| 27 April 1999 | BGS Newsletter | Issue 8 |
| W | elcome to the eighth edition of the Borley Ghost Society Newsletter. This one may be a little rough, folks, as there is a large gremlin in my computer which I have been unable to exorcize. Please let me know of any glitches. |
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Dear Vincent; I work at Anglia Television in Norwich, Norfolk, England. I am at the moment researching a number of facts about Borley Rectory for a possible short documentary to be made. I am more interested in the recent events at Borley as in the last 20 years, and looking at why Borley still holds such a fascination for people of all ages. I have read much of your website which is very interesting. For me, the highlight was reading about your trip to Borley in 1997 and what you expected or hoped to see. Have you been to Borley since that trip, and are you planning to visit again this year? What I would like is to correspond with you on what you would like to see in a documentary on modern day Borley. I have visited Borley myself, although as yet have not spoken with any residents or the church wardens. I feel a documentary should need a fresh angle rather than just covering old history and should taken into account both sides of the story. from those who live there, those who have moved away because of what happened and ghost hunters who continue to visit the site. I have only just started my research this past weekend, although I have known about Borley for many years. I have 12 days before I submit an application for funding for the documentary. Please contact me so that we can discuss this matter further. I would also be grateful if you could provide me with some contacts in the East Anglia area. Jonathan Flowers |
Dear Mr O'Neil; My name is Nicola Woodroff, I run a Production company called Phoenix Film and Video Productions Ltd, together with my partner Anthony Caulfield. At present we are working on an idea for a 50 minute programme based on ghosts and the paranormal. We want to include in this programme Borley Rectory and any other sites like Epworth Old Rectory or Croft Castle. We want to show views from people that believe in ghosts and the paranormal and from those who don't. We also want to incorporate some scientific evidence and how it is obtained. At the moment the programme is in its research stage and we would like to know if you would like to contribute. One of our main aims when we film is to remain totally unobtrusive and we understand how annoying it must be to locals being pestered day and night by tourists etc. The idea that we have will not require a big crew so hopefully we would hardly get noticed. I would be most grateful if you could give me some contact points and guidance, as I explained in my previous e-mail we wish to look at other sites and get into contact with people who are experiencing paranormal activity on a regular basis, would this be something you could assist us with. We would also like to accompany scientists who are already conducting investigations and film them, again would this be something you could help us with. Thank you for your time Nicola |
This last month, I was able to pick up a personal copy of Hauntings by Peter Underwood. For the serious Borley fanatic, this is a "must add" to your library, as it goes into detail about experiences during the 1970s not fully covered in any other work. It also has a picture not displayed in any other work, one taken by Ray Armes in 1975 that may show something unusual in the foliage. I'll try to get more copies for anyone interested, but I'm not having much luck in my search. If you have an extra copy for sale, drop me a line. There is also a chapter in this book about The Petit Trianon at Versailles.
Karen Stevens has been kind enough to send a
review of The Widow of
Borley by Robert Wood. I sincerely appreciate her perspective, as I am way too close to the
issue to be objective. Copies are available through ghostbooks.com
"What bothers me about this book, Vince, is the author's reliance on the
statements of Ian, whom he admits hated and despised Marianne. Also his
reluctance to quote sources. "It's known that," and "it's alleged" are
simply unacceptable. His tone is vindictive and judgmental; he convicts
without solid evidence.
"On the other hand, he does point out some historical facts that the Borley
legend conveniently ignores: a tunnel 8 miles long is unthinkable; coaches did
not exist in medieval times; and there is no solid evidence of a monastic
establishment of any kind at Borley.
"Believers in the Borley legend will be outraged by this book.
Disbelievers will undoubtedly cheer. And the debate will go on, and on....
"I'm not surprised that Trevor Hall [who did the research for the book] didn't dare publish his
report while he was
still alive. Even if most of it were true, it would have caused a
tremendous furor. And your mother could probably have sued him.
"I didn't find his book totally convincing, but if you know that the
marriage certificates do exist, then at least the bigamous marriages may
be a fact. I've heard of similar things happening even now, when one
partner is in a nursing home, perhaps with Alzheimer's, and the other
spouse takes up with someone else.
"Marianne sounds like she would have been a terrific actress if she'd had
the chance, someone who could have led a Bohemian life style without
causing much comment. She must have been an interesting person, even if
you did not get along well until the very end of her life.
"I found his supposition that Lionel was asked to leave one of his posts in
Canada rather unconvincing, since he admits there is no proof. In fact, he
fleshes out the few facts with an awful lot of supposition. Too much, for
a good investigative reporter.
"This book obviously hurts you and I'm sorry about that. You need to keep
reminding yourself, however, that even if Marianne did marry bigamously,
even if she was guilty of some of the other things he accuses her of, she
changed in her later life. Friends in Wisconsin thought highly of her. And
she loved you very much, Vince.
"Whether his accusations are true or not (and we'll never
know), the really important part is the very last paragraph, where
Marianne writes that she's not the same person she had been twenty years
before, and that she doesn't want any lingering effects from Borley to
harm the son she loves so much. You, Vince. Remember that."
Karen Stevens
Hello,
"If the author does not back up his book and avoids talking to you it
must be trash."
Carmen Hutchinson
[I was in communication with Robert Wood, but he soon disappeared from the face of the earth.]
Dear Neil [Purling];
"Indeed, the Bull Hotel at Long Melford still exists and I can highly recommend it.
Especially room no. 4 is know to be haunted. I spent in the 1990's a night in this room and
another night in the adjacent room. On both occasions I was able to record some unexplained
sounds in room no. 4. Also the staff of the Bull Hotel are quite aware of some strange happenings
in this very old building.
Andreas Trottmann
Switzerland
(SPR full member)
Vince;
Never heard of a tunnel but, from what I have read I would guess there was
one. Could it have been used in the days of the nuns? Did it connect to the
river/stream? This might explain something.
Richard Senate
Vince;
"Yes we have experienced some very unusual weather here in England over the
past year . I t is truly amazing what the elements can uncover. There are
many tunnels and underground passageways. Some date back to the time when
it was not wise to be an English Catholic. Priests were smuggled in and out
of via these tunnels. Other tunnels were used by the smugglers.
Some of the big estates have many fascinating stories and secrets that are
still being uncovered."
Maureen Brooks
Dear Vince,
"I have not received any news that a small tornado has occurred in
Borley/surrounding villages. My son's girlfriend lives close
to Borley, and has not told us of anything like this freak of nature
happening there.
"As for the tunnels - it does not surprise me that tunnels may exist in
Borley, as these tunnels were quite common links between churches and 'safe
Catholic houses' during the Reformation; priests could walk unseen between
the two without the fear of execution. Borley was once a Catholic
stronghold, note the Waldegraves...."
Patricia Langley
To Danny Guess;
"There were a number of small ( by US standards ) tornadoes around on Tuesday
this week, the 13th April.
We had some reports of these over Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Sudbury is
in mid Suffolk. Apparently
a dog was elevated within its kennel, at least that's what I heard. It did
make a number of UK papers, but
no doubt the fullest account would have been in the East Anglian Daily
Times, the regional daily paper
printed in Ipswich. I am sure they could tell you all about it. Their
telephone number is:
01473 230023 within the UK and +44 1473 230023 from abroad.
E-mail: EADTEditor@ecn.co.uk
"I hope this helps."
Regards
Derek Hardy
( Enquiries Officer )
UK Met. Office
[My inquiry via e-mail went unanswered.]
[My mother was constantly urging Ian to not explore the tunnels. She was afraid they would collapse on him. There was a theory the tunnels connected the monastery to the nunnery in Bures. There was another theory that there was a tunnel between the rectory and the church, which could double as a "priest's hole" in time of persecution. A rumor that a tunnel extended out of the side of one of the wells was dispelled by James Turner, but perpetuated by Terrance Dicks in his children's book The Borley Rectory Incident.]
Mr. O'Neil;
" I am so sorry. As my grandma has bad hearing she was mistaken on what she heard on the
news. We saw in the Daily Mail the day after that it had actually brought up a kennel, and not a
tunnel.
Joseph Olding
[Not a problem, Joseph. You were alert to a potential story about Borley, and we all appreciate your thoughtfulness very much. Keep up the good work!]
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