarding the paranormal please do let us know.

Regards ;)

An interesting article.