kirklancaster
15-02-2015, 09:51 AM
Years ago, when we used to frequent gay clubs throughout the UK, among our friends were a gay couple - Eddie and Philip.
Now, the first time I met Philip – who at the time lived in Knottingley, Wakefield - he had a very unusual story to tell concerning a poltergeist which had haunted his family home in Pontefract West Yorkshire, for some years when he was a teenager.
During the course of many chats, Philip recounted how the ghost had thrown eggs and cutlery around the house, disturbed furniture, and violently attacked his younger sister “dragging her by the hair up the stairs”. He went on to tell us how the family used to sometimes gather and sing hymns together and that during one such event, a pair of disembodied hands in “white gloves” appeared over the top and sides of the ajar front room door and appeared to mockingly ‘conduct’ the family as they sang before disappearing. When members of the family rushed to look behind the door, there was no one there.
Other incidents involved multiple mini fountains of water rising up through the front room carpet and inverted crosses being painted on internal walls when paint and brushes were left unattended whilst the house was being redecorated after it had been blessed by the local priest with Holy Water.
Now long before I chose to become a Christian, and after years of philosophising and exploring various faiths due to a very personal experience I’d had, I have always had an open mind and an interest in all things spiritual and paranormal, and there were others in my group of friends at the time who were of similar minds, so we were all intrigued. Some of my friends then (as now) though were cynics and skeptics and not so receptive to Philip and Eddie’s story.
Various mocking from these cynics ensued, which resulted in Philip bringing with him various documentation to corroborate his story the next time we were all together in my home. I actually read these documents as did everyone else and they included;
A copy of the ‘Unexplained’ magazine which featured the haunting in considerable detail over many pages (apparently, Philip’s family house had been built on the site of a medieval monastery where a an evil monk had been hanged for raping and murdering a local young girl, and it was his evil spirit or hers or both, who was haunting the house) various newspaper articles, including one by a reporter who was covering the story in the 70’s and who actually witnessed a plate flying through the air, propelled by some unseen force; statements of two Water Board employees who were sent to investigate the ‘fountains of water’ in the lounge (they removed the carpet and floorboards – all of which were dry, as was the timber joists and sub- floor foundations but as soon as the floorboards and carpets were replaced they actually witnessed the fountains spring up again, and this was also witnessed by a police officer)
.
Of course, this did not persuade the sceptics who merely switched their view that Philip was lying, to the view that everybody was lying – including the reporter, the cop and Water Board workers and others.
I photocopied everything – even the relevant pages of the ‘Unexplained’ magazine and filed them away.
Years passed. Eddie sadly passed away whilst still young, I lost touch with Philip (among other friends) and I changed partners – more than once – and moved homes several times and my files became lost, and I forgot some of the details – including the fact that the house was in Pontefract.
Sometimes in company, I have recounted this story to others though, and the usual sceptics – including my own sister-in-law and her boyfriend - have all but accused me of lying about the whole thing, or of having a fanciful imagination. (nothing unusual there then).
Yesterday late at night, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend, my wife and me, and another couple of friends were watching a horror film on Sky; a 2012 British horror called ‘When The Lights Go Out’ which we knew nothing about and which my wife selected at random from the sky lists. Yet, it became increasingly apparent as we viewed, that this was Philip’s story – even though no Philip character was in it. I said as much to my guests but was met with more teasing disbelief. Then my wife googled the film and lo and behold – it is based on Philip’s story.
I cannot paste links so you’ll have to G’oogle ‘When The Lights Go Out the true story’ for yourselves if you are interested.
Me? I’m just so grateful I have at least proved to a couple of skeptics that I wasn't lying – even if they still don’t believe a word of it.
Over to you L.T.
Now, the first time I met Philip – who at the time lived in Knottingley, Wakefield - he had a very unusual story to tell concerning a poltergeist which had haunted his family home in Pontefract West Yorkshire, for some years when he was a teenager.
During the course of many chats, Philip recounted how the ghost had thrown eggs and cutlery around the house, disturbed furniture, and violently attacked his younger sister “dragging her by the hair up the stairs”. He went on to tell us how the family used to sometimes gather and sing hymns together and that during one such event, a pair of disembodied hands in “white gloves” appeared over the top and sides of the ajar front room door and appeared to mockingly ‘conduct’ the family as they sang before disappearing. When members of the family rushed to look behind the door, there was no one there.
Other incidents involved multiple mini fountains of water rising up through the front room carpet and inverted crosses being painted on internal walls when paint and brushes were left unattended whilst the house was being redecorated after it had been blessed by the local priest with Holy Water.
Now long before I chose to become a Christian, and after years of philosophising and exploring various faiths due to a very personal experience I’d had, I have always had an open mind and an interest in all things spiritual and paranormal, and there were others in my group of friends at the time who were of similar minds, so we were all intrigued. Some of my friends then (as now) though were cynics and skeptics and not so receptive to Philip and Eddie’s story.
Various mocking from these cynics ensued, which resulted in Philip bringing with him various documentation to corroborate his story the next time we were all together in my home. I actually read these documents as did everyone else and they included;
A copy of the ‘Unexplained’ magazine which featured the haunting in considerable detail over many pages (apparently, Philip’s family house had been built on the site of a medieval monastery where a an evil monk had been hanged for raping and murdering a local young girl, and it was his evil spirit or hers or both, who was haunting the house) various newspaper articles, including one by a reporter who was covering the story in the 70’s and who actually witnessed a plate flying through the air, propelled by some unseen force; statements of two Water Board employees who were sent to investigate the ‘fountains of water’ in the lounge (they removed the carpet and floorboards – all of which were dry, as was the timber joists and sub- floor foundations but as soon as the floorboards and carpets were replaced they actually witnessed the fountains spring up again, and this was also witnessed by a police officer)
.
Of course, this did not persuade the sceptics who merely switched their view that Philip was lying, to the view that everybody was lying – including the reporter, the cop and Water Board workers and others.
I photocopied everything – even the relevant pages of the ‘Unexplained’ magazine and filed them away.
Years passed. Eddie sadly passed away whilst still young, I lost touch with Philip (among other friends) and I changed partners – more than once – and moved homes several times and my files became lost, and I forgot some of the details – including the fact that the house was in Pontefract.
Sometimes in company, I have recounted this story to others though, and the usual sceptics – including my own sister-in-law and her boyfriend - have all but accused me of lying about the whole thing, or of having a fanciful imagination. (nothing unusual there then).
Yesterday late at night, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend, my wife and me, and another couple of friends were watching a horror film on Sky; a 2012 British horror called ‘When The Lights Go Out’ which we knew nothing about and which my wife selected at random from the sky lists. Yet, it became increasingly apparent as we viewed, that this was Philip’s story – even though no Philip character was in it. I said as much to my guests but was met with more teasing disbelief. Then my wife googled the film and lo and behold – it is based on Philip’s story.
I cannot paste links so you’ll have to G’oogle ‘When The Lights Go Out the true story’ for yourselves if you are interested.
Me? I’m just so grateful I have at least proved to a couple of skeptics that I wasn't lying – even if they still don’t believe a word of it.
Over to you L.T.