Lichfield Gaol –17 July 04

Chris Thompson - Derwent Paranormal Investigators

Eleanor Thompson - Derwent Paranormal Investigators

Karl Ellis - Derwent Paranormal Investigators

Mark Hibbert - Derwent Paranormal Investigators

Gill Shand - Burton Ghost Walks

Sue Wilkinson - Guest

Paul Wilkinson - Guest

On Saturday 17 July Derwent Paranormal Investigators took part in an overnight paranormal investigation arranged by Chris & Tracey Campbell-Brown from Burton Ghost Walks, at Lichfield Gaol in Staffordshire.

After a brief introduction, the team set about taking baseline readings using EMF meter, Ion Meter, Digital Thermometer and checking for draughts. No anomalies were noted with the exception of a draught from one of the doors in the corridor. Although there was very little wind outside we believe that the high reading through the door was caused by the pressure build up to prior to being expelled through the small gap at the top of the door. Whilst taking basic measurements of the building using an ultrasonic measure an anomaly was noted where the equipment repeatedly refused to measure past a certain point even though this was only about a third of the actual distance We have no logical explanation for this phenomena.

As Cell 1 had a window overlooking the stairs to the Guildhall we set up a web camera on a computer to act as a security device and record any changes to its baseline picture. During its session it captured a series of pictures, which we hope to have available at a later date.

Since three of the team were complete novices to paranormal investigations we took the opportunity to try a bit of dowsing, firstly using dowsing rods in the main corridor. To our amazement the rods seemed to cross at one certain point. Coincidently this appeared to be the same point that the ultrasonic measure refused to measure past. As we hope to retry this experiment again, with others in the future, I sure you will agree it will be far more beneficial to paranormal research if we do not disclose the location.

Following the experiment with dowsing rods the team then moved on to dowsing with pendants. After a short training session where the team were asking random questions we decided to try a more scientific session. As four of the team wanted to try out their skills we decided to have two sessions of two dowsers both responding to the same set of ten questions. Two of the remaining members of the team would be used to record the answers whilst the remaining member would read out the questions. The three non participating members of the team moved to a location well out of earshot of the dowsers and compiled the following ten questions:

Being careful not to pair partners together in the same session, two of the dowsers sat back to back in the corridor whilst the other two dowsers were shut in the kitchen. Three ‘Post-it Notes’ were placed in a random order on each table denoting ‘Yes’, ‘No’ and ‘No Answer’ When the Dowsers had a response to the question they pointed to the appropriate answer which was then recorded by their witness. So the session could be carried out in complete silence the witnesses then nodded to the Question Master, signifying the next question could be asked. Both of the sessions were recorded on a digital audio recorder and checked after the investigation for any EVP. No unexpected sounds were recorded. After the ten questions had been asked the two Dowsers retired to the kitchen and the session was repeated with the other two Dowsers. The results are as follows:

During an earlier visit to Lichfield Gaol we noted that children do not like to go into Cell 2. With this in mind, we challenged members of the team to spend some time alone in the dark in the cell and set up CCTV so that we could monitor their progress from the main corridor. As the CCTV was only meant to be used as a safety feature, giving a secondary method of communication between the person carrying out the vigil and the rest of the team, the session was not set up to be recorded. After a streak of light was seen to shoot across the screen by the rest of the team during one of the vigils the rest of the sessions were recorded onto a laptop computer. Unfortunately, no further incidents were seen on the monitor and examination of the recorded footage after the event confirmed this. None of the participants of the vigil noted anything out of the ordinary.

Whilst the last of the team were holding their vigil in Cell 2, five of the team took the opportunity to hold a séance in the main corridor outside one of the locked rooms where staff had experienced paranormal activity, leaving the other member of the team to monitor the CCTV. With all the team involved in varying duties we were unable to measure any climatic changes in the area so we only have the individual participants experiences to go on. As this investigation was arranged by Burton Ghost walks these are reported in greater detail on their website.

Although we didn’t have access to Cell 3 because it was full of old furniture, there were bars above the door through which we were able to set up a video camera. Although after about half an hour, we did allow the area outside the cell to be contaminated whilst setting up for the next part of the night we have been unable to identify what sounds to be an adolescent male voice saying “All right Missis?”

As stated above, during the latter half of the recording, the laptop and web camera were removed from Cell 1 in preparation for another pendant dowsing session. The three non-participating members prepared another ten questions in the cell whilst the four Dowsers remained well away in the kitchen. The questions to be asked were as follows:

Following a brief rest we set up for a séance in the Museum. On this occasion we set up a video camera and digital audio recorder to capture the proceedings. The séance once again had five active participants with the other two team members measuring the environment and tacking photographs when any of the participants felt or heard anything. Since the séance took place in total darkness the photographs were taken on a digital camera with zero lux capabilities thereby eliminating the need for using flash photography. As the séance progressed measurable changes in the rooms temperature occurred falling by a total of 6°C. This was particularly intriguing since the room in which the séance was taking place did not have an outside wall and the investigation was taking place in the middle of July. It was also noticeable that whilst the participants were sensing things, high EMF readings were noted, even though no fluctuations were noted during the baseline tests.

At one point in the séance water was heard gushing down a pipe from the Guildhall, which is located directly above Lichfield Gaol. However, the only access to the Guildhall is via the main corridor with all the outside doors securely locked. We have yet to confirm whether this can be discounted as a naturally occurring timed event. Shortly after this event all the team members noted the smell of rotting cabbage, which dissipated after a couple of minutes. What we should point out is that one of the items in the museum was an original set of stocks. Wouldn’t the occupants of the stocks once have had rotten cabbage thrown at them whilst serving out their punishment in the Market Place? The séance continued until the tape in the video camera ended and throughout remained a tense affair. On completion of the séance the teamed were warned that the lights were about to be switched back on but, on flicking the light switch there was a loud bang and all the lights in our working area went out. Since we were now reduced to emergency lighting only, which we anticipated would only be battery powered and therefore short lived we decided to gather our equipment together and bring the investigation to a close.

Personal reports on the séance and the participants’ experiences can be found on the Burton Ghosts Website.

Examination of the media recorded during the séance proved to be very interesting. The video camera was functioning perfectly for the first twenty-eight minutes, at which time one of the participants started feeling ill. They were asked if they wanted the session to come to a close at which point the video started to falter. The image continued to deteriorate for the next fifteen minutes after which time there was very little, if any, video or audio recorded. The final fifteen minutes of the tape contained no more than a blue screen. Although this could be put down to a rogue videotape one must also consider the possibility of damage resulting from the high electromagnetic fields noted during the séance. Unfortunately the tape includes other incidents, which means that we are unable to reuse it and see if the tape is physically damaged.

The digital audio device recorded numerous incidents and many of them can be confirmed by what has been recovered from the videotape. Below is a complete log for both devices: