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This section contains descriptions of unexplained facts provided by eyewitnesses or published in the media, as well as the results of their analysis by the group.

Poltergeist. United Kingdom

ID #1664533599
Added Fri, 30/09/2022
Author July N.
Sources
Phenomena
Status
Fact

Initial data

Initial information from sources or from an eyewitness
Incident date: 
1862
Location: 
Приход Борли
United Kingdom

It has been 160 years since a new house built for a vicar became the most visited haunted house in the UK.

The clergyman and his family experienced a series of horrific and inexplicable events after they moved to Borley Parish in 1862. Now that David Tennant plays a priest with a secret in the BBC drama The Man Inside, James Moore reveals the mysterious history of this place.

By the time the Borley Rectory was being built in 1862, the place already had a mysterious past. Built for the new vicar of Essex Village, Reverend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull, the Gothic house replaced another rectory that was destroyed by fire in 1841.

This place was associated with the legend of an old monastery and a monk who had a relationship with a nun. It is said that she was immured in the walls of her monastery after it was exposed.

Once Bull and his family moved into their home, things got even more sinister.

Strange sounds of knocking and running water were heard in the house, and the maid left after enduring regular unexplained footsteps outside the door at night.

Bull's daughter Ethel was slapped by an invisible hand while she was lying in bed, while she and his other children reported seeing a nun on the premises.

It's terrible, but both the gardener and the handyman swore that they had seen a similar figure on different occasions.

When Bull died in 1892, his son Harry took over. One day he reported that his dog found a pair of legs sticking out of the bushes near the house. As he approached, they moved. Then he saw that they belonged to a body without a head. He watched in amazement as it rose and disappeared into the locked gate.

In 1927, Harry died and Reverend Guy Smith moved in with him.

Soon his wife Mabel made an alarming discovery by cleaning out the closet — the skull of a young woman wrapped in a brown paper bag. Buried in the garden. But in the coming months, the couple was haunted by the ringing of servants' bells, despite the fact that they were turned off, as well as whispers. Both Mabel and the servant also reported seeing a ghostly carriage.

During the investigation, the journalist Vernon Wall and the photographer were on duty in the woods near the house in 1929, they saw a light in the window upstairs, although they knew that no one was there.

Soon he visited him again, this time with the psychic Harry Price, who reported that he had seen a ghostly figure in the garden, possibly a nun.

They experienced other strange phenomena—bricks crashing into windows, pebbles inexplicably rolling down the stairs, and a glass candlestick flying past their heads.

There were too many Smiths to be replaced by Reverend Lionel Foyster with his wife Marianne and their three-year-old daughter Adelaide.

It is reported that in addition to objects moving by themselves, Marianne was left with a cut and a black eye after she was hit by an invisible force that also threw her out of bed.

Strange inscriptions began to appear on the walls of the parish house, and she even reported that she had seen the ghost of the real Henry Bull in a dressing gown.

The Feusters moved in 1935, and it is not surprising that a buyer for the rectory could not be found.

Therefore, Price rented a house and, with the help of volunteers, monitored the ongoing poltergeist activity there.

At midnight on February 27, 1939, shortly after the house was finally bought by Captain W. H. Gregson, a huge fire broke out, leaving it in the form of a ghostly empty shell.

After his death, Price was accused of staging some strange events at the rectory. But the horrifying testimony and horrific events on the spot continued.

Original news

It's 160 years since a new home built for a vicar became the UK’s most haunted house.

The churchman and his family suffered a series of terrifying and unexplained events after moving into Borley Rectory in 1862.

Now as David Tennant plays a vicar with a secret in BBC drama Inside Man, James Moore reveals the place’s mysterious history.

By the time Borley Rectory was being built in 1862 the place already had a mysterious past.

Constructed for the Essex village’s new vicar Reverend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull, the gothic house replaced another rectory that had been destroyed by fire in 1841.

The site was associated with the legend of an old monastery and a monk who had a relationship with a nun.

It’s said she ended up bricked inside her convent’s walls after it was exposed.

Once Bull and his family moved into their home things started getting more sinister.

Strange rapping sounds and rushing water were heard in the house and a maid left after enduring regular unexplained footsteps outside her door at night.

Bull’s daughter Ethel was slapped in the face by an unseen hand as she lay in bed, while she and his other children reported seeing the nun in the grounds.

Chillingly, both a gardener and handyman swore they’d seen a similar figure on different occasions.

When Bull died in 1892 his son Harry took over.

On one occasion he reported his dog had found a pair of legs sticking out of bushes near the house. When he approached, they moved. Then, he saw they belonged to a body with no head.

He watched, astonished as it got up and vanished through a locked gate.

In 1927 Harry died and Reverend Guy Smith moved in.

Soon his wife Mabel made an alarming discovery after cleaning out a cupboard – the skull of a young woman wrapped in a brown paper package. They buried it in the garden.

But, over the coming months, the couple were plagued by servants’ bells ringing – despite being disconnected – as well as whispering sounds. Both Mabel and a servant reported seeing the phantom coach too.

When investigating journalist Vernon Wall and a photographer kept vigil in woods near the house in 1929 they saw a light going on in an upstairs window, though they knew no-one was there.

Soon he visited again, this time with psychic investigator Harry Price who reported seeing a shadowy figure, possibly the nun, in the garden.

They experienced other weird phenomena – bricks crashing through windows, pebbles inexplicably rolling down the stairs and a glass candlestick flying past their heads.

It was all too much for the Smiths who moved out, to be replaced by the Reverend Lionel Foyster with his wife Marianne and their three-year-old daughter Adelaide.

As well as objects moving on their own, Marianne was reportedly left with a cut and black eye after being struck by an unseen force, which also threw her out of bed.

Weird writing began to appear on the rectory’s walls and she even reported seeing the ghost of the original Henry Bull in a dressing gown.

The Foysters moved out in 1935 and, unsurprisingly, a buyer for the rectory couldn’t be found.

So Price rented the house and, with the help of volunteers, monitored ongoing poltergeist activity there.

At midnight on February 27, 1939, shortly after the house was finally bought by a Captain WH Gregson, a huge blaze broke out, leaving it as a ghostly empty shell.

After his death, Price was accused of faking some of the strange events at the rectory. But terrifying testimony and eerie events continued at the site.

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