Gloucestershire Paranormal Research Group

Field Report

Location:     Woodchester Mansion

Date:            Friday 7^th April 2006

Report Compiled by: Dave Howley

Equipment used:

EMF Meter

Dictaphone

Digital Camera

0 Lux Camcorder

Digital Thermometer

CCTV Equipment

Digital Recording Device

                                    Trigger Objects

                                    Ouija Board

Group Members:

Dave Howley

Craig Howley

Chris Howley

Martyn Roberts

Spoon Fletcher

Sharon Fletcher

Steve Jones

                                    John Crote

Introduction:  8.30p.m.

GPRG were fortunate enough to be joined by Gav and Toni from Severn Sound’s breakfast show together with other staff from the production team, and members of the general public who had come along to this event.

Severn Sound had shown an interest in coming along to an all night investigation at Woodchester and GPRG were very pleased to have them along for this event.

An introduction was given by Dave who gave an outline of the nights proceedings and an in depth explanation on the equipment to be used during the investigation.

Following the introduction Craig Howley carried out a protection exercise and talked people through how to do this regularly throughout the evening.

A health and safety tour of the mansion was then given to all members of the group, pointing out areas where groups would be carrying vigils, as well as giving some history to the mansion itself and answering any questions the group might have regarding Woodchester Mansion.

On returning to the base room the group was split into smaller teams and equipment handed out to all before beginning the first vigil.

Location One: The Second Floor Corridor

Time: 9.45pm

I took a group of 9 people, some had been to Woodchester before, others were experiencing the mansion for the first time.  On arriving to the Second Floor Corridors initial readings were taken:

Temperature:       8.5ºc

Humidity:           64%

EMF:               Normal

As on previous visits to this area of the mansion there was one end of the corridor where everyone felt particularly uncomfortable, therefore the group congregated around the opposite end of the corridor.  A séance was held to try and encourage activity in this area.

One of the members of the group, Tash, reported feeling uncomfortable.  The séance was paused and the members of the group changed places to see if this would make Tash feel any more comfortable.  The séance was started again and to begin with everyone reported feeling fine.  After about five minutes Tash began swaying and before the séance could be stopped Tash collapsed.  The séance was stopped as we ensured that Tash was okay and could be taken safely back to the base room.

The rest of the group were understandably shaken up by this event but wanted to try again with a séance, therefore the group got into a circle and I began asking for a sign that someone was with us and wanted to communicate.

After around 15 - 20 minutes another of the group reported feeling very sick (similar to Tash prior to her collapse), therefore to avoid another incident as before, the vigil was stopped at around 10.30pm for everyone to return to the base room to check on Tash.

Other phenomenon to note at this location was the sound of continued tapping, however the source of which could not be identified.

Location Two: The Cellar

Time: 11.30pm

As Tash was feeling better she re-joined the group as we made our way to the Cellar.  A table had been set up down here to try some table tipping so those who wanted to arranged themselves around the table and Tash led the group in trying to gain a response to the questions posed.  All in the group recorded feeling “watched” in the Cellar and feeling generally uncomfortable.  The group also reported that the table was moving in response to some question - however as I was not part of the group around the table at the time I am unable to corroborate whether the table was infact moving.

The second part of this vigil involved using an upturned glass on the table in a similar way to that of a ouija board.  Tash volunteered to lead the group and activity was witnessed of the glass moving very quickly across the top of the table.

Whilst the majority of the group carried on with the upturned glass, I explored some of the other rooms in the Cellar, most of which had no activity to report, however the middle of the cellar rooms definitely had some sort of presence, not malevolent but a feeling of despair and confusion.  This was the first time I had encountered this particular energy in this area of the mansion.

We were then radioed by Craig from the base room to return as Gav and Toni from Severn Sound were about to leave after what they felt was a very interesting experience.

Location Three: The Laundry

Time: 1.45am

Myself and GPRG member Craig decided to try using the Ouija board in the Laundry, an area not really investigated to any extent on previous investigations.  Although the Ouija board took some time to start moving, the results were very very interesting.  Both myself and Craig received some personal messages from the board and Craig felt sure that the person communicating with us was the same little girl he had communicated with on previous investigations of the mansion.  It would appear from the information obtained from the board that myself, Craig and Chris have had links with the mansion in the past, which would go some way to explaining the continued interest we all have in Woodchester Mansion.

Unfortunately as the Laundry is located next to the exit of the mansion this vigil was cut short by people using the exit.

Location Four: The Back Corridor

Time: 2.30am

A group of us congregated in the back corridor of the mansion, an area where the group has on past visits witnessed poltergeist activity.  Chris led a séance and felt that a presence was observing us from a juxtaposition with the Chapel corridor.  Chris felt certain that this was the same presence that he had encountered on the second floor corridor back in December (see the evidence page ’Woodchester Mansion Angry Spirit’.  Chris tried to ascertain why this feeling of anger and fury emanated from this presence but to no avail.  *Stones were heard being thrown by some unseen hand along the corridor and some of the group began to feel extremely uncomfortable.  As no other activity was forthcoming the vigil was ended in this area of the mansion.

Location Five:  Outside/Second Floor Revisited/Chapel

Time: 3.45am

Other locations where visited during this visit of the mansion, however, nothing of any note happened at these locations.

Once again, Woodchester Mansion lived up to its reputation with almost all members of the investigation experiencing some form of activity.  GPRG are excited to leave this investigation open for return future visits.

Dave Howley

9^th April 2006

* Stone Thrower

The stone throwing in this particular part of the mansion is something that has been of interest to the group for the last 3 years it is activity that has perplexed us as the stones are always heard but not seen swaying our view that perhaps the noise is either from falling masonry or caused by nesting birds. Tonight myself and Spoon were returning to the mansion after a break outside with his sister. On reentering the mansion at approximately 1.00am all three of us caught in torchlight a stone thrown from the entrance to the chapel corridor the stone exited horizontally and approximately 3 feet off the floor. We quickly checked the corridor which was empty and this has now compounded the mystery. We now know for a fact that these stones are being thrown through the air but now we have to ascertain by who or what.

Chris Howley 9^th April.