Southern Paranormal - Investigations
Explosions - Museum of Naval Firepower Investigation
31st October 2007
Investigating Members - Julie Harwood, Steve Gilbert, Maureen Taylor, Sandy Rutter, Eileen Rutter, Mark Pettet, Marie Holder, Rab Gardner, Marion McCaffery, Sarah Couper, Amanda Horley and Frankie Pigerham.
Guest Investigators - Suzanne, Alison, Glynn & Lynne
Introduction
Explosion! is an award winning
museum of naval warfare created within 18th century buildings at the
Royal Navy's former armaments depot of Priddys Hard, in Gosport, Hampshire.
The museum is housed in a group of listed buildings, which centre around
the original powder magazine of 1777. These sit on the edge of a delightful
camber basin on the western shore of Portsmouth Harbour, with views
across to Portchester Castle, Whale Island and the Naval Base.
Priddys Hard in Gosport was first used to store gunpowder for Nelson's fleet in 1775 when the first gunpowder magazine - The Grand Magazine - was opened.
In 1759 the Board of Ordnance purchased 40 acres of agricultural land from Jane Priddy and others to construct an earth rampart as part of the defences of Portsmouth Harbour and the Dockyard. Since then Priddys Hard has supplied the Navy with explosives through the Crimean War and into the twentieth century when the site became a huge bustling Armaments Depot employing over 4000 people during the Second World War. During the 19th century further magazines and buildings were added including the installation of a narrow gauge railway system across the whole site and the construction of piers on the Harbour. The site was altered continuously during the early twentieth century and it was fully utilised during both world wars when thousands of women workers filled jobs vacated by men on active service. The site was last used for significant naval activity during the Falklands Conflict in 1982, and was vacated by RNAD Gosport in 1988 when it relocated to Frater further north on the Harbour. The depot closed in 1989.
The untimely deaths that have happened at Priddys Hard have been as a result of accidental explosions and in one case an "unnatural" gust of wind, rumoured to be the evil spirit of a convict labourer who died in the same spot. Sightings of many of the past unfortunate souls have been rumoured by former workers of the Royal Navy Armaments Depot over the years including more recently security guards that have looked after the listed buildings.
Explosion! was created for £3.5 million pounds which was funded by the Millennium Commission as part of the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour Millennium Scheme.
Teams
Team 1
Rab - Team Leader
Julie
Steve
Alison (guest)
Team 2
Amanda - Team Leader
Sarah
Eileen
Glynn (guest)
Lynn (guest)
Team 3
Marie - Team Leader
Suzanne
Mark
Sandy
Team 4
Maureen - Team Leader
Marion
Frankie
Vigil Areas
Building 208
Area 309
Grand Magazine
C Magazine
Team Base – Coffee Shop
Equipment
Each team had access to -
1 night vision camcorder
at least 1 digital camera
1 laser temperature gun
1 emf meters
Glass for divinations
Itinerary
7.00pm Team arrive at location
7.30pm Tour with our guide Greg Cook
9.15pm Pre Vigil break
9.30pm Vigil 1
Team 1 Building 208
Team 2 Grand Magazine
Team 3 Area 309
Team 4 C Magazine
10.30pm Break
10.45pm Vigil 2
Team 1 Grand Magazine
Team 2 Building 208
Team 3 C Magazine
Team 4 Area 309
11.45pm Break
12.00am Vigil 3
Team 1 Area 309
Team 2 C Magazine
Team 3 Building 208
Team 4 Grand Magazine
1.00am Break
1.15am Vigil 4
Team 1 C Magazine
Team 2 Area 309
Team 3 Grand Magazine
Team 4 Building 208
2.15am Pack up
2.30am Depart
Baseline Readings – Completed by Marie, Rab, Sarah & Frankie
C Magazine – Temp 11, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations. Team to be aware that there are spiders webs hanging down from the ceiling and there are vents in some of the chambers. Hanging chains – not safe to pull on and in middle of walk way so torches to be kept on when moving around in this area.
Area 309 – Temp 9, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations. There is a dripping / knocking noise in these 2 areas that could be mistaken for responses.
Building 208 – Temp 10 fluctuating to 11 in some rooms. EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations. Derelict area – extra care to be taken. A pigeon in one room may cause noises.
Grand Magazine – Temp 13, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations. Due to size of area team need to be aware of sound travelling / echo.
Team / Vigil Notes
Team 1
Vigil 1 – Building 208
Temp gun dies
EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations apart from near fireplace – no cause found as no electric in area.
Rab calling out – Knocks heard by team from bottom of the stairs
Team move to bottom on the stairs
Rab stands in the corner and feels cold on his back
EMF meter spikes twice while Alison has it, no cause found
Rab calls out for someone to be touched
Alison feels like her left arm has been touched and her hand has gone all tingly
At the same time Alison feels this a possible light anomaly is caught on camcorder by Alison
Julie calls out and all hear a moan from the top of the stairs / upstairs
Team relocate to top floor
In corridor to old canteen Alison feels a hot blast of air on her face like a breath but no team member is near her at the time
Alison sees a blue light in the canteen and at the same time Rab feels his head being touched
Julie sees a string of blue lights travel across the canteen ceiling but can not be sure it is not lights from a passing vehicle
Julie gets the name Marg but feels it is related to a man
Team notice how cold it seems to have got in the area and Alison is swaying when she stands still
Rab senses a male called John Forman but does not know if that is his surname or job, aged 34, standing about 5’6’’ with blue eyes and wearing a brown tunic
Julie feels the need to pace the whole time she is in this room and does not stand still any time they are in this room
Rab gets the years 1834 and 1876
Julie smells a cooking smell when stood by the fireplace
Over the other side of the room there is still a strong smell of eucalyptus (as was noticed on the tour) however Steve and Julie believe it may be something put down in the room to ward off rats / vermin
Team move out into the corridor and Rab spots a possible light anomaly on the camcorder moving towards the stairs
While looking back towards the canteen Steve sees a light come out from one of the doorways on the right hand side. It is small and Steve likens it to a hand poking out. Rab moves to this area to film and gets several light anomalies on camcorder
Julie and Alison stand on the stairs while Rab and Steve stand in corridor.
Alison feels like there is someone stood between her and Julie (on Julie’s right and Alison’s left)
Noises are heard coming from the canteen and corridor
Team takes turns walking the length of the corridor on their own while others stay on the stairs.
Rab walks up and gets the sensation he is not alone especially as he reaches the canteen
Steve walks along second and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up
Julie walks along and is scared that something is going to come out of one of the doorways but not in a threatening manner. Light anomaly spotted on camcorder seemingly following Julie up and down the corridor
Alison feels like when she gets to the canteen something is in there and follows her back.
While walking out at end of vigil Julie feels like something is holding her right arm.
Vigil 2 – The Grand Magazine
Team conduct a glass divination and establish movement as a yes answer and staying still as a no answer
Male – Yes
Is your name Robert – No movement
Ian – No movement
J - No movement
John -
John – Yes
Are you from the other building we were in – Yes
Are you a foreman? - No movement
Do you understand dates? - No movement
Were you born in the 1700’s? - No movement
Were you born in the 1800’s? - No movement
Are you still here? – Yes
Were you born in the 1900’s? – Yes
Were you a Matelot? - No movement
Can we ask your age? - No movement
Please can we ask you your age? - No movement
LOUD KNOCK HEARD ON END OF TABLE BY STEVE
Can we find out your surname? - No movement
RAB GETS A NUMBER IN HIS HEAD
Is the number 47823 related to you? - No movement
Are you a relative of Rab? - No movement
Are you a relative of anyone at this table? - No movement
Are you from the officers building? - No movement
LOUD KNOCK HEARD ON END OF TABLE AGAIN, BY STEVE
FOLLOWED BY A JANGLING OF KEYS
JULIE NOTICES THAT THE GLASS DOES NOT APPEAR TO RESPOND TO RAB AS WELL AS TO OTHER TEAM MEMBERS
Do you dislike Scottish people? – Yes
Are you a very secretive person? – Yes
Has something bad happened to you? – Yes
Were you murdered? - No movement
Did you die at work? – Yes
Did you death have something to do with fuses? - No movement
Was it an accident? - No movement
Was it planned? – Yes
Did it involve a Scottish person? – Yes
Do you want Rabs Finger off the glass? - No movement
Do you want Rab to shut up? – Yes
Was your death recorded as an accident? – Yes
And is this what you are cross at? – Yes
Where did you die – In a magazine? - No movement
Further a field? – Yes
On a ship? – Yes
On a Navy ship? - No movement
Out at Seas? – Yes
Can Rab ask a question? – Yes
Does the name Brady mean anything to you? - No movement
Was Rab close? - No movement
Was a man involved in your demise? - No movement
Are you still with us John? – Yes
Were you part of a Naval spy operation? - No movement
Were you a civilian? – Yes
In the Navy? - No movement
In service of some kind? - No movement
Employed by the government? - No movement
Armed forces? - No movement
Were you working on a new weapon? – Glass judders
Were you working with fuses? - No movement
JULIES TORCH STARTS TO FLICKER AND ANOTHER LOUD KNOCK IS HEARD AT THE END OF THE TABLE
Session closed
Vigil 3 – Area 309
Team make their way to area early from break as they want to be in there before the start of the apparent “Witching Hour”
11.57pm Steve sees a flash of light on the wall
12.05am Alison hears men’s voices faintly
12.10am Julie feels sick in this area
12.15am Two knocks heard by all team in response to questions
12.30am Possible light anomalies caught on camcorder by Rab
Point to note – throughout this vigil Rabs character seemed to change and he was particularly drawn to one particular gun (Please see his personal report). He was acting like it was his own pride and joy and even commented on making sure he could train Steve to use it properly. All team apart from Rab noticed this and for most of the vigil he did not leave this guns side.
Vigil 4 – C Magazine
Team enter C Magazine and feel a very calm atmosphere. Despite a lot of dust around no light anomalies were caught on camcorder or camera (even though you could see dust clearly in the flash)
Team call out but area remains silent.
Vigil passes without incident.
Team 2
Vigil 1 – Grand Magazine
Despite calling out this area remains quiet for the team with nothing out of the ordinary noticed
Vigil 2 – Building 208
This area was also quiet for the team however they did notice that all the smells they smelt and observed on the walk around now seemed to be gone.
Sarah also felt like she was being followed in this building and particularly did not like the stairs area.
Vigil 3 – C magazine
Team note that area is very dusty and showing up in flash but not getting any light anomalies on camcorder or camera.
Camcorder battery indicator keeps changing from 110 min up to 125 min and then down again.
Sarah was singing and joking and called out to see if this attitude was appreciated. The team ask for one tap for yes and two taps for no. One audible tap knock was heard almost immediately.
Team continue to call out and random taps are heard faintly.
Small object was heard rolling along the floor by Eileen
Lynn could hear footsteps coming from outside the magazine
Team also hear a dragging sound
Name George is also noted but notes do not say by who this was picked up by or any further details.
Vigil 4 – Area 309
Despite calling out this area remains quiet for the team with nothing out of the ordinary noticed.
Team 3
Vigil 1 – Area 309
Temp 9.0, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations.
9.40pm Lights seen on the ceiling, moving down by Mark
9.50pm Marie sees a shadow moving across in front of the team
9.51pm Positive response with divining rods, team pick up the spirit of a woman
10.10pm Positive response from rods again but this time picking up on make energy
Name of Henry picked up but rods answered no when asked if this was his name
10.15pm Team call out for the spirit to touch someone or stroke their hair and Suzanne feels something touch her head
10.17pm Mark catches lights on the camcorder also what appear to be orange light anomalies
Vigil 2 – C Magazine
Temp 11, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations.
11.03pm Marie hears a breath
11.04pm Suzanne senses movement to her right
11.19pm Marie sees a red light on the ceiling of the magazine
11.22pm Sandy hears a noise but is unsure what has caused it
11.24pm Suzanne notices that Marks face appears very different and he looks like he has a rounder, older face with grey hair curled back from his hairline
11.30pm Team call out and chain in centre of magazine starts to swing slightly
Vigil 3 – Building 208
Sandy sees a black shape approaching the team
Team move nearer the stairs but all is very quiet
Rods used but only info gained was that there was a military man present who was married with children. No other info could be got.
Vigil 4 – The Grand Magazine
Team try a glass divination and pick up on the following. Team ascertain a place for the glass to go to to answer yes (by Mark) and a place for it to go to to answer no (Sandy)
Captain Kenneth Williams
Helped blow up the Bismarck
Japanese Aircraft carrier sank
HMS Dorsetshire
Jane Priddy – female
17th century – sold land
Born 1733 aged 47
Team 4
Vigil 1 – C Magazine
Temp 17, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations.
9.40pm Dowsing rods indicate a presence with the team
9.45pm Frankie notices her handwriting is starting to change
9.50pm Team try divination with crystal and ascertain the spirit with them is a male, his name is Jackson and he works on the rolling way. He is 25 years old and was born in 1867.
10.10pm Team notice temperature drop but are surprised that the gun still reads 17.0
10.15pm Jackson died here and died trying to put out a fire.
10.17pm The name Stephen is also picked up
10.18pm Frankie and Marion also pick up on a nurse named Julie who is an apprentice and is aged 15
10.20pm Frankie is struggling to write now
10.25pm The spirits around do not like photographs being taken and Frankie picks up on red 77
Vigil 2 – Area 309
Temp 16.0, EMF 00.1 – 00.2, no fluctuations.
10.53pm Frankie does not feel much in this area apart from a little sick
(possibly sea sick?)
10.56pm Team feel a lot colder but measure that the temp has actually increased to 17.0
10.58pm Maureens knees feel icy cold and when temp is taken have dropped from 30 down to 23
11.05pm Team realise it may be a trick of the light but Frankie thinks she saw a swastika on the floor. Team decide it is to do with the grooves in the floor and the way the light is hitting them.
Marion keeps getting the name Jane and a surname like Pretty.
11.10pm Marion realises the name is Priddy not Pretty
As team move back to entrance area they get the impression of a man
11.12pm Area falls quiet and team experience nothing further so move outside
11.15pm Outside Frankies heart is racing and she feels very apprehensive
Vigil 3 – The Grand Magazine & museum
Maureen and Frankie feel a strong presence of 3 people in this area
Rods (in bug guns area of museum) -
Are we interfering with your mission? – Yes
Were you working for both sides? – Yes
Frankie gets the impression of the phrase “ Tom, Dick & Harry”
Marion gets the name Arthur
Frankie gets the impression of “sneaky bloody Russians”
Maureen and Frankie feel calm, warm and happy
Team attempt a glass divination in the Grand Magazine and seem to make contact with Frankies departed Nan.
She was there to protect Frankie from something.
Male presence seemed to break through to speak to team
The team were told to stop by Frankies Nan
Vigil 4 – Building 208
In the radio room Frankie feels uneasy
None of the team feel happy about calling out, Marion does
Team sense that a spirit called Stephen is stood behind Frankie
Spirit of Emelia makes herself known (Emelia is known to some of team)
Nothing else experienced by team in this area.
Personal Reports
Julie Harwood
I was in Team 1 with Rab, Steve and Alison and our first vigil was as I saw it, in at the deep end in deserted Building 208. It was a classic scene straight out of a horror film. We called out and got a few faint taps (which did seem quite loud as the building was so unnaturally quiet) and so we followed these upstairs after we called out and heard a moaning sound. In the Canteen I could do nothing but pace about and could not stand still. It was not that I was nervous as such but felt some impending trouble or like I had troubles. I also got a strong smell of cooking in this area. It was not unpleasant but I cant say it was pleasant either. It made me think of camping food. The only other smell in this area was eucalyptus and this was very overpowering towards the right hand side of the canteen. Steve and I wondered whether something had been put down in the attic to deter vermin. We then went back out of the canteen and down the corridor. Rab was picking up light anomalies on camcorder so we decided to do the walk of fear and take turns walking from the top of the staircase to the canteen, seeing what we could pick up. Rab went first and then Steve and then I did before Alison. All the doors to the rooms had been taken off and walking past empty rooms did make me think something was going to pop out at me. It was very unnerving and felt like you were walking into the abyss knowing your team mates were getting further and further away.
Our second vigil was in the Grand Magazine and we tried glass divination with some success. We seemed to contact a very elusive character called John who was not going to give up information easily. The most interesting part of this vigil for me was the knocking sounds heard from the end of the table next to Steve. We could all see he was not moving and these were loud knocks like someone was stood at the end of the table. After one of these knocks we also heard the sound of keys jangling and thought it was Steve until we noticed again he had not moved and did not have anything on him that would jangle.
Our third vigil was in Area 309 and we left our break early to make sure we got there before the “Witching Hour”. Sadly this area was very quiet (apart from feeling a little sick which I think was due to fumes from paints etc) for me and Alison but it was very interesting to see how the men reacted in here. Rab went into Military mode and started inspecting one gun placement in particular. He was acting like he owned it and it was his pride and joy. Alison and I just sat and watched him. I am not sure he knew he was doing it. At one point he even made reference to training Steve to use it properly. Steve on the other hand was quite the opposite and not sure would have stayed still long enough for Rab to train him. He paced the whole time we were in there and it was obvious he hated the area (yet was fascinated with it at the same time). He looked like he was ready to leave a couple of minutes after we got in there. For me though a quiet but very interesting vigil as it seemed to affect the men and not the women. I felt a little sick but quite relaxed in there.
Our last vigil was in C magazine and unfortunately I have nothing to report from there as it was, excuse the pun, Dead Quiet. We called out and took pictures but nothing abnormal was noted apart from the fact that there was a lot of dust yet no light anomalies were caught on camcorder or camera! Another example for the orb debate!
Thank you to Explosion! Marc Farrance and Greg Cook for making the team so welcome. By popular consensus we will be back!
Amanda Horley
This was an interesting site to visit as not only did we have the museum as a vigil area, but also several of the surrounding buildings which were in various states of repair. On the initial walk round I was immediately drawn to the Gatling gun in Building 309 but couldn’t say why. Building 208 also seemed very active, and upstairs I picked up on a variety of smells. Peppermint, Wood smoke, Eucalyptus and Coffee. Downstairs, Frankie mentioned that she felt there was a man standing by her, and when we returned to the main museum building I felt that he had followed her. He was a simple minded but nice man who had a temper, but would not become violent towards women. He followed us round the museum, but seemed unable or unwilling to enter the Grand Magazine.
Our first vigil was in the museum and Grand Magazine, and for me was very quiet with the exception of the “big guns” room where there seemed to be someone watching us but staying far enough back that I couldn’t really get any details on them other than the fact that I think it was a man.
Next we moved to Building 208, and disappointingly for me this was also quiet. No smells other than a slight scent of Eucalyptus in the end room on the top floor.
Our third vigil was in the C Magazine, and this was another frustrating one, as there seemed to be someone around who responded with knocks a couple of times, but would do nothing more.
We finished off in Building 309, and I decided to try some psychometry on the Gatling gun. I felt that it was an item of beauty, a thing to be proud of. I felt that this came from a man in his thirties who was a few inches taller than me, so probably 5’9”. It felt as if the gun was swaying, although I was assured by Sarah that it wasn’t moving. When I then moved the gun around, I felt quite scared by the enormity of what was happening, although I could not pick up exactly what the situation was. When I let go of the gun I felt like you do when you have been on a ship for some time and are struggling to get your land legs back again. I asked Sarah to try and see what happened, and she became very obsessed about something not being right with the gun and very quickly spotted that the serial number on the sights did not match the serial number on the other parts of the gun. With both the Gatling and another gun she was opening chambers, turning all the levers and knobs, and was quite determined to the point of almost being aggressive. This is not how she normally is on investigations.
Despite the possibilities suggested by the walk round, this was a very quiet night for me, but still enjoyable, and this is definitely somewhere I would like to return to.
Sandy Rutter
When we got there I was impressed wit the hole set up. We introduced ourselves to the guide and had the tour.
VIGIL 1
Marie, Sandy, Mark, Suzanne
We where Area 309, the workshop. We took a few pictures before we settled down. Marie called out then Mark and Suzanne and me had a go as well but unfortunately it was very quiet. Mark was getting a few orbs here but that was it for in here.
VIGIL 2
Marie, Sandy, Mark, Suzanne
We went into C Magazine. Again we took a few pics before we settled in it was more successful in this room because we all got a few orbs. I got 2 by the entrance and one either side of Suzanne. We called out again but nothing happened. It was unfortunate but we did see the chain on the left hand side of the entrance moving yet nobody was near it at the time so that was excellent.
VIGIL 3
Marie, Sandy, Mark, Suzanne
We where in the Building 208, it was pretty quiet in here apart from Mark getting a few orbs that was it. I got a couple but it seems everywhere I went the orbs Mark was getting were near me.
VIGIL 4
Marie, Suzanne, Sandy, Mark
We were in the Grand Magazine. We took a few pictures before we settled in. We did a glass divination and it was very successful. I called out and we got in contact with a captain Kenneth Williams who was on the HMS Dorsetshire we did discover the ship was part of a team that helped to sink the German Warship the Bismarck and then we discovered he lost his life when the HMS Dorsetshire went down of the Caribbean coast by a Japanese Aircraft carrier. We also discovered the HMS Dorsetshire lost 210 lives on the 5th of April 1942. Then we got in contact with a woman called Jane Priddy we asked her a few questions and she answered immediately. We discovered she was born in 1733 and she was a wealthy woman, she had Priddys Hard and she was forced to sell it to the MOD in 1770. She had 4 children who worked the land when she owned it. (Julie’s and Maureens team comes in to where we were) Rab catches a few orbs between Suzanne and Myself and Marie we asked Jane to infect someone else as Marie had a cold blast in her face. Nearly straight away Julie had a taste of blood in her mouth. We asked if this was Jane who was doing that and she said it was. We discovered she had TB then it went dead after that so we all said goodbye and left.
All in all a good night and I would like to go back in the future.
Sarah Couper
Our first vigil –Museum. The Museum was pretty quiet all in all – on the walk round earlier I had picked up a sulphur smell like struck matches near one of the large guns, however when we did our vigil it had gone. I caught a light anomaly on my digital camera but that was all.
The second vigil was in the offices building 208. We started on the ground floor in the ground floor, and whilst the group was moving around and talking I thought I heard a couple of female voices in the background. We tried asking for evidence but got none. We moved along the ground floor to the furthest stair case, I felt uncomfortable here almost like there was someone on the stairs who did not want us there. We decided to go up the stairs to the next floor – I felt uncomfortable all the way and did not want to leave my back uncovered or be left alone, we looked in some of the rooms at the top of the stairs. I decided to conquer my fear of the stairs and went back to take a photo (not on my own though) I did not realise to later I caught a faint light anomaly on the stairs – we preceded along the top floor rooms stopping off and trying to get evidence but nothing, every time we stepped in the corridor I felt like we were being followed. We tried asking out but got nothing definite. One of the guests in are group took a photo of the corridor and later discovered a light anomaly. We descended to go downstairs . We looked at the rooms at the back of the stairs, but I felt uncomfortable with one of them and decided to leave the house and went outside.
Earlier on the walk round I though I had caught movement along the path at the bottom of the office blocks and felt it again as I sat outside. I mentioned it to the group when they exited the house so we decided to walk down to the path. We sat for a while and called out but got nothing, only the sense of a male presence. I took a couple of shots before we left and got a faint light anomaly.
The third vigil – C Mag. Very dark and dusty. Amanda and I sat on the floor near the chains, Eileen took up position on the far wall and the guests the other side of me. We called out but got nothing. It was very echoey and Lynn and I sang a bit of a song, I then called out and asked if our song was appreciated to knock once for yes and twice for no, we heard a distinctive knock behind us. We tried further calling out but got nothing further. I took some shots on my camera from the floor and whilst it looked like dust particles were being picked up I only got them on if the pics were more or less central in the chamber. We then started to hear various faint taps and the sound of footsteps outside where it there was no one there. Then Eileen caught movement along the middle of the floor which she thought was a mouse, however it was a small silver object rolling along in an area where there was no wind, we had also not picked up on this object as we walked in.
Fourth vigil – Storage area – Very quiet no sense of movement or presence, quite flat. Amanda did some pyschometry on the Gatling gun and felt kind of sea sick after. She asked if I wanted to try so I did. I felt that there was something wrong with the gun and started opening compartments that I did not know about or even how to open. (Incidentally the wrong thing was the gun sight – it don’t not match the serial number of the rest of the gun), I then got a compulsion to touch every gun I could see. After wards Amanda said it was like I wasn’t me at all.
Maureen Taylor
For this investigation my team was down to three members – myself, Marion and Frankie, and I think we were the only all female team of the night.
By the time we had completed the tour of the buildings I was already feeling quite exhausted, there is so much to see – and we got to see bits that the public don’t. A confusing maze of structures, and we were wondering if we were going to remember how to get to all the vigil areas, however, we did, and had a good night of it.
Vigil 1 – C magazine
As we entered this building it felt quite empty, but Frankie was very puzzled as she was sure she could smell hot sausage rolls – we never did solve that one!
According to our temperature gun the temperature in here was a fairly constant 17 degrees, though we all felt a definite drop at one point, though it didn’t register on the temperature gun.
We knew that by this time we had the spirit of a young man with us. Frankie had picked up on his presence during the tour of the vigil locations, and he stayed with us for much of the rest of the night. It seems that he had heard our comments about our being the only all-female team, and attached himself to us as our protector for the night.
Frankie was taking notes during this vigil and after a moment of two started to have some difficulty in writing, when I looked at what she had written it didn’t even look like her usual handwriting, it was much more rounded than usual – she said that she was sure that our friend was trying to help her write the notes.
We tried using my dowsing rods, but got little response from them, so got out a crystal pendulum instead which gave us far better results. Our young friend told us that his surname was Jackson and he was born in 1867 and died aged 25. Frankie had thought when she first encountered him (in the office block) that his name was Simon, but further questioning revealed that he was actually Stephen. He came to the site as an apprentice, but being a little slow of intellect he struggled and was frequently bullied, he was ultimately transferred to a position to which he was more suited in the Rolling Way where he was quite happy. Frankie asked if there was a nurse that he liked, he said yes, there was. Both Frankie and Marion came up with the name Julie – at almost the same instant.
He told us that he died while trying to put out a fire. Frankie felt that the colour red and the number eleven were important to him; however, he wasn’t too happy with our questioning him about this and was getting very agitated, it really bothered him in some way and he was moving closer to us and I could feel him right up against my right arm.
At the end of the investigation we asked if there had been any fires on the site in the late nineteenth century and were told that all such occurrences were recorded and that there hadn’t been one at the time at which Stephen died. I felt that the fire may not have been on the site itself, but possibly a house fire close by, so perhaps the eleven was a house number, and maybe the house was painted red – who knows, but it’s a possibility.
He didn’t like us taking photographs and we felt that the flash going off reminded him too much of the fire in which he died.
We ask him to tap on something, but he seems reluctant to show himself in this way, but then Frankie heard three very quiet taps followed by one louder one. Unfortunately we ran out of time and had to head back to base.
Vigil 2 – building 309
This building is divided into two sections, for the purpose of this report I will call them A and B.
Through the door and into section A. The temperature is 16 degrees. Frankie is sensing nothing at all here, says it just feels like a storage area. A few minutes later she feels sick, possibly seasick, and this persists through much of the night. We go through to area B where there is a chair and I can sit down. The temperature here is up one degree, but we’re all feeling colder. Suddenly as I sit there I sense that someone is with us and my knees are icy cold – a temperature check shows them dropping from 30 degrees down to 23 in less than a minute.
It’s just 11pm, and Frankie gets the feeling that it’s a security guard walking through to check on what we’re up to. Ten minutes or so later and nothing further has happened, so we move back to the section A. A moment or tow later our ‘ security guard’ – Frankie feels that it’s an elderly man – appears again, at just 11.15 for another check.
All three of us now get a feeling of boredom – not that we personally are bored, but a sensation connected with the building, maybe it’s our security guard, it must have been a very lonely job after all. We head outside to see if there is any activity immediately outside the building, but again all is quiet, but Frankie’s heart is racing and she feels apprehensive, but she has no idea why, but the sensation soon subsides.
We strolled slowly back to base without any further happenings, everything is perfectly calm.
Vigil 3 – Grand Magazine and museum
We start by taking a slow stroll through the museum. We sense nothing until we get to the Mines room where Frankie comes across a very warm spot, and I, just a couple of feet or so away have a very cold one, but mine is very quickly replaced by a sensation of warmth and happiness, whoever or whatever it was, was certainly very happy.
We move onto Big Guns, where at first we get nothing, but once we settle down Frankie senses three men working in here. We try the dowsing rods, but none of them want to communicate with us. Frankie asks ‘are we interfering with your mission?’ and gets a very definite yes response. She starts referring to them as Tom, Dick and Harry, though of course that doesn’t help as we don’t know which is which. One of them, though he seems reluctant to talk very much, tells us that his name is Arthur, but we get little more from him. We ask if one of them is working for both sides and get another yes response from the dowsing rods, or rather, from one of the dowsing rods. The phrase ‘sneaky bloody Russians’ comes in to Frankie’s head – another indicator of someone working for both sides perhaps, maybe more than one of them.
We move on to the Grand Magazine where there is a table and glass set out, so we decide to try glass divination – the glass is slow to respond to our questions, and when we have a spirit come through it doesn’t seem to be connected to the place. We ask if it is someone connected with one of us, the glass movements are slow and gentle – it turns out to be Frankie’s maternal great grandmother. We ask if she is trying to protect Frankie from someone or something, says yes, she is, but we can’t determine who or what it is – until a few moments later when the glass shoots violently across the table towards Frankie and we have for a moment what seems to be a rather aggressive male spirit trying to come through, but he is prevented from doing so, and we continue to chat to Frankie’s great grandmother. The questioning then gets more personal, and Frankie has asked that we don’t put the responses from the next few minutes into our reports.
We feel that Frankie’s gran was worried about the aggressive male spirit that was trying to get through, perhaps to some extent because we were an all female group and he may have seen us as an easy target, so we decided that it’s time to stop.
Vigil 4 – building 208, the office block
During the tour of the buildings at the beginning of the night Frankie had felt very uncomfortable in many of the rooms of this building, Marion and I weren’t too happy about it either, so we decided to restrict our vigil to one of the ground floor rooms, besides which, both Marion and I were both having some difficulty walking, so it was good to be able to sit down through a vigil for a change.
We went into what had been the radio room and settled down. At first the only spirit with us was our young friend Beth who frequently joins us on investigations (she actually belongs at Marwell Hall, but is now more or less an honorary member of the group, and can be very helpful at times too).
After a short time we became aware of a very strong male presence close by. It was Stephen again, and he was still looking out for us, he spent much of the vigil walking in a circle round the three of us, we could feel the ebb and flow of his presence as he walked around.
Things got a little strange after that, nothing threatening, just the opposite in fact. Frankie sensed another spirit with us, a woman this time, and was amazed to realise that it was one from her own home! A young woman named Emelia who lived in the house that Frankie shares with her partner, she lived there from about 1893 onwards.
We sensed that there was another male spirit in the room with us who wasn’t too happy about our being there, but with our three young spirit protectors there wasn’t going to be much he could to us!!
We didn’t stay here for very long as we didn’t feel that there was much going on; perhaps if we had ventured upstairs things might have been different, but none of us were happy about doing that, so we decided to head slowly back towards base. As we did so one of the other groups was heading in the same direction, having had a quiet vigil.
We then joined the group that was in the middle of a glass divination session in the Grand Magazine, but as we came in part way through it was difficult to work out what was going on.
In all a very interesting night; not a vast amount of activity, but enough to keep us busy taking notes all night. A most unusual location in which to spend a night, but it was certainly an enjoyable one, and surprisingly warm and calm for an October night – definitely a bonus when one has to go from building to building in the open air.
Steve Gilbert
When I first visited this location (as a visitor) back in march I thought at the time that it would be a fantastic location for the group without realising that it would later become available to us. So I must admit this was one I was definitely looking forward to.
The ex naval armaments depot in Gosport is over 230 years old and you have to believe that a place that was pivotal in the success of British naval warfare has to be haunted by many of the former workers including some that obviously gave their lives during the course of their employment here.
I understand there to be at least 12 rather unpleasant deaths that are recorded of which most of these were during the 1921/22 era.
Our teams investigation would take in the former office buildings 208, the grand magazine within the museum, building 309 which is now a storage shed and the smaller C magazine.
For me building 309 seemed to affect me on the walk around and I didn't like the place at all - I felt particularly sick and this could have been down to the chemicals/paint being used in here or something else I don't know.
On the investigation however I thought the best results came from buildings 208 as this produced some strange light and auditory phenomenon heard and seen by most of the group. Walking down the corridor made the hair on the back of you neck stand up.
In the grand magazine we attempted a glass divination and seemed to contact a very shifty and not forthcoming in truth character named John who along with his evasive answers to questions also it could be argued was affecting our table as many knocks were heard coming from it.
The building 309 and C magazine investigations were quiet and no major reported activity - although 309 is I maintain one of the eeriest places I’ve ever had the fortune (or misfortune) to investigate.
Overall I think it was a brilliant location and many thanks go to Greg for his insight to the history of Priddys Hard.
I would definitely like to go back again on a weekend with a little more time and set up some more experiments.
Marie Holder
Team 3: Marie, Mark, Sandy & Suzanne
Introduction
It was Halloween and very dark! The setting was perfect and this was, I hoped, going to be a fantastic location to do a paranormal investigation. Time would tell! We met our host, Glen, who took us on a tour of the location.
While on a walk around Frankie mentioned that she had a male spirit following her around on her left hand side. I was asked to do an EMF sweep on this side to see if it picked anything up. I unfortunately got no reading but while I was doing the reading I had an extreme cold feeling come over me which was not unlike the amazing feeling I experience at Buckingham House during a glass divination. I was asked by Amanda what I felt about this man and I got the feeling that he was a very strong man and Frankie mentioned that he came across to her as a gentle giant.
This was a fantastic start to the investigation and we hadn’t even started the vigils yet!
Vigil 1 – Building 309
Temp 9º EMF readings – nil
We entered the building which housed quite a few armaments and had a walk round and took quite a few pictures. A bit later on Mark mentioned he saw lights going from the ceiling down to the floor. We called out but got no response.
I walked back towards the entrance where the Polaris is and where Sandy had set up the camcorder. While looking into the dark I thought I saw a shadow moving across at the bottom of the corridor, but it could have been a trick of the light.
I did a quiet rod divination to myself and contacted a female spirit. I did them again a bit later on and contacted a male spirit who comes in visitation and not grounded. I got the name Henry in my head, I asked if this was his name and he said ‘no’. I asked if he could touch one of us or stroke our hair to let us know he’s here and Suzanne felt something touch her hair.
We had lots of orbs captured on camera including orange orbs.
Vigil 2 – C Magazine
This was my favourite location as it was very dark (the darker the better!!) It also had a chain hanging down which could have been mistaken for something else if you had bumped into it in the dark.
Mark and Sandy caught quite a few orbs on their cameras, I took quite a few shots but at the time I could not see anything.
We decided to call out, after calling out I heard quite a loud breath coming from behind me when there was no one there. The room was quite echoic, so Mark suggested he make a similar noise from where he was standing which he did but it did not imitate what I heard because it was quite close to me and made me a bit jumpy I have to say!
We again tried calling out and asked spirit to try and move the chain that was hanging from the ceiling. When we shone our torches on it a moment or two later it was swinging quite significantly when no one had been near it.
Vigil 3 – Building 208
We started upstairs and had a walk around. We decided to hold a séance in one of the rooms after a few attempts at calling out we, unfortunately, got no response.
We then went downstairs and I tried a rod divination. We managed to contact a military man who was married with children. I asked him if he could affect Mark who was sitting in a chair and he said ‘yes’.
Mark then said his knees were cold. I asked the spirit of the man if he could show us where he was standing and he said he was over where Mark was sitting.
Vigil 4 – Grand Magazine
We did a glass divination in the main room. We contacted the spirit of Captain Kenneth Williams (who was a bit reluctant to talk to women!) He would only talk to Sandy so he asked the questions. We managed to ascertain that he died on HMS Devonshire, which was his ship, and that his body is still aboard the Devonshire.
He also confirmed that he blew up the Bismarck and that there was someone from the Bismarck there with him, but he did not know them. He also confirmed that he was married.
We also contacted Jane Priddy who had sold this land in 1770 to the Ministry of Defence and she worked hard to get this land.
The rest of the group then joined us.
Conclusion
What a great location. Although it started off a bit slow in building 309 it took a turn for the better in C Magazine and hearing that breath in my ear is something I won’t forget in a hurry. The glass divination was also very interesting.
I would like to thank my team for being so helpful and our host, Glen for being so informative. Till next time!
Rab Gardner
Vigil 1 – Building 208
Team 1 consisted off Julie, Alison, Steve and myself as team leader. At last a chance to tell Julie what to do! This building was 2 storeys high and about 200’ long. There was only one entrance and inside 2 stairwells. Starting on the ground floor we headed room by room towards the main stairwell. As we reached the room adjacent to it, I saw an orb flash behind Alison and head towards the corner of the room.
We then set up at the bottom of the stairs and began calling out. Almost immediately I picked up an orb on the camera just as Alison said she was feeling colder. We tried to get the orb to appear in response to questions asked, but results were inconsistent. A few orb incidents later we moved up the stairs.
Moving along the top floor we arrived in the canteen and began calling out. Once again we got orbs both seen on camera and by naked eye. Since this room had no blackout the occasional passing car had played on our doubts.
I was picking up on the name John, he was of medium build dressed in a brown coat, but I couldn’t work out if his surname was Foreman or that he was a Foreman. I got his age as 34, but was then given the years 1834 and 1876 – no obvious connection.
Confused, but moving back to the corridor at the top of the stairs. We called out here and got a number of orbs in response. The best one I filmed was the one that followed Julie up the corridor then followed her back and overtook her towards us. All in all, some very good film captured orb activity in this building.
Vigil 2 – Grand Magazine
This was a large vaulted and pillared room. We set up for glass divination in the middle and began calling out. After a while of coaxing the glass began to move and we established a yes/no protocol. The individual we picked up was very cagey in his responses (see main report). He started of by claiming he was the John I’d picked up on in 208, but his answers didn’t seem to gel. The spirit moving the glass felt 20th century but again he wouldn’t confirm. I had a very strong feeling that this individual was a fuse specialist and that he had been killed/murdered in his line of work by a colleague.
He also stated that this colleague was Scottish and that he wasn’t happy with me talking (because I’m Scottish) and to prove a point, the glass wouldn’t move whenever I asked a question.
Whoever we had been talking to was reluctant to let us find out anything about him.
Vigil 3 – Building 309
This building was an old victualling shed with a semi partition running down the middle. This area was filled with weapons undergoing restoration. I felt very comfortable in there and found myself gravitating to an old bofurs 40mm Anti Aircraft gun. I don’t know what it was about this weapon but I had to sit in it and adjust the sights and check that it rotated correctly. I had a desperate urge to teach Steve to operate it, but a rational part of me was saying don’t be stupid you know nothing. Weird though, I felt the gun was mine.
We tried throwing dust around to see what camera results we could achieve by replicating phenomena, but the photos we got were obviously dust.
Vigil 4 – C Magazine
Another vaulted building set aside from the other buildings. Inside was very dusty and I couldn’t help coughing more than usual. There were no orbs caught on camera or seen by the naked eye, nor were there any EMF anomalies. I did have an urge to shout a lot in there, but tried to keep it at a minimum. Also, we asked that if any spirit was present that it move the chain hanging from the ceiling. It didn’t move, but some of us were weaving back and forth instead – bizarre.
For the last part of this Vigil we moved back to the Main Magazine and watched Team 3 carry out a glass divination. I managed to capture some very good orbs moving around the table and one very large one just in front of me and to the right of Suzanne.
Further note - Further researching after the investigation turned the following information up.
Here are the strays from Gosport living in other parts of Hampshire in 1851.
HAM5111 Alvestoke
Priddys Hard
John Philips,
Head, Marr, Foreman,
H. M. Magazine, Age
64
Marion McCaffery
I was in a group with Maureen and Frankie, the only all female group of the night and just the 3 of us.
Vigil 1 - magazine
Constant temperature of 17 degrees. We were visited by a young man that Frankie picked up whilst on the tour of the buildings. We found out from using the crystal pendulum operated by Maureen. Frankie asked for name, dates etc and we got back that his name was Stephen Jackson born in 1867 and he died aged 25. He had a girlfriend on site called Julie who was a nurse. He was here as an apprentice but he was a bit slow and got bullied he was transferred to a position in the Rolling Way where he was much happier. We believed he died trying to put out a fire. We did ask him to tap or make noises but nothing occurred.
Vigil 2 Building 309.
Nothing really happening in this building it was very quiet, Frankie felt uncomfortable in there so we finished the vigil early and strolled back to base.
Vigil 3 grand magazine and Museum.
Again very quietm, occasional noises but this could be the settling of the building as the night got colder. We sat round a table to do some glass divination. The glass was slow to respond but it was suggested that we contacted a relative of one of the team members. Nothing more to note on the location was picked up in this vigil.
Vigil 4 building 208
Because Frankie felt uneasy about this building we settled in one room. The radio room. Nothing was picked up in this area.
This completed our investigation.
Mark Pettet
First vigil - workshop buildings 309 – this place was rather quiet it seemed very flat and quite lifeless. Marie and Sandy called out , but other than the drips of water nothing else was heard, possible some orbs caught on digital camera, not sure on camcorder.
Second vigil, C Magazine (C Mag). This was very very dark .The team took turns to call out but had little or no response. This was a deathly quiet place which was of some use as Marie heard a breath sound, to make sure it wasn’t one of the team I made a breathing noise but from the position I was in, it was not from there. Yet again orbs caught on camera that seemed to be attracted to Sandy.
Third vigil, offices building 208. We started on the on the top floor, taking pictures as we went, as I said before there was orbs attracted to Sandy yet again. We held a séance in one of the end rooms but nothing happened. The same with the ground floor very quiet there also.
Fourth vigil, grand magazine. The team here conducted glass divination, which I myself was intrigued with. It was believed that we were talking to a captain Williams also to the spirit of Jane Priddy who owned the land before she sold it to the ministry of defence. Team 1, lead by Julie joined us. Rab was on camcorder and apparently got some great orbs on there as the divination was being conducted.
Frankie Pigerham
TO FOLLOW
Eileen Rutter
TO FOLLOW