The more I look at the photos of Peter's model the more I like the idea. Have you ever investigated the cost of repeating the model?
Paul Pritchard
[The "box model" is part of a 2001 school project by Sara Garner, which has been added to the Bibliography. The model made for Mr. Underwood was made decades after the rectory was destroyed. According to Mr. Underwood, the model itself "disintegrated - literally!" Those who constructed these models did not have the original rectory to look at, using instead the various views available in photographs. The photographs of the actual rectory would be the most accurate resource, but even they do not show us a complete view of every exterior wall. Paul Pritchard - and we must assume the late Ivan Banks - used whatever pictures were available, plus the floorplans drawn by Sidney Glanville. As Pritchard said when submitting his drawings, "Glanville's upper floor plan above the dining room has a window omitted on the front of the house. I spotted it when trying to get the details of the view from the photo's in Price's book and using the plan as a scale. Also interestingly the ground floor and upper floor plans are at different scales which is rather confusing and strange as well."]

You made me raise my eyebrows and look at it. I renamed the file and was going to research it further, when I got this second notice from you.
Gary Liptrot
Professional Information Technology expert

It was my boyfriend who send the message to all listed friends of us to warn them. He's a real computer freak and he should have known better. He is really sorry to trouble you all. We got the message also from a friend and we were rahter concerned! So we apologise very much causing so much trouble. Anyway we wish you and all BGS members a peaceful X-mas! Best wishes and once more sorry.
Birgit Brenner and Bernd Leuchtmann

Who actually nows owns the locked book? I understand Mr Hall had it but sold it on.
Paul Pritchard
[We do not know. An "unknown American" is the best we can do. Please refer to the explanation by Alan Wesencraft, former curator of the Harry Price Library. Fortunately, Peter Underwood gave me his copy, which he made from the original, and the Harry Price Library has the microfilm version.]

Happy holidays to you and yours! The last newsletter was great, as usual. I'd really love to get a transcript of Robert Aickman's Aug/Sept 1950 article in The London Mystery Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 6. Do you know anywhere I could access it? It was great of Sir Peter and Kris Baclawski to point my attention to the reference on your website regarding this article. I'd just love to hear, in his own words, Aickman's take on the Rectory and investigations there.
Take care,
Linda Cody

have u been in the cryput and do u know whats happenning wiyh the church yard. . . . i went to borley about a month or 2 ago and the fence was taken from the churchyard and the spotlights were on , do u know whats happening as i havent been able to go back since ????
matthew welsh
[The crypt was sealed after the 1988 investigation. The church yard is being maintained as well as possible - many of the family members who left loved ones there have themselves passed on, and maintenance for each plot is the responsibility of each family. I have created a fund to help preserve the church. Please see my appeal.]

Thank you for the interesting newsletters I have received during the past year. I have been looking forward to reading Ted Babb's book Borley Postscript: the final analysis, to find out if it has any new information. I understand now that it will not be published before February next year.
Best wishes,
Alan Roper

This is in regards to recently posted Rectory foundation photograph. Based on the map of Banks page 8, I'm having a problem reconciling the position of this foundation with the angle of the carriage house. The foundation seems to be too far southwest of the carriage house to be any part of the Rectory. In fact, I think the only part of the Rectory that this foundation would have been under is the classroom of the addition but there was no cellar under this part of the Rectory as far as I know. I simply cannot figure out what that wall which appears to be part of a cellar is doing there if this was indeed a part of the Rectory. The map, in fact, suggests that this foundation may belong to something near the southwest end of the "L" made by the carriage house building. Based on the Banks map which I admit is a sketch and possibly not accurate, I am not convinced that foundation picture is that of the Rectory. But I respect your explanation and I'm sure you'll respect mine. In fact, maybe sometime in the distant future we can reconstruct the perspective of the carriage house in the B&W and identify that spot. I have no problem accepting that photo was taken by James Turner but did James Turner write the cover caption? My problems with accepting this foundation as belonging to the Rectory is that, based on the Banks map, the foundation is too far west of where rectory was. (But I will also accept that the map is wrong.) Also, I question if the east/north foundation walls that show in the B&W complement the west end of the Rectory's addition. Consider, in fact, that the kitchen and perhaps the rest of the west end of the servant's wing had a stone floor anyway. Indeed, I think the only "cellar" space with respect to the addition was the main well and the outside privy. Both the Rectory's filled-up main well and the outdoor privy possibly would have conditioned the soil in their areas. I don't know how they closed the main well. If they somehow filled it up then the soil they used, possibly different from the surrounding soil, is perhaps making the grass in that area a different shade of green. Also, the privy would have changed the chemistry of the soil it was over so greener glass may also indicate privy. Maybe a professional gardener would know for sure. Regarding my reference to "privy," I meant toilet that was on ground floor of addition. I don't know really remember how the books reference this feature; privy just a convenient term. I don't remember if I mentioned this but the bottom line with that patch of greener grass where Rectory used to be is that either privy or well could possibly have changed soil chemistry in some way with respect to surrounding soil causing grass to grow differently in this spot. Also, depending on how well was filled in, different soil density may cause this spot to act as natural drain, causing grass to be greener. But I am not soil expert so this is guesswork. Interestingly enough, I think BR online archives indicate that this privy was possibly regarded as the women's privy, at least at one time. Showing it on map will be easy as it's just a few steps away from main well. Finding reference to women using it probably won't be so easy but I'll give it a try. BTW, I always wondered why they located the outside privy so close to the main well. Also, all the triangulation estimates (crude) I've done with maps and picts show that the patch of greener grass in question would probably be where main well was, and if not well then privy since privy is so close. Mrs. Bains refers to privy as servants' lavatory: ". . . Between the woodshed and covered passage was a servant's lavatory."
Scott Cunningham

Here are all the files relating to my report. ". . . .it is very disorientating and difficult to gauge the position the rectory would have taken had it still stood."
Paul Pritchard

May I shortly introduce our project and request. At present we are working in cooperation with MPR Film and TV production company – Munich, on behalf of the ARD (German public television) on a documentary about GHOSTS. This is one part of a six part documentary called: “The 5th Dimension” and we will try to establish the actual state of affairs in the fields, “PSI”, “Telepathy”, “Near Death Experience”, “Reincarnation”, “Exorcism” and “Ghost phenomena”. Each of the programs will be 45 Minutes- 50 Minutes for the German and international market. We are very pleased that in progress of our research we came across your name and your web-site. What we plan to do is, to tell stories about ghosts, apparitions and haunted places, with eyewitnesses for each case. On the other hand we want the scientific view on the “problem of ghosts”. We would like to give you an overview of what we are planning on doing and if you don’t object we would like to contact you for further information. Therefore we would be very grateful if you could give us a phone number so we could get in touch with you. Here are now some information’s on the program.
The main focus will be on the following subjects:
Hampton Court Palace (UK): Psychological Ghost Hunt – Dr. Wiseman and his Team led an experiment in which volunteers walked around parts of Hampton Court Palace. Reputably one of the most haunted locations in the UK. The volunteers documented any unusual experiences or sensations and the results were collected for psychological analysis. Dr. Michael Persinger: Researcher and head of the Behavioural Neuroscience Program at the Laurentian University in Sudbury, Canada. Dr. Persinger is concerned about the illusionary explanations for human consciousness and the future of human existence. (Among other things: study about electromagnetic fields and how they affect the human brain.) The Ram Inn (Wotton-under-Edge/UK): John Humphries owner of reputedly the most haunted house of Britain. Apparitions examined by Julie and Mark Hunt. University of Coventry (UK): Vic Tandy and the infrasound, manipulating human perception. Yanomami (South America): Peaceful relationship between the living and the ghosts.
Borley Rectory: Haunted Place
The Flying Dutchman: The Phantom Ship is the most famous of South Africa's haunting. Family Fox, 1848 (USA); Family Harper, 1977-78 (Enfield/UK): An investigation of Poltergeist Occurrences. Office S. Adams 1967, Rosenheim (Germany): Dr. Bender investigates the hunted place. The Faces of Belmez, 1971 (Spain): Dr. Bender and Dr. Argumosa, examining the “faces” which appeared on the kitchen-floor of Maria Gomez, 1971. Edinburgh Castle (Scotland): The Castle is reputed to be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland. Dr. Wiseman and his Team investigated the place. Biggest Ghost Hunt with psychological results.
Dr. Dr. von Lucadou (Freiburg) is one expert advisor for the whole series, and will be an interview partner for “Ghosts”. We hope that the small resume gave you an overview on what we are planning on doing. For your time and your interest we are very thankful, and we would be very pleased to hear from you. For further information’s please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Jasmina Krajacic
Loopfilm GmbH
Schwere Reiter Str. 35 - Haus 2a
80797 München
[Thank you for the opportunity to discuss Borley. The many associates of the Borley Ghost Society will be most grateful to receive updates on your progress, including air dates. Our associates live throughout the world, and receive my newsletter approximately every month. A DVD copy of the finished programme featuring Borley will be a most welcome addition to the Bibliography. http://www.borleyrectory.com/biblio/longbib.htm If copies will be made available to the general public, I'm sure several associates will also want to purchase them. My overriding concern is that we do not disturb the present residents of Borley. They are most tired of the constant unwanted attention to a small, remote village. As the rectory was destroyed in 1939, and new homes built over the site, extreme care must be taken to not disturb the current residents - none of whom have ever reported any unusual activity. If your reasearchers will scour my web site thoroughly, they will probably find all the answers to their many queires. If you send me a sample of the interview questions, I can do some homework and schedule a time to talk.]

You have certainly put Borley on the cyber map! It's amazing what you accomplished "from scratch." I believe that your Mother would be quite pleased as well as quite astonished. But then Borley is all about astonishments!
John Robert Colombo

Thank you for the e-mail confirming my book order. I remember reading the two books that I have ordered about Borley, as a teenager and I really enjoyed them and wish to read them again to see if they still have the same impact on me!
Lorraine Watterson

Tue, 28 Mar 1995
Please respond soon to me I can fill you in with lots of information about B.R., as I have a file and a wealthspring of books covering the subject. But tell me, did your mother actually live in the Rectory or in Borley? There are some connections that could be made if any information is available in this field (such as pictures with people in them who could not be traced etc.) could you also give me her name (first name should be sufficient, but family name could help as well). As I said if you want any information about B.R., and you are serious on the subject, I am your man, please respond with questions and answers!!!
a bientot
Casimir
(contact information lost)

Wed, 30 Oct 1996
I have just finished printing out what was available on your [web] page and would like to take the time to let you know how much I enjoyed it. I was, about 20 years ago, somewhat of a ghost-hunter on a very limited basis. Although, to this day, I cannot say if, in fact, I did witness anything even remotely connected to the paranormal. I look back on those days as a fantastic experience. I am very interested in the publication of your book on Borley Rectory. I have studied the subject for many years since I read about it in an old John Macklin book during the early sixties. It is a fascinating subject. If it is at all possible, please keep me informed of the progress and publication as I will be watching for it. Until then, I plan to keep checking your page for more information.
Thanks again!!!
Walter H. Appel
(Charter member, Borley Ghost Society)

Tue, 04 Feb 1997
I noticed (by accident) that a copy of Fifteen Months in a Haunted House is held at the Cambridge University Library - all 2184 leaves - with reference SPR.Z1952.2
Cheers,
John Foyster
(Charter member, Borley Ghost Society)

Wow Vince!!! I am totally stunned at the amount of work put into [the borley rectory scrrensaver]! It's great. Fascinating. It installed just fine, thank you. Btw; I found a book on Ebay and bought it called the Ghosts of Borley rectory, no doubt you have a copy. Inside is a pic of Lionel Foyster with a small child...who has no recognizable face! In fact it looks more like a bit of shrubbery where the childs face should be and obviously it is part of the pic! It's like totally spooky!!! What is this?
Barbara Clements
[The child has turned away from the camera, and her curly locks are all that is visible. Probably Adelaide.]

The National Academy of Sciences, through its publishing arm, the National Academy Press, has produced a book that discusses paranormal phenomena. The book, Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction, has significant implications for paranormal research. A review of the book has just appeared in the Journal of Parapsychology. It is available online.
Sincerely,
George P. Hansen
[For another review see nap.edu]

i think having read most of steven smiths writtings i think ppl like him will prevent ppl from sending in any borley material, in fear of being rideculed by ppl like him.if this was to happen then every visitor to your site will be missing out on stuff about borley. could you persuade him to write more encouraging words in future. i think the fact that ppl have taken time out to visit borley and submit findings is a contribution in itself, but steven states in one of his writings that all submitted material contributes NOTHING to the borley hauntings? words like these are damaging and discuraging to some of the good work ppl have gone to in contributing to borley? he should now openly appoligise to all contributors to your site. he is in no possotion to damage any findings ppl have submitted. it is easy to do what he is doing from the comfort of hi PC.
Lee Smith/"Just Me"
[My mother and I have been the brunt of attacks from self-labeled skeptics for many years. It has been very difficult for me to cope with some of the more vigorous attacks. After a few years, however, I decided that if I wanted my books and my web site to be taken seriously - to have credibility - then I had to present both sides of the issue. As I state in my books and on the web site, "In presenting the following information, I make no judgment as to what is true, what is legend, or what is imagination. Because I have such close family ties to Borley, I have dedicated my life to researching and gathering as much information as possible - Borley is all I do. Every piece of evidence available is presented - pro and con. It is up to the reader to decide what to believe and what to discard." Fortunately, Steven D. Smith is a gentleman who presents an opposing viewpoint in an educated, fair manner. I wish all my critics were as balanced in their presentations. Of the thousands of pages on my web site - over 450MB worth - his arguments occupy a very few pages. A visitor to the web site goes through four layers before pulling up one of his essays. You are welcome to present your evidence in support of your views in a couple of different ways. By joining the Borley Ghost Society, you will have the opportunity of presenting your data and your opinions in the same "Sidelights" section as Mr. Smith. Alternately, you can voice your opinions in the Forum section. Either way, I welcome your contribution.]

Forum: excellent and informative site. I have had many expeirencies at Borley, and have excellent photographic evidence to support this, however no visitor will have the pleasure of seeing them on here, because i don't want them and myself ridiculed. - Just Me
[I appreciate your contribution to the forum, as I suggested. In my invitation to you, I indicated you would be welcome to present your data/evidence. Neither you nor your presentation will be ridiculed, as that is not the intention of my web site. I cannot promise you, however, that your evidence will not be scrutinized - every other contribution is subject to review, and it is only fair that your data be treated no differently. Thank you.]

Hello Mr. Smith. I totally agree with your note . In my opinion, although this isn't a scientifically minded way to address paranormal issues, the bottom line is that with respect to "political correctness" concerning ghost investigations, it is perfectably acceptable to wrongly attribute a genuine paranormal happening to natural causes. On the other hand, ghost hunters would never hear the end of it for later discovering that something that they had claimed to be a genuine haunt was actually attributable to a natural cause.
Thank you for listening.
Scott Cunningham

My name is Amanda Wykes, a university student from Coventry. Recently myself and a friend Martin Higginson have become active in paranormal research. We have set up a Paranormal group on the internet for like minded people in the West Midlands area, to unite with us. The group has been going since the 16th November 2002 and have already built up 42 members and still growing fast. We have been building up some equipment and have gained a fair bit of knowledge within this area of interest, however, we need to build on skills that can only come from real fieldwork and vigils. So therefore, this is a letter of enquiry to ask you if there is a possibility of doing some kind of vigil or overnight stay, at your convenience. If you will permit a vigil then could you please inform me of times and prices and what is the maximum size of group you will allow at any one time. We would be most grateful as this would allow us to further our skills and knowledge.
Regards
Amanda Wykes
Martin Higginson
(WMGhosts)
[Thank you for your inquiry. I appreciate your honesty. The residents of Borley do not support vigils or on-site paranormal research. If you look over my appeal to visitors, you will see why. Instead, we encourage you to seek out more "active" locations - some of which you will be able to identify by using my links section. Best of luck in your endeavors.]

Underwood, Peter. "Letters." The Paranormal Review. SPR. London: October, 2002. pp. 26-7. ("Vincent O'Neil's orignal idea of a Great Borley Investigation sounds a promising plan although how much truth will be available after more than half a century and the demise of most of the participants is a difficult question to answer. The presence of paranormal activity could be explored although some authorities aver that hauntings are usually of limited duration. . . . I do hope the Great Borley Investigation gets off the ground, but I'm not holding my breath!") **

Banks, Ivan. June 1996, June 1997, and April 2000 to Vincent O'Neil. (Personal notes expressing understanding for Marianne, caution to visitors.) ** transcripts

Jones, J Towyn; Lyn Ebenezer. Borley Cymru. Llanrwst: Dyffryn Conwy, 2001. ISBN: 0863816762.
Hallo; I passed your email on to Towyn at today's lunch & he replies - "Borley reputedly being the 'most haunted house in England' would certainly therefore be the most haunted vicarage. 'Borley Cymru' (being about the haunting of St. Paul's Vicarage, Llanelli) makes it the Welsh equivalent." I hope this clarifies the title of his book (which, incidentally is wholly in Welsh). Thanks for getting in touch.
Jill Davies

Green, Andrew. "Borley Postscript." The Ghost Club Newsletter. Summer, 2002. pp. 8-10. Review of book by Peter Underwood. (Green says "Underwood claims that Marianne Foyster. . . .became an active member of the SPR," which this editor has been unable to find in the Underwood book, or any other source. Personal issues between author and reviewer are discussed. As Underwood included a chapter exposing Louis Mayerling, Green comes to the defense of the late writer. Green concludes his critique by chiding, "here was a brilliant opportunity to provide a genuine expose' a real postscript, or even a factual addendum - but none of this has been achieved, not even an erratum.") **

The Ghost Club Newsletter. Autumn, 2002. pp. 30-31. Photo of cottages, and of village sign with Club members underneath. (Photos taken during "Haunted East Anglia" weekend in September 2002. No caption under village sign. Caption under picture of cottages reads, "The perfect weekend cottgae for ghosthunters? This property, for sale when the Club visited Borley, has been built on the lawn of the Rectory, yards from where the house originally stood. The 'nun's walk' is in the back garden of the bungalow.") **

Brett, Bernard. Ghosts. New York: Simon & Schuster (Juv); ISBN: 0671461591; (March 1983). "Harry Price - Ghost Hunter." pp. 71-8. Illustration shows Bull sisters meeting nun in the graveyard, instead of on the lawn where they claimed the incident happened. (Inexplicably, dates get mangled during synopsis. The sisters allegedly saw the nun in 1900, not 1892, and the fire was February 27, 1939, not February 7. One reporter was sent by the Daily Mail, not two. An unnamed photographer did accompany V.C. Wall on the second visit. Details Price's ghost-hunting kit. Relates monastery as fact, not assumption. Chapel was added by Foyster, so was not there when Price first visited. Told with flare to a juvenile audience. Brings up attack on Price, but gives rare credit to the 1969 rebuttal by Hastings (unnamed). However, Brett exagerates and gives credit to the report for restoring Price's reputation, "as no rational explanation could be found to account for the strange happenings.") **

Brett, Bernard. A Young Person's Guide to Ghosts. 1981. (Later published as Ghosts. See above.)

Congratulations to Robin Owen upon his engagement to Sara! Robin is the son of George and Iris Owen.

Montague Keen was one of those selected to pass along memories during the jubilee aniversary of the Society for Psychical Research. Keen joined the SPR in 1946, as noted in the October issue of the Paranormal Review. Studying clairvoyance as a child, his interests expanded. Today, Keen says, "there are dozens of exciting challenges, from ghosts and plotergeists to mediums and healers. . . .I see a shift of emphasis back to more investigation of phenomena which shine a flickering light on the nature and destiny of the soul." In the same issue, Keen points out John Edward started out as English psychic Colin Fry. Keen suggests an Edward performance is either "genuinely paranormal, or it is carefully faked." He lists a series of problems that would arise if Edward and his crew were hiding a fraud, suggesting the same critera give creedence to his own Scole experiments.

Our very best wishes to Art Bell upon his forced retirement. We look forward to his guest appearances on the show he created.

Robert Snow, General Secretary/Press Officer of the Ghost Club, has been invited by BBC Radio London 94.9 FM to speak about the paranormal on a regular basis, every Friday night between 10.00 P.M. AND 11.00 P.M.

David O'Neil been a Beta Tester for several video games, and is taking courses in video game graphics.