BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY

Any artists amongst our associates? I'll bet your art work is better than this, so I am soliciting your spooky drawings for use in the newsletter. Scan and attach to an e-mail, or send via snail-mail. Don't worry about size - I'll do that. Black and white OR color! You will receive proper credit, and it will be fun to see what we come up with!

If any of you trip over some bargain books about Borley or about ghosts in general, pick them up for me, if you please, and I will reimburse you PLUS 10 percent. If there are other ways associates can help one another, just drop me a line and I will post your "wants" to the rest of the Society.

Some time back, Nick Rowland was talking to me about the floating brick.  His observation:
"My guess is there's another workman out of shot who may have thrown the brick and the one we can see is looking at him or talking to him.  Workmen usually work at least in two's.  The pile is interesting, but the bricks are white, not red as I suspect most of the rectory was constructed.  Well, there is a type of brick called a Suffolk White which is very sought after for restoration work on old buildings.  It's just possible some of those were used in the rectory and workmen were seperating any they found to sell rather than use as rubble."

As a result of these contributions, I have totally revamped the floating brick page on the Internet, and added some new information.

Stewart Evans then came through with some detective work and filled in the missing names on the rectors page! He also contributed a review for the book Out of This World. I would like to encourage any associate of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY who reads about Borley to check the Bibliography and see if your source is listed. If not, send me the review, and I'll publish it, with your name attached!

Next, Alan Wesencraft brought my attention to the foreword by Dennis Wheatley in the 1974 reprint of Harry Price Ghost-hunter. Wheatley claims the 1954(?) photo by Thurston Hopkins of a ghostly blur by the gate was suppressed. The picture WAS printed along side an article by Kenneth Allsop, wasn't it?????

In the last few days, Stewart Evans has graciously contributed three books to my private Borley collection. As always, these books are in near-mint condition. Our Haunted Kingdom by Andrew Green raises the question, "Where did Green find the reference that Harry Price 'claimed at one time that some 200 different ghosts existed in the old building.'?" Perhaps he is referring to some 200 different witnesses? My total for ghostly candidates is about 20.
Stewart also found a lovely copy of Rivers of East Anglia by James Turner. While there is only a couple of pages about Borley, they are very dear to my heart, as they mostly talk about unwanted visitors. I have incorporated this reference into my plea to visitors to be more considerate, and have copied the pertinent paragraphs into my review.
Then, Stewart sent me a copy of A Host of Hauntings by Peter Underwood. This book has several paragraphs in it about my mother, and reinforces my gratitude to Mr. Underwood for treating us fairly through the decades. If you don't have the Underwood-Tabori book that came out the same year as this one - The Ghosts of Borley 1973 - you will definitely want to find a copy of this book as it goes into detail not found elsewhere.

Leon Eramsus was kind enough to photocopy all the pertinent pages from the weekly periodical The Unexplained. This is important because it is these original articles that formed the basis for so many Orbis books that used these chapters over and over again. There are several letters to the editor dealing with Borley, including one from "Name and address supplied." I can't figure out who that might be, and wonder if any members of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY might have a clue? By the way, contributor Guy Lyon Playfair told me he was only aware of the initial printing, and he received no royalties for the subsequent reprints. I imagine he will be quite surprised to see how many times his work has been published!

Maureen Brooks sent me the clipping from the Daily Mail that led her to my Internet site, and to me.

As the month started out with a bang, it ended with another. Peter Underwood graciously sent me a packet with two fascinating original newspaper articles, my favorite Borley photo of all time, and copies of some letters my mother had written.
The first newspaper article is a front page spread from the May 29, 1947 Suffolk and Essex Free Press titled "He Was Recording Nightingales and Heard Ghostly Tappings at Borley Rectory. Along with pictures of Rev. Henning, Mr. and Mrs. James Turner, the church interior, Harry Price, and the uncovered altar stone, is the picture of the rectory from Ernest Ambrose with the ghostly carriage etched on top. No author is credited, but I wonder if it is Suffolk Free Press editor Geoff Brown? The article is so fascinating, I have copied it out entirely on a page linked to the review.
I also copied out the entire second article, as it talked about unwanted visitors. "The Chance of a Ghost" was inside The Guardian October 27, 1988. Along with a picture of the rectory, it has a seldom seen photo of Rev. Henry Bull. Alan Combes is the reporter who explains "the argument about Borley Rectory goes on to this day." This report is also referred to in my appeal to visitors.
The beautiful picture Mr. Underwood sent me is of the model he has of the Rectory. It was built over 20 years ago by Peter Hine and Michael Davis. A thumb-nail picture of the model appears in his book Ghosts and How to See Them with the caption, "An EXACT and unique model." The most common picture of the rectory is full-face front, and does not do the entire structure justice by any sense of the word. I absolutely love this picture and I am delighted to share it exclusively with members of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY. I may open up this page to others at some future date, but right now, I am fearful of it being "borrowed" unscrupulously, even with a firm copyright notice affixed.
Two of the letters from my mother were to Mrs. F.M. "Billy" Fenton. The first describes the after effects of the car wreck my Dad was in, although Mom writes as if she were the one injured. The second is a fanciful description of what our life was (NOT) like in Jamestown, North Dakota. Both are now added to the relevant chapter of The Most Haunted Woman available exclusively to associates of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY. The third letter is one written to Trevor Hall as he zeroes in on us in Jamestown. It includes the now famous line, "If you mean did I haunt the place, the answer is No." Excerpts from this letter are contained in Chapter 13 of my mother's history.
Mr. Underwood also sent along lots of material for his Associate Profile, which gives a better picture of the tremendous work he has done with Borley.

Folks, all of these endeavors are exactly why the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY was formed! Ever since the word got out that my mysterious search for my identity had uncovered Borley, people from around the world have generously given of their time and their resources to help me share this tremendous story with the world. I am humbled, and most grateful for all your efforts. THANK YOU!
In return, if there is any way I can use this medium to help any of you, please don't hesitate to contact me. Perhaps we can post a section devoted to your wants, or at the very least include them in the Letters to the Editor section. What are your needs?

Meanwhile, I am wondering if we want to start something like the "Borley Institute for Paranormal Studies." This might expand beyond Borley and award some sort of letters for completion of a study course. Those seeking recognition might be required to submit five essays to the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY and read articles about nomenclature, history, research methodology, acronyms, and the like. Essays would be issued twice a year in printed form, and we might even create a "Who's Who of the Paranormal" using a format similar to other such publications. This would be a tremendous undertaking, and I wonder what you think? Thanks to Associate Bill Vicars for his inspiration.

A note from Mathew Parry was interesting. If this link still works, it will take you to a BBC news item. The story is about a haunted house some new owners don't want. An added bonus, the BBC has provided a link to www.borleyrectory.com !!!

It doesn't have a thing to do with Borley, but most of our associates are world travelers, and may appreciate a currency conversion calculator. No, it doesn't handle the euro - yet!

This month I have not had a spare second to prepare anything, but I hope to get something together next time. Maintaining two web sites and this newsletter is more than a full- time undertaking! Meanwhile, this is a perfect opportunity to encourage associates to fill in this space! Write your views about hauntings, spirits, poltergeists, falling rocks, or whatever you think would be of interest to other members of the BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY. Don't be afraid to be controversial, and let's see what happens. Send your contribution today!

Dear Mr O'Neil;
"I have just spent the best part of a Friday reading through your excellent website. Absolutely fascinating. I remember reading about Borley as a teenage and being excited, frightened and in awe of your mother and the events at the Rectory. I should add that at this time I was living in a 17th century Welsh farmhouse with a few ghosts of its own. That is where I was brought up.
"Now however, I live on the west coast of Wales, in a small town called Aberystwyth. And now I have my own house, and guess what I bought - an old Victorian gothic rectory. (Only here we call it a Manse.) I've been there just over a year now though, and I'm sad to report, no ghosts as yet! Just seven bedrooms, a cellar, two reception rooms, a big staircase, and stained glass windows. It's just crying out for a ghost...
"All best wishes, best of luck with everything, and I shall visit your website from time to time to read the latest."
Sincerely
Mathew Parry

Dear Vince;
"I really wish that I could spend a lot more time researching Borley.
"My main fascination with Borley is the Rectory, the church, and the hauntings, but there is an enormous amount of archaeological research needed to be undertaken all around Borley. There are networks of ancient underground tunnels - a tunnel leading from Borley Place under the road to the site of the rectory - ancient ponds and wells. The place is alive with History and Mystery.
"There is so much I want to do in Borley, I just wish that I lived 200 miles closer."
Dave Bamber
Lancashire, England

Associate Ian Jarvis is a firefighter in England. He has a wide range of interests including writing and the paranormal.

Yet another writer has joined us. Tony Walker is the owner of the delightful Ghostly Guide to Britain and Ireland web site we talked about in an earlier newsletter. He also has a personal page for Associates to view.

Another newsletter you should already be subscribing to is published by Associates Dave Oester & Sharon Gill. Their International Ghost Hunters Society is rapidly becoming world famous.

"The enlargement (upper right) will help viewers find the 'face' and see that all apparitions aren't paranormal!"

During October of 1998, Pat Cody and Karen Stevens went ghost hunting in England. Karen told us about some of their experiences in Newsletter #2, and Pat now adds some more information. "This is the waterfall at Newstead Abbey, in which several people have reported seeing a face. I saw it, too. When we got our photos printed, we could confirm that indeed a face does appear in the waterfall--in every single photo! It's simply an arrangement of the background rock that resembles a face. Because of the moving water, one has a flickering impression that seems possibly paranormal. Sometimes investigative photography can explain impressions, which is another important aspect of open-minded research."

Noël Hume tells me he is researching the amazing story of the Petit Trianon, and I've now seen several references to that case. Our own Rosemary Ellen Guilley has a lengthy description of the "Adventure" in her Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits. You will also find it described by Daniel Cohen in The Encyclopedia of Ghosts, by Andrew MacKenzie in Hauntings and Apparitions, and The Unexplained, and it is referred to in several works by Associate Peter Underwood, most notably in Peter Underwood's Guide to Ghosts and Haunted Places. An older reference is The Mystery of Versailles by Sturge- Whiting, and Four Victorian Ladies of Wiltshire by Edith Oliver. The SPR wrote about it in June of 1962 - "Richard's Garden Revisited." Any others references?

Sue-Ellen Welfonder tells us:
Dear Friends,
Just a note to let everyone know that the *Chocolate Book* (a collection of heartwarming stories written by women, for women) and which contains a short story by me, is now in the book stores nationwide. Since Wed., I believe. The book is CHOCOLATE FOR A LOVER'S HEART, Simon & Schuster, Jan. '99 ISBN 0-684-86298-0
"My story, 'MY Accidental Lover,' appears on page 120 under the section called *Weathering The Storm* and is about how I met my husband. I'm not asking any of you to run out and buy it, but perhaps if you are in a book store, you'll glance at it. There is also a short bio on me at the back of the book.
"Anyway, it's really no big deal, folks. Just one little story among many others. But it's a lovely book with a gorgeous cover and it was fun to see my work in it ..... Now if only I get a positive response from those romance novel editors in New York, too .......... Please keep your fingers crossed.
Sue-Ellen
SAVE when you order here!

• FIFTY GREAT GHOST STORIES, Canning, John, editor. In addition to 9 pages on Borley, you will find all the classics.
• THE SUPERNATURAL by Douglas Hill and Pat Williams. Sixteen pages of photographs, including "materialized apparitions." Ghosts and poltergeists share the pages with witches, werewolves, and vampires. Many ghost stories, including Borley Rectory.
• THE OCCULT: A History by Colin Wilson. Landmark reference work. Over 600 insightful pages with some portraits and sketches. Everything from Borley to witchcraft.
• THE WORLD OF PSYCHIC PHENOMENA by F. S. Edsall. Three pages on Borley Rectory. Trances, mediums, visions, apparitions, ghosts, telepathy, ESP, etc. Petit Trianon of Versailles, Joan of Arc, Bell Witch, Gef, and much more.
• STRANGE GUESTS by Brad Steiger. "A carefully documented collection of many events, both contemporary and historical, taken from unimpeachable sources, recorded by skeptical newspaper reporters, noted by scientists, observed by impartial laymen - each incident confirmed and authenticated - and true!" Including "The Vicious Devil of Borley."
• PARANORMAL PEOPLE by Paul Chambers. Soft cover, 224 pages. Eight pages of photos. Chapter on "Harry Price, Ghost-hunter," which discusses Borley Rectory.
• Charles Berlitz's WORLD OF STRANGE PHENOMENA by Charles Berlitz. Over 250 unexplained mysteries, including Borley Rectory.

• THE SECRET OF AMITYVILLE by Hans Holzer. "Holzer follows the bloody trail of a fabulous gem and its powerful curse through violent acts of piracy, betrayal and murder."
• STRANGELY ENOUGH by C.B. Colby. Young adult paperback. "Phantom ships, ghostly people, a vanishing city, lost treasure. Eighty incredible tales to fascinate and intrigue you."
• SPINDRIFT: Tale From a Psychic Sea by Jan Bryant Bartell. "A fragment of this true paranormal experience appeared in Hans Holzer's book Ghosts I've Met under the heading 'The Town House Ghost.'"
• THE BLACK HOPE HORROR by Ben Williams, Jean Williams, and John Bruce Shoemaker. True story of a Texas haunting after building on an old cemetery
• SPIRITS OF SAN ANTONIO and South Texas by Williams and Byrne. Over 200 pages with many black and white photos. From the Alamo to hotels, restaurants, houses, and military posts, scores of ghosts - real and legendary.