Borley Rectory

[Lauraakafoxy]

The haunting of the Borley Rectory during the 1920s and 1930s, is undoubtedly one of the most famous in Britain, as well as being one of the most controversial.


The rectory was built in 1863, on the site of an old Benedictine Monastery for the Reverend H.D.E Bull and his family. In 1892 the Reverend Bull died in the Blue Room. Harry Bull then took over from his father until 1927, when he also passed away in the Blue Room, now with a reputation as the haunted room of the house.

After a year standing empty, the Rev Eric Smith and his wife moved in, and lived there for three years. It was during this time that Harry Price stayed over at the house for three days, as part of his long-term investigations. In October 1930, the Rev L.A Foyster and his wife Marianne moved in, and stayed for 5 years.

In 1935 (after the Foysters had moved out) the property was leased to Harry Price for a whole year, the results of which were published in The Most Haunted House in England.

The rectory was gutted by fire in 1939 when the occupier, Captain William Gregson, who had bought the property, accidentally turned over an oil lamp near a bookstand. The fire caught hold quickly destroying the rectory beyond repair. The ruin was finally demolished in 1944.

For more information on Borley www.borleyrectory.com

[jules]

i've been fascinated by borley rectory for many years
and what you guys have written about it is very interesting i'm gonna go and have a look in the web site you've put on the board

thsnks

julie

x

[Andy]

There was a brief upsurge in interest in Borley when some bones where found during digging, but these have turned out to be iron age (2000+ years old) and nothing to do with the old rectory.

Also the locals don't take to kindly to 'ghost hunters' especially when coach loads of Americans turn up, not knowing that the Rec. burnt down in the '40's!! (This has happened more than once!)

Regarding Harry Price, the Borley investigator.
Harry Price is the father of paranormal investigating, I think it far too harsh to simply dismiss him as a fake, but by the same token, you can't take everything he said as gospel, it's often a case of reading between the lines. The fact that he was a member of the Magic Circle was quite positive in that it meant that he knew all the 'tricks' that could be employed by any fake medium.

Regarding Borley itself, there were far too many witnessed events for it all to be dismissed as a hoax or fake. But I do think that the 'story' was hyped out of all proportion! But given all the international interest I'm still amazed that no one has made a film of the Borley story!

Andy

[irishbanshee]

I have studied this subject in great detail and find it facinating.

There have been reports of goings on at Borley Church but the nun's hauntings have faded with time.

My favorite story was that the rectory was built across the nuns walking route and the family, on a few occaisions, were aware of a temperature drop at evening dinner and turned to see the nun staring at them through the window. Rev. Bull had the window bricked up!!

[Action]

I have visited Borley Rectory, no paranormal events but as others have said, the village is eerie at night...

[irishbanshee]

I will be popping up to Borley, possibly next weekend, so will report back if I see/hear/feel anything

[Star]

Look forward to hearing back from you Irish.

[irishbanshee]

I am a little nervous about visiting this time, as last time I found the locals rather hostile

I will be keeping a low profile and won't hang around long. I have some advice from members of Paranormal Thrillseekers who live nearby in Suffolk and I feel ready to go back now with some rules to stick by in my head, so as to not upset the locals; just some respect and common sense really.

Will let you know anyhow

[Star]

Thankyou.

I hope that it all goes well.

[kurt]

Yeah good luck and don't worry about those miserable locals. They ought to live in London and experience how many strangers hang about in my neighborhood for comparison They might appreciate their few tourists then!!

[irishbanshee]

LMAO Phantasma

The thing that always puzzles me about the Borley locals is why live there if they don't like the tourists? It's not exactly an unknown case! It would be like people living in Tower Hill moaning about the people coming to look at the Tower of London

[Star]

:DThats very true

[irishbanshee]

In the US there are people who make a fortune from doing guided tours to show people where Marylin Monroe died, where Jim Morrison lived etc etc. None of these people are around anymore and people know they lived there when they buy the house, just like the ghosts at Borley are no longer there and people have known about the Rectory in the village since the first hauntings were reported.

[zephfya]

I was just wondering if anyone had visited the borley church recently and if so, was there any energy around?

[irishbanshee]

I strongly disagree with the claims of any ghosts at Borley church. Because the Rectory is no longer there, I truly believe that people were trying to jump on the 'Borley Bandwagon' so desperately, that they hoaxed activity/photo's regarding the church.

The police are pretty hot on turfing people out of the churchyard at night LMAO

In my opinion, Borley is not haunted; maybe in the past, but not now.