REAL Ghost Heckles TV Crew - Dead End

MORECOMBE WINTER GARDENS. THE RETURN

MORECOMBE WINTER GARDENS
MORECOMBE
LANCASTER

11th March 2011




This is my second visit to this wonderful building. The Winter Gardens has been made more famous for its ghosts thanks to many more ghost groups hiring the property and such shows as Most Haunted.


The land that the Winter Gardens stands on was once occupied by swimming baths, which were surrounded by gardens. The original facilites included 3 plunge baths, 24 private baths and 2 medicated baths. An entertainment complex was added known as the People's Palace. In 1896, it was announced that a new theatre was to be built in 1897 and it is this extension that remains today. It was owned by Mr T Baker and Mr R B Abbott. They were the directors of a west end pier company. The ballroom was designed by architects, Mangel and Littlewood, with Frank Matcham as consultant. After this huge transformation, the building re opened and re named as the Victoria Pavillion.









The building was very popular but this didnt last and in 1908, the company went into liquidation. It was bought by Broadhead and Sons and they added a funfair outside and a billard room downstairs.

In 1953, the building was sold again. It was bought by Louis Benjamin. The ballroom was converted to the Dixieland Palace and the theatre was leased to Trust House Forte. The theatre closed in 1977 and the ballrom was demolished in 1982 and replaced with an amusement arcade.

Over the years, this has been occupied by many things, as explained above, but I did forget the circus. A charitable trust has now taken over the property. The Friends of the Winter Gardens took over in 1986 and work is being carried out to save this building.

Many famous acts has graced the floor here, inc --- Laurel and Hardy, George Formby and Thora Hird.

The building was taken over during WWll by the RAF. They organised their own shows.


PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

--- this building is said to have a rather unusal type of haunting, there is a claim that there is an invisible line down the middle of the building making a good side and an evil side.
--- a seven year old child plays in the building
--- 2 male figures seen on the first floor. They are said to be Mangel and Littlewood.
--- an Edwardian lady
--- a lady in the dressingroom
--- man and woman dressed in RAF or NAVY uniforms
--- an angry man named Henry
--- another man named Stan
--- 2 women actress
--- Charles Straton
--- Alice Shields


INVESTIGATION

Paranormal research had been invited here to watch the investigation and perhapes offer help and advice. We arrived at 7.30pm. Me and Nicola went for a walk around the building. We then joined Phil and set up our equipment. The psychic, Racheal (who was running the event) and Phil went off to set up some trigger objects and experiments. Me and Nicola joined the main group on the guided tour of the building lead by a member of the Friends of Morecombe Winter Gardens. Nicola held the EMF reader and I took notes and we both took photos as we walked.



The walk started in the front foyer and the main entrance. The EMF stayed on one green light.






We then went upstairs to the 1st floor. As we entered through the wooden doors, the emf jumped to red and then back to the single green light. Nicola walked through this doorway several times and it never went to red again. As we walked around, through the ladies bar, offices and gents bar, the emf stayed on green. In fact, as we continued around the building, the emf stayed green. No more red lights. We finished the tour at 9.40pm.




As we walked back to our meeting point on the ground floor, the emf went to red again as we passed through these doors. I thought at first it was the cables, as this area is directly below where the emf went to red on the first floor. Again Nicola passed through this area several times but the emf stayed on a single green light. And the emf had not turned to red earlier as we started the tour as we first walked through these doors. So why turn red now and then disappear?




We all re grouped in our meeting area by the side door and about 10pm we all headed behind the stage. We started with table tilting after Nicola had explained about our emf recorder and what we used it for.



The table tilting had started and I heard what sounded like footsteps above me. I know there was a lot of banging here because of the wind from outside. But these "footsteps" were clearly heard by me. I climbed the stone stairs at the side of the stage. As I stood above the rest of the group, I heard nothing. After a while, I joined the rest of the group back on the stage. Shortly after, Phil also heard footsteps above him and also the sound of a girl laughing. I had also heard these footsteps at the same time as Phil but no other voice. I went back upstairs but again I didnt hear anything. Nor did I see anything.







We moved into the Auditorium about 10.30pm. Nicola took half the group to the first floor and Phil ran a sceance by the stage. A red light was seen on the first floor balconly by the boxes (not car lights). I went to sit there on my own (do you see a pattern here, as soon as something happens, Im sent on my own. Brave or daft, a bit of both) I had only been there a few moments and at about 10.50pm, I started to hear footsteps and whispering. I radio through to ask where everyone was and I was told that everyone was back in the auditorium. But Nicola and another member of the group had also heard the footsteps.

I went for a walk around along the balconly, looking for a stray member of the group or anyone, as I was so sure it must have been someone from our group as the footsteps were so loud and clear. But I saw no one. But what I did see, seemed unbelievable. As I entered the gents bar, I saw that not only had the car trigger object moved but they had moved onto another table. I radioed this through straight away and I stayed in the doorway without touching anything or going into the room. Nicola and another member of the group were the first to me and they saw for themselves where the cars were. At this point, I will say with my hand on my heart, that I didnt touch these cars. I am a paranormal investigator and I try to find out for myself if a place is haunted or not. I am just as happy to say no its not haunted, as I am to say yes. But both me and Nicola thought this movement was a little too good. I know that neither Phil, Nicola or myself moved these cars and no body went into the room from the balconly. But this is not a silled room and there is the entrance around the back and we didnt have enough camera's to leave one recording here. So did someone cheat or was it paranormal? I cant answer that for certain.








We split up again. Phil carried on with the sceance downstairs. Nicola took a few people into the Gods and I returned to my seat on the balconley with another member of the group. I did this, just in case anything else happened and I would have a witness.




Only a few minutes went by and nearly everyone had heard a child's voice. Nicola's group reported hearing shufflinf noises, one seat was down and strange emf readings on the staircase. Phil's group reported a thud sound on the stage, whispering sounds, temp changes, a young girl's voice cry out and a shadow darting across the foyer.

Nicola came back and joined me on the balconly. The three of us heard a child's voice at the same time as Phil heard the same. We also heard more footsteps and what sounded like paper moving. We all decieded to re group and have a brew. But before we went downstairs, we checked tha cars but nothing. So about 11.20pm, we all mew up for a well earned brew.


At 11.40pm, I went back onto the first floor balconly and everyone else went back into the auditorium to conduct another sceance lead by Phil. Ten minutes went by and Nicola radioed to me that they had seen a figure walk past me. I looked around but I couldnt see or hear anything. Two other members of the group came up to join me. Us three heard a noice coming from the gent's bar. We went to look and found a packet of earplugs on the floor but the cars were not touched. I made a cross shape in the flour and I asked for another cross shape to be made in the other patch pf flour on the other table. We placed the earplugs on a chair and asked for these to move. We had a walk around and found that a green toy was also on the floor in the ladies bar toilets. This was re placed back on the chair. Again I can not confirm how the toy had moved and where the earplugs had come from.













Everyone was now on the first floor and I went back to my lonesome seat. Movement was seen on the main staircase and I was hearing footsteps behind me again. While the group were asking out in the gent's bar, I saw what looked like a torch light on the other side of the balconly but no one had their torches on.

By 12.30am, we split into two groups. Racheal took one group down into the cellar and we took the rest of the group up to the Gods. Nothing much was happening to us but some reported that the seating was shaking. I didnt feel anything but I was sitting further away.


By 1am, our group moved down back to the first floor. We stood with Phil asking questions like "what is your name, why are you here and could they do something". Then it sounded like a stone had been thrown and hit the floor. We then heard breathing sounds. We couldnt find anything out of the ordinary. We carried on asking questions and at 1.05am, another stone was thrown. Again we couldnt find anything. Nothing else happened and so about 15mins later, we moved into the ladies bar to try some table tilting. In this room, there is a smaller room. One brave volunter sat in this room and while we conducted our table tilting, we also asked if something could happen to him. But nothing did.






During our experiment, the group from the cellar had broken up and they were wandering the building. This now meant, that any trigger objects would be worthless as anyone could now mess with them. Im not saying anyone would, but the possibilty was there.

We re grouped and had a coffee break.

From 2.15am, we split into different groups, covering the whole building, from the cellar upwards. While Nicola's group went behind the stage, a chair moved slightly when someone sat on it and Nicola's face felt tickerly. Nothing else happened to anyone else even when WWll music was played.

We finished about 4am.

In my view, this was a missed oppertiunaty for paranormal research. We were invited here just to watch a physic investigation. But we wnded up being more involved and trying to run the investigation towards the end. If we had known, we would have brought more equipment and better trigger objects and had camera's recording them. We would have had the event more structured and organizated. No one would have wondered off in their own groups.

But lets look at what happened .......................
... EMF went red three times
... footsteps heard several times
... a child (possibly female) voice heard four times
... red light seen
... whispering sounds
... one seat down in the gods
... two shadows, one in figure form
... earplugs appear from nowwhere
... cars moved?
...stones thrown...twice

I have checked my photo's and I have found nothing.

I have checked my voice recorder for EVP's and I have found several noices I cant explain. These are .........................
... whilst I was sitting in the first floor balconly with another member of the group after the cars had moved. We were talking between ourselves and I said that if I was a spirit, I would be fed up of doing stuff and answering questions. The word "YEAH" had been recorded as though it was agreeing with me.
... Phil had carried on with the sceance on the first floor, while he was talking there is a weird voice which sounds like "YES". Followed a couple of minutes later by three weird breaths.
... Another weird breath was caught on the first floor when people where telling us about the seats shaking.
... We also caught the sounds of the two stones being thrown and landing on the floor. But just after that I had said to Nicola that I had a weird and horrible feeling and she said she had a slight pain in her head. There came a "YES" whisper, followed by "HELLO". Four minutes later as a couple of the group were talking to me, there was what sounded like a "LOW WHISPER VOICE" as though it was joining in out conversion.
... Still on the first floor around the middle sitting area, Phil had been asking questions and just asked what year is it. We can hear a whisper saying "HELP ME" in a female voice.
... In the cellar, Nicola was asking if someone could move the glass, the name "HELEN" is heard followed by a loud "YES".
... In the cellar as well, I had just been explaing what this room had been used for, a loud "NO" and possibly another "NO".
... Again in the cellar, we were talking amounst ourselves and laughing, a weird voice sounded like "ITS NOT FUNNY" was heard.



Other photo's of the theatre

DENBIGH AT HALLOWEEN

This Halloween, I returned to one of my favourite towns - Denbigh.

I wanted to investigate ---



the hospital









the castle









the friary







I wanted to cover these three locations in one night.

Denbigh is a market town in North Wales. In Welsh it is DINBYCH, which means little fortress. This area, as with much of Wales has seen much bloodshed and fighting.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WALES.
Man has lived in this area since Prehistoric times. A human Neanderthal jawbone was found at the Bontnewydd Palaeolithic site in the valley of the River Eley. The person this jawbone belonged to lived about 230,000 years ago. These people probably roamed the land following herds of animals or moving during our different seasons. The earliest farming communities date from about 4000BC. During this time, chambered tombs were built including those built on Anglesey. Prehistoric mining first appeared in Wales about 2500BC for copper and then followed by bronze. There was a copper mine on the Great Orme. The earlist iron item found was a sword from Llyn Fawr in the Rhondda Valley, which dates from about 600BC. The Iron Age saw the building of hillforts across the country, example can be seen at Pen Dinas near Aberystwyth. A significant find from this period was made in 1943 at Llyn Cerrig Bach on Anglesey. Many items were found including weapons, shields, chariots along with their fittings and harnesses.








During the Roman Invasion of Britian in 43AD, the country was divided into tribes. The Ordavices and Silures put up the strongest resistance to the invasion. But the Romans finally won. They built roads, forts, mined gold, conducted commerce but mostly military.






When the Romans left, the country was left to govern itself along with the rest of Britain. Welsh Kingdoms were built up with Gwynedd being the most powerful during the 6th and 7th centuries. These kingdoms fought eachother and battles took place in England. A great battle took place at Chester in 616AD, the forces of Powys and other British Kingdoms were defeated by the Northumbrians lead by Aethelfrith.



During Medieval Wales (700-1066), Powys was the major kingdom. This kingdom originally sread into Cheshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. Its ancient capital was Pengwern which has now been possibly located as Shrewsbury of Baschurch.
This map shows the kingdoms in todays border of Wales.






Wales started to be ruled by one King. The first to rule most of Wales was Rhadri Mawr (the great), originally King Of Gwynedd during the 9th century. When he died, his land was divided between his sons. Rhodri's grandson, Hywel Dda (Hywel the good) extended his rule from Deheubarth and took back most of Wales by 942. He is traditionally associated with the "Laws of Hywel" (a policy of peace).

Gruffydd ap Llywellyn (King of Gwynedd) was the next ruler to unite most of Wales by 1055. At the time of the Norman conquest in 1066, the main ruler in Wales was Bleddyn ap Cynfyn (King of Gwynedd and Powys). The killing of Bleddyn in 1075 probably by the Earl of Shrewsbury's men, led to civil war and gave the Normans the opportunity to seize lands in North Wales. The welsh fought against Norman rule. Gruffydd ap Cynan won part of Gwynedd. His son, Owain Gwynedd allied with Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth to beat the Normans at the Battle of Crug Mawr in 1136.

One of the greatest of Welsh leaders, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (also known as Llywelyn Fawr the Great) made his capital at Garth Celyn overlooking the Menai Straits. By his death in 1240, he had united most of Wales. His son, Dafydd ap Llywelyn was next in line after his father's death but King Henry III of England would not allow him to be as powerful as his father. War broke out in 1241 and in 1245. Dafydd died suddenly and his brother Gruffudd had been killed trying to escape from the Tower of London in 1244 and so conflict took over in Wales again. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (known as Llywellyn the last leader) tried to take control and bring order to Wales but Edward I saw this as his chance to seize control of Wales. War followed in 1277 between England and Wales. Llywelyn was lured to a meeting at Hawarden Castle on the 11th December 1282. His brother Dafydd ap Gruffudd continued the battle but he was captured in June 1283 and he was hung, drawn and quartered at Shrewsbury.

Edward I built castle's in Wales and he complicted his domination of Wales by crowning his son Prince of Wales in 1301. A Council of Wales was appointed which sat in Ludlow, now Shropshire.

There were a number of rebellions after this including Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294-95, Llywelyn Bren, Lord of Senghenydd 1316-18, Owain Lawgoch twice planned an invasion of Wales with French support in 1378, Owain Glyndwr in 1400. He controlled most of Wales for a few years before the English took back control. During his control, he held the first Welsh Parliament at Machynlleth and made plans for two universities. Owain was never caught and he was widely supported by the Welsh people. Because of this, the English Parliament passed the Penal Laws in 1402. This stopped the Welsh from carrying arms, holding office and living in a fortified town.

During the War of the Roses (began in 1455), both sides used Welsh troops. During 1485, Henry Tudar landed in Wales with a small force to claim the throne. His claim gained a lot of support in Wales as Henry was of Welsh descent. Henry defeated King Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth to becaome King Henry VII of England. His son, Henry VIII, made the laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542. This abolished the Welsh legal system and banning the Welsh language from any official role but it did define the England-Wales border and abolishing the Penal Code.

Wales was mostly Royalist during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (Civil War) in the early 17th century. Many Welsh wen fought for the army of King Charles Ist and at least no major battles took place on Welsh soil. But during the second civil war (1648), a few unpaid Parliamentarian troops in Pembrokeshire changed sides and this lead to a couple of small fights on the surrounding borders.

The 18th century saw the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and a far more peaceful time for Wales.


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DENBIGH HOSPITAL

If you have read my blog, you will know I have been here a few times, so I dont have to cover ite history or ghost sightenings again.




Unfortunally, this building is now a no go area. It is such a shame what has happened to this building and the other buildings associated with it. Security has been stepped up and there is so much damage to the surving buildings, that a proper investigation is impossible.



If anyone is now so stupid to enter here without permission, I will know that they are just thrill seekers and their conclusions or comments will not be taken seriously by serious paranormal investigators. I will not return to this building again and I will miss her. Unless the building is made safe and permission is given to people like myself who try to find out the truth, this building should now be left alone.

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FRIARY

This was my first visit to the Friary and I was suprised that this building is hidden away. It was so small and located about 2 miles from the Castle.




The White Friars of Denbigh or Carmelites Monks were unlike other monks as they moved around teaching the word of the Apostles and begging.



The Friary was established in 1289 under the patronage of John de Swynmore. They preached around Denbigh, meeting other parish priests. They were supported in the later part of the Middle Ages by the Salusbury Family of Lleweni and Bachymbyd, many of the family were buried here. It was also supported by the Bishops of St Asaph. Bishop Henry Standish (1518-1535) lived here in the bishop's chamber and so did Robert Purefoy who followed Henry.



The Friary was surrendered in 1538 by the orders of Henry VIII. At this time there were four friars in residence and the friary was made up of a choir, vestry, chamber, hall, kitchen, brewhouse and buttery.



All that remains today is the main church, many of the other friary's buildings like the chapter house etc would have been knocked down or used as farm buildings. This well was dug after the friary had closed for use with the farm buildings.




PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
--- a dark hooded monk has been seen walking around the friary

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DENBIGH CASTLE










Denbigh Castle was built following the 13th century conquest of Wales by Edward Ist, overlooking the town. It was built upon an earlier Welsh stronghold.





The stronghold was held by Dafydd ap Gruffydd, the brother of Llywelyn the Last. A castle was built and this belonged to Llywelyn the Great before 1230.


The castle we see today was begun by Henry de Lacy in 1282. King Edward 1st, gave him this land after the victory over Dafydd. The old Welsh Castle was knocked down and the first phase of the building of the new castle began. In 1294, the incomplete castle was captured back into Welsh hands during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn but the revolt collaspsed a year later. Henry de Lacy continued building work and the castle was finished in 1305.

In 1400, Owain Glyndwr and his forces attacked Denbigh. The town was bably damaged but the castle was not captured.

During the Wars of the Roses (1461-1468), Jasper Tudor, the Earl of Pembroke, tried twice and failed to take the castle.

During the 16th century, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, held Denbigh between 1563 uptil his death in 1588.

During the English Civil War, the castle was held by Colonel William Salisbury on behalf of King Charles 1st of England, but in 1646 Denbigh and the castle fell to the Parliamentarian forces. It was used as a prison for captured Royalists.



With the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the castle was abandoned and left in ruin.
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PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

--- KNIGHT'S FIGHTING--- 2 knights in shinning armour on horseback have been reported by the main entrance. It is said as soon as you look at them, they disappear.
--- DRAGON--- this is a legend regarding a dragon which lived in the castle. A man with 8 fingers on each hand killed it.
--- GREY/WHITE LADY--- a shinning lady has been seen around the castle and esp in the woods by Goblin Tower.
--- BLACK DOG--- a large black dog with red eyes and snarling has been seen just outside the castle walls esp in the woods. Is this the werewolf that was reported in the 18th century between Denbigh and Wrexham?
--- BLACK SHADOWS--- dark shapless figure seen dashing arounf Goblin Tower. It is said to be the son of the castle's builder. He was falsly accused of having an affair with the landowner's daughter and he was thrown to his death from the top of the tower.

--- YOUNG BOY--- another sightening from Goblin Tower. This involves a young boy seen in one of the tower's windows. He also throws stones at people walking past. He is said to be the son of the builder. It is said that he was playing in the tower when it was still being built and un safe. He fell to his death.

--- ROMAN CENTURIAN--- he is said to roam Denbigh Moors but there have also been a couple of sightenings upto the town walls. This phantom is an omen for death for the person who see's him.

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INVESTIGATION

It is Halloween, the weather was chilly but clear and me, Lee and Phil decieded to spend the evening in one of the most haunted countries in the world. It is beleived in Wales, that on Halloween ghosts manifest at every crossroads and with all the legends that come fron this area, we thought this would make for an interesting outing.

The day got of to a very disappointing start as I said earlier, the Hospital is now a no go area.

Me and Lee deceided to go to the Castle (Phil wasnt joining us till later).


We had a good walk around the castle.

I tried some EVP work and took about 100 photo's, but no evidence was caught.






After a couple of hours, me and Lee met up with Phil and we headed to the Friairy (both me and Lee had been here earlier in the day).





We started by just walking around and after about half an hour (now about 5.30pm), we settled down for some EVP work. Phil placed his K2 meter on the ground where he had picked up on a reading earlier on. I also put a cross next to it. We asked a series of questions and asked for the lights to be turned on the K2 if the answer was yes. The K2 meter lit up twice, once when we asked if a monk came back here and the other was when we asked if the monk was still with us.


Lee picked up on a female either Mary Madalene or the Virgin Mary figure. He also picked up on a bowl being placed on this shelf. I later found out that this area was a sink used by the priest to cleanse the chalice and paten (plate) after mass.








We continued to ask questions and then Lee picked up on a male staute. He thought its name was St Sebastain and the area where Lee was standing held a safe. I have yet to find a connection with this saint but I will add to this section if I do.







Just before we all left (about 8pm), Lee picked up on a cold feeling by this side door. No one else felt anything and as we were about to leave, Lee said this cold feeling had left him.







Had Lee or the K2 meter picked up on the spirit of the monk, with so little to go on, it is hard to say but it has given me enough interest that I will return to the friairy again.



Our last call was to the Goblin Tower, just on the outside of the Castle. The Castle had closed for the day and you can only walk around the Castle at night. Goblin Tower is easy reached if you fancy a walk through the woodland area. Pretty spooky at night but with two big strong men at my side, I had nothing to fear.


Goblin Tower was a two storey, irregular hexagonal tower over a limestone cliff. It had a narrow stairway leading down from the lower floor to a deep well. It had a well house which housed the well's mechanism.



We reached Goblin Tower about 8.30pm. The walk through the woods had made the three of us a little more alert. Walking through this wood made you feel a little more alone esp with it being dark and knowing the legends and ghost stories surrounding it. We looked around the area for a short while and then settled down to do some EVP work. Phil sat down next to the K2 meter and me and Lee stood a little away from him. We asked if there was anyone with us, could they light this machine up just by standing next to it. After a short while, it lite up. The only information we received was that a male was with us but he wouldnt answer anything else, no matter what we asked. If we didnt get a responce after a while, we asked if he was still with us, which the lights would light up again. So he was there but didnt want us to know anything about him. At times we all heard footsteps circling us and Phil felt someone standing behind him. In fact, I asked if this person was behind Phil and the K2 meter lite up. We heard footsteps again and Lee felt a very cold chill.

We stayed till about 12.30am but nothing else happened. Had we met a shy male spirit?


As we said goodbye to Phil, Lee and myself stayed for a while by St Hilary's Chapel. This tower is all that is left after it was demolished in 1923 when a new church had been built in 1874. This chapel was originally built around 1300 but it had been partly rebuilt in 1707-11 and updated during the 15th century. It had been built for the English who settled here during the time of Henry de Lacy.






We had stayed here in the hope of seeing something but in the early hours, we left feeling a little disappointed. It had been a quite investigation but had we come across two spirits, one in the friairy and one by Goblin Tower. I think more evidence is needed but hopefully after another investigation in those two places, we can say yes or no.


MORE VIEWS OF THE CASTLE