The purpose of this visit was to try and locate two sites which were photographed by Sidney Glanville and included in both of the Harry Price Borley books - the famous view of the rectory from the lawn, and the south east view photographed from the lane.
From previous experience I was aware that to understand Granvilles photos one needs access to those areas of the rectory site that the residents of Borley quite understandably, would have us "Borleyists" keep away from. So as I walked up the hill to the site of the most haunted house in Engalnd, I prepared myself to be resitricted to visualising the rectory from the prospect of the lane and churchyard.
Legend:
A-gateway and drive,
B-front door tower,
C-cottage,
D-most famous verandah side
(legend courtesy of Rebecca Brazil)
As always arriving at Borley one is a greeted with a tiny, quite, deserted hamlet. Indeed all the time I was there I met just two people. So I sat on the churchyard wall and began to soak up the atmosphere, the memories, the past.
I looked up at the cottage window and thought of Mr and Mrs Cooper looking out on a moonlit night in 1919 to see the phantom coach sweeping across the fields.
I looked at the lane and could see Fred Cartwright on his way to work on a silent dawn in 1927 to confront the waiting nun. I could imagine Lionel and Marrianne Foyster coming across to the rectory on a cold, autumn dusk for evensong in the church in 1933.
It was easy to picture Harry Price and Ellic Howe setting off to the off license at Borley Green on a warm, rescin scented evening in 1937.
I turned towards the churchyard path and the way to the church south door. It was here that Reverend Henning and a friend heard the organ playing in a deserted church. And then getting up, I walked to the north of the church and on to the field where in 1971 I had pitched a tent with three friends. I looked down at where we had sat around our midnight fire telling each other ghost stories. It was a time when the world hardly cared about Borley and the residents of this haunted place tolerated visitors.
What was I doing? I had returned once more to Borley, but was this serious, historical and psychical research, or a nostalagia trip? I mentally slapped my face and proceeded to carry out what I had come here for. Moving slightly down the hill I tried to gauge where the lower drive gate would have been located. As I photogrpahed where I assumed the drive had been, I struck up a converstaion with a pleasant young lady named Joanne. I informed her of my interest in the rectory and she in turn told me she lived in the bungalow which is on the site of the rectory lawn.
I asked her if I could photograph her front garden she said " by all means" and added if I wanted to shoot the rear garden it would be okay. I must say I was totally dumbstruck. Here I was expecting to only view the rectory site from the lane and now I was being invited to come and stand on the site of the rectory lawn.
Joanne showed me through to the garden which adjoins that of the rectory cottage. From where I stood I could now understand the view supported by Scott Cunningham and Richard lee Van den dale that the famous south front of the rectory would have been approximatley where the hedge cuts across Joanne's garden and also close to the West end of her bungalow.
However, the trouble with trying to visualise these old photographs is that hedges, trees and undergrowth confront ones view. Without the cottage as a visible anchor point, one is left looking at an unknown hedge. It is the reason that the scene in Joanne's garden was photographed at this angle.
This picture shows another view of Joanne's garden looking back to Borley cottage. It shows how difficult it is to viualise the scene when hedges and trees get in the way.
Joanne then pointed out the site of the nuns walk, just near where we stood. It struck me that if she and her husband had wanted to construct a summer house they would have had a better view than Henry and Harry Bull for all night vigils waiting for the nun. I asked Joanne if she had any interest in the Borley Story? "Oh yes," she replied. "When we bought the property the estate agent informed us that the bungalow was on the site of the infamous rectory".
Since then she has been avidley reading The Enigma of Borley Rectory" by Ivan Banks. Much to my delight I was invited to stay for tea. I wondered if Joanne got nervous knowing that her house was on such a paranormally famous site? Ivan Banks "On hot sunny mornings," she replied, "with the birds tweeting and the radio blaring it is hard to imagine anything ghostly. On the other hand on overcast afternoons when a mist rises from the river valley and cloaks Borley in a Grey, muffled gloom it is easy to see phantoms in every bush"
I then asked her the $64.000 question " Had she ever experienced anything whilst at Borley?"
"Well," she replied slowly, "there have been three incidents which were quite strange. I was playing with my daughter Amber in the front room one afternoon when I heard a loud clatter come from the kitchen. When I went to look I found two metal pots which normally hang on the wall had fallen to the floor. I thought nothing of it assuming it must have been the wind. But it happened again a week later, yet this time I had the kitchen door which leads out onto the garden shut so there was no wind.
"However, it was the third incident which was the strangest. I walked in to the kitchen one day to see the hanging pots just finished swinging."
"Did it worry you?" I asked.
"No not really. I suppose living in such a place you might expect such things. Anyway just because the rectory has gone doesn't mean the haunting has to."
I agreed, explaining that the writer Colin Wilson thought the land on which Borley Rectory stood might well be haunted.
Although Joanne has an interest in the haunting she is aware that bogus thrillseekers who still plauge Borley are not welcome. However genuine investigators are treated a little more tollerantly.
Eventually with baby Amber requiring attention, I thanked Joanne for her hospitality and help, and took my leave. Walking back up the lane I felt very satisfied and pleased. The day had exceeded my expectations. However, as has happened to me on previous Borley visits, soon wind and rain descended over north essex and I made quickly for my car and home.
This shot is where I think the drive would have been. Perhaps where I am standing is where Sidney Glanville parked his car.
Just a foot note to this story which might appeal to those familiar with Jungs theory of synchonicity. Whilst I sat chatting with Joanne, she asked how far I had come that day to visit Borley.
"High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire," I told her
"I know High Wycombe." she replied. "We used to live in Chesham."
Chesham is a small town near High Wycombe
"Where in Chesham did you live?" I asked.
"Me and my husband used to run the George Public House in Chesham High Street."
Odd coincidence, as the day before I visted Borley, my wife and I went to Chesham to do some shopping and whilst she toured the shops I popped into the George for a pint and a pie. As I sat in the pub, I browsed through my copy of The Most Haunted House in England, and looking at the picture of the south verandah, regretted that I would never get to walk on that lawn. Little did I know that the next day I would be standing, chatting with the former landlady of the George on the site of the rectory lawn.