Thanks Tezza - glad to see that you're still here with us!!!!
I know it's not Brum, but here's our notes from the investigation at Shrewsbury from last Friday (below), in case you were interested.
All the best,
Nick
www.westmidlandsghostclub.com
Investigation Notes: The Prince Rupert Hotel – Shrewsbury – Shropshire.
Visited: 9th to 10th January 2009
Duration of visit: Approx. 5 hrs.
Attendees: 5 members of the West Midlands Ghost Club and Chris Kennedy, Shrewsbury Ghost Walk guide and ‘sensitive’. Also present for the first part of our visit was Shrewsbury town crier, local historian and Ghost Walk organiser, Martin Wood.
Investigation: Group members visited the Prince Rupert with a view to investigations certain sections of the property which are believed to be of potential, ‘paranormal related’ interest. The regions concerned were:
*The Prince Philip Suite: Believed to be haunted by the ghost of a male suicide (by hanging) victim.
*The Prince Rupert Suite: Where visitors to the room have experienced a feeling of someone sitting on the end of the bed, with indentations in the bedclothes accompanying this sensation.
*The Conference Room: Said to be haunted by the ghost of a female suicide (by hanging) victim.
*The Cellar Area: Believed to be haunted by at least four ghosts, including a maid, a young boy, a man called Henry and a dog.
Environmental factors (for the sake of recording / vigil sessions): While touring the building, it was noted that - in all of the rooms concerned - mild external noise could be detected: i.e. people passing the property, traffic, etc.
Visit Notes: (Rough note form / grammar throughout).
Group arrive at Hotel approximately 8.15 p.m. and are met in reception area by Chris Kennedy. We speak briefly with Hotel manager NAME OF MANAGER who relates some of his experiences at the building to us. Martin Wood subsequently arrives and some time is spent speaking in the lounge area before we embark on a tour of the property, lead by Martin and Chris.
On visiting the Prince Philip Suite (which was utilised as our ‘base room’ for the duration of the stay) two group members briefly noticed technical problems with their cameras. Peculiarly, Chris has previously mentioned that camera malfunctions – particularly ‘battery drain’ situations – had occurred in the property previously. The problems with members cameras were only short lived however and no further problems experienced. (Interestingly, to date, we had never experienced such problems at any other investigation).
While still in the Prince Philip Suite, Chris mentioned that he felt uncomfortable and indicated to some discomfort associated with his neck.
After a tour of the property, Martin Wood left the premises. We re-visit the base room to gather equipment in readiness for the forthcoming investigation session.
Session One: 10.30 pm to 11.30 pm
*Prince Philip Suite: Camera placed in doorway to ante-room / en suite area, facing towards the small flight of steps leading into the suite. Recording session run in darkness, utilising the camera night-shot capacity, boosted by infra-red torch light. (Cam and torch set up on tripods).
*Prince Rupert Suite: Camera placed on table in front of left hand window of room, facing across the four poster bed (with foot of bed in clear view), towards the doorway into the room. Recording run in darkness, utilising cam night-shot capacity.
*Cellar Area: Camera situated in far cellar room where spirit of man called Henry (accompanied by a dog) is said to haunt. It had been intimated to the group that one particular wall of the room was where the presence of Henry manifested. As a result, a camera was set up in this room – directly in front of the doorway into this area – facing towards the wall indicated. The recording was run in complete darkness, utilising cam night-shot capacity, boosted by an (on board) infra-red torch.
On previous visits to the site, Chris has set up some trigger object experiments in this room – namely, a block of wood and an Irish coin outlined on pieces of paper. He reported to the group that – on past occasions – these objects had been seen to have moved. On one occasion, the coin is said to have inexplicably moved from it’s usual position, being found inside a glass jar (lying on it’s side) near Henrys wall.
As a result of the above, a chiming ball and an artists mannequin doll were placed on the floor of the room, just in front of the wall concerned and within camera shot. For the sake of the experiment, Chris also moved his coin trigger object test to the floor too.
In the far, left corner of the first cellar room (as you enter cellar area) a large wooden cross was placed (outlined on a piece of paper) along with three coins (ringed on a separate piece of paper).
A digital audio recording device was hung from a metal hook situated in the arched ceiling, directly opposite the cellar / spiral staircase door.
*Conference Room: While aforementioned recordings are taking place, all group members perform a vigil. Casual attitude / speech throughout session.
At end of session one, all recording kit (though not trigger objects) retrieved by group members.
Session Two: 11.55 pm to 12.30 am
Group vigil staged in cellar area, with particular emphasis put on the far cellar room known as ‘Henrys Room’. Casual attitude / speech throughout session.
During this session, Chris indicated that he could detect the presence of Henry in the section of the room where he is said to appear. Chris informed the group that Henry wasn’t happy with our presence there and described him as appearing to be ‘rocking from side to side’. Chris later said that Henry had taken something of a ‘lascivious’ interest in the female members present. None of the W.M.G.C. group members saw / felt anything of potential interest during this period.
At one point, Chris spoke out loud to the room and asked if Henry would ‘give a sign’ of his presence. Nothing was detected. Chris later spoke in old Salopian to the room and said that he had felt a definite tap on his shoulder just after speaking. Towards the end of the session, he said that he had developed a pain in his left side – coinciding approximately with the stomach, just below the rib-line –and expressed a belief that Henry had been stabbed in this area, possibly in the cellar room.
Session Three: 12.30 am to 1.00 am
Group vigil staged in the Prince Rupert Room. Casual attitude / conversation held throughout session. Nothing to report.
Session Four: 1.10 am to 1.40 am
Group vigil staged in the Prince Philip Room. Casual attitude / conversation held throughout session. Nothing to report except for some uneasy feelings expressed by Chris.
1.50 am: Investigation ends and group leave property.
