Paranormal investigators spend night at castle

By Staff Copy

A TEAM of paranormal investigators spent the night at Helmsley Castle – with some startling results.

Rotherham-based Northern Ghost Research Investigation Team UK (NGRIT) was invited to investigate by English Heritage after staff reported strange occurrences.

It was the second night the team had spent at the 12th-Century remains after first visiting the site in October 2006.

The main areas of investigation were the West Grange, castle keep and cellar. According to the researchers, each area produced some interesting phenomena including flashing lights, thrown stones and objects moving.

Lead investigator Patrick Firth said: “It was a fascinating vigil that thoroughly deserves a follow-up investigation, if possible, to try to get to the bottom of what is causing the activity here, and why.”

The group’s medium, Joe Summerhill, sensed the presence of an important woman throughout the castle – possibly Isabel Manners, who was responsible for creating the Tudor mansion with her husband.

Joe also felt there was an unhappy religious figure in the chapel area, civil war soldiers in the keep and a suicide in the castle grounds.

Much of the investigation took place in the West Range, where NGRIT members witnessed regular flashes and red and white lights across the walls, heard footsteps outside the door and on the stairs, and had several stones thrown at them.

But there was also activity in other parts of the castle. At the start of the night members left a Star Of David in the chapel area, protected by alarms, to see whether it was moved. A few hours later it was found in the doorway of the chapel. NGRIT then moved it the cellar, only to find it 30 minutes later on the floor by the steps to the cellar.

Mr Firth said: “There is absolutely no rational explanation for what happened with the Star of David. I know for certain that we left it in the cellar, which was protected by alarms, and we were all together as a group until we spotted it had moved again.”

Throughout the investigation, the group constantly recorded atmospheric conditions in locations around the castle and made several audio and visual recordings. These will all be analysed in the coming weeks for further evidence.