SUFFOLK AND ESSEX FREE PRESS

May 29, 1947

He was recording nightingales

And Heard Ghostly Tappings at Borley Rectory

Poet-Farmer in Converted Stable
Pre-reformation altar discovery

A few days ago a BBC man was at Borley attempting to make a recording of the song of the nightingale. This was near the parish church, where there is a mass of trees and shrubs, and opposite the site of the now demolished Rectory - "the most haunted house in England." The BBC recorder heard a tapping noise coming from the area known as "the cold spot," near the cellar, which is now heaped with all sorts of refuse.
Gone is the old summer house which looks on to "The Nuns Walk" and from which the ghostly Nun used to be observed. Much of the garden ground has been cleared and presents an open aspect instead of the wild, overgrown condition of a few years ago when the Nun used to appear there.
Mr. James Turner, 38-years-old poet and farmer, has acquired the place and, with his wife has taken up residence at the cottage which formed part of the Rectory buildings. The converted stable has been incorporated into a nice little dwelling, in a charming spot.
"I think it's heavenly," was Mrs. Turner's comment on the location, on Friday morning.
It was, indeed, glorious, with the sun glowing over the rich landscape and that scene made so memorable by the writings of Mr. Harry Price. Fit place for a poet and mystic; excellent spot for a fruit grower, as is Mr. Turner. A Kentish man, he has come to Borley - that pretty Essex village so near Sudbury - from Colchester where he had a nursery business. Mr. Turner has already published two volumes of poems, "Pastoral," and "The Alien World," and a third, "The Holy Vale" (Cambridge University Press) is being issued shortly.

BROADCAST AND FILM Borley is coming back into the news in a big way - well bigger than before. The BBC is to broadcast a documentary in which the rector (Rev. A.C. Henning), Mr. Turner and others will take part.
And it is understood that an American film is being made of the Borley story.
As an offset to all this (writes a Free Press representative) I am told that one of the local inhabitants said: "There weren't nothin' here till that Mr. Price came along!"
One might comment on that that things are manifest to some people when others discern nothing at all. NOW A FRUIT FARM Mr. Turner said in taking up residence: "If anything happens I shall be delighted. Neither my wife nor I are psychic, as far as I know, but we make rather a habit of haunted houses."
"I shall not be able to rebuild the rectory - I want the land for fruit farming - but I intend to restore the grounds as nearly as possible to their former design, particularly the famous 'nun's walk' and its summer-house. Perhaps that will persuade her to return."
Meanwhile Mr. Turner has turned mason and built a low, ornamental wall enclosing the foundations of the rectory. The cellar is to become a sunken garden and the layout should look very attractive when completed. THEY "STAND AND STARE" For years, Sudburians, Melfordians, and other inhabitants of this area have found Borley village and back, or round by the fields a very pleasant walk. And there have been many pauses by the old haunted rectory and latterly by the cottage. Please don't intrude upon the privacy of Mr. and Mrs. Turner. "Stand and stare," by all means, but not at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Turner. And please remember that their land is private property and don't trespass.

The story of the hauntings of Borley Rectory are too well-known to be recapitulated here. But readers can hear it from the lips of Mr. Price himself on Wednesday next, June 4. He is lecturing on this very subject at the Town Hall at 7:30. One imagines that there will be a crowd, and accommodation is limited. Mr. Price in hon. Secretary of the London Council for Psychical Investigation and the proceeds of this lecture are in aid of Borley's Original Altar restoration. ALTAR DISCOVERY This brings us to a fresh important chapter in the history of Borley. There was a tradition that the stone floor of the chancel steps covered the Waldegrave tomb. Mr. Price, in the course of his investigations, wished to find if this stone gave entry into the crypt. Mr. H.A. Sermons (F.J. Lindley and Co., North Street, Sudbury), was called in and raised the stone only to find sand underneath. He expressed the opinion that the stone was an altar top. It was relaid and the rector consulted the various priests and ultimately, Dr. Ecles, an authority on ecclesiastical history, who visited the church and declared that this stone was the Pre-Reformation Altar. RESTORATION FUND The rector decided that it must be restored to its original position and use, and his parishioners agreed. Subscriptions were forthcoming and his parish of 100 people raised about 30[UK pounds] towards the estimated cost of 100 [pounds] to complete the work. Further money will be raised at a fete in the rectory garden on Saturday next, from Mr. Price's lecture, and it is hope that sympathisers further afield will come to the aid of the parishioners in achieving their task.
The commencement of the work of reconstruction coincided with Whitsun week. The re-dedication of the restored altar will take place at 3 o'clock on June 15.
The restoration of the altar has been entrusted to Mssrs. F.J. Lindley and Co. The altar step will be brought forward one foot and the mensa mounted on four 9 in. Square pillars of Portland Stone 2 ft. 6 ins. in height. The sanctuary will be re-paved with cream Portland Stone and the chancel floor with wood.

BONES FOUND IN CHURCH When, under the supervision of the rector, who has a faculty from the Chancellor of the Diocese, the work of taking up the floor of the Sanctuary began, a marble tombstone was found, and fragments of bones were also revealed.
In view of the extraordinary history of the church and rectory in relation to paranormal happenings, speculation arises as to any connection between the remains and the ghostly manifestations. The work is proceeding.
Footnote: In Borley Church are two tombs of the Waldegrave family, including a monument 14 ft. high (see picture) with a cornice supported by six pillars of the Corinthian order, beneath which lie full-length figures of Sir Edward Waldegrave, who was knighted in 1553 at the coronation of Queen Mary, and died 1 September, 1561, and Lady Frances (Nevil), his wife, who died in 1599.