Sara Garner
Mr. Lehman
British Literature
8 June 2001

Do you believe in ghosts? This has always been a controversial subject. Borley Rectory is said to be 'The Most Haunted House in England' (Ravenscroft Mansion). But do ghosts really exist? There has been thousands of paranormal activity witnessed at Borley Rectory. These include: poltergeist manifestation, the appearance and disappearance of objects within the house, mysterious wall writings, paranormal bell ringing, singing (as if by a choir), strange lights, the galloping of horses when no horses were near, strange footsteps in the snow, thuds or knocks, intelligently directed in response to questions, and much more (Price, pg. 33-34). People of all ages, occupations, and degrees of education, including many non-sympathizers and skeptics, have seen the activity at Borley Rectory. The hauntings have been going on for at least half a century (Price, pg. 34) and there are 100 or more living witnesses today (O'Neil). Were these hauntings real psychical activity, or was it simply someone wanting some publicity? Peter Underwood, Ghost Historian, once said, "98% of reported hauntings have a natural and mundane explanation…" (O'Neil). Although many strange things have happened at Borley Rectory, many of them may be accounted for.

Borley Rectory was built in 1863 by Reverend Henry Bull, (Price, pg. 14) near Essex, England (Price, pg. 11). In 1875, a new wing was started to accommodate Henry Bull's growing family. It was not finished until the following year (Price, pg. 15).

It was not until after the rectory was built that strange things started to happen (Ravenscroft Mansion) even though Borley Rectory was built on the site of two previous buildings. One was a fourteenth century monastery (Price, pg. 12) that plays a big part in the Borley stories. The cellars of Borley Rectory partly conform to the foundation of this building. This was discovered because of the difference in bricks. Two-inch bricks were used instead of modern bricks (Price, pg. 20). The Monastery was owned by the Waldegrave family for three centuries (Ravenscroft Mansion). Henry Bull was a descendent of the Waldegraves (Ravenscroft Mansion).

Borley Rectory had no ready supply of water, lighting, or a telephone (O'Neil). Lighting was supplied by oil lamps and candles (O'Neil). There was a hand pump in the courtyard that provided water. The servant bells could be controlled from the attics (Price, pg. 23) and it was impossible for them all to be rung at once (Top Cities). The bars on the windows were used to keep servants in at night (Price, pg. 17) and not to keep people out.

After Henry Bull died, his son Henry took over as Reverend. They called him Harry to distinguish him from his father. They both died in the "blue room" (Price, pg. 20). In 1929, Reverend Guy Eric Smith and his wife moved into Borley. Within a year they left "owing to [the] lack of amenities and the nuisance created by the publicity." (O'Neil). On June 12, 1929, Harry Price visited Borley Rectory for the first time (O'Neil). It would be the first of many. Harry Price was a psychic investigator who made Borley Rectory even more famous (Borley Rectory). In June of 1929, C.V. Wall wrote the first published report of paranormal activity at Borley Rectory in "The Daily Mirror" (O'Neil). In 1930, Lionel Foyster, his wife Marianne, and their daughter Adelaide took over Borley. They stayed until October of 1935. This five-year period was recognized as the "Most famous period in poltergeist history." It was also the "Most extraordinary and best documented case of haunting in…psychical research." (O'Neil). The presence of Marianne Foyster seemed to create the most paranormal activity (O'Neil). In 1935, after the Foysters left, the bishop decided that "no more rectors should live there because of the strange happenings and the unsuitability for living." (Price, pg. 14). Borley Rectory was then merged with Liston Parish (O'Neil). The Reverend and his family would live at the Liston Parish instead of Borley. In 1937, Harry Price and his team of 48 investigators leased the Rectory for a year to study the happenings (Borley Rectory). Captain W.H. Gregson then bought Borley Rectory. On February 27, 1939, an oil lamp was knocked over and the Rectory caught on fire (O'Neil). The fire destroyed the central part of the rectory (O'Neil). The building was razed in 1944. Anthony Gregson, the Captain's son, thought Harry Price had the fire started to collect insurance (O'Neil). After the Rectory burnt down, the phenomena seemed to move across the street to Borley Church (Invisible Ink). Six years after the fire, the hauntings stopped (Gay).

The most commonly known story of Borley began in the fourteenth century. It was said that a monk, from the Benedictine Monastery where Borley was built, and a nun, from Bure's Nunnery about seven miles away, fell in love. They planned to elope and met in the woods on a bright, moonlit night around the Monastery. The nun possibly came by the seven-mile underground tunnel that connected the two. Remains of this tunnel have been found although blocked or caved in, in spots. One or two other monks helped them to escape in an old fashioned horse-drawn coach. They were chased, caught, and taken back to their superiors. The nun was convicted of breaking her vows and it was said that she was bricked up alive in the convent's masonry (Parascope Online Gallery). She was given only a loaf of bread and a pitcher of water. The monks were hanged or beheaded (Price, pg. 26-28). In another version of this story, there were no other monks with them. They escaped, and down the road, they quarreled and the monk strangled the nun (Price, pg. 32). There is a great controversy over this story. In the fourteenth century, horse-drawn coaches and carriages did not exist (Price, pg.31). They were not invented until the early fifteenth century (Mayerling, pg. 90). It was also questioned whether females were actually walled up, buried alive, etc. for breaking there religious vows (Price, pg. 28-30).

Since the Rectory was built, the nun, monk, and horse-drawn coach have been seen and heard many hundreds of times. The appearance of the nun is most common. She has been seen walking along the nun's walk, standing under the trees and leaning on the gate. She has been seen as a typical nun in nun's clothing, a shadow of a young woman, and a gloomy figure. She has been seen by one person, two people, and once by four people at a time (the four Bull sisters). She has never suddenly appeared before anyone (Price, pg. 32). The nun and monk are sometimes seen together (O'Neil). The coach has also been heard, along with the galloping of horses.

The nun used to gaze through the window of the dining room during the evening meal or dinner parties. Eventually, Henry Bull had it bricked up (O'Neil). He denied having it bricked up for this purpose, though. He said it was because he didn't like the passing cars watching him while he ate. There weren't very many cars that passed Borley Rectory. It was built next to a very untraveled back road.

There is a large octagonal summerhouse on one side of the Rectory. It was said to be built for the purpose of watching for the nun in comfort (Price, pg. 25). The nun also appeared in the children's nursery at night. Her manifestations were so frequent, the children watched for and welcomed her (O'Neil). There was also a story told by two men about the nun. One night, they were hiding in the bushes at Borley when they saw the nun walking slowly toward the stream. Then she disappeared into it (Price, pg. 25).

There is another story about a 'Screaming Girl'. A few years after the Rectory was built, a young woman was seen hanging from the windowsill of the blue room, screaming as loud as she could. She was finally forced to let go and fell through the verandah roof and was killed. It was said that she was attacked by someone in the blue room and tried to escape out the window (Price, pg. 33).

It was discovered during a séance that in 1667, a woman was strangled and her body buried in the cellar (The Vines Network). During Reverend Lionel Foyster's stay at Borley, his Wife, Marianne, had a lot of encounters with the spirits. She was thrown out of her bed repeatedly and was locked in the bedroom once (Ravenscroft Mansion).

Mrs. Smith once found a young woman's skull in a cupboard wrapped in brown paper. It was in perfect condition. She had it buried in the churchyard (Price, pg. 9). Religious pendants were also found with the skull (The Vines Network). While Harry Price and his team of investigators were investigating Borley Rectory, a mysterious coat appeared in the blue room (O'Neil). Exactly eleven months before the fire, a spirit predicted the burning during a séance (Borley Rectory).

A lot of small poltergeist activity has happened at Borley Rectory. The old keys in the doors are one thing that was focused on a lot. All the keys would disappear at times (Price, pg. 40). Sometimes the keys would shoot from the locks and land on the floor 2-3 feet away (Price, pg. 9). Mark Key-Pearse witnessed one of these activities. He was visiting the Rectory and was alone in the library (Mayerling, pg. 190-191). He heard the key turn in the lock. The lock was on the inside of the door. Whoever locked him in, was on the inside, and no one else was in the room with him (Borley Rectory Experiences).

Voices were often heard at the Rectory. Sometimes, they were sad wailings (O'Neil). Often, the phrase "Don't, Carlos, Don't!" Carlos was said to be the nickname of Henry Bull (Price, pg. 8). Also heard were the phrases, "Let us pray" and "Marianne" (Mayerling, pg. 149). Lights in empty rooms were also seen. This was especially seen in the schoolroom (Price, pg. 8).

Pictures taken by visitors often showed orbs, faces or figures. Robert Duffy and his wife took a picture that featured three figures. The most distinct was the face of a little boy seen peering over a gravestone. Greg Bird had a picture developed that showed a vast smoke cloud wrapping up a tree. There are several faces in the smoke cloud, and what appear to be arms reaching out (O'Neil).

Objects in the house were often found out of place. For example, a vase, normally in an upstairs bedroom, was found broken at the bottom of the stairs (price, pg.9). Things would also come up missing. If Marianne talked about them or asked for them back, they would often be put back in their original positions (O'Neil).

There have also been mysterious wall-writings. Writings showed up, in pencil, on the Rectory walls. These include messages such as "Marianne" (referring to Marianne Foyster) and "please help get" (Gay). The writings were written in a childlike handwriting and often wasn't very comprehendible. Investigators tried to talk with the spirits by writing back in capital letters. The spirit would only repeat what it had already said (Gay). The walls in the Rectory were built using sea sand. This caused a permanent dampness that swallowed the writings within hours (Top Cities). Writings also appeared on little slips of paper in the house (O'Neil).

Part of the garden was used as a burial place for victims of the Great Plague of 1654. Remains are still found and are transferred to the churchyard across the street (Price, pg.26). Henry Bull was also are reported ghost that was seen. We was said to appear in the gray jacket he died in (Ravenscroft Mansion).

During the fire in 1939, witnesses said they saw ghosts in the windows of the rectory. It was also reported that the ghost of Harry Bull was seen roaming around the rectory grounds. A "lady dressed in a gray cloak" was also seen (O'Neil).

After the fire, a woman was seen in blue or white hanging out the blue room window (where it should be) (Price, pg 33). In 1945, Human remains were found and thought to be the nun's. They were given a proper burial (Ravenscroft Mansion). People have heard the organ playing from the church when no organist was present and the main door was locked (Invisible Ink).

"…When a building has acquired the reputation of being haunted, then people following will expect it to be subject to that state-and it will be difficult to deny them always." (Mayerling, pg. 4). As I quoted earlier, most hauntings have a natural explanation. I will now tell you the explanations to the hauntings of Borley Rectory.

There are a lot of characteristics about the house that were not mentioned in any of my other sources. There were three trap doors from the attics that led onto the roof. From these, one could get into the bell tower. There were also grill vents in the walls and doors and hidden cupboards big enough to hold a small child (Mayerling, pg. 4, 14, 16).

When Louis Mayerling was six years old, he went to stay with the Bull's for a while at the rectory. He used to pluck the strings of the piano with a poker through the vent in the library. He would also climb onto the roof and dangle nails from strings so they tapped on the glass (Mayerling, pg. 18).

There was another little boy that lived at the Rectory at the same time as Louis. His name was Jed and he was involved in some of the hauntings. He would throw vases and things down the stairs onto guests, and then hide in one of the hidden cupboards before anyone saw him. He was thought to have thrown other things as well. Jed also had a three-foot clown. It had a faulty mechanism and would start and stop on it's own. Jed would place this clown in the attic above the room a guest was sleeping in. They would believe they were hearing footsteps (Mayerling, pg. 16).

It was said that the first appearance of the nun came on June 28, 1900. She was seen by the four Bull sisters and their maid. What hasn't been told is that the maid had made up the story and given the girls her very potent homemade potato wine (Mayerling, pg. 7) to make them believe they were seeing the nun. Many townspeople and servants of Borley often used the nun's walk as a shortcut. The path is lined with tall trees and at sunset, you can only make out shapes. This may have accounted for some of the later sightings.

The awful smell was caused by the smell of paraffin (from candles) mixed with the white lilac and other musty smells (Mayerling, pg. 17). The lights in the empty rooms were caused by a reflection of the oil lamp shining through a hole in the stable door (Mayerling, pg. 71). There was an old 'magic-lantern projector' found in the stable. It used a single oil lamp and had one glass slide, a picture of a western stage coach (Mayerling, pg. 89). The skull found by Mrs. Smith was only a teaching model made of composite material. It was left there by Basil Bull while studying medicine (Mayerling, pg. 68). The lock in the library had been replaced many times to keep the children out. It was possible to lock the door from the outside and then insert the key, handle first, into the hole and make it look like it was locked from the inside (Mayerling, pg. 190-191). The keys could easily be made to shoot from their locks. A cord was looped around the handle of each key and then tied to a drawer handle. If the cord was pulled, the keys would all fall and then the cord could be pulled out of sight (Mayerling, pg. 192). There were two ledges outside the blue room. Things could be placed up there, and then using string, could be hurled down into the hallway below, often onto guests (Mayerling, pg. 192-193). Marianne faked the ghost of Henry Bull. She was the only one who had seen him. She admitted to knowing it was just the gardener going upstairs to use the bathroom. She had seen pictures of Henry Bull and that is how she described him (Mayerling, pg. 114). The wall writings were proved to be written by Lionel Foyster by handwriting analysis (Mayerling, pg. 156).

The phrase "Don't, Carlos, Don't" was heard only at 10:30 am. It was believed that "Don't, Charlie, Don't" was actually being said. Charlie was the name of the gardener/chauffeur that owned a wireless radio. The Reverend didn't think a wireless radio should be in the rectory. It was said that the maid or other servants were trying to tell him to turn his radio off so they wouldn't get in trouble (Mayerling, pg. 67). Jed also had a big black bird. He taught it to say things, such as "Any letters today" (Mistaken for "Let us pray" and "Carry on, man" ("Marianne). The bird still roamed the grounds until it died. When it was gone, these phrases mysteriously stopped being heard (Mayerling, pg.149).

There was another theory as to why the dining room window was bricked up. There was a little girl named Little Maidie. She was the town wanderer and would often walk about people's yards and stand in their doorways or windows and watch them. She often did this to Borley Rectory in hopes of getting food from the maids (Mayerling, pg. 94).

Louis Mayerling often visited Lionel and Marianne Foyster at the Rectory. On one such visits, Lionel told him about all about the money problems they were having. They had an idea to 'haunt' the rectory for the purpose of writing and selling a book to get money. Louis knew they were in a lot of trouble and decided to help (Mayerling, pg. 118-119). The following is the hauntings done by Louis, Lionel, Marianne, and the children.

Marianne found a way to make the bells ring by hiding in the pantry and poke the bells through the vent in the door (Mayerling, pg. 128). Phosphorus candles were used to kill the rats in the rectory. They would be exposed to air and then shoved into a hole. Phosphorus catches fire when exposed to air. This accounted for some of the small fires said to break out in the rectory (Mayerling, pg. 137). Little jokes were played the most. The children would use things like plate-lifters to scare guests. These plate lifters ran under the table cloth and had a bag on one end and a bulb on the other. When you squeezed the bulb, the bag would inflate under the plate causing it to rise. They also used blue ink to change water to 'wine' (Mayerling, pg. 150-151).

When Louis Mayerling visited the Foysters, he would wear one of Lionel's old black cassocks (robe) around the house and grounds to keep warm. He was mistaken as the ghost of a headless monk and then continued to walk around the grounds at night in hopes to scare someone else (Mayerling, pg. 135).

Borley Rectory had no water system when the Foysters moved in. They decided to have one installed. Not many people knew about the new installation. Like any water system, about 5 seconds of humming was heard followed by many loud thuds, when you turned the upstairs bath on. Louis and the Foysters decided to try to scare visitors with this. When the next guests came over, Lionel entertained them in the study. As always, talk of the hauntings came up. Because the house echoed greatly, things could be easily heard from room to room. When the other two heard this talk starting, they turned of the bath. Lionel, hearing the humming, asked, "Are there any spirits in room?". And of course, the thudding started, this time lasting long enough for the guests to search the room and find no source of these noises. This changed most of their beliefs (Mayerling, pg. 132-133).

The only true evidence of paranormal activity is when the Great Borley Bell rang three times in the presence of two people who could see the bell. The bell was supposed to be out of use, so the wind couldn't make it ring (Mayerling, pg. 162).

In conclusion, it was fun to learn about Borley and how all the hauntings happened. I don't believe in the ghosts of Borley because of the strong evidence shown in this book. It is obvious to me that all or most of the hauntings were hoaxes. It was still very interesting to learn how most of the hauntings could be accounted for.