BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY
| 28 June 1999 |
BGS Newsletter |
Issue 10 |
Welcome to the tenth edition of the Borley
Ghost Society Newsletter. If any of you are planning to visit Borley July 28, let me know, and I'll pass along your
name to other Associates who are making the pilgrimage. Don't expect to see the nun, but you
will find lots of people with a similar interest!
My Borley web site is now struggling for space, as I have reached 20MB of files in storage - and
there is more to come!
Contributions from Richard Lee-Van den Daele
Richard Lee-Van den Daele has sent me
photocopies of several files from his collection. He was involved in searching for the Gregson
brothers, which was reported in The Enigma of Borley Rectory by
Ivan Banks. Anthony's version differs substantially
form his brother Alan's, which I have previously posted. Alan Gregson wrote
two letters to Richard that go into more detail.
Robert Arbon wrote to
Richard to confirm he was a Godchild of Marianne Foyster.
Trevor Hall wrote to dissemble everything - except
his own work.
A major find by Richard is the official order of the Church
Commissioner declaring Borley as surplus in 1928. A 1985 letter from the
Commissioners explains the order was not
used until 1938 as Reverend Henning prepared to sell the property to Capt. Gregson. As a
preliminary for the sale, an inventory was drawn up
which is absolutely fascinating, to say the least. The last
page of the tally includes a paragraph by Stanley Moger, the estate agent, explaining a
rumour that "The Rectory is supposed to be haunted." It recommends a reserve price of 450 UK
Pounds if the rectory is auctioned off.
Some years later, Col. and Mrs. Dorey bought the cottage for "more than 70,000 UK Pounds,"
according to a newspaper
article from 23 February
1984. A real estate description from Olivers Charted
Surveyors in Sudbury asks for 79,000 UKP. A contemporary photograph shows the cottage looking north, a
view not often seen.
Among the many clippings Richard sent is one about the Borley Psychic Fete of June
1939. The entire article has been posted on the web site, just click the link at the bottom of the
review. More newspaper articles were in this shipment, but I just haven't had time to enter them
into the bibliography. I'll keep associates posted as these changes are made.
Richard complimented a shipment by Peter Underwood with a photo of the gate posts now owned by Ivan
Banks. This tied right in with an article Mr. Underwood sent from Two Worlds featuring a
reprint of the Thurston
Hopkins "spirit" photo.
Peter Underwood supplies rare and important photo
Perhaps I am overly protective, but I have always resented the way some authors have classified
the rectory as a "dumpy" looking place. With over 20 rooms, it is obvious those writers were
never there in person! I was more than grateful when Peter Underwood gave me a photograph of
the model he had constructed by
Peter Hine and Michael Davis. It gives a three-dimensional look to the building, and shows it in a
very different light. Now, Mr. Underwood has given me an exceptionally rare photo of the North East view. This is
actually the FRONT of Borley Rectory, and gives a much different flavor to the place. This
picture is even more rare because the model no longer exists, and can not be re-photographed.
There was more from Mr. Underwood, and I'll scan them into the web site as soon as possible.
Pentlow architect
"Did you go
inside the building at Pentlow? Actually, I did not realise that the same architect had
been responsible for both P. Rectory and B. Rectory. I never did discover
who designed Borley. I'd be interested to have his name/how you discovered
him."
Richard Lee-Van den Daele
[Nick Fenwick made me feel so comfortable when I visited. He gave me a report that said in part, "The
erection of the tower will be under superintendence of Mr. John Johnson, architect, of Bury St.
Edmunds. Mr. Webb of Sudbury who's satisfactory completion of important works we are called
upon to notice being selected as builder." I called Nick up and his response follows.]
"Interesting what you say about the Tower. Being a different architect. On
the tower itself, etched into the brickwork are several sets of initials, which I took to be the
builders, masons, clients and maybe architect. I shall have to get a pair of high powered binoculars
and see if there are any more higher up the tower.
"The architect that built Borley and Pentlow, was Fred Chanceller or Chancellor and I think he
was a church architect. If that means he was retained by the church or that
he had friends in high places, I do not know! It might be worth a bit of
research (at the Royal Institute of British Architects, R.I.B.A.
perhaps). I think he was rather a minor architect if the design of this
Rectory is anything to go by, though having said that he had at least two
practices; one at 20, Finsbury Circus, London. and the other in
Chelmsford, Essex which is not far from here, comparatively. By horse and
carriage it would have taken a good day, at least, to get up to Borley
and Pentlow; but then, in those days they would have thought nothing of
traveling for a whole week just for a good party!
"We used to know an old lady who lived in Clare (sadly now deceaced). She clearly remembered
coming here to tea parties as a young girl in her crinolines and bow's, being frozen rigid, and
scared rigid by the Reverend (Henry) Bull. This would have been at the turn of the century as she
was in her late ninties when she died, a few years back."
Nick.
Fate Magazine, 1950
Tim Chase has given me a copy of the January 1950 Fate Magazine. It has an article
by J.P. Bessor, a writer I have not uncovered previously. Tim was one of the first people on this
side of the Atlantic to share the discovery of my connection to Borley. I sincerely appreciate his
continuing interest.
Another TV project
Dear Mr. O'Neil;
"Firstly I would like to congratulate you on an absolutely first class web page.
"I was on my way to the library to do some research on Borley Rectory, when I suddenly thought
that there might some info available on the Internet. I couldn't believe my luck when I came
across
your web site.
"I live in England, and have been fascinated by Borley Rectory since I was a child.
"I am very keen to produce a television documentary about Borley, and have been looking for "an
angle" on it that would make it different from similar programmes about the paranormal.
"I believe your story and experiences would give this programme a new perspective.
"I would like to emphasise that my programme proposal is still in early stages of development,
and may not live to see the light of day (the commissioning editors in this country make life
extremely difficult for independant producers).
"However, I was wondering if you would be available to provide assistance to the making of the
programme, should it be commissioned.
"It would be a real bonus if I could mention in my proposal that you were interested in the
project.
"I look forward to your reply."
Best wishes
Paul Barnett
[Thank you very much for your interest. I appreciate your comments and your compliments. I'll
need to know a little bit more about your production house and past experience before
committing to such a project. I have received several proposals in the past, and not all were
completed satisfactorily. I would need to check on the progress of these other projects. Whilst I
have several thoughts about ways to help you, I must emphasize that my first priority is to NOT
harm the current residents in any way. Please read http://www.borleyrectory.com/visitors.htm
It will be most difficult to come up with a new and interesting angle. Give it some thought and let
me know your progress.]
Ripley's?
"I do not know if anyone has ever identified the Ripley's page of Borley, if
not then there is one solution, unfortunately the book you seek is no longer
in print, to my knowledge.
"One of the first books I ever received on ghosts was a Ripley's book
titled (as best I can remember) "Ripley's Unknown: Believe It or Not."
My mother gave it to me as either a birthday or Christmas gift when I was
about age 8. It was a paperback that dealt with ghosts and the unknown, and
to the best of my memory included many sketches and notes on hauntings, most
of which had never appeared in the Ripley's newspaper columns.
"This was in 1956, and most of the Ripley books have been out of print for
many years, especially the special editions such as this one was.
Unfortunately my Mother gave away all of my books when I left home, so the
book no longer exsists, but I remember it very well, especially the
sketches."
Evelynne Ritter
Associate Activities
Dear Vince;
"I have tried to talk myself into writing a book on Oklahoma Hauntings and
Sights (a tentative title). I am always amazed at the number of stories out
there, and there are plenty of older Oklahomans who could tell versions with
the best."
Evelynne Ritter
[We have a great many writers in the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY. Drop Evelynne a line if you
have any advice or hints.]
Book Reviews
Jamas Enright was kind enough to send me a
copy of the chapter dealing with Borley from the SPR History, 1882-1992. The
focus
of Renee Haynes in this section is on Harry Price, and she comes to his defense while not
excusing his faults. I've posted the pertinent pages. It is interesting to note
that this report mentions that Peter Underwood "had been an eye-witness of the apparently
paranormal movements of a stiletto and some bottles." Haynes writes this was mentioned in
the1969 Proceedings by
Robert Hastings. In fact, Hastings had a chapter written by Peter Underwood which quoted
Richard Whitehouse as the witness - not Underwood. If such a prestigious organization
can allow such a typographical error in its own History, it is no wonder other publications smudge
the facts over the decades.
I was fortunate enough to come across a near-mint copy of Peter Underwood's The Ghost Hunter's Guide. In
addition to reproducing Harry Price's Blue Book, Mr.
Underwood has an appeal for visitors to be polite to the current residents. He then adds, "And if
you do go to Borley, as every ghost hunter should at least once in his life, you will let me know if
you encounter anything unusual at that strange place, won't you?" And send me a copy as well!
As soon as possible, I will scan in the pages of the Blue Book into the web site.
David Wallechinsky, Irving Wallace, and Amy Wallace mentioned Borley in their first
Book of Lists. Amy Wallace
is listed as a psychic, but she didn't catch the mistakes made by Philip Cunliff-Jones in writing his
contribution.
Borley Ghost Society associate profiles
If you would like me to make a profile page for you, just tell
me a little about yourself and attach a photo to an e-mail.
Special discounts
As a member of the Borley Ghost Society you are entitled
to a 10 percent discount on all titles from www.ghostbooks.com
Please note the latest
additions.
Feedback
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I'd love to hear from you.
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