BORLEY GHOST SOCIETY

"Peter Underwood, FRSA, is an experienced investigator, parapsychologist, lecturer, broadcaster, and author of over 40 books including This Haunted Isle, Nights in Haunted Houses, Dictionary of the Supernatural, Ghosts - and How to See Them, and Death in Hollywood. He is the Life President of the Ghost Club Society and a prominent member of the Society for Psychical Research. He has been variously described as 'Britain's leading authority on the paranormal,' (Daily Mail), 'a good writer who knows his subject,' (Colin Wilson), and 'Britain's number one ghosthunter.' (Heritage Scotland)"
Bio from Peter Underwood's Guide to Ghosts and Haunted Places.

"He conducted the first ever official investigation into a haunting and is an acknowledged expert on psychic phenomena. Widely consulted by media sources seeking accurate information."
Bio from Ghosts and How to See Them.

"The undisputed king of ghost hunters." - Lincolnshire Echo
"An ace sleuth. . . . veteran of the icy room and expert on things that go bump in the night." - Liverpool Dail Post
"Britain's ghost hunter supreme. . . . has garnered evidence of a phantom world that is difficult to question." - Gloucester Echo
"A shrewd and cynical ghost hunter ready to accept supernatural explanation only as a last resort." - Bournemouth Evening Echo
"Eloquent testimony to honesty and single-mindedness. . . .fascinating experiences. - Hertfordshire Countryside
"Clearly not suitable reading for the nervous." - Western News
"Probably knows more about ghosts than any man alive." - Sunday Times
"The foremost writer on the subject." - BBC Television The Psychic Business

Peter Underwood is the author, with the late Paul Tabori, of the definitive book on the case, The Ghosts of Borley (David and Charles, 1973), the first complete record of all the strange happenings with many hitherto unpublished photographs. He also included this fascinating case in the following works:

BORLEY POSTSCRIPT (Whitehouse, 2001) The world's leading expert on "the most haunted house in England" has released more new information about the happenings in Essex. It is a collection of information not included in his 1973 effort with Paul Tabori, The Ghosts of Borley. This new volume chronicles addenda not published in the original. Borley fanatics will be delighted to see the many testimonies and photographs not previously available. The testimonies include witnesses such as Borley church organist Ernest Ambrose; Latin student to Rev. Harry Bull, J. Osborne Harley; Mark Teys Spiritualist Circle member Guy L'Strange; Borley cottage residents James and Catherine Turner; and frequent rectory visitor, Rev. Clive Luget. Never published before is the complete text of the 1947 BBC broadcast, "The Haunted Rectory." Participants in this broadcast included those who knew first hand the strange occurences at Borley, including former residents Miss Ethel Bull, Capt. Gregson, and the Coopers. Additional witnesses included Rev. and Mrs. Henning, plus investigator Sidney Glanville. Underwood devotes one chapter to showing up We Faked the Ghosts of Borley by Louis Mayerling as a complete sham. Underwood spent a great deal of time interviewing many witnesses over several decades. His own memories and experiences are reviewed. He then recounts several visits with members of the Bull family, the original inhabitants of the rectory. The Bulls also received several guests, who added their odd experiences to the history. 30 photographs and reproductions of artwork.

His books have been published in Britain, USA, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Holland, Mexico, Hungary, Australia, Japan, and the Far East.

His extensive and remarkable collection of photographs pertaining to the Borley Rectory hauntings is now handled by the Mary Evans Picture Library.

Peter Underwood and BBC producer Hugh Burnett at Borley for a 1975 broadcast. Among other Borley memorabilia, Underwood has the original envelope with "ghost writing" on the outside, one of the bottles that "materialized," a boundary stone engraved "H.B.," an original notebook from one of Price's observers, and scores of letters from the participants.

Peter Underwood with Constance Price (widow of Harry) at Arun Bank, Pulborough, 1968. The Borley Great Bell, hanging outside Price's workshop now hangs at Underwood's country cottage - a presentation from the executors of the Harry Price estate and the University of London.

For more than 30 years, Peter Underwood was president and chief investigator of the leading investigating society, and he is now life president of the prodigious Ghost Club Society (founded in Cambridge, 1851). He is vice president of the Unitarian Society for Psychical Studies and a prominent member of the Incorporated Society for Psychical Research (since 1947), the Society of Authors, the Dracula Society, the Folklore Society, the International Ghost Society, and others. In 1987 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and his numerous television appearances include a featured part in "The Ghost Hunters" (repeated annually by BBC for four years); National Spanish TV (a two-hour live debate from Madrid); German television (with Dr. Paul Tabori); "Count Dracula in Europe" including an 'authentic' Dracula meal at Purfleet organized by the Dracula Society; "Strange but True" with Michael Aspell talking about the Borley haunting; "The Big Breakfast" (discussing, with illustrations, the Borley haunting); "A Ghost Weekend" (live from York); "A Visit to a Haunted inn" (live from The Grenadier, London); Late Night Line-up; Nationwide; Tonight, "Look East" (from Norwich); Southern (from Southampton); Pebble Mill (three times); and many more.

A caricature of Peter Underwood in his heyday exploring the mysteries of Borley. By "RAY," son of famous cartoonist, "MATT." His radio appearances include a personal hour-long profile "Ghost Hunter" (included in Pick of the Week); Start the Week (with Melvyn Bragg); Midweek (with Libby Purvis); Women's Hour; Jimmy Young (twice); Bob Symes on Radio 4; BBC Scotland; Radio London; Radio Solent; LBC (with Pete Murray); Capital Radio; BBC Cardiff; BBC Overseas (a feature on "Ghosts" discussing Borley Rectory with Professor John Taylor); and many others.

Peter Underwood has lectured at the Ghost Club Society, the Society for Psychical Research, the College of Psychic Studies, Oxford University Psychical Research Society, Sheffield University, Cambridge University Research Society, Birmingham University Lecture Society, the Lansdowne Club, Pen and Wig Club, Constitutional Club, University of East Anglia, Manchester College of Oxford, University of Evansville in Indiana, the Galley Club, Savage Club, Oriental Club, Sesame Club, the Royal Photographic Society, University Ladies Club, Unitarian Society for Psychical Studies, National Film Theater, and many other places up and down the UK and abroad.

Death of Joyce Underwood

Castle of Spirits web site featuring Peter Underwood