Exorcism for Headless Ghost: Part 1 - Coutts and Co Bank.

 Exorcism for Headless Ghost: Part 1 -

 Coutts and Co Bank.

 

In 1993, the world media reported on a headless ghost that was haunting Coutts & Co Bank. The bank is sometimes known as The Queen’s Bank (now King’s) as the Royal Family are customers.  Coutts & Co. was founded in 1692. The bank's headquarters has been located at 440 Strand in London since the late 1970s, in a building constructed in the 1820s.

 In 1992, several female employees began to complain of a ghost. Computers and electric lighting would fail, the temperature would plummet, and a shadowy figure would be seen floating through the building. A receptionist reported witnessing a full-bodied apparition crossing the atrium floor, which she knew as a ghost. After this experience, many female employees refused to work in the building.[1]
 Meanwhile, other employees in the building were reporting a headless phantom at the bank entrances, coinciding with temperature drops. This apparition was most often seen during the day and early evening.[2]

 The bank sought someone to investigate the alleged haunting. They contacted the College of Psychic Studies in Kensington, which recommended Eddie Burks. During his investigation, Burks held a séance. He claimed he contacted Thomas Howard, who told him, ‘I was beheaded on a summer’s day… I have held much bitterness and…I must let this go. In the name of God, I ask your help…’[3]

After the story broke in the media, a Jesuit priest and member of the Royal Historical Society, Father Francis Edwards, identified the headless ghost as Thomas Howard, the fourth Duke of Norfolk. Howard was married to the daughter of the 12^th Earl of Arundel and was widowed in 1557.

Next week, the story continues with Exorcism for Headless Ghost: Part 2

Researched and written by Allen Tiller. © 2024

[1] Burks, Eddie & Cribbs, Gillian. Ghosthunter: Investigating the World of Ghosts and Spirits, (1995), pp. 37-57.

[2] Rosemary Ellen Guiley, ‘The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits, (2007).

[3] Burks & Cribbs, Ghosthunter (1995), pp. 37-57.

Ghost Materialises for Communion

 

The Canberra Times reported in 1971 that a ghost appeared during a communion service at an 11th-century village church in Hartley, England. Reverend Roger Williams could only watch in awe as a hooded figure, with its arms crossed on its breast, manifested on a wall, then slowly vanished from sight. The parishioners gasped in awe at the apparition, but the Reverend soon explained the miracle.

He explained that after the 16^th century, English churches broke away from Rome, and many mural paintings of saints and scenery were whitewashed over during the Reformation. The church had recently installed central heating. The church suffered from dampness, and as the central heating kicked in, the heat and damp contributed to exposing a mural that had been whitewashed – thus not a ghost![1]

researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024

---

[1] 'Ghost materialises for Communion', The Canberra Times, (4 January 1971), p. 6.

The Haunted Wardrobe – Oxfordshire, England.

In 1937, the Northern Standard, a Northern Territory newspaper reported on the case of a haunted wardrobe in Oxfordshire, England. Mrs Barclay of Carterton Manor, Oxon, had advertised in the Morning Post, an English newspaper that she was selling a haunted wardrobe.

Barclay explained that she purchased the wardrobe for ten pounds at a sale. Three months later, after having it in her house, the doors and drawers of the wardrobe would open and close of their own volition, causing a ruckus. Not long after this happened, she witnessed the ghost of an elderly man, Barclay claimed, ‘the figure of an elderly man, dressed in old-fashioned clothes and wearing a kind of deer-stalker cap appeared in the house.’ Every evening, the ghost would walk from the bedroom, down the stairs out the front door.[1]
 Barclay stated in an interview, ‘I am not nervous, but the wretched ghost will make such a noise. He clatters across the landing and shuffles down the stairs and the noise is exasperatingly loud.’[2] Barclay also claimed the ghost had terrified and frightened away her cook.[3]

 

The night before the auction, Mrs Barclay claimed that the ghost was upset with the sale. He (the ghost) banged the doors of the wardrobe with more than his usual venom. It clattered down the stairs louder than she had ever heard it before, so she had the wardrobe taken out into the grounds of the manor.
 A group of practical jokers, dressed as ghosts, invaded Carterton Manor that evening, and refused to leave until Mrs Barclay's secretary dispersed them by firing a shotgun![4]

Mrs Barclay auctioned the wardrobe. A bidder asked if she could guarantee that the ghost would come with the wardrobe, which she could not. Bidding for the wardrobe saw it sell for much more than the 10 pounds she had previously purchased it for. Mr E Rundle, an ex-R.A.F. officer, who owned an inn, purchased the haunted wardrobe from Mrs B. Barclay for 50 pounds.[5] Mr Rundle stated after making the purchase, ‘I am having my bedroom enlarged and am having the wardrobe put in it. Anyone who wants to do so may sleep there. Personally, I do not believe in ghosts.’[6]

Rundle took the wardrobe to his Clanfield Inn and soon reported the same strange occurrences. Being a sceptic, he decided to pull the Victorian-era wardrobe apart to investigate why the doors and drawers would open of their own volition. Finding no hidden mechanisms, or reason for the wardrobe to act in the manner it did, Rundle closed his investigation and carefully restored the wardrobe. After restoration, Rundle reported that it never acted in the same manner again.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024

---

[1] 'A Haunted Wardrobe Complete with Ghost', The Catholic Advocate, (25 November 1937), p. 6.

[2] Ibid.

[3] 'Haunted Wardrobe', The Argus, (21 August 1937), p. 13.

[4] '£50 Highest Bid for Haunted Wardrobe', Lachlander and Condobolin and Western Districts Recorder, (6 September 1937), p. 6.

[5] Ibid.

[6] 'HAUNTED WARDROBE FETCHES £50', Northern Standard, (31 August 1937), p. 4.

Hilary Evans Paranormal Researcher

Hilary Evans

A self-styled and educated paranormal researcher, Hilary Evans is somewhat better known for helping to establish with his wife Mary, “The Mary Evans Picture Library” in 1964, a collection of millions of illustrations from the 18th and 19th centuries.



With a keen interest in the unusual, the paranormal and particularly Ufology in his younger days, it wasn't until the 1960's that he joined “The Society for Psychical Research”. In his time he was a member of “The British UFO Research Association” and “The Folklore Society”. In 1981 he co-founded “The Association For The Scientific Study Of Anomalous Phenomena”.

Born the son of a Vicar in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK, Hilary's family moved to India when he was just four years old, as his Father had taken a job as Headmaster at an Indian School. Aged nine, He returned to England and attended St Georges school in Hertfordshire.
Hilary went on to earn a Masters Degree at Birmingham University and soon took on tutoring Turkish families children. Eventually, he became a copywriter for an advertising agency where he worked for 12 years. Soon, he discovered (in agreement with his employer) that he was not management material, and so he devoted his time to freelance writing and his ever-growing library.



Hilary's library of paranormally related material was vast, weighing in at 5.5 tons when donated to the Archives for UFO Research in

Sweden. He collected all kinds of writings and drawings on UFO's and related materials, read, catalogued and kept in excellent condition,
Hilary wrote a vast number of books, and was able, through his own knowledge and a vast library,  to make conclusions and connections that other people missed, or simply ignored.
Some of his many many writings include:

• Intrusions: Society and the Paranormal. London and Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982.
• The Evidence for UFOs. Wellingborough, Northampton, England: Aquarian Press, 1983.
• Visions, Apparitions, Alien Visitors. Wellingborough, Northampton, England: Aquarian Press, 1984.
• Gods, Spirits, Cosmic Guardians. Wellingborough, Northampton: Aquarian Press, 1987.
• Alternate States of Consciousness: Unself, Other-self, and Superself. Wellingborough, Northampton: Aquarian Press, 1989.
• Frontiers of Reality, Aquarian Press, 1989
• Evans, Hilary, and John Spencer, eds. Phenomena: Forty Years of Flying Saucers. New York: Avon Books, 1989.
• Evans, Hilary, and Dennis Stacy, eds. UFO 1947-1997: Fifty Years of Flying Saucers. London: John Brown, 1997.
• Evans, Hilary, and Robert Bartholomew, eds. Outbreak! The Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Social Behaviour. San Antonio, Texas: Anomalist Books, 2009.
• Evans, Hilary "SLIders: The Enigma of Streetlight Interference" San Antonio, Texas: Anomalist Books, 2010

Hilary Evans born 6 March 1929; died 27 July 2011 
May his memory live on through us.

© 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

All content on “Eidolon Paranormal & The Haunts of Adelaide” sites, blog and corresponding media pages (eg Facebook, twitter etc) is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any means or process without the written permission of the author. © 2012, 2013, 2014

All photos remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are displayed here for the purpose of education, research and review under the copyright act "fair usage" clause.

Some photos used here on this site are sourced from The State Library of South Australia, and The National Library of Australia and http://www.gawler.nowandthen.net.au - all photos are out of copyright and have no usage restrictions implied.

P.I. Past & Present: Reverend Canon John S Pearce-Higgins

Reverend Canon John S Pearce-Higgins

1905–1985

Canon Pearce-Higgins was Canon Residentiary and Vice-provost of Southwark Cathedral in Great Britain until his retirement Emeritus in 1971. He is a founding member of the Churches Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies in the United Kingdom, which is a sister organisation to the “Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship” in Pennsylvania USA.

 Canon Pearce -Higgins was known internationally for his unique experiences, research, lectures and writings on psychic phenomena, particularly as it relates to religious faith.
 In addition to television broadcasts, Higgins-Pearce was also widely known for his lectures at colleges and schools in England on haunted houses and other paranormal topics.
 Rev Pearce-Higgins was a practising exorcist, licensed by the Bishop of Southwark, he was said to be a quietly charismatic man, who went about his business with an air of “authenticity” to his beliefs.
 He did a great deal of seminal work on multiple personality disorders and “possessions”, but was of the opinion that the overwhelming majority of “possessions” were underlying medically treatable psychosis.
Although he was a minister, Rev Pearce Higgins was also an avid paranormal investigator, and sometimes worked with the greats, such as Peter Underwood. He investigated a number of places including pubs such as the “Three Tuns Inn”  in Bungay, Suffolk, and place once known as “The Horns” on Crucifix street, Southwark. (http://goo.gl/maps/ScvQm )

Canon Pearce -Higgins preferred not to use the title of exorcist, he often said his religious service bore no relation to other Christian exorcisms, he didn’t ban spirits to hell as it was his belief that spirits needed as much counselling as the living victims who body they found themselves in, whether forcibly or by accident.
 He believed, wholeheartedly, that most possessions were purely by accident, that people passing over often got confused by what was happening to them, or scared and clung to life.
 He also believed that there were many more hauntings and haunted people around than anyone would even care to consider.
 Pearce-Higgins wrote a ritual to release earth-bound spirits, that would send them to Heaven, or the “White-Light”, a process he termed “Soothing” as he didn’t like the title of exorcism (as stated previously).
 His “soothing” used a combination of Anglican Liturgy and special prayers.

Southwark Cathedral

The following exchange was recorded between Bishop James Pikes friend, Canon John D Pearce-Higgins and the alleged spirit of Bishop Pike, supposedly after his death in an Israeli desert in 1969, Bishop Pike would speak through medium Ena Twigg (psychic channeller) after being asked questions by Pearce-Higgins

Pike: Oh God Help me...help me, please help me
Canon: Where are you?... God bless you.
Pike: I'm lost...i'm lost..help me- I'm lost...God help me
Canon: On Earth – or somewhere else?
Pike: I'm, in a nowhere, John.
Canon: Are you dead?
Pike: Dead...Yes, I'm nowhere
Canon: Your body is dead...your body is dead
Pike: and I don't belong anywhere, do I?
Canon: Oh yes you do...my dear boy
Pike: where, where, where is this?
Canon: You belong in the upper regions. You're just in the mists right now that we often go to into for some time when we pass over, so I understand...You have your faith in God.
Pike: but this mist...
Canon: This is what they call the River of Death...It's sort of a temporary condition we go through I believe...
Pike (Angrily) They shouldn't have done that to me!
Canon: I think everyone has it...Have you seen anyone you know or are you alone still?
Pike: No, not alone
Canon: Your friends...
Pike: many people here but I can't see anyone

Reverend Canon John S Pearce-Higgins was truly an inspiring and interesting man who believed that God and the Supernatural went hand in hand, although barely remembered in this day and age, I hope that just a few of you go away and research himself yourself, so that his memory and actions can live on through the next generation of spirit-researchers.

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Paranormal Investigators: Past & Present: Yvette Fielding

“ Most Haunted”Yvette Fielding

As the host of one of Britain’s most popular Paranormal Television shows, Yvette Fielding has had an entertaining career seeking paranormal activity in some of England’s oldest haunted locations. 

A Well known TV personality in England for her work on TV shows such as “Blue Peter” and “Karaoke Challenge" among a long list of other Television shows. 

In 2002 Yvette and her Husband, Karl started a company called “Antix Productions” and began filming “Most Haunted”, a paranormal reality TV show that follows Fielding and her team as they try and gather evidence of ghosts and paranormal activity in various locations around England. The show remains the most popular broadcast on “Living Tv” in the United Kingdom. 

Most Haunted has been incredibly successful, earning Yvette the title of Britain’s first lady of the Paranormal, but, this isn’t the only paranormal related show Yvette has hosted, she has also done a number of TV documentaries and radio shows including: 

Whines and Spirits 

Ghost Hunting with Radio One 

Ghost Hunting with Girls Aloud 

In 2009 Yvette visited Poveglia in Italy with Paul O'Grady to film a documentary called “Death in Venice” where the pair investigated vampire and ghost sightings. 

Yvette has also filmed a series title “Ghost Hunting With...” that features celebrities joining a hunt with Yvette and team. 

Recently Lionsgate partnered with Karl and Yvette's Antix Productions, could this see the return of a new series of Most Haunted to our screens? 

Recently it was reported that Yvette had undergone major surgery and had a full hysterectomy  She has recovered well and will most likely begin shooting a new series soon....but what will it be?

http://www.tributemosthaunted.co.uk/

http://www.tributemosthaunted.co.uk/most-haunted-news/yvette-fielding-interview-most-haunted-blue-peter-and-zombies/

© 2013 Eidolon Paranormal 

written and researched by 

Allen Tiller 

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

  

All content on the “Eidolon Paranormal Blog” site, blog and corresponding media pages (eg Facebook, twitter etc) is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any means or process without the written permission of the author. © 2013 

All photos remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are displayed here for the purpose of education, research and review under the copyright act "fair usage" clause.

Paranormal Investigators: Past and Present: Guy Lyon Playfair

"Poltergeist Investigator"

Guy Lyon Playfair

Born in India and raised in England, by a Mother who was a member of The Society For Psychical Research, it wasn't hard for Guy Lyon Playfair to accept that there are things out there that cannot be explained.

In 1973, Guy joined The Society For Psychical Research himself, and in 2004 was elected to the organisation's council. Guy emigrated to Brazil and spent fourteen years as a freelance journalist there, whilst there he also became a member of Brazils IBPP research group.

The author of many books about psychic powers, the unspoken communication of twins, Uri Gellar and many other topics, Guy is probably best known for his book on the Enfield Poltergeist Investigation in 1977 – 1978.

A family of five, consisting of a Mother, two daughters and two sons were facing daily occurrences of phenomena in their house. Representatives of The Society Of Psychical Research, Maurice Grosse, and Guy Lyon Playford began investigating the house, and the claims of fraud associated it with it.

It was found by the investigators that at least 26 inexplicable occurrences happened that cannot be explained by current science. Included in these phenomena were; moving furniture, pools of water on the floor, flying marbles, physical assaults and fires which spontaneously ignited and extinguished themselves.

Amongst other phenomena, was one of the young girls using her false vocal cords to speak, for hours on end. Whilst apparently possessed by an entity named “Bill”. A man came forward who claimed to be Bill's son, recordings were made by the BBC, but when the film crew went to check their recording equipment they found the metal inside of their recorders bent, and their recordings erased.

Also during this investigation, Guy caught one of the young girls faking phenomena, to see if she could “catch out” the investigators, but not one try of trickery fooled either investigator.

There is plenty of controversies still about this particular case, for more information on the Enfield Poltergeist case, you can purchase Guy Lyon Playfair's book “This House Is Haunted”.

Much of guys work has centred around psychics and psychic powers. For over 30 years he has studied the concepts associated with telepathic communication and, written many comprehensive papers and books about the subject. One of Guys books, “Twin Telepathy” is written about the link twins have, where one can, in an entirely different hemisphere of the planet, feel the other's pain. The book delves into research conducted on shared emotions and thoughts, and even shared physical bruising!

Here is a short quote from Guy, after being questioned by Steve Volk on the Skeptico website

Steve Volk: “What’s your best guess, at this stage, after all these years, on what poltergeists, or ghosts, are.?”

Guy Playfair: ”The short answer is that there are two possibilities. Either they are some kind of discarnate entity – which I certainly don’t rule out – or else they are an entirely unknown force that emanates from the human mind. How it works we simply don’t know. We can only observe its effects. I think there’s quite strong evidence that it’s some kind of so-called spirit or discarnate entity, kind of drifting blobs of exo-intelligence, if you like. But that is an extremely controversial opinion and not many people share it.”

A few of Guys Books:

• The Indefinite Boundary.
• The Cycles of Heaven: Cosmic Forces and What They Are Doing to You.
• This House is Haunted: The Investigation of the Enfield Poltergeist
• The Haunted Pub Guide
• If This Be Magic
• The Geller Effect
• Twin Telepathy.
• New Clothes for Old Souls: World Wide Evidence for Reincarnation.
• Chico Xavier, Medium of the Century.

A documentary on “The Enfield Poltergeist”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7VpVbD8p_s

Researched & Written by:

Allen Tiller © 2012

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au