Haunting Times

10
Haunting Times Issue 1 April/May 2014 Cowane Hospital A night of whispers as a team of investigators try to find the source A 40-year haunt that shows no sign of stopping and a families acceptance of thier unseen lodger Scotland’s most haunted: dare you delve into our most scariest hotspots? Scotland’s Supernatural home to all things weird and wonderful

description

For all things supernatural in Scotland

Transcript of Haunting Times

Page 1: Haunting Times

HauntingTimes Issue 1

April/May 2014

Cowane HospitalA night of whispers as ateam of investigatorstry to find thesource

A 40-yearhaunt thatshows no signof stoppingand a familiesacceptance ofthier unseenlodger

Scotland’s most haunted:dare you delve into ourmost scariest hotspots?

Scotland’s Supernatural home to all things weird and wonderful

Page 2: Haunting Times

Global Horror Video For The Perfect Night In

18 Bryers Road, Glasgow, G2 1PQTelephone: 141 333 5454 or email [email protected]

For A Night Of TerrorAnd Tales Of The Supernatural

There Is Only One Place That Will Satisfy All Your Visual Needs

Page 3: Haunting Times

content

Features

Cowane Hospital Ghost Hunt 7 - 8

A 40-year haunt 3 - 4

Scotland’s Most Haunted 5 - 6

if you have a ghost story or if you would like our team to inves-tigate a haunted location

get in touch at [email protected]

Page 4: Haunting Times

WHEN you hear of a haunted location what springsto mind? Big gothic mansions? Graveyards? Oldrun down theaters? Usually somewhere with a che-quered past or somewhere steeped with a bloodyhistory. But what probably doesn’t spring to mind is a lovely

modern light and airy home. The family designed and built the house themselves

back in the 1970’s.Before the houses were built on this small street it

was a forest dating back for hundreds of years. It ispart of Bothwell Castle’s estate but even though noother dwellings have ever been built there the groundshave bore witness to many battles between the Scotsand the English so where the family home stands nownobody really knows how blood soaked the foundationsmay be. There are five members of the family the mum and

dad, Mr and Mrs Grendell* with their three children Jan,Stuart and the youngest Alan (* all names have beenchanged.) The three children are all grown up noweach married with homes and children of their own butAlan along with Mrs Grendell has agreed to talk aboutsome of their experiences of their haunted house.Alan says: “I can’t really remember when I under-

stood I was living in a house that was haunted. I wouldtell my friends in primary school about things that hadhappened and kids being kids they just shrugged it offas no big deal. It was really when I started secondaryschool that I began to realise it wasn’t normal the thingsthat were happening in our home; I realised they didn’thappen to everyone.” Alan looks at his mum at this point and Mrs Grendell

explains: “When we first moved into the house I wasstill pregnant with Alan. It had been such a longprocess for my husband and I with designing and build-ing our own home; especially with two toddlers running

around and being heavily pregnant at the timeso at first I didn’t notice strange thingswere happening. Even when thebuilders were complaining thatthings were going missing or theirtools were being moved aboutor being put in silly places Ijust presumed it was eitherJan or Stuart playing pranksand to be honest I was soexhausted I really couldn’tbe bothered getting intoanything with the work-ers all I wanted was thehouse finished and fur-nished before Alan wasborn.” The home is lovely

and warm – so far nocold spots or creepyshadows. Nothing toput your nerves onedge until we leave thekitchen and turn rightand stretching before usis a long corridor. It’snot particularly spooky oranything you can actuallyput your finger on butthere is a feeling; a feelingthat made the hairs on theback of my neck stand onend. I try to shake it off, as I’mhere to gather facts for a featurenot be drawn into a ghost story. Mrs Grendell says: “This seems to

be where the haunting starts, if that iswhat it is? The door at the top of the corridoris the master bedroom where we have an on-suite andthe room at the top on the left is Alan’s room and thedoor across from it is the family bathroom. Everythingthat happens seems to stem from this part of thehouse.” Walking up the corridor and into Alan’s old room the

first thing you see is the drum kit. The room is light andbright with no suppressing atmosphere. Alan explains some of the of the events that have

taken place: “The two strangest things that happenhere is the corner of my room where the head of mybed is; if you lie there you’ll here someone breathing.And that’s all the time not just now and again.” I must look dubious because before I know it Alan has

talked me into removing my shoes and taking a listenfor myself. I lie there thinking how stupid I must lookbut as soon as I do I can hear it - distinct breathing, aregular rhythmic intake and outtake of breath.

A 40-year haunt a

3

Page 5: Haunting Times

Alan says: “It was something that has alwaysbeen there for me. From a baby this has al-

ways been my room. When I was about13 or 14 one of my friends was sleep-ing over. I gave him the bed and Islept on the fold-a-way. Thebreathing really freaked him outand we ended up swappingbeds and having a long discus-sion on what it could be. Thatwas the very first time I’dtalked about it; I’d nevereven mentioned it to mymum and dad before be-cause it was just some-thing that had alwaysbeen.” Mrs Grendell picks up

the story: “Alan and hispal told us the next morn-ing about the breathingand it was my husband,who’s an engineer whowent to listen to it. He re-ally tried to get to the bot-tom of what was causing it,even going as far as remov-ing a section of the wall tocheck if there were any pipesthere. But it’s an outside walland there aren’t even any plugsin that section, so there are no

wires, no pipes no drafts nothingthat can be explained or matched to

the noise.” “Another thing that always happens

here.” Alan continues. “Is whenever I playthe drums, footsteps come running up the hall-

way and stop outside my door. But nobody’s is everthere and nothing has ever burst through my door eventhough that is what it sounds like is going to happen.” Alan picks up the drumsticks and sits down and be-

gins to play and the footsteps are immediate. Heavyand fast running up the corridor – and yes you are wait-ing for his bedroom door to burst open because theysound so immediate, there is an urgency to them. Butnothing happens and the noise stops outside the door.Mrs Grendell opens the door and just to show nothingis there. It’s not an echo of the drums as it is a different rhythm

and it only happens the first time he begins to play andnot throughout. Alan stops again to let some time passand then once again he begins to play. Mrs Grendellhas left the door open and as soon as Alan’s first beatis struck the footfalls come pounding up the corridor.We then go into the master bedroom and again it’s an-

other large light and airy space with no negative vibes.Mrs Grendell says: “It’s the lights in here that alwayscause the problem. They seem to go on and off when-ever; and not just the overhead’s it’s the bedside lampsand the on-suite lights as well. At New Year - but notevery New Year all the lights come on at the same timeand as soon as my husbands feet touch the floor theyall go off. The first few years this happened I did find itquite scary but we’re used to it now and we feel itsmaybe just loved ones coming back to say hello. I’ll behappy if it goes on for another 40-odd-years.” As we wrap-up the interview I get the feeling that this

family are very down-to-earth and not given to flights offancy. They’ve just come to accept the fact that thesethings happen in their home and no one has ever cometo any harm and so they just let it continue. I left the house feeling very shaken and un-nerved I

didn’t know really what I was expecting before doingthis interview but after witnessing what I did I can tellyou I was very happy to put this family home in my rearview mirror.

nd 40-years more

4

Page 6: Haunting Times

WITH Scotland’s long and bloody past most people think of bat-tlefields and castles to be the most haunted locations. Butlisted here are a few overlooked gems of our countries super-natural heritage. Ranging from hospitals to amusement parks not everything isas you might expect.

Hartwood opened its doors on Tuesday May 14, 1895. In the be-ginning the name Hartwood Asylum was preferred but through

changing attitudestowards mentalhealth it wasdeemed inappro-priate and so inmore recent yearswas changed toHartwood hospital. Hartwood wasseen as a verymodern and pro-gressive asylum inits day as insteadof locking up pa-tients or restrainingthem; they be-lieved that peoplerecovered quickerthrough music,dance and sporttherapy. The haunting

here is believed to be the first Med Campbell Clark, who said: “The firs cure where possible, and to give th can not be found.” It is thought that Dr Clark showed his patients that he is still to this da

The St Bride’s Church of Bothwe 1398 by the Earl of Douglas. The C visible structure and dates from the During recent building work and e back to the 12th century where frag found below the floor levels belong style. Even though the church and surro nearly 1000 years the haunting her To the side of St Bride’s is a very where the public is free to roam an oldest residents. Here if you’re lucky you may get t who walks between graves crunch paths. On occasion she has also b ported she is dressed in the era of bunch of flowers but she has only b sions and it is more likely that you

Loudoun Castle was the ancestra the earliest buildings on this land w the Craufurds who erected a four s back to the 12th or 13th century. It Earl of Loudoun, Sir John Campbe bell family has always occupied the laid to ruin by fire in 1941. Loudoun Castle opened again in was a theme park and this is where On July 15, 2007 a young 18-yea roller-coaster platforms helping to g ever they came to that turn on the man held on to one of the carts for and the momentum pulled him ove he tragically fell 80 feet to the grou Crosshouse hospital but never reco There have been several reports up on the platform of the roller-coa shut-down; it is believed that he sta others from making the same mista

Most ha

5

Hartwood Asylum

St Bride’s Church

St Bride’s Church

Loudoun Castle Theme Park

Hartwood Hospital

Page 7: Haunting Times

dical Superintendent Dr Archibald st purpose of the hospital is to

he best possible care when a cure d such care and compassion for ay making his rounds.

ll was founded on October 10, Choir of this church is the oldest e 14th century. excavations foundations dating

gments of dressed stones were ging to late Norman of pre-Gothic ounding land has been in use for re is a fairly modern one.

old and very cinematic graveyard nd discover some of Bothwell’s to hear the footsteps of a mourner

ing up and down the red gravel been seen and it has been re- the 1940’s and is carrying a been spotted on very rare occa- will hear her mournful steps.

al home of the Campbell family but were thought to have been built by storey square battlement dating t wasn’t until 1601 when the First ell added the castle. The Camp- e castle and grounds until it was

1995 but this time on its grounds e the haunting tale begins. ar-old male was working on the

give the carts an extra push when- ride. Unfortunately the young a fraction of a second too long er the side of the platform where nd below. He was rushed to

overed and died the next day. by people who claim to see him

aster even though the park is now ands vigil over this ride to save

ake he did.

Provanhall/Blochairn House is one of Glasgow’s oldest buildingsdating back to the 15th century. Provanhall has a long and colourful history passing through many hands in its timeline. Some of theholders have been John Wyschard, who obtained a charter fromRobert the Bruce in 1322. Walter Stewart, an illegitimate son of KingRobert II, William Turnbull, who later became Bishop of Glasgow,Alexander Stewart, James IV’s son by Marion Boyd, to name but afew. But it is the homes last owner that is reputed to haunt this location;Reston Mather who died in 1934 has been seen on many occasionsby staff and visitors in the Blochairn House and witness’s have re-ported he seems a friendly and kind gentleman who just likes tomake sure his home is being looked after. A woman and child whowere murdered in the upstairs apartment haunt Provanhall; therehave been several cases of female visitors reporting an evil force

when approachingthe table and chairin the room.

aunted

6

Provanhall/Blochairn House

Loudoun Castle Theme Park

Provanhall/Blochairn House

Page 8: Haunting Times

7

Whispers in

The team: Lanarkshire Paranormal from left to right: Steff, Janice, Laura, Jamie, Mark, Alex, Debbie

Location: Cowane Hospital - Stirling Date: March 29, 2014 Time: 9pm - 3am

THE night got off to a great start as the turnout was a good one.The atmosphere was thick with anticipation. This was a brandnew venue for the investigators and no one knew what to ex-pect. Steff, who is the head of Lanarkshire Paranormal, had been to thelocation a couple of weeks previously just to scout out the health andsafety of the building but even in the short time he was here he borewitness to the whispering gallery; he laughs: “You’d think I would beused to this kind of thing by now but I had to check the building twiceto make sure I was on my own – the whispering was that clear.”Before the night begins we are divided up into three separategroups. There are three locations to go to here, the first is the base-ments, the second is the great hall and the third is the graveyardoutside. Our group is visiting the basements first; on entering them they arecold, dark and oppressive. It’s hard to imagine these were once thekitchens to the hospital. In most sections it’s hard to stand upstraight never mind working in them. Mark calls out an invitation to any spirit present to come forward

and interact with him or the group. nothing happens. Then Steff notic the short corridor in the next room; as we settle again all of us can see we’ve just left. Steff and Mark inve which would cause this effect. We longer but nothing else happens an Our next location was the gravey here but it was a very interesting w our location from the headstones. and looked through the photos that that I had taken in a row of the sam ferent ways. And those of you who nificance in these pictures. Lastly our group entered the grea all made our way up into the galler minutes and the whispering began mentioned and dates but it was ha versation was. It just seemed to be

from graveyard

Page 9: Haunting Times

8

n the night

Nothing happens. We wait. Still es small lights coming from down

so we all go there. But as soon e the lights coming from the room

estigate but cannot find a source, stay in the basements for a while nd before long our time is up. ard. Again nothing happened walk and we did learn a lot about It wasn’t until I got back home t I took that I noticed three photos me landscape came out three dif- o know about orbs will see the sig-

at hall and our final location. We

y. And we’d only settled for a few . We could hear names being rd to make out what the main con- e a string of names and years

being rhymed off. Steff told us: “That’s exactly what I heard the last time. I tried to in-teract with it – ask questions and such but it seems to be a residualhaunting.” A residual haunting is like a tape being played over and over again.Some believe that the stones of building have a way to record cer-tain events in history and this is what causes a residual haunt. Mark says: “This kind of haunting can do no harm and unfortu-nately there is no way to interact with it. It would be the same as try-ing to get someone on the telly to answer back if you were sittingwatching it from home.” It soon came time for all the groups to get together to compare thenight’s events. It seems our group were the only ones to see thelights in the basement but all the groups heard the whispering in thegallery; one member in another group even managed to recordsome of the whispering onto her recorder but we couldn’t actuallymake out what it was saying.Everyone really enjoyed this ghost hunt and felt they each had ex-perienced something.

A good turnout The whispering gallery

to orbs to more defined orbs

Page 10: Haunting Times

In the next issue of Most Haunted: Govanhill Baths GhosthuntCould you be possessed?

How to put together your own ghosthunting packAND SO MUCH MORE....

DO not MISS OUR MAY/JUNE ISSUE OR IT WILL HAUNT YOUFOREVER