Welcome to the thirty-sixth edition of the Borley Ghost Society Newsletter. Today marks the anniversay of the appearance of the nun to the Bull sisters in 1900. As we get further and further away from the original day, we might wonder just how much is left of the alleged haunting at Borley.

With all the changes to the web site, associates will be happy to know they will still be the first to view all new material. In many cases, the new material will not show up anywhere else except the CD-ROMS. The material will go right into the newsletter folder for your enjoyment. The first article is an example.

[You are correct, I have a copy of a copy of the Locked Book. It was donated to my collection by Peter Underwood, who worked off the original. As mentioned in the Bibliography and in Newsletter 19 the original Locked Book is no where in sight. Former long-time curator of the HPL, Alan Wesencraft, believes it was removed and eventually sold by Trevor Hall. Wesencraft is supported in this view by a memorandum from a prior curator. Wesencraft mentions the disappearance of The Locked Book in an essay he wrote for the Society. The Locked Book was the subject of a long discussion in Newsletter 20, and in Newsletter 21. In Newsletter Number 28, we were told by David Britland that "Barry Murray, a television producer and student of magic," ended up with a copy of Trevor Hall's unpublished notes about my mother. Britland adds, "I think . . . . Barry . . . . bought the book in auction. . . .it contained a letter from Hall. . . . addressed to Tom Morely, a noted magic collector and (and this is where it continues to become intriguing) it thanked him for his part in getting possession of The Locked Book." Ivan Banks had access to the HPL copy when he wrote Enigma, and his book contains many items from that copy. Good thinking about overing amnesty. Only problem, they will realize it is worth a great deal, and we don't know who "they" are.]

I believe their are pages missing in the micro-film, and hence in the transcipts of the microfilm. If we ever got hold of the original Locked Book, it would be very interesting to compare it with the micro-film copy given to [The Harry Price Library at the University of London] by [Trevor] Hall to see if he really did copy the complete work as he claims to have done. Mrs. Peggy Hall. . . a dear sweet lady completely dominated by her husband, has now died. . . I understand his children disliked him as much as we did.
Alan Wesencraft
former curator, The Harry Price Library

I'm going to Borley on Thursday (26 July) for a whole week, staying in beautiful Borley Place, So I'll be there for the 28th. Two days after that I'm off to France and then two days after I get back from there, I go for the operation on the other eye - I had one done in March.
On the book front, I have 2 copies of the Hall/Goldney/Dingwall book, both of which I'd like to hang on to, especially as one is signed by Dingwall. You could suggest to the gentleman [looking for the book] that he tries the website www.abe.com and then just type in the search term. Also to try Archer books, 7 Water Street, Lavenham - as he is usually good at finding Borley material.
The histories of Essex sound interesting - did you find anything more about that reference I gave you from those papers at Colchester Library???????
Joe Olding
[You have our prayers for your good health, Joe. I've not yet found anything more about the papers you sent, but that is the joy of our work, isn't it - you never know when the next lead will crop up!]

I have a wonderful true haunting story about Borley told to me by "Joe's" Ex-wife.
Joe lived in Foxearth and used to cycle past the site of Borley Rectory to get to work, but was always a bit nervous because of the stories he'd heard. One evening he was cycling past the rectory site in the dusk toward Rodbridge, and just as he went past the rectory gate, he heard a dry rustling sound behind the bicycle, a ghastly scraping and tapping noise like something very old and desiccated. He was too scared to turn, but the air turned chilled and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle. The noise continued and the bicycle seemed harder to peddle. He did not see, but felt, with a ghastly conviction that some entity was chasing him, trying to attract his attention, like some long-buried, but unquiet, spirit. He peddled faster, but the scraping, and rustling just increased its pace. He peddled down the hill towards the Stour, faster and faster, but with the hideous noise close behind. Now, he felt a banging around the rear mudguard of the bicycle, more and more violent as he gained speed, as if the entity was gaining on him and would, at any moment, overpower him. He was now sweating hard, and in a complete panic. He reached the bottom of the hill, at which point the road turned sharp left toward Rodbridge and Foxearth. The road here is always gravelley from the storm-water flow, and he skidded and he and his bike hurtled straight on, into the water-filled ditch. The noise had stopped, and with trepidation he looked at his bike. There, attached to the rear mudguard by its string handle, was an old paper carrier bag. As he'd gone past the Rectory site, the wind had blown the carrier bag against the bike and it had hooked itself on. He'd inadvertently dragged it down the road behind the bike!
Andrew Clarke

14/07/01...15:00 Visited Borley this afternoon for the first time in at least 4 years. Have you noticed the changes?....Well we did. TOMBSTONES....why are all the oldest tombstones (pre 1936) disrespectfully and clumsily piled behind the church? It is obvious that these stones have been removed from the front churchyard and replaced with soft (and new) soil....why? Another word......BUSHES. All of the most interesting and essential tombstones (including the not-so-secret underground tunnel access tombstone) are now completely obscured by ever-so conveniently large bushes....someone knows something. I have to report that this afternoon we noticed two figures (almost definitley living, breathing humans) observing us observing them from the belltower of the church. They did not communicate with us, instead preferred to photograph us noticing all the above changes. Upon attempting to communicate using hand signals and knocking on the front entrance of the church (which should have been unlocked) we were rudely ignored. I noticed that the umbrella that was leaning on the church door upon arrival had quickly disapeared by the time we returned to our vehicle and had driven past on our way home. Someone knows something....
14/07/01 11:59 Just returned from Borley for the second time today....found something very interesting. In light of our earlier E-mail and some new observations I ask you to consider the following:- Ghosts and spectres are recordings in the atmosphere replaying over and over. The Earth seems to have a system whereby it records everything that happens in 'time' and this is normally not percievable by humans, however if a recording is made under conditions of extreme stress i.e murder or unintentional death the recording replays more intensley which can be abnormally percieved......here comes the interesting part:- if you alter the 3-dimensional space in which these intense recordings replay, you then alter the 4-dimensional space from which the recording is being played therefore changing the geographical positioning of the haunting. It seems to us that people do this with the intention of dispelling the haunting but instead geographical re-positioning occurs. As we mentioned before, things have been moved around at Borley.....but....instead of ridding the place of it's disturbances, the recording has simply moved 30 meters down the road......check it out. Again, this is due to the tombstones being moved. If you approach Borley from Sudbury you may sense a strong vibration 30 meters ahead of Borley itself...this seems to be the same vibration that was present in the church itself. Even though the church still carries very heavy vibrations, the whole thing seems to have moved down the road. Please research for yourself and answer with your results.....
Oh, by the way we just figured it out....The hauntings of the rectory began to occur at the church when the rectory burnt down, now the church is being messed with, obviously the hauntings are moving down the road. In each case the 3-D space has been altered. The hauntings now occur along 'The nuns walk'......dig the road up and it will disapear....get it
Maff&JJ
[Thank you very much for your contributions. I sincerely appreciate your time and efforts. I will pass along your comments to the associates of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY for comment. Do you live nearby? How did you become interested in Borley?]

I am very interested in paranormal phenomena and have had a few "strange" experiences myself. I was hoping you could possibly give me the email adress of someone who studies poltergeist activity because I beleive I may have one on my hands. So far, the "poltergeist" has only ben active when my 2 friends, Mara and Rebecca, and I have all been present. Also he seems to prefer a single room of the house room).now the school year is over we arent all over there very often. But I can still feel him there when I enter. Its hard to desribe it but it feels sort of like electricity, and sometimes cold. I am sure he is still there. I will try to get over there sometime soon. When I do I will email you back saying if anything happened. Thank you.
Emma Hagan
[This is extremely typical. I assume you are all teenagers? Does the house have any history - tragic events? My studies are restricted to Borley, but I used to have a web page with links to those who might help you. I don't keep it up because of all the changes, but it might give you a place to start]

My great aunt attended church at Borley Church. I interviewed her about. She remembers seeing a fiery face on the wall. She saw writings on the walls which said, GET OUT!
Anthony Tillery
[I would be most grateful to read your interview - or are we lucky enough to have it on tape? Which wall contained the writing? Did others see the writing?]

It's fantastic that you support the preservation of this beautiful church. THANK YOU!!! I want to contribute good money but I don't know where I should give it to? If you remember, last year I ordered the audio tape "An Investigation Into The Haunting Of Borley Church" and because I'm from Germany it was a little bit difficult to transfer the money. I haven't a VISA card, I only have an EC card and an EC card isn't accepted. So I put the cash into an envelope and sent it to you. Fortunately you received it. But this is a very unsure way. So I don't want to order some books or CD-Roms I only want to contribute money for the Preservation Fund (without an order). Is this possible? So can you help me please and tell me what I should do? I'll contribute my vacation-money. Maybe - if I visit Borley next year - I will see that this wonderful fund (once more THANK YOU!!!) has make big progress.
Greetings from Germany,
Birgit Brenner
[If you put the cash in a secure envelope (Marks or EC), with some sort of registration, insurance, or maybe a signature required to receive it, that should be safe enough? Send anything you can to: The Revd. Captain Brian A. Sampson, C.A., The Rectory, Foxearth, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 - 7JG, England. Please mention the Church Preservation Fund, and your association with the Borley Ghost Society.]

We are a company which produces and publishes educational coursebooks for students who study English as a second language in schools in Europe and in Israel. In one of our current books we are writing a text on Borley Rectory . On your website it states that it is considered the most haunted house in Britain. Why is it considered so? Can you answer that question briefly?
Our book is for Spanish pupils, and will only be published next year. The name of the book is: Targets for Bachillerato 1 Students Book. Once the unit is completed and final, I can send you a copy of the page on Borley Rectory, but it may be a while yet.
Hoping to hear from you
Yours sincerely,
Lynda Siman-Tov
Resource/Images Dept.
Eric Cohen Books Ltd.
27 Richov Hata'asia
Ra'anana 43654
Israel
Tel: 972-9-7478066
Fax: 972-9-7478432
[Thank you for contacting me. When the text is finished, I should very much like a copy so that I can add it to my ever-growing Bibliography. Please keep in touch as the project is completed. The Borley Rectory web site has been undergoing extensive changes in the last week, and some of the answers to your questions have not been accessible. That has changed, and the "tinkering" is now done, so that you should have full access to much more information. Borley Rectory WAS thought to be the most haunted house in England by the residents in the surrounding area when paranormal investigator Harry Price came calling in 1929. ". . . as I swung my car into the market square at Sudbury. . . I inquired from a bystander how I could get to Borley Rectory. 'Oh.' he said, 'you mean the most haunted house in England.' And that is how and where I first heard the phrase." Harry Price. The End of Borley Rectory. London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. 1946. p. 15. A newspaper reporter visited the house in 1929, and the publicity never stopped after that. Price later gave credence to the moniker when he wrote, "From Mr. Foysters records and from my own observations and inquiries, I have estimated that at least two thousand Poltergeist phenomena were experienced at the Rectory between October 1930 and October 1935, the period of his residence there." The End of Borley Rectory. London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. 1946. p. 47. The rectory burned down in 1939, and although the sightings have dwindled proportionately over time, the REPUTATION of being the most haunted house in England still "haunts" the area - much to the chagrin of the quiet villagers who live there. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. My phone number is 801-393-8004.]

My name is Heather, and Im 12 years old. I'm VERY intressted in the Borley rectory. I love parenormal stuff, and in fact im doing a reserch on ghosts. I was wondering if iI could have your opinion, Do you think ghosts are real? If so why do u think they are here on earth? (i.e. revenge; And, it was your mother who lived in the house? Or what do u mean? And, I was wondering was the house put on fire by the city/towns people? Or did it just catch on fire? And, one more thing, Is the house still standing, and if so, is it true that there have been; sightings of a nun, phantom coaches, and a headless man? Please write back, and if you have any more links, or good information of ghosts, or about the Borley Rectory, may I have them?
Thanks
Heather Logan
[Thank you for your interest. Yes, I believe in ghosts - but not in as many as people report. They are not here for revenge. The few that are real are mostly trying to assist family members. Some are lost between this life and the next. All your other questions are answered on the web site. You will want to look at my guide for report writing as you continue to investigate the web site.]

I visited your web page about Borley Rectory and wanted to let you know I found it very fascinating. I loved it, and I will be going back to it to read some of the related articles.
You mentioned in your bibliography the NBC TV special The Stately Ghosts Of England made around 1966. My late mother mentioned that she saw the special when it was first aired. I also have a book from my childhood (I was born in 1962) called Haunted Houses by Larry Kettlekemp, which also metions the show. My question is, do you know of anyone who may have a video copy of this for sale? I assume there isn't one available, but I thought if anyone would know where to fine a copy, it would be you! lol
If I EVER come across a video of the The Stately Ghosts Of England I'll let you know! I've never looked for it on eBay (yet) so maybe I should try that... Thanks for the info on the Larry Kettlekamp book. I didn't realise that book had so many errors in it. lol I work for the Akron-Summit County Public Library (Ellet Branch) so I can get some of those other books mentioned in your bibliography. I can't wait to start reading them! I also will order that audio tape [with sounds from the church] hopefully soon. I'm always interested in audio evidence of things like this.
Ray Carmen
[The KettleKamp book is SO frustrating! I would have bought a copy of that video long ago! Let me know if YOU find one! Thanks for sharing, I appreciate it!]

One amusing speculation that it is not inconceivable that the 'boundary stone' of the rectory may have formerly been a parish boundary marker, which would have been moved to the Harrington rectory when half the parish was absorbed into Borley.
Andrew Clarke

I happened across your 'Borley Rectory' website, and thought I would relay my experience.
My friend and I used to be one of the 'regulars' who would camp out; or in our case, 'car-out' by Borley Church every Friday night for many months way back in the late 1970's. In all our times there, there was only one occasion when something odd occurred.
On the night in question, we were parked up in my car, and on this occasion, there were no other 'hunters' present. It was about 02:30 when my friend said, "there's someone walking towards us along the path that leads from the Church door, to the road". Having been on location for 3 hours or so, I suggested he was pulling my leg, as we had seen no-one come or go to the Church since our arrival.
After a few seconds I looked, and to my amazement saw some-one/thing dressed as a hooded Monk dressed in white from head to toe. I froze! I thought, this must be a dream, but the 'Monk' came round to the passenger side of the car, and my friend slowly wound the window down. the 'Monk' passed a coin through the small gap in the window and asked us what the coin was, as it had fallen at his feet as he was praying in the Church (at 02:30 in the morning!!). My friend looked at it, and said it was a Florin and passed the coin back.
The 'Monk' thanked us, and walked away down the road to the left of the Church as you face it. As soon as I saw the top of the 'Monk's' head dissapear over the horizon, I started the car and drove quickly to see where he was walking to, There was no sign of the Monk, and there were no cars or pedestrians anywhere in sight.
To this day, we have no idea what it was that we saw, but both remarked that we could not see a face inside the monk's hood, though whatever it was, it WAS there!
I swear this is not a made-up story.
When the security lights were put up at the Church, both my friend and I stopped going, as the atmosphere of the place had been broken.
Hope this is of interest to you, and by all means contact me by email if you think I can shed more light on this occurrance.
Kind regards,
Ian Rolfe

I have been fascinated by borley for over 20 years. Four years ago i got the chance to visit the church whilst there my daughter and myself decided to enter the church we meet a woman flower arranging whom i exchanged greetings with ,upon leaving the church we said our good-byes as we got to the end of the path a woman appeared clutching flowers we said hello and she informed us that she had to hurry as she needed to do the flower arranging needless to say i thought this strange as their was already someone present as i turned to look the woman had disapeared needless to say we made rather a hasty departure and have not returned since.
i am unable to remember which day it was i visited borley church but i know it was either late july early august as my daughter was on school holidays and i also know it was mid week .I have read everythingi could get my hands on about borley rectory as i find Harry Price to be a remakable man i feel bad that after his death he was made a charleton by some as in his lifetime he had exposed numerous charletons himself.but then everyone has a right to their beliefs.I would hope that i get the chance to return to borley again someday even though my experience did leave me rather shaken on the whole i found it to be a calm and serene place full of character and charm
Elaine Wildman

You had one real flaming letter [in newsletter #34]. How tacky can people get. . . . That was interesting about the Borley girl [in newsletter #34]. Were you aware it was a family name from the area? What a coincidence. Can't wait to see the picture of the Original House on the site. What a find!!! I see people still go there just to see. I would love to go myself. If anyone should be welcomed there, you should be.
Kathy Rageur

[Regarding the] History and antiquities of Essex Vol. II. [found by Joe Olding.]
Brundon was a parish between Borley and Bulmer. There is still a Brundon Mill (each parish was allocated a mill site in Saxon times). which is just across the water-meadows from Sudbury. It is a charming spot, and well worth a visit if you are in the area (there is a footpath). as the note says, it is near Ballingdon (which was an Essex village now incorporated into Sudbury). It's curious that all these parishes (Borley, Belchamp Otten, Belchamp St Pauls, Belchamp Walter, Brandon, Ballingdon, Bulmer) begin with a B. Rather confusing. It is directly opposite Borley church (the opposite side of the Belcham Brook) but some distance away! It has no link with Borley other than its' proximity, and had its' own church (every parish had its' own church at one time). I'm most grateful for your drawing my attention to Brundon Church. I'll go over and see if there is anything visible, and report back! However, please be assured that it has nothing much to do with Borley Rectory.
Andrew Clarke

That webpage by Jdaz68 was really nice. He had some beautiful pictures and gave you a very nice advertisement. I would love to be able to attend a service at Borley. I will print off that donations thing and see if I can spare a few bucks. The newsletters are big and I see you have been on a few things lately. That mention of the interview with the old lady who saw the nun in a bedroon must have gotten your attention. That is a new twist.
KATHY RAGEUR
[The Borley parishioners would love to have you. Any contribution to the Preservation Fund will be wonderful - it all adds up!]

Exactly one year ago, Richard Lee-Van den Daele wondered if "a report [on Borley] may appear sooner or later on the Home Truths website." It has, under the title "The most haunted house in Britain?" It includes an invitation to "Hear previous owner's grandson Kevin Taylor describe some of the weird events which happened."

The hoo-ha over the Mayerling affair has now died a natural death and he has been exposed for what he really is, i.e. a rather clumsy and unintelligent fraudster. One almost feels sorry for him. I have spoken to people who have read his book, and the general opinion is that his command of English is so poor, and his meaning so often unclear, that no reputable publisher whould have wanted to risk its reputation by publishing such a farrago of nonsense.
Enclosed is an additional page [for the Dodie Bull diary section.]
Alan Wesencraft
former curator, the Harry Price Library

Do you have any information about an article in a US magazine or paper about a wartime sighting of the Borley ghost? I want to check out a story I heard last week. (from the cousin of the participants)
Bunny and his friend were fighter pilots. Bunny knew all about the Borley legend. He was the cousin of a prominent local landowner. He and his friend were in the Bull in Melford one evening when he overheard an American journalist mouthing off about the fact he was about to go 'ghost-hunting' at Borley. Bunny had been responsible for some of the phenomena that were reported in all seriousness as hauntings before the war. Bunny and friend left quickly, and went off home. They dressed up in cloaks and 'ethnic masks' (I guess Balinese dancing masks). The then hid in the bushes near the gate. About half an hour later, the local taxi came up the road with the journalist in the back seat. Bunny and his friend pranced around between the bushes in the grounds. The journalist yelled out "I can see the ghost!" and, to everybody's surprise, brought out a revolver and started firing it at the two confederates. The taxi-driver panicked, turned the car around and raced the taxi back to Melford, with the journalist cursing and swearing in the back seat. Bunny and friend were left in the rectory grounds, a state of shock, having missed the bullets by a whisker. The journalist duly reported the incident as a real sighting of the genuine ghost in a New York paper. Bunny is evidently, still alive.
Andrew Clarke
[Wow! News to me. Let's hope we can track it down!]

Denice Jones on new edition of Unsolved Mysteries - LIFETIME, July 25.
SYNOPSIS: Denice Jones was cleaning the kitchen one night when she heard a scream in her youngest son's bedroom. Alarmed, Denice ran upstairs to find five-year-old son Michael curled up in the corner of his room, with a look of terror on his face. He explained that a "crayon-color white man" had come to his room and tried to touch his shoulder. Michael told his mother that the ghost identified himself as his deceased grandfather, who died when his mother was ten years old. He was sent to warn Michael to stay away "from the bad ghosts." But the warning would prove futile. Soon, Michael and his family say they were plagued by spirits in their home: glowing balls of light, levitating furniture, and demons that would physically leave their mark on Michael until he bled. Medical tests would reveal that Michael had no mental or physical problems to explain this phenomenon. The family became so frightened that they moved. And moved. And moved again. But, they claim, the demons followed them wherever they went, even to another state. The Jones' themselves were not the only ones that found themselves the victims of this supernatural world; loved ones say they also became victims of terrifying phenomena. Today, at the age of thirteen, Denice says Michael is still haunted by the demon spirits that first terrorized him when he was a boy.
Denise Jones

If you go to Colonial Williamsburg's web page and look under the Colonial Williamsburg Journal, you will find my article on the Wythe House hauntings.
Regards,
Ivor Noel Hume
[A wonderful article! There are some commonalities with Borley - including wells and smells!]