Southern Paranormal - Investigations
The Cat & Fiddle, Christchurch
Saturday 6th May 2006 - 11pm–5am
Attending Investigators – Julie Harwood, Steve Gilbert, Ed Ashton, Abbie Holding, Amanda Horley, David Ireland, Wayne Blyth, Alison Blyth, Brian Ward & Sue Ward.
Staff Investigators – Jo, Rani, Nathan, Daniel, Jennifer & Natalie
Click here to for video and audios of this investigation
Introduction
The Cat & Fiddle... what can I say, I know most of the group would never say no to going back to this amazing pub. This visit we had a couple of investigators visiting for the first time, but most of us have been here several times now and we always get a great reception from the management Jo & Rani but also from the staff. What really moved us this visit was that we heard of the news to renovate the pub in particular the stables restaurant area (the oldest part) into something a bit more modern to be inline with other Harvester restaurants. The management approach it with mixed emotions which I can understand however it upset the group that this remarkable bit of history could be destroyed. We knew we have to make the most of this visit in case it was to be our last. We are pleased to say however that Jo has asked us to return before the renovations take place and possible during due to the belief that change seems to unsettle resident spirits.
Team List
Team 1
Steve – Team Leader
Brian
Alison
Nathan
Jennifer
Team 2
Julie – Team Leader
David
Ed
Sue
Jo
Rani
Team 3
Abbie – Team Leader
Wayne
Amanda
Daniel
Natalie
Vigil Areas
Stables Restaurant
Middle Restaurant (incl Back kitchen & storeroom)
Upper Bar Area (& Outside if needed)
Vigil Plan
| 10.45/11pm | Team meet |
| 11.30pm | Set up equipment/meet & greet |
| 12.15am | Group Séance in Stables Restaurant |
| 12.45am | Break |
| 1.00am | Vigil 1 Team 1 – Upper bar Area Team 2 – Middle Restaurant Team 3 – Stables Restaurant |
| 2.00am | Break |
| 2.15am | Vigil 2 Team 1 – Middle Restaurant Team 2 – Stables Restaurant Team 3 – Upper bar Area |
| 3.15am | Break |
| 3.30am | Group Séance back in Stables Restaurant |
| 4.00am | Ouija Board in Middle Restaurant |
| 4.30am | Pack up & depart |
Equipment Set Up
Each team have use of –
Night Vision Camcorder
Atleast 1 digital camera
Infra red thermometer
EMF meter
Dictaphone
Notes sheets, clip board & Pen
Locked off equipment
Night Vision Camcorder locked off in Stable Restaurant pointing towards furthest large round table.
Night Vision Camcorder locked off, with Dictaphone over looking trigger object gun in Upper bar area.
Dictaphone in back storeroom
Dictaphone in Stables Restaurant
Dictaphone behind the bar
Analogue Camcorder in back kitchen
Analogue Camcorder in corridor behind main bar
Recording deck on unit behind salad bar in middle restaurant
Baseline Tests – completed by Abbie, Ed & Amanda
Upper Bar Area – EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 25.
Lower Bar Area - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 25.5.
Fireplace - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 26.5.
Main Bar - EMF reading 1 (expected due to tills, fridge’s etc), Temperature reading averaging 26.
Corridor Behind Bar - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 22. Team to beware of draughts in this area (open both ends)
Main walkway to Middle Restaurant - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 23.
Window Seating Area (Middle Rest) - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 24.5.
Corridor to back kitchen - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 17.5, very draughty.
Back Kitchen - EMF reading average of 1 due to equipment, Temperature reading averaging 16.5. Again very draughty area.
Storeroom - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 17.5.
Stables Restaurant - EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 no fluctuations, Temperature reading averaging 24.5.
Vigil/Team Notes
Group Séance in Stables Restaurant
Alison opens and protects
Glass starts moving almost straight away
Alison calling out
Jo calling out
Big crack heard coming from table
Glass moves towards Amanda quite quickly
Sues fully charged new camcorder battery dies
Amanda calling out
Slight movement
Asked anyone present to join group and sit in empty chair
3 thuds heard
Abbie & Jo feel breeze quite strongly after a while
Temperature around the empty chair drops from 25 to 22
Glass moving but only slightly
Temperature around the room 24/25, but temperature in corner near chair now 21
Team attempt a séance
Amanda has a cold neck
Neck temps - Ed temperature 30, Alison temperature 28, Amanda temperature 24
Many of the team have cold arms and goosebumps
Jo & Abbie sat either side of the empty chair both feel freezing cold
Alison closed session after several minutes of no activity
Team 1
Vigil 1 Main Bar
Alison opened up and started glass divination, Team hears a noise behind bar after 11 mins and relocates to bar to continue divination.
Team establish that First name begins with G, male.
Suddenly cooling machine starts up and startles group.
Team resumes and gets letter R for first name - ask if it is Ricky, Roland, Richard or Ronald.
Alison thinks its Ricky and small boy - glass movement confirms boy lived here with parents.
Vigil 2 Back kitchens and Middle restaurant
2.40 am team move to back room of kitchens near back door.
Alison asks out and a E.V.P is caught on dictaphone possibly of small girl although Alison senses unwelcoming presence.
3.00 am team moves to middle restaurant and glass divination starts.
Glass moves to Brian then Steve in response to questions about who they would like to talk to.
Team establish
Female who had 3 sons that moved away from here.
Brian asks if sons went to war - yes and were based at a camp possibly in Hampshire.
Females name is Jenny, moved to pub for a time while sons were away during June of 1944.
Partner was American.
Team 2
Middle Restaurant
1.05am Team feels colder by tables 8 & 91.06am 21.0 around 8 & 9
23.0 away from 8 & 9
1.06am EMF 00.1 – 00.2 normal
1.10am David senses a man who is tall with short hair. Well dressed. Looks after children.
1.12am Julie feels cold breeze across her right arm
1.12am Jo at table 9 feels cold to her left (empty chair)
1.20am Glass divination on table 9 – David, Ed, Jo & Rani
1.22am Jo speaks about how they picked up a Richard here last time
1.25am All team hear a thud from other end of area – Julie checks and confirms there is no one there.
1.30am Team doing divination feel cold.
1.31am Temp in the circle 25.5, room temp 26.0
1.37am Light anomaly caught on camcorder past Rani towards the table
1.40am Julie hears small knock on wall under mirror
1.44am All team hear loud bang/clatter from bar area. Julie goes to check
if team in there are ok but no one is there as Team 1 is in the upper
part of the bar and did not hear the noise.
1.55am Orb caught on camcorder by the entrance to the seating area
for table 8 & 9.
1.56am Light thud heard by some of the team coming from windows
Stables Restaurant
2.20am All team hear dragging sound above them, like a chair beingpulled out – Jo points out there is no upstairs in that part of
the building (??)
2.25am All sitting round furthest large round table. Team feel the table
nudged/bumped.
2.28am Davids hands are icy cold and a good 4 degrees lower temp than
other members hands
2.30am Team sit away from the table to make sure they are not resting on
it as further bumps and knocks are felt/heard. Just fingers remain
on the table.
2.40am Chair between Julie & Rani is creaking. Just suddenly started, had
quiet until now.
2.42am Both Julie & Rani report an uneasy feeling like someone is in the
corner of the room by them
2.45am Julie asks for the chair to move – chair moves (so do Julie & Rani very quickly!)
we believe we have caught this on camcorder + the sound of the chair moving.
2.50am Jo sits in the corner where the chair moved and feels very shivery
and goosebumpy.
2.52am A succession of 4 or 5 thuds come from table
3.00am Team try glass divination – glass moves towards Rani and then to Julie.
Thud heard from behind David. Answers to the name Sarah.
Glass feels like it has a lot of energy but it stops and does not move again.
3.05am Ed hears distant voices – Maybe Team 1 on their vigil?
3.10am thud from underneath the table followed by a tap from behind
David near Sue
3.11am Tap on table
3.15am End of vigil
Team 3
Upper Bar
1.00am EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 normal1.01am Team feel the area is colder
1.02am Temperature reading 20.5
1.25am Wayne feels cold breeze on his left arm
1.26am Temperature reading 19.5
1.40am Cold spot felt by edge of table
1.42am Amanda and Abbie feel if there is something in the room it does
not want to interact and is just observing
1.45am Team attempt glass divination
1.47am Amanda feels cold breeze on her hand on the glass
1.50am Abbie hears thud within room
1.52am Natalie feels cold and her body temperature is the coldest in the
group – 26.5
1.55am Temperature under the table feels cold – 18.5
Upper Bar Area
2.20am EMF reading 00.1 – 00.2 normal2.25am Temperature of area averaging 22.5
2.30am Abbie hears tap on top of one of the tables
2.40am All team hear thuds from upstairs – probably the dogs?
2.50am All team hear knock on the wall
2.55am Some of the team feel cold breeze in lower bar area, maybe from
door? No temperature change
3.10am Lower bar – team hear tap/bang
Ouija experiment in Middle Restaurant
Very little activity or movement was experienced however the planchette did move to the number 8 & 9 (Age? Year?)
Is Sarah here – no response
Personal Reports
Julie Harwood
I never bore of returning to the Cat & Fiddle in Hinton. The warm welcome we get from Jo, Rani and their staff makes it worth it every time and their eagerness to join in as fully participating members of the team is refreshing.
I was in team 2 with David, Ed, Sue, Jo & Rani. I was looking forward to it because the Southern Paranormal members were split into 2 very specific groups within our team, 2 believers and 2 open minded sceptics.
We decided to start our evening off with a whole group séance in the stable restaurant, somewhere we have had good results in the past. Alison lead the séance but apart from a few cracking noises (most likely coming from the old wood tables and not of paranormal nature) and a few cold draughts, not much else was picked up.
We then split into our separate teams and we headed for our first vigil in the middle restaurant. I know Jo and Rani were particularly interested in this area as they had heard first hand reports of sightings around table 8 & 9 and so this is where we positioned ourselves. We started calling out and we did hear a few clicks and taps although I think all the team were happy to conclude that these came from the equipment in the kitchen area opposite where we were sitting. We attempted a glass divination experiment when Jo and myself felt some cold breezes on our arms but we did not get much movement at all. The one thing we did all notice was how much colder this area was than the rest of the building and it showed it in the temperature readings too. Towards the end of the vigil we all heard a loud banging/clattering noise coming from the bar area and so presuming it was the team in there I went to investigate only to find the team were up the far end, were very quiet and had not heard anything at all. This was very strange. David picked up on a man in the area that did not want us communicating with the children. He was not a malicious man but was just very protective over the children in his care. I was intruiged as David was able to describe the man in such detail that you could almost get a metal picture of him.
Our next vigil was in the stables restaurant and we all started by positioning ourselves around the large round table at the far end. This area had a much more oppressive atmosphere than before and I think we could all feel how different it felt. Many of us commented on how heavy it felt. We attempted glass divination and Jo called out for Sarah a spirit girl that had been picked up on in our last visit. The glass did move towards Rani and then towards me but this was as much movement as we could get despite all our calling out. However as we have noticed before when we all started to chat and relax small bangs and knocks were heard by all of the team and they seemed to be coming from under the table. We started a séance and Rani and I had 3 spare chairs between us so we invited any spirits to join us at the table. From this moment on I felt very strange and very ill at ease (as did Rani) with the corner of the room. As we called out we heard various creaks coming from the chair in the corner (the middle of the 3 spare ones). Now my scientific head makes me think that this is due to wood flexing and contracting however what does confuse me is why it started then over half way through the vigil when it had been quiet before. We kept trying to get some noises and I decided to call out and ask if there was anyone there if they could move the chair. Before I could even finish the sentence the middle of the 3 chairs shifted position either forwards or backwards I think but it was so quick it made certainly Rani and myself leap out of our chairs. I think we have caught it on camera and it will be incredible if we have. I have spent a lot of time thinking about it and can not come up with a reason a chair would move on its own. We tried desperately to make this happen again but could get no response even the taps and bangs had stopped.
We rejoined the group and suggested a séance again in the stables in light of what we had just witnessed. A few strange sensations were felt but nothing of great significance apart from a orb caught on night vision between Sue and Brian just as they said they sensed someone stood between them.
We relocated the whole group to the middle restaurant then to see if we had any luck with the ouija board but unfortunately this was fruitless and so we decided to call it a night.
Despite the lack of events (apart from the moving chair!) I had another great night at the Cat & Fiddle and would never say no to another return visit. Thank you again to Jo, Rani and the staff for making us feel so welcome. Its always a pleasure.
Abbie Holding
Vigil One
Just before we started our first vigil we had a group Séance in the Stable/Restaurant area, we heard some taps and thuds but not much was happening.
Our first vigil was in the Stable area and we tried glass divination, the glass didn’t move but there was several temperature fluctuations where Natalie (Staff member) felt extremely cold and so did I, we both measured a couple of degrees lower than the other members of our group. Just in front of the table the temperature was also a couple of degrees lower than the rest of the room and I had this disconcerting feeling that a man was standing not to far away from us watching what we were doing, although there was nobody there. Apart from feeling extremely uncomfortable nothing else occurred in this vigil area.
Vigil Two
Our second vigil was in the main bar area after sitting here and calling out several times nothing occurred for me.
After our second vigil we did another group Séance in the Stable bar area. I was sat next to an empty chair, and for the duration of the séance my right arm which was directly next to the chair was absolutely frozen and Jo who was sat on the other side of the chair was feeling the exact same sensation. Whereas, everyone else in the group couldn’t feel any temperature fluctuations, shortly after we began to feel colder the glass began to move in the divination. We then proceeded to the middle restaurant where some of us attempted the ouija board, but nothing happened. So as much as I enjoyed the investigation I didn’t experience a substantial amount of activity.
Wayne Blyth
The group were yet again meeting to investigate the wonderful Cat & Fiddle. This time, for me, was to disappoint.
After arriving and being introduced to staff members, we set off on our vigils.
As a group we held a séance in the stables area, with nothing happening during this time. Although a strange light anomaly does appear in the view screen of my camcorder.
Vigil 1 saw Abbie, myself, Amanda, and Daniel and Natalie, (C&F staff), head for the stables restaurant. I cannot say that anything of a paranormal nature occurred, with the exception of a few cold spots and breezes. There was a red light visible intermittently above the air-con unit, and although Jo insists there is no light there, on closer inspection, there is a small square of plastic that has been painted over. I can only assume that the red light is a sensor for something and it becomes visible even through the paint coating.
After an unsuccessful vigil, it was off for a quick break, before heading for the main bar for our second stint. Again, apart from the odd noise and cold spots, nothing was happening. Our attempts to ask out were seemingly in vain.
Our third and last vigil was another séance in the stable area. Although, during glass divination, the glass appeared to move dramatically, it was only for a brief time. After this, again, unfortunately for me, this was the end of my experiences.
Conclusion: I have to say that I am quite disappointed this time, as I know the Cat & Fiddle is a very atmospheric and interesting venue. Another visit is definitely needed.
Thank you to Jo and all staff at C&F for being great hosts.
Apologies for my brief report.
Ed Ashton
When I previously visited the Cat and Fiddle back in July of last year, I had my first ever experience at glass divination. In fact, it proved to be such an experience that for a short while I had to reconsider my thoughts on the existence of the paranormal! Since then, I don't think I have witnessed or experienced a more successful attempt at this particular type of experiment to communicate with the dead.
Unfortunately, for my second visit, I was to come away with no such similar experiences, but I must admit that a couple of interesting things did happen during the night, the majority of which occurred during the vigil in the stables restaurant.
As we were sitting around one of the tables and attempting to call out, we did hear a few 'taps' which seemed as though they were coming from under the table itself. As everyone claimed that it was not them who made the noises, it certainly gave us something to think about. However, later on during the same vigil, something a lot more exciting happened. There were a few empty chairs round the table where we were all seated, one, of which everyone in the group with the unfortunate exception of myself thought they not only heard move, but also saw move as well! It seems very bizarre that I wasn't witness to this even though I was sitting at the same table, but if everyone else said that it happened then I don't believe it would be fair to dispute it.
The Cat and Fiddle has now been investigated 3 times by Southern Paranormal and has proven to have been a popular location with some members of the group and others such as myself have come away having witnessed or experienced things that they couldn't quite explain (for me, there will always be the glass divination from the very first visit!). We have also struck up a good rapport with the staff members who are always keen to join us! Because of this, I'm sure we will be going back there again one day!
Alison Blyth
We have visited this pub twice before and each time experienced something, so I was quite excited to visit again.
My first vigil was in the upper bar area. I didn’t sense anything here but our group decided to try glass divination to see if anyone would like to contact us. We initially tried on one of the tables in the raised area of the bar, but had no success, so we moved on the edge of the bar. We did encounter movement but couldn’t establish who was causing the glass to move. The name of Richard came up, but no questions were answered with a positive movement. What did strike me as very strange was that we all heard laughing and assumed that it was Julie. She later confirmed that she had not been laughing, so I have no explanation of this.
We moved on to the restaurant area and again tried glass divination. I was given the name of Jenny, so we directed questions using her name. We established that she stayed here during the Second World War as the building was used as a shelter. She seemed fascinated with Steve and when asked confirmed that he reminded her of someone she had become acquainted with during this time. We asked her whether she had become his sweetheart during this time, which she confirmed that she had and had a relationship with him. She confirmed that she did have three boys, but didn’t confirm where they were posted just that she awaited their return as well as her husband. They did come home, but her sweetheart did leave. We established he was American and returned home after the war. I have no explanation and cannot confirm these details, but the movement of the glass was extremely positive and responsive. No other occurrences happened in this area.
Our last vigil was a group séance in the stables, but unfortunately no occurrences happened here.
All in all a good evening, and I would like to thank the staff for giving up there time to us.
Steve Gilbert
The Cat and Fiddle is almost a second home now for our group as this marks the 3rd visit.
I cant say that I have sensed, seen or heard anything paranormal on any of my visits and this was no exception.
However in the context of things at least one of the groups present does seem have to strange occurrences usually in the stables restaurant every time.
Sadly so far I haven’t witnessed it. By the law of averages it must be my turn next.
All in all its always a warm welcome from our hosts and a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere for the team to work in and you cant ask for anymore than that - well perhaps a bit of ghostly activity for the unfortunate ones like me might round it off nicely.
Sue Ward
Group séance.
Most of the sp group and some of the cat and fiddle staff sat in on the séance.Alison did the protection prayer. I was on night vision camcorder. There were a few knocks and taps a male staff member called out, but the only thing that occurred was David not feeling to well and leaving the table.It was not the most successful séance that we have had in the past perhaps it was too early in the evening.
VIGIL 1 Middle Restaurant.
Julie, Ed, David, Sue, Jo and Rani
David, Ed, Jo and Rani sat at the table in the far right hand side of the restaurant. Julie sat at the table next to it; I was still on night vision camcorder. David opened the glass divination with the protection prayer. I caught a few light anomalies on film but not much happened, apart from a few taps.
Vigil 2 Stable area.
Julie, Ed, David, Sue, Jo and Rani
Sat at the table where we had the group séance I was still on night vision camcorder sat at the next table. David again opened the séance with a protection prayer. We got some good response this time at one point Julie heard the chair next to her creak, and before she was half way through her next question the chair next to her moved at an angle as if someone was moving it to sit down, It was such a shock to all of us as nothing like this has ever happened to us like this before and I feel privileged to have caught it on night vision.
Also I think Julie and Rani had felt uneasy most of the time sat at the table, they felt as if someone was sat between them where the three chairs was empty.
It was the most unexplained thing that I have had in any paranormal investigation so far.
Brian Ward
Group séance in the stable restaurant
The group and some cat & fiddle staff started the night with a séance all opened with protection, maybe there was a few tapping or knocking sounds but to me it was a large group around the table there’s also a lot of creaky floorboards.
I don’t know but I found it an unsuccessful experiment.
1st Vigil bar Area.
We decided to do a glass divination in the middle of the bar area we set up a table and opened up with protection.
Nothing happened we heard knocking or tapping sounds from the other side of the bar so we decided to do the glass divination on the bar itself.
Almost immediately the glass started to move the alleged spirit seemed to be a male, age I’m not sure he seemed to have lived at the cat & fiddle at some time or other
His name also seemed to be very vague. But the glass was defiantly
Moving to every question.
2nd Vigil Bottom kitchen and store area.
To me another unsuccessful vigil there was a couple of light anomalies
Picked up on night vision camcorder
But nothing else happened in this area.
3rd Vigil Middle restaurant are
Now this vigil made my night worthwhile
We settled down around a table and opened the glass divination experiment up with protection, within a minute of putting our fingers on the glass it was moving we started asking questions. It seemed that we had contacted a female spirit named Jenny we could not get an age; she seemed to recognise our group member Steve. It seemed she lived at the cat & fiddle during the Second World War.
I’ve not looked into the history to find out if the cat & fiddle was used as a shelter for woman and children during this period. If anybody knows could they let us know.
Jenny was one of these women waiting for her husband and three sons, who where in the navy who may have sailed from the Christchurch harbour or somewhere along that bit of shoreline.
During her stay at the cat & fiddle she found a male friend he was an American who looked like our group member Steve.
Jenny fell in love with this American, at the end of the war her husband and three sons came home. Now in one way jenny was happy that her husband and sons came home safely but was heartbroken to see her American sweetheart go back to America. Jenny stayed in the Dorset area with her husband and sons.
It seemed that the spirit of jenny stays at the cat & fiddle hopping that she might meet up with her American sweetheart.
We ended the glass divination I felt completely drained after but what a story.
Amanda Horley
This was my first visit to the Cat and Fiddle, and it came across as a lovely old building that has been sympathetically modernised to incorporate the old features with a modern pub and restaurant.
Our first vigil was a group séance in the stable area. Although the glass did move from time to time, and there were cold spots in the stables, it was relatively quiet, with the exception of one point in the glass divination when my neck felt very cold, and this was borne out by the temperature gun.
We then split into teams and my team held a vigil in the stable area. We tried a further glass divination around a smaller table, but got very little movement. There was however a distinct area next to the table that was considerably colder than the rest of the room. A sensor above the air conditioning unit (which was turned off) flashed on and off several times, but with no discernible pattern. Both Abbie and Natalie felt very cold in this area.
The second team vigil was held in the bar area. There was a lot of noise coming from the equipment behind the bar, and the compressor was particularly unnerving as it sounded like a person sniffing! The upper bar area did not feel uncomfortable or unpleasant, but the lower area had cold breezes (which could have come from one of the doors) but I didn’t feel that there was anything unusual happening.
The final group vigil held in the stable area and middle restaurant did not provide anything out of the ordinary for me.
I am looking forward to returning to the Cat and Fiddle and am particularly keen to visit during the renovations if it is possible, as I feel that the disruption could cause more paranormal activity and would like to see if this proves to be the case.
CONCLUSION
Well yet again after the fourth investigation at the cat and fiddle and she did not let me down, she gave up more of her history and let group members and cat and fiddle staff have new experiences.
I would like to thank Jo and Rani for having us back and I hope it’s not to long before we go back.