Southern Paranormal - Investigations
Blackgang Chine Investigation
Saturday 11th October 2008
Attending Investigators: Julie Harwood, Maria Street, Maureen Taylor, Amanda Horley, Sandy Rutter, Eileen Rutter, Simon Steadman, Rachel Steadman, Di Moore, Mark Pettet & Mark Wright.
So why did we want to re investigate?
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/News/Is_this_a_Blackgang_ghost_1.aspx
History of Blackgang Chine
The Beginning
The very word "Blackgang" has a legendary ring about it, summoning up visions of smugglers, shipwrecks and wild storm lashed shores.
In 1800 Blackgang Chine was a steep gaunt ravine situated some 500 feet above the sea overlooking Chale Bay, on the S.W. tip of the Isle of Wight. Stretching some three quarters of a mile down to the shore, it was a wild and desolate place - frequented by none other than local fishermen, during the mackerel season. There were also rumours of a thriving smuggling trade!
Blackgang in 1840
In about 1823, Alexander Dabell, his sisters and parents, all arrived on the Isle of Wight. Born in Nottingham to William and Martha in 1808, he and his family accompanied Mr. Nunn and others to start a lace making factory in Newport.
Here he worked as a lad with his father who was a master of the art. After his apprenticeship he went to London as a shop and sales assistant, returning to Newport to open his first business in the High Street in about 1830.
He was a man who saw himself as a pioneer, an early settler in "this far flung barbarous clime" and above all, a man out to seek his fortune. Victorians were eagerly seeking out new health and holiday resorts, and the railway network was getting ever closer to the south coast.
Alexander recognised the business potential of what was happening, particularly as there was a newly opened chalybeate spring at Blackgang! Alexander's entrepreneurial spirit soon had him trying a number of different business ventures, including hair-cutting, selling hair oil by promoting the product, using a chained bear and walking round Island towns and establishing gift shop outlets in Newport, Sandown and Shanklin.
By 1839 he had met and become friends with a publican who had recently built a new hotel at Blackgang. This is now a large cafeteria, and administration offices.
Development of the Park
Alexander studied the gaunt and awe - inspiring chine gorge, and knew immediately that he could create gardens here which would appeal to the romantic Victorians!
By 1842, he had concluded a lease - some say that he purchased an amount of land measured by his ability to throw a stone - and he opened the Chine to the public. Pathways were built down the ravine, through previous rough terrain, gardens were landscaped on top of the cliffs, and steps were constructed to the beach from the lower road.
But this was not enough to make Blackgang a fascinating place to visit. In 1842 a huge fin whale had been stranded off the Needles, and Alexander saw his chance.
He bought it at auction, sold off the blubber, had the bones bleached, and transported across the island to a specially built hut, in which he displayed the skeleton to the morbid curiosity of all who visited.
A gift bazaar was also opened with great success. Amelia, his wife helped in all aspects of the business and so "The Blackgang Experience" had begun.
The Isle of Wight became one of the top seaside resorts of Britain, and Blackgang Chine shared in that popularity, as thousands of Victorian and Edwardian families enjoyed their annual holidays on the Island.
The Chine gardens increased in size and style, but remained scenic in nature. Alexander died in 1898, by which time his son Walter was managing the park.
Coastal erosion was already very much in evidence, the lower road having been carried away in the 1890's and the last path down to the beach washed away in 1913.
By the 1920's Bruce, Walter's son had joined the business and continued to run the business as the growth in coach holiday tours dramatically changed the face of the island tourism. By the 1950's Dick Dabell, one of Bruce's two sons was also helping to run the business.
In 1967, Dick visited the USA and was inspired by Disney and others at themeing their parks. This inspiration resulted in the development if Dinosaurland, Frontierland & Nurseryland during the 1970's.
By the late 1980's, further dramatic landslips were threatening the park and the company started to look for a second site to operate. In 1993, Robin Hill was acquired and has since been developed into a successful countryside adventure park. Blackgang Chine continues to be popular with young families and despite coastal erosion, will continue to delight the child in us all for many years to come.
Blackgang Dates
1843 Blackgang Chine opens
1933 Funny mirrors installed
1934 Charity Gnomes Garden created
1936 Floodlighting of the Chine started
1953 Model Village installed
1954 Smuggler's Cave
1958 Museum rebuilt
1962 Water Gardens
1963 Maze planted
1963/64 Bazaar refurbished
1968 Crooked House
1969 Fern stream Landscape
1970 Adventureland opens
1972 Dinosaurland opens
1972 Fairy Castle
1974 Nursery land opens
1976 Frontierland opens
1978/79 Jungleland opens
1981 Blackgang sawmill opens
1982 New ship-shop design opens within old Bazaar
1984 St Catherine's Quay Opens
1984/86 Adventure and Smugglerland relocated
1985 Fort Buffalo assault course
1986 New access road and car park
1986 New shop and entrance facilities
1987 Giant Smuggler and Wild West Loco
1988 Orbiter space fight simulator opens
1988 Catering facilities upgraded
1989 Weather Wizard Show
1989 'Lost Valley' Landscape
1990 Snakes & Ladders opened
1991 Fantasyland complete
1992 Musical pet shop opens
1993 Rumpus mansion opens
1993 Blackgang Chine's 150th Anniversary
1993/94 Robin Hill Purchased
1994 Disappearing village display
1994 Triassic Club opens
1994/95 Cowboy Town relocated
1995 Smuggler's boat, Fairy Castle and Snakes & Ladders relocated
1997 Pirate fort opens
1998 Water slide opens
2000 Catering upgrade and junior rides installed
2002 Light factory installed
2002 Myths & Legends film opens
2003 Blackgang's 160th Anniversary
2004 Gold panning re-opened
2005 Cliffhanger coaster installed.
2006 Pirate barrel ride replaces Tea cups
Courtesy of www.blackgangchine.com
We would like to thank Simon Dabell Blackgang’s owner and also our host for the night. Without his cooperation and welcome our investigation would never have been possible.
Vigil Areas
The Saw Mill / St Catherine’s Quay
The Old Hotel
Nurseryland
Rumpus Mansion
The Crooked House
Myth & Legend
Team 1
Julie, Amanda, Simon, Rachel, Mark P & Mark W.
Team 2
Maria, Di, Maureen, Sandy, Eileen, Debbie Jamie & James
Itinerary
7.45pm Meet at Red Funnel Ferry Port in Southampton
8.30pm Ferry departs for Cowes
9.30pm Arrive in Cowes, disembark ferry, drive to Blackgang Chine
10.15pm Arrive at Blackgang Chine & meet hosts
10.30pm Set up Base
11.00pm Vigil 1
Team 1 - Rumpus Mansion
The Crooked House
Myth & Legend
Team 2 - The Saw Mill / St Catherine’s Quay
The Old Hotel
Nurseryland
1am Break
1.30am Vigil 2
Team 1 - The Saw Mill / St Catherine’s Quay
The Old Hotel
Nurseryland
Team 2 - Rumpus Mansion
The Crooked House
Myth & Legend
3.30am Pack up & thank hosts
4.00am Depart
5.30am Ferry back to Southampton
6.30am Arrive in Southampton
Personal Reports
Julie Harwood
A return visit to Blackgang Chine is always a treat and firstly let me thank Simon for allowing our second visit as well as Debbie, James and Jamie for accompanying the team on the investigation. I also want to extend my thanks to our newest member Mark Wright who blended in and worked with the team seamlessly.
I was in a team with Simon, Rachel, Amanda, Mark P and Mark W and we started our night with a vigil at the crooked house. We initially stood outside and again I could not help but stare down butterfly walk. Last time we were at the park we all had the impression of men running up and down it and this time, although I could not imagine it as strongly as last time, I could imagine the men there again. Rachel and Simon then went in the house, while Amanda and I stayed outside and the Marks went up to Rumpus Mansion with Debbie and James with them to unlock the upper floors. When they were walking back and Simon, Rachel, Amanda and I were outside we all heard what sounded like a loud sigh. Now it had to be loud as we were not all stood together at the time. Debbie and James who came over to us quickly after were actually about 20 foot away from us when they heard it. We wandered down towards the wooded area on the left hand side of the crooked house as we could hear a noise that sounded like a woman crying in the distance and several times while we were there we heard the sound of footsteps. We think we explained the crying noise as wildlife however we never explained the sigh (which unfortunately we did not hear again) and the footsteps which were a lot closer.
We decided to wander up to the pirate ship climbing frame and we all split up and had a good look around. I stayed with Amanda and we very clearly heard a loud thump on wood coming from the pirate ship to our right. The Marks re joined us but even with their help we were unable to find out where the noise came from. We described the noise like an apple dropping on wood but there was clearly nothing there that had dropped.
Our next area was the Nursery Land and I was looking forward to this as it had been the site of claimed “recent activity”. The area smelt overwhelmingly of ginger. I could not put it into words at first but in the end the only way I could sum it up was that it smelt of a very well known brand of Jamaican ginger cake. There are lots of border plants around this area, so I have to consider it may be down to one of these though some of our team knew about plants and did not seem to think it was coming from them. We even got Simon to get in and have a smell of some of them. I even wondered if they had a mock up “gingerbread house” that had scent put on it but we could not find it. The area was very quiet for me until Mark W and I then heard a odd noise very near us. As soon as we turned to look for it the sound happened again but a little further away like it was running away from us. We attempted to follow it but the noise did not happen again so we could not trace where it had gone or where it was coming from.
We tried a glass divination in the cafe and then in the upstairs room of the old hotel. In the hotel we seemed to get very very light movement but the weirdest thing was the mark that appeared on my leg. I did not move while we were there and certainly did not lean up against anything but about half way through my leg started to ache and when I went down to run my calf there was a big indentation in it like I had pressed it up against something for some time. It was very odd.
Finally we went round to the sawmill but the only thing strange here was the wet flagstones outside. They were soaking wet yet the night was dry and no other part of the park was wet. We asked Debbie about this and she could not explain it either. One of those strange things I think!
Again a great night at Blackgang Chine and this remains one of my favourite locations to date as the experiences are always subtle but very definite as well.
Amanda Horley
Investigations on the Isle of Wight are always enjoyable and I was really pleased to be revisiting Blackgang Chine as my previous experience here had been very strange and I was hoping for a more “normal” investigation this time. Despite being mid October and very foggy over the other side of the island, the south side was very clear and even though it was a moonlit night it was incredibly warm for the time of year.
We started our investigation with a vigil at the Crooked House. Initially we stood outside, as the cliff area was part of the vigil. Leaning against a fence and looking down the path that led into the butterfly woods I kept expecting to see a group of men come up. There would have been up to a dozen of them, and although they weren’t running, they were moving quite fast and I felt, had used that path quite regularly. When I moved down to the path itself I couldn’t pick up on them anymore, and it was only when I went back to the fence that I picked up on them again. Thinking about it I wonder if I was in fact picking up on someone who had stood up in the fence area and watched the men, rather than on the men themselves?
The two Marks had gone up to Rumpus Mansion, and Debbie and James had gone with them to unlock the upper floor. As Debbie and James walked back towards us, Julie and I were by the fence, Rachel was half-way between us and the Crooked House and Simon was further down the path to the other side of the house. All five of us heard a loud sigh. Initially, Julie and I felt that it had come from Rachel’s direction, but she confirmed that it had come from the direction of the Crooked House. Both Debbie and Simon felt that it had come from/or immediately behind the Crooked House. We therefore moved as a group to the side of the Crooked House. We could clearly see the woodland area immediately behind the House, but as it led to a steep drop, it was fenced off and we couldn’t go into it. We checked it carefully with torches and then began calling out. At one point both Julie and I were sure we heard several footsteps in the wooded area. They were too heavy to have been made by an animal, but we did check again for wildlife and couldn’t see anything unusual. Unfortunately the sigh wasn’t repeated, so after a time we moved to the area by the Pirate playground. The two Marks rejoined us, and whilst they and Simon and Rachel were investigating the House again, Julie and I clearly heard a thud on the children’s wooden adventure play area. There were no trees near enough for something to have fallen, and I can only describe it as being like the sound an apple would have made if it had been dropped on the wood. After a time we moved back to the Crooked House, and when I tried to take some pictures my camera battery died suddenly. I use this camera on all investigations, and it normally takes some time for the batteries to fail. They do not die suddenly. I replaced them and had no further problems with the camera during the night.
We then moved down the woodland path, but I didn’t feel anything unusual. I certainly didn’t get anything relating to the men I had felt earlier.
We finished the investigation by returning to the café and seeing if we could pick up on the lights that we had seen on the previous investigation. However, this time the lights did not occur.
After a break we moved down to the Nurseryland area. There was a very strong smell of ginger in the centre of this area, but we couldn’t attribute it to any of the nearby plants, and none of the exhibits in this area were linked to ginger. It was quite spicy, like a Jamaican Ginger Cake. Other than the smell, this area was quiet for me.
We then sat inside the café, which was still very quiet, so we moved to the upper floors of the house (the old hotel) and whilst the men went up to the top floor. Julie, Rachel and I sat in the staff lounge and tried a glass divination. Whilst I didn’t really pick up on anything, Rachel was talking about the “boy” we had picked up on previously and I wanted to correct her and say “young man”. I really wasn’t happy about her calling him a boy.
We then moved up to the Sawmill area, and although this was quiet for me, it was interesting to see that the flagstones in front of the Sawmill were quite wet, whilst none of the other stonework around the Park was. Debbie confirmed that there was no reason for these to be wet, and we all commented on how cold it was there. This is despite the fact that it was sheltered on all sides and therefore should have been warmer than out on the cliff top in the wind. In fact, as we left this area and went back into the open it got considerably warmer.
This was a fascinating return visit, as thing that had happened previously did not occur this time, and the whole feeling of the place was completely different for me. Big thanks have to go to Debbie, James and Jamie for looking after us to well and for being so enthusiastic for the whole night. This time, I can’t wait to go back again and am really looking forward to it.
Di Moore
Arriving at Blackgang Chine at about 10.15pm was greeted by our host's for the evening Debbie, James and Jamie we unpacked and now for this investigation, I was in Team 2, with Maria, Maureen, Sandy, Eileen and our host Debbie, James and Jamie.
Weather :- Clear Sky with Stars and nearly a full Moon, no Wind no Rain and Warm for October.
Nurseryland.
We walked to Nurseryland passed Humpty Dumpty, Pigs and lots more arriving at the House that Jack Built, I just walked into the doorway and BANG felt a sick feeling in my stomach had to get out feeling wobbly went and sat on the wall to see if this would pass, OK, I said to Maria I have to go back and conquer or overcome this feeling so I went back, stood in the doorway again and needed to call out. Calling out asked if any spirits were there and yes I got this cold breeze go throw me. Jamie was stood next to me and he also felt this cold breeze walk between me and him. Still calling out I asked who this spirit was and it seems this was a young girl called Sarah about 14 years of age. She seemed to be happy there as Maureen said she was dancing around we also heard noises and movement ( as I said there was no wind ) these cold breezes continued to go pass us then stop, so we went.
Myth and Legends. (Ship and Shore)
We went into this building which Debbie said was a Pub in it's time, walked around, Maria, Maureen and I ended up in the Theatre shining our touches around I spotted a dark shadow to the left of the stage I asked Maria and Maureen to turn there touches out to see if it was a reflection from there torches, but it was not. Maria also could see this shadow so we went to find the other's and went back to the Theatre were all sat in the darkness. I closed my eyes and had a image of a man with a cap on ( about 40 years old ) then I said Fred at the same time Maria said Frank. Debbie asked, when, how long ago, I seem to think before the war, second world war, Maureen said she was thinking 1930. Debbie said Fred Mews, I asked if it was Fred Mews and got this warm and smiling feeling, to me this meant yes. He seemed to like being recognised, that someone could contact him as this made me grin, he put in my mind that he liked watching the old films about the Isle of Wight when they showed them. Maria had a pain in her ankle and I was thinking he had a limp but this turned out to be he had fallen and twisted his ankle. Maria's pain disappeared, so again to me that meant yes. The door which was shut and locked to the left of us seem to open and close ( in sound only ) then Fred was gone, we all said goodbye and thanked him for contacting us.
Waffle House.
Walking to another location Debbie asked if we could pop into the Waffle House first, we all said yes. On entering this Cafe we walked around but nothing. Debbie asked me if I wanted to go behind the counter and I said yes alright. Behind the counter there were three doors one was locked but this was the one that made me feel uneasy. As we were going Debbie asked if I wanted her to unlock it ( the door I felt uneasy about) Yes overcome this feeling I thought, this were the toilets and very cold. Debbie had the EMF Meter and it started to respond so we called out to spirit, in answering yes the meter responded, this spirit was a young man as he liked to be called, name of Steven aged about 11 years old. I spelt his name but spelling it Seven which Maureen picked up on, nothing, then spelling Steven and saying sorry the EMF Meter responded, he was happy to he liked being in the Park. We had picked up on Steven somewhere else but cannot remember where.
Rumpus Mansion.
Not much for me but going upstairs felt tension in corridor and also felt like child was running through but not happy as was trying to get away from someone and being shut in cupboard by a carer.
These's were the most exciting parts of the night for me. The night seemed to pass so quickly, our vigils run over time and so much happened you just cant take it all in.
Thank you to the owner and also Debbie, James and Jamie for letting us visit and showing us this great Park again.
Maria Street
There are some places we investigate that are sort of extra special, and this is definitely one of them. It holds all the ingredients for the stereotypical ghost hunt, with stories of pirates and smugglers and a cliff top setting. With the moon reflecting off the water, the atmosphere was set.
After a prolonged ferry journey due to the thick mist we set off across the island. This was also a slower journey as the mist was clinging to the hills and valleys. However, as soon as we hit the coast, this all lifted and a clear night won through.
We were greeted at the location by Debbie, James and Jamie and taken for a welcome hot drink as we settled into the Old Hotel. We set up our equipment and set off for our first vigil in Nurseryland. I was in team 2 with our hosts and Maureen, Di, Sandy and Eileen. We were very privileged to be allowed to investigate here, especially in light of a recent sighting. We had a walk round and I felt very uneasy by ‘See Saw Marjory Daw’ I didn’t tell anyone but ten minutes later Jamie also said he felt something there. However most of us agreed that the area around ‘The house that Jack built’ had a very eerie feel to it and we decided to hold our first vigil there. Di picked up on a young girl, as did Maureen and the name ‘Sarah’ was mentioned. Both Di and I saw lights a little further down the path and Jamie wondered if it could have been a lighthouse. This was later disputed by Debbie though, who mentioned that the light could not be seen from where we were situated. I have to say, that I never saw it again that night.
Sandy and Eileen made their way up the stairs of ‘The House that Jack built’ and a little later a loud bang was heard from the direction of the stairs. They both reported being still, so we have no idea where the sound came from.
We moved on the ‘Ship Ashore’, an old pub just outside the grounds. We made our way upstairs and held a séance in one of the old rooms. This was very quiet. However, on the walk round, I had felt very uneasy in the kitchen area, so we decided to hold a vigil here. We called out and I had the name of Steven in my head. I also felt it had to be spelt with a ‘V’. I thought I saw a young boy stood between Jamie and James, so we asked if we had a young boy called Steven with us. Whilst this was going on, the EMF meter was clicking constantly and the K2 meter started to light up, seemingly in answer to the question. I felt the boy was around 11 years old, and again, the K2 meter lit up. This was a very interesting session for us but time was pressing on, so we moved on to the old cottage next door, named Memories. We wandered on through to take a look at Myths and Legends and Di shone her torch into the far left corner of the room. We could make out a black shape but couldn’t determine if it was the torch or not. It did not stay there however, so we cannot be sure what was causing it. We decided to hold a vigil in this room, so we settled down and started calling out. Di got the impression of an older man from around the 1930’s, as did Maureen. I got the name of Frank in my head but did not voice it. I asked if anybody else had got a name and Di said ‘Fred’. Debbie then asked if we had the spirit of Fred Mew (not sure of surname spelling) here. Di felt it was. It seemed he was very happy to be there and to be acknowledged. Jamie felt uneasy and moved across the room.
It was soon time for break so we set off for our base in the Old Hotel. Our first vigil for the second half was in the Pirate’s Pantry as light anomalies had been spotted here on a previous vigil. We tried a glass divination, but it proved to be fruitless, so we moved on to the next site; the area of the children’s park. It was very quiet here also so Debbie suggested we try the Waffle House as somebody had recently had an experience there. Di stood towards the back and was drawn towards a door to the rear. It was locked and led to the toilets. Debbie unlocked it and we stood in there. Di felt very uneasy in the doorway but couldn’t explain why. Debbie explained that the apparition of a lady had been seen here, so we called out. The K2 meter once again lit up, seemingly in answer to our questions. It appeared that we had ‘Steven’ back once again. I wandered back into the main area to see if anything could be felt there, but it felt fine out there.
Our next and final vigil was at Rumpus Mansion. Our hosts very kindly allowed us up into the upper floors. Again, it felt uneasy in certain places and a sighting has been experienced up here. I went back downstairs with Sandy, Eileen and Maureen to see if we could get any response there whilst the others tried upstairs. It remained quiet here however.
This brought to end yet another lovely night spent on Blackgang Chine. I would like to thank Simon for, once again, allowing us to investigate and very grateful thanks to Debbie, James and Jamie, who gave up their time to be our hosts for the evening. They were very friendly and approachable and made our time there very enjoyable. I hope we meet again.
Sandy Rutter
Before I start I would like to say a big welcome to Mark W.
Again what can I say about Blackgang Chine but it is still a fantastic place. The atmosphere in some places is just plain eerie, that is what I like about the place. We had the people who work there with us and they were very good and gave us very little information.
Our first vigil was at the nursery rhyme area. We took a few pictures and I was videoing. I don’t know but I think I got something on camcorder. Maria called out and Eileen and I were up the stairs in the little barn type bit and we all heard a big bang. It was not either of us so that was a very good sign. Diana called out and we heard a few knocks but that was it for here. Then we all went to the cinema part of the park we took a few pictures and come up with a few light anomalies.
Vigil 2
We started in the canteen area and we called out but nothing much to note but then we tried glass divination but again nothing so we all went up to the Rumpus Mansion. We walked around the bottom and top of the building and took a few pictures. I’m not too sure but I think I got a face in the last cage. We headed back to base and got all packed up and left for the ferry.
Thanks again to everyone for a great evening.
Maureen Taylor
Vigil 1
Nurseryland
On approaching this area, walking towards a large red and white toadstool with a gnome sitting on top of it I got the impression of a little girl cowering, or maybe hiding underneath it - - but it was only a momentary impression, gone in an instant. From here up to the House that Jack Built, where we picked up on the possible presence of a little girl who was dancing around us.
The Ship Ashore –
For me there was very little happening on the ground floor, upstairs I had the feeling that there were maybe one or more spirit presences, but they were keeping in the background.
Myth and Legend –
As we went through into this area Maria and Di saw a shadowy figure moving around in the far corner, I took a photo just seconds later, and caught a light anomaly in the same place. We sat in the area for a while and seemed to contact a man who used to either live or work there. He wasn’t unfriendly, but we didn’t get a great deal of information from him from what I recall.
Vigil 2
The Waffle House –
This building was not part of our original plan, but as we walked towards it we were told that some of the staff had seen/sensed things going on in there, so we went in. Towards the rear of the building the EMF meter started to react to something that wasn’t to do with the building’s power supply - - we started asking questions and it appeared to respond. We seemed to be talking to a young man aged about fourteen who liked being there - - we presumed that waffles and ice cream and the like, had something to with it...
Rumpus Mansion –
Just the sort of place that the average person would think of as ‘spooky’, but I sensed nothing here. We went upstairs, but again I was picking up on nothing out of the ordinary.
Memories –
Once again, I sensed nothing much here, just a sad, forlorn empty house, made even more so by the remnants left by previous occupants.
In all a quiet night for me, but more than compensated for by the wonderful weather and the moonlight on the water.