Foulness Island

[irishbanshee]

As you are all probably aware, Foulness is owned by the government and was, up until recently, part of M.O.D. Shoebury Barracks. It is now owned by Qinetiq, who are a private firm that are paid by the government to test explosives. Shooting ranges are also over there and all this makes the island unaccessable to the public; only the islanders can get on and off and have to 'invite' people onto the island for any outsiders to access.

All these factors have kept the island's buildings and sea-walls in the same condition they were in over half a century ago. The island is also home to the remains of a Roman dwelling and I have been told, by the local archeologist, that most of the island is reputedly haunted.

I have been invited over to the island to do a book signing at the village annual fete next Saturday and have been promised a guided tour of the island, ghost stories and all!!

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself, as it has been a long ambition to go onto the island, especially as it features heavily in my last book and now I am actually going!!

I will let you know how I get on and if there are any spooky tales to tell, you will all be the first to know

[irishbanshee]

Well unfortunately my day was ruined by swarms of hover-fly's and I was unable to do a tour of the island in fear of swallowing so many flies that I would be too full for tea

The island itself is beautiful, peacful and very flat! From the bridge it takes about a 15 minute drive through countryside and checkpoints before arriving at the first village, Churchend. I did however manage to get some ghost stories and managed to sign a few copies of my current publication before giving up hope of selling anymore and left my publisher and his wife in the midst of the swarms

There was a tale of a domestic tragedy in one farmhouse that seemed to leave a terrifying atmosphere hanging in the air for any visitor to encounter when entering the now vacant property. A headless woman that stands at a lonely street corner and a phantom ship offshore.

A fabulous opportunity though and I will be returning soon, hopefully for that guided tour I so badly wanted to go on.