Welcome to the thirty-seventh edition of the Borley Ghost Society Newsletter. A most sincere thanks to Sean O'Neil, who owns and runs the Internet server that makes all this possible. Sean is keenly aware of the growing poliferation in attacks on Internet web sites, and a great deal of his time is spent protecting his numerous clients. He adds special software and intense "firewalls" as part of this protection. Fortunately, the bandits have not been successful in raiding the Borley web site, nor any of the other clients Sean services - but that is not to say they aren't trying. (The individual pages on the Borley web site alone get up to one million "hits" per year.) Whilst Sean made preparations for the CODE RED virus attack of recent weeks, the continued assaults on his system DID result in our being off-line for a couple of days. Sean worked around the clock to bring all accounts back on-line without damage! Whilst the data inside the Borley files was never corrupted, the constant attacks DID harm his equipment, "I had to actually replace one of the network cards," Sean said. "Somehow they had managed to actually break a piece of hardware by hammering at it for so long."

My name is Kanako and am from a JapaneseTV production company called Media Nations Inc. Ltd. which is based in London.
We are in pre-production for the world's mysterious story, and we are very interested in the Borley Rectory. Please could you give us your contact number so that we can ask about the situation of the Borley Rectory at present. thank you very much for your help and we much look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards
Kanako Hiramoto (Ms)
Media Nations Inc. Ltd.
TEL: 020 8568 1122
FAX: 020 8568 2211

Do any photographs taken of the interior of Borley rectory exist before it was burned down? This thought suddenly came to me today while going over the many Borley websites on the net. Apart from the usual frontal shot of Borley from the outside, it does appear that little else is available. I would have been most interested in veiwing the living room, kitchen, hallways, stairs & bedrooms, but I've never had the luck in finding any at all. Do ANY interior shots of Borley exist to your knowledge?
Yours sincerly,
Keith and Betty Fontaine
[My web site was the first to feature Borley, and dozens have cropped up since I opened it in 1996. Unfortunately, many of the newer sites "borrowed" so much material from the original, I was forced to take much of it off line, including different views of the exterior and interior. All of these are available in my CD-ROM, The Ghosts That Will Not Die, as well as in the original books by Harry Price - The Most Haunted House in England and The End of Borley Rectory. Ivan Banks also has quite a few pictures in his book The Enigma of Borley Rectory. All of these titles are available from my other web site - www.ghostbooks.com/cart/borleycart.htm]

We just saw the best movie. It is a ghost story with a twist called "The Other" with Nicole Kidman. It was a really well done story. All done in the dark for a reason in the story, but I would have loved to have seen that place in the daylight.
Kathy Rageur

Not only do I have an interest in the alleged paranormal activity at Borley Rectory, I am also fond of pictures showing how people used to live. Although many pictures were taken of Borley Rectory after Harry Price started his investigations, I've only seen one picture of the Bull family members which shows the Bull sisters playing some game (croquet?) in the garden. However, I was wondering if other pictures were taken of the rectory during the first Bull family era which would give an idea of the English country lifestyle back then. If so, are these pictures available to the public?
I looked at the Bull geneology on your web site and was surprized, if I was reading it correctly, that the earlier Bull didn't seem to have many grandchildren. With hardly anybody to pass belongings down to, it's no wonder there are few remaining photographs.
Thank you.
Scott Cunningham
[Yes, that picture is probably a croquet game on the lawn. A similar photo shows just two of the sisters. Then, their are a few photos inside the house, with no people in them. Their is a fairly representative selection of pictures in my various CD-ROMs, but unfortunately, no other "family" photos have survived. The Bull genealogy is posted on the Internet in hopes interested parties doing research will be able to flesh it out.]

I have never been to Borley Rectory, but I have an interesting experience, and for years have wanted to confirm this story. I hope you will write back and do so.
Several years ago I took an afternoon nap and dreamt I was on the lawn in the latter part of the day of an older two story house. I was aware I had an appointment with someone inside the house. The sun was slanting across the lawn, in front was a semicircular dirt road leading out to another dirt road that took you away from the house. The front door to the house was open a few inches, and I opened the door and called to the inhabitants of the house, but no one answered. I then noticed that the front room had an open doorway which led to another room to the right of me as you stand with your back to the front door. Like a family room or sitting room, or parlor. I saw an older woman dressed all in white just going through that doorway into that room. I went after her to find out who wanted to see me at the house there. She was just then passing through another doorway, and I followed her through that, this led into a small open bit of yard, which was about 10 feet or less by the same. The house jutted out around it in the back and there was a couple of large jugs or clay pots. The floor I think was cement out there, or brick. I knew immediately I should not be in this part of the house and went back to the first room you enter from the front, and noticed a staircase on the far right side of it. I went up the stair case and when almost at the top of the stairs felt as if the house was 'watching' me. I became very uncomfortable and immediately left. All the while the house seemed empty, and was growing dim without lights. It was getting too dark inside, and I ran out of the house. Once outside I turned and looked as I hurried away, at the house. I felt as if the house was watching me. I then woke up.
A few months later I saw a picture for the first time of Borley Rectory, in a book called Strange Stories, Amazing Facts. I think its by Time Life or Readers digest or something. I recognized the house but haven't been able to find actual pictures of the interior of the house. I did find a book with diagrams and they seem to be the same as in my dream. Can you tell me any more about the interior of the house? Does this sound like Borley's interior? Are there any pictures I can see to discover if my dream was of Borley?
Thank you very much, your site is interesting.
Barbara Clements
[Thank you for your interest. The Most Haunted House in England by Harry Price has pictures of the interior, as does The Enigma of Borley Rectory by Ivan Banks, and The Ghosts That Will Not Die by myself. I have copies of all of these books if you are interested. The courtyard was bricked, and about 15 feet across. What many have come to regard as the "front" lawn was actually on the South side of the house. The drive would have been on the east side, near the front door, and connected to the main road in two places.]

I re-read my letter and realized I meant the stairs were on the far left of the first room I entered. I was fascinated to learn that the courtyard at Borley had bricks as in my dream. Actually, I'm not great with estimating sizes of rooms, 10 feet is prob too small for the space I was in and 15 feet is prob more what it was. I am interested in the books and would be happy to purchase all of them. Does the rest of the interior sound accurate, because the fact that there was a brick courtyard amazes me. The last I saw of the woman in white was that she left the parlor for the courtyard, I'm not sure but I think there may have been one more room between the parlor and the courtyard, the dream was about 20 years ago now or more. I grew up on Long Island, and the house I grew up in was haunted, by the way. However all the haunting consisted of was that I heard breathing in my room every night for the time I was in my teens. I have never been to England. Thanks for answering so fast, I've been wondering about this dream for ages it seems.
Barbara Clements
[The stairs were accessed by walking through the main hall, and going to the right. The "nun" was never seen inside the house. The courtyard was accessed through the kitchen passage, which was a hallway to the right. There was also a door leading from the scullery. Other than the kitchen and the scullery, no other rooms - such as a parlor - were adjacent to the courtyard.]

Thank you for such a objective look on Borley Rectory. Only yesterday I was relating a story about the rectory to my antipodian wife and have just discovered you site. It pleasing to see that after dedging through many hokum u.s and u.k "Ghost" sites you have a presented the information for the reader in such a way as to allow you to draw your own conclusion. Keep up the good work!!!!!!
Darren Wood

Please could you tell me how to find out about Charles Waldergrave. I thought I was getting somewhere with the ghost of the nun but everywhere I turn on the web draws blanks. I think she might be Arabella FitzJames but I don't seem to be able to trace her back to England let alone Borley. I am starting a writing corse in September and I wanted it to be on something I was interested in. I live in Essex and have been to Borley although the grave stones were very worn and unreadable. Please help me, I sleep very little at the moment trying to solve the puzzle with very little success.
I've been surfing the web. . . . and seem to find more mysteries rather than solving the ones I'm searching for. I've found out quite a lot about Edward although I'm not sure as to how many children he had. I thought he had two sons, but there was mention that Frances sent her two daughters over seas? There was also mention that Edward had six children, I know he had a daughter called Mary who married a Lord Petre from Ingatestone but as for the rest I am at a loss.
Yours most gratefully,
Mrs. Karen Clarke.
[Alison Love might be interested in joining your search. She has shared with me the results of her Waldegrave investigation, which I have posted in the Bibliography. I will pass along your name to the associates of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY, who may share a similar interest.]

I live fairly close to the Borley, Ipswich. I am genuinely interested in supposed events which have happened while people have been visiting the church. I was wondering is it actually illegal to visit the church, because someone on the website said that the security light is attached to the police station. Hope you can help.
Adam Brill
[It is not illegal to visit the church, but it is locked, and police will be called at night. The villagers are understandably upset over the vandalism and rudeness that floods of visitors bring. You might want to check out their reactions. ]

I have plans for a short compilation of material not published in book form together with some unusual illustrations, to comprise BORLEY POSTSCRIPT.
Best regards,
Peter Underwood

I have recently read a book on the hauntings of Borley Rectory by Louis Mayerling called 'We faked the ghosts of Borley Rectory', I was rather disappointed with the book as only about a quarter of the actual book related to Borley, Most of it was about the authors life in Russia. He did give some detail on how he and others faked the ghosts and the bell ringing. I was wondering what your views were on this book as he claimed that your mother was 'in on it' as well. I have always been interested in Borley, even as a child I was fascinated by the stories about the Rectory, I think the intrest is kept going because the building is no longer standing.
Yours sincerely
Richard Hutchings
[Thank you for asking, I sincerely appreciate it. Louis betrayed me, and hurt me quite deeply. I had devoted two chapters in my books to him, but have since cut them out. Since I am biased, I will let you decide by reading the files.]

Many thanks for the C.D. [The Most Haunted Woman in England]. I knew a little of the story of Borley Rectory and now look forward to reading the details on your C.D. You have obviously done a tremendous amount of research and certainly produced a valuable historical account of the affair. Hope the signed copy of Mission 179 arrived O.K.. Interest in Mission 179 continues and I am still receiving numerous e-mails on the subject.
Best wishes.
John Amess
Mission 170

When [my husband] takes me to work, he usually takes a short cut up this hill. The road runs between well established houses. I hate going that way, as when I pass along a certain part of the road. I get this strange feeling. I then shiver and it passes. I have often thought that someone was killed on that part of the road. I just do not drive to work that way, however I am able to return from work travelling in the other direction. On Tuesday morning I gave a lad that works [with us] a lift home. . . .It was on this part of the road where I get this strange feeling. As he opened the car door, I had this feeling again and I shivered. [Our friend] asked me if I was O.K. I explained what had occurred on that part of the road. To my utter amazement he said that he and his Mother had always lived in Rothwell and many years ago, some man who lived in the corner house murdered his wife and he then committed suicide. Apparently she was having an affair.
An associate
[Exactly the type of background one would expect to create lingering effects.]

I have received a lengthy enquiry about Borley rectory from a young man in Denmark. He has basically outlined the whole story and asked us for more information, photographs, etc. He really wants to know if the rectory is still there and exactly where it is so he can visit. He does also ask about local feelings surrounding the events. We obviously know the factual answers but I'd be grateful if you, as an expert on the subject could respond to him for us. Would you mind? He does not give any e-mail address, otherwise I would have simply referred him to your website. His snail-mail address is:
LOUIS K CRISTENSEN
. . . .
DENMARK
Thanks for your help. With best regards,
Peter Johnson
Secretary to the Society for Psychical Research
[Of course. My pleasure. Thank you for thinking of me.]

In an e-mail of the 30th June I spoke about a few things.
1. That I have never used a ouija board (nor taken part in a seance).
2. That there were no local phenomena recorded apart from Watton Priory.
There has been some disturbing phenomena at a local house in Hull, which scared a child of the family enough to think it was 'The Devil'. It has made the front page of our local paper. There has already been a exorcism performed, no idea if it worked. Give us your snail mail address again and i'll let you have a photocopy.
This case needs investigation by people living in the house, people who could be objective yet have some knowledge to be able to recognize any phenomena for what they were.
Neil Purling
[Most thoughtful. Thank you.]

I understand that due to your website you would receive many enquires on the "Borley Hauntings", however it would be appreciated if you could maybe answer some of my questions. I have lived in Sudbury for approx 13 Years and have ever increasing interest in the activities of Borley Rectory/Church. Mainly regarding the sprits that have manifested in this place, such as who were they? Where are they buried? What are the situations surrounding them, both before and after death. Also is there any relevance to the fact that Borley is situated on 7 intersecting ley lines. My interest is purely of a personal nature as I also require information on other local places such as St. Mary's Church at Chilton Industrial Estate, Sudbury. This is a subject that has fascinated me since I was a child, and I would be very grateful for any help that you could offer.
Yours Faithfully
Sarah Brown
[I don't know where all are buried, but you might check my list of candidates for the possible sources. Some people believe the ley lines play a factor.]

Borley is still as beautiful as ever. Whilst down there, I managed to get a copy of 'Ghosts of Borley' - the Wesley Downes book. I also saw two first editions of the 'End...' by Harry Price.
Whilst down there (there were only three of us went), we stayed with friends in beautiful Borley Place right next to the church. We were taken around by Ted Babbs - a really kind, generous, warm man. He took us around the small villages and on a visits to Liston, the church was just being opened, and I was invited to go up the tower - the views are really extraudinary. On the Sunday we went to the service at Pentlow, and saw the Bull family grave in the churchyard. In the vestry, there are also two large grand paintings of Edward Bull and his wife. We also passed Andrew Clark's house.
By stopping in the village, you get a small taster of Borley village life - there were people in the churchyard, EVERY single night that we were there. On the 28th (July) there were also lots of people, mainly ones just a little older than me. There were no disturbances by them - or the Nun!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, some came up after the pus closed, (they don't seem to realize that the 28th finishes at 12 midnight), and Marion Dorey had to phone the police because they were running up and down shouting noisily - thankfully, nothing was vandalized. Two nights later, about a dozen came up who seemed genuinely interested, (they had the 'Enigma...' with them), however, that night we had a power cut and because there are no street lights for miles around Borley, you could see them running around with their torchers. In the morning we found the remains of their fire and loads of broken bottles and litter. We also met Ted Babbs' co-author, Claudine Mathius.
On the Tuesday afternoon, we were shown around the gardens of Belchamp Walter Hall where James Turner was gardener when he lived at the Mill House - have you read 'Seven Gardens for Catherine' and 'Sometimes into England' - they are indeed beautiful, and have been restored since James Turner was there. Unfortunately the actual house suffered the fate of the old rectory and was practically burned to the ground in 1992, but that also has been superbly restored. If only the rectory could have been rebuilt. . . . Belchamp Walter is one of the most lovely spots that I have visited in Suffolk.
Whilst there, I also went to Lavenham, Flatford, Dedham, Pentlow, Liston, Foxearth, Long Melford Sudbury and other places that are in the vicinity
Mr. Babbs book on Borley is due to be published in the Spring, if his publisher, (who lives in old Pentlow Rectory where Bull lived), has no other projects in the way.
Joe Olding

I am going to stay with my sister in Essex later this month and on the agenda is our second trip to Borley. Is there a map which shows where the rectory once stood. I would be very interested to know exactly where it was. Incidentally on our last trip there back in 1996 we both took pictures of Henry Bull's grave. Neither of them came out. They weren't on the negatives either. We both went round the back of the church but it was so spooky (I felt extremely uneasy) that nothing will entice us round there again. This time it's the turn of my brother-in-law! Thanks.
Maria Street
[Look inside THE END OF BORLEY RECTORY by Harry Price for a map. One consideration, however, there are now three private homes on the grounds, so please be considerate of the residents.]

Regarding the floating brick, would you happen to know if the brick is basically centered in the original photograph? Or do the books essentially show the brick/workman photograph in its entirety?
Scott Cunningham
[The End of Borley Rectory by Harry Price shows both photos - the brick centered, and the entire view. The wider view shows a workman facing away from the brick at quite a distance tot he left. It has been suggested a second workman may be just out of sight somewhere closer to the brick in question.]

I am VERY interested in Borley and am curious as to whether you have seen anything there yourself as even though it has been razed there were still alleged sightings. I would also be most appreciative if you could send me any more information you might have, photos maybe? I'm not a journalist or anything - i'm a service engineer! But i am very interested in ghosts and particularly borley and would hope to visit it sometime.
Thanx!
Mike Story
[I've not personally seen anything, and "sightings" have diminished over time. Everything I have on Borley is entered into a CD-ROM called "The Ghosts That Will Not Die." If you do visit, please keep in mind the current residents - who are understandably very cautious about visitors.]

I am involved in a rather extensive research project concerning poltergeist phenomena. Aside from Borley being "The Most Haunted House in England," It's polt manifestations are of a particular interest to me. I plan on establishing a sound overview of Borley's history first, before I start into the more intricate details of it's thump ghosts. Naturally, I am most interested in the experiences that your mother, Marianne Foyster, had there. I don't kid myself about the extents of what I've decided to research: it appears endless. I've been on the Bell Witch for five years now, and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. My project only expands, however Borley may be the most compelling and surprisingly persuasive haunting of the twentieth century. I have strong gut feelings about this. I think that it defines much of the spiritual ambivalence that arose in the early twentieth century. Borley seems to be deeply embedded with fundamental elements of revelation and skepticism in highly charged opposition.What may have endured from such an interesting con-contest is a great deal of confusion, and a lot of people sitting on the fence, but what could be more interesting than this ?...the verdict is still out, and history is left holding it's breath. Borley has enchanted me, and for me, it remains very much alive, but as a scientist, perhaps I should curb my enthusiasm, and tell you something useful. So as a fellow researcher of anomolous phenomena of a spiritual nature, I should inform you that I don't belong to to any organized paranormal groups as yet, because I tend to work alone, nor have I, accomplished anything significant in the field..Techincally, I'am a nobody, but I do hope in the near future to enter the impressive ranks of the Borley Society, as an associate member. So until then, Cheers... ...and thanks for your interest,
Rich Bear

I first became interested in Borley when as a young teenager having "The Guinness Book Of Records" as a Christmas present I read the entry that the most haunted house was Borley rectory with many different sightings and what I can remember as a description that gave me the impression that every different type of ghost had been witnessed. Added to that when I told my brother he said that someone at school's family had owned it or had connections with it which although may not have been true people at school certainly knew about it and I think that's probably more to do with the fact that it was nearby. The School was Stoke College in Stoke By Clare, itself originally a monastery long before becoming a stately home, with its share of ghost stories one of a lady who used to walk along the top corridor of the girls dormitories at night. In fact my only ever possible sighting of a ghost was there when as naughty boys we went down at night from our boarding house in the village to the girls dorms at the college,and walking through the fields we saw a white figure walking along by the river running through the grounds (The Stour), and assuming it was the Headmaster walking his dog late at night which apparently he occasionally did, we, noticing the figure looking straight towards us, ran off almost sure in the knowledge that we'd been seen and knowing therefore we would definately be in trouble the next day. However nothing was mentioned and we never were really sure who or what we'd seen!
The next thing was that fascinating television programme that I mentioned in my previous email that i'd seen with my brother,and then a little bit older I picked up a book about haunted places and found that the chapter on Borley was the biggest one in the book (as in most others!) and brought myself properly in touch with the story. Being then older and also a driver I suddenly realized that I might actually be able to find this place, so on 2nd January 1995 I gingerly weaved (for there was compacted ice on snow) through the tiny lanes around The Belchamps and finally came upon the charmingly small and simple and yet unusual village. Since, i've aquired a lovely old copy of "The End of Borley Rectory", and acopy of "The Enigma of Borley Rectry" and a cheap "Marvels and Mysteries" book with good pictures and an Essex countryside book with a great little viewpoint by the author on Borley as its last vilage description!
I can't BEAR how so insensitve people can be and I was HORRIFIED when on the only one occasion I visited Borley on the eve of July 28th, though I expected there may be other visitors, I was shocked when having walked up the hill I came across several cars parked outside the church, radios blaring, girls and lads hanging out of their cars shouting, several roaming the churchyard with torches, a police car hanging around, such a shattering of the atmosphere, so disrespectful, so UNINTERESTED in any real sense of exploration, and far from being frightened by seeing a ghost, they were enough to scare any ghosts off! I left not wanting to be seen to be any part of it; so embarrasing.
Regards,
Chris Maitland
[It's good to hear from you! Yes, I have the Denny Densham audio cassette. We have had a terrific hue and cry for "The Ghost Hunters" produced by Hugh Burnett, with no luck so far.]

Evans, Hilary. Intrusions - Society and the paranormal. Full page photo of floating brick does not include workman, and is reversed. Staunch supporter of Harry Price who was "dissected and sharply criticised [by SPR investigators for]. . . his handling of the celebrated Borley Rectory case, unleashing a storm of controversy which remains unresolved to this day." Believes that Price "courted publicity not so much for himself as for the field of work with which he identified himself. He wanted the world to take psychical research seriously. . . He earned his credibility by exposing fraud. . . almost entirely at his own expense." The author writes, "Looking at [the Borley case] objectively, and from a distance in time, we may suspect that the inquiry itself generated the conditions in which further manisfestations became possible. . . .he was a disillusioned man craving some kind of reassurance, and seeking to make Borley the occasion for it. . . . Though one must agree. . . that the Borley case was in many respects poorly handled, it is not necessary to believe, as some have alleged, that Price deliberately faked the evidence." No details of the alleged haunting are presented.

Spencer, John and Anne. The Poltergeist Phenomenon. One sentence in section on writings. "At Borley Rectory, during the investigation by Harry Price, paper was found floating in the air with indecipherable marks on it, and later paper was found on which the name 'Marianne' was written in a childish hand."

Whitaker, Terence. Haunted England. "A great deal - too much in fact - has been written about Borley Rectory. Here was a good haunting which was exploited in the most cynical fashion until it became history's most profitable ghost story." Nine mostly accurate paragraphs. Indicates BOTH Henry and Harry would "spend hours sitting in the summerhouse, smoking their pipes and watching for the nun which they claimed to have seen a number of times." (?) The voice that called "Marianne" becomes "disembodied female voices." As with many re-tellings, this one indicates the Foysters "fled," when they actually stayed five years, and only left after Lionel collapsed in the pulpit. Puts contemporary sightings of the nun "usually on 12 or 29 July."(?) Mentions council houses which now occupy the property, so they must have been built prior to 1987.

Tackaberry, Andrew. Famous Ghosts, Phantoms, and Poltergeists for the millions. One paragraph told as fact. The nun appeared "in solid(?) and opaque form."

MacKenzie, Andrew. Hauntings and Apparitions - an investigation of the evidence. One sentence in passing as part of the preface. "The merits of a particular case, such as. . . . the . . . . better known 'haunting' of Borley Rectory, are in my opinion discussed in a calm and rational manner by members [of the SPR] who hold different viewpoints."

Rogo, D. Scott. An Experience of Phantoms. One sentence in passing. "Similarly, when Harry Price, the famous British ghost hunter, decided upon a full-scale investigation of Borley Rectory in Great Britain, he leased the house and rounded up a 'psychic task force' to live in the old building." It would be interesting to known the origin of the term 'psychic task force,' as Price recruited those specifically unfamiliar with the paranormal. In End of Borley Rectory, Price says he looked for people "who were sceptical, cultured, and educated. . . " [p. 38] None lived at Borley, but visited from time to time.

Carrington, Hereward. Essays in the Occult. "One of the most recent and striking of such [poltergeist] accounts is that by Harry Price, in his book The Most Haunted House in England, in which the testimony of more than one-hundred first-hand witnesses is summarized." A footnote is added to the 1958 edition, "Since the above was written, the first-hand testimony of more than 50 additional witnesses has been secured."