benchcluttocks

Does anyone know, if, there has ever been a film or documentry made about Borley Rectory, the most haunted house in Britain. and if not, why not!

plasticjock

It featured in one of Michael Aspel's 'Strange But True' episodes, back in the 90's.
Here is the blurb for that programme:

"Strange But True?"
Geoff Brown has been editor of a local paper in Borley for 27 years, having lived there for 40 years. He says that each year there has been a report of something strange happening.
Even since Borley Rectory had been built in 1863, there had been reports of strange whispering, ghostly presences, and mysteries "accidents".
The daughters of the first rector saw a haunting vision of a nun floating in the garden. As one of the sisters moved toward it, it vanished.
Peter Underwood of the Ghost Club Society said he talked to the sisters are said they weren't the types to fool about or be easily fooled.
Two decades later after Harry Bull, the first rector, the Rev. Eric Smith and his wife moved in any they reported voices, footsteps and servant bells ringing of their own accord. Whilst tidying out a cupboard, Mrs Smith came across a skull. They called in a national paper - The Daily Mirror - to investigate. They sent along Harry Price who, because of his rich wife, had been able to spend time and money investigating mediums to expose hoaxers. He also enjoyed investigating haunting houses. He arrived and way amazed to hear that the servant bells were still ringing even though the wires had been cut. Price and a reporter had a near miss when a candlestick flew down the stairs.
Alan Wesencraft of the Harry Price library said that in his excitement he could tend to exaggerate.
Lionel Foyster and his wife, Marianne, were the next to move in after no other rectors would take the job. It was quiet compared to London and Marianne yearned for something more exciting: she may have placed up the ideas of the haunting. She said that pebbles would appear in her bed.
Lionel Foyster began keeping a diary to write all these events down, events such as when a collar and piece of coal were thrown at him. Even independent witnesses told of events: Guy L'estrange, a local headmaster and magistrate, was having tea with the Foysters when they heard a smashing outside the room. They went outside to find a cup smashed on the floor. They returned back to the room but heard some more smashing. Returning back out of the room they saw a bottle smashed on the floor and others flying about in the hall and being hurled to the ground by an unseen force.

After the Foysters, Price leased Borley Rectory for a year and moved in. He placed an advert in The Times for investigators to help him. Charles Wintour - later a famous newspaper editor - was one of these who took part who thought Price was exaggerating the activity.
To make certain that no one was messing around, the investigators put cotton thread on all the doors to seal them off, returning later to find all the seals intact and myserious messages written on the wall. Wintour was sure he even saw one message being written as they entered.
Price went on to sell two best selling books and was even planning a third at the time of his death.
The Rectory burnt down in 1939 - arson was suspected but never proved.
Many blame Price and Marianne for much of the activity but as Peter Underwood points out the activity was happening before they arrived and is still continuing after she left and he died.
Activity now seems to have moved over the medieval church nearby. Ron Russell - a psychic investigator - set up tape recorders in the church with a team of investigators and on it they recorded many strange and unusual sounds.
Pamela and Lucille Bullock heard an organ playing inside the church which suddenly stopped as the entered. There was no one about and the organ was padlocked. They even heard the sound of pebbles dropping on the tiled floors but no sign of any pebbles dropping. It was said that local boys were playing tricks with the organs but even now the organ can be heard playing when the church is locked up.
Price died nine years after the Rectory was destroyed. After his death his claims were rubbished by many critics but many still believe, with strange events even to this day, that Borley Rectory was truly haunted.

David Brent

I remember there was also a BBC Radio program in 1978 that was called 'The Ghost Of Borley Church' and concentrated on investigations into ghostly goings on inside the church and outside in the graveyard.
The investigators stayed all night and while there picked up numerous strange noises from within the church.

I have visited Borley in the past and was taken by how out of the way and quiet the place was.
I did not experience anything out of the ordinary there but the church visitors book was full of strange experiences that some of the visitors had supposedly witnessed.

I wonder why a program like 'Most Haunted' has not bothered to visit there?

Dave.

Steve Crook

Because they wouldn't know what to do if they ever found a real ghost

Steve

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

Perhaps I'm biased, but I would like to see a programme on Jef, the talking mongoose, who haunted the Isle of Man.

plasticjock

Cue Yvette Fielding:

"If there's anyone there, don't be alarmed, give us some sign, we're not afraid.....don't you be afraid, show us you are here by some sign.......make a noise, knock on something........anything.....we want to make conta.............What was that? Did you HEAR that! Shrieeeekkkkk!!! <galloping footsteps>.....Let me out of here!...Let me out of here!.....Something whispered into me ear" <involuntary voluntary shudder>
(Producers voice in earpiece: "Great Yvette. Just as we were about to lose viewers they're all glued back to the telly again...they fall for it every time luv, well done")

Repeat ad infinitum...........


Mind you, I'm fascinated by those orbs..........no, not hers silly!

jacobean

The other reason that Borley Rectory and the surrounding area has not been a subject of a ghost hunt is because Borely, supposedly the most haunted village in the world has been visited by thousands of so called ghosthunters for the last 70-80 years. They are quite naturally fed up with this and would therefore resist any attempt to rekindle this interest. This is quite apart from the fact that Most Haunted has lost all its credibility over the last year with accusations of fakery.

Steve Crook

Did it ever have any credibility?

Steve

westrichard

I have just written the first biography of Harry Price since Paul Tabori's 'official' biography in 1950 and this will be published by Sutton on December 14 this year. While I was researching the book, archivists at Senate House, University of London (which stores Price's voluminous archives) told me Warner Bros had paid an unspecified amount of money for exclusive access to Price's Borley archive. So a film could be made within 3 years. This is strengthened by hearing Johnny Depp is keen to play HP in a movie. My book reveals the true Harry Price, not the one built up by years of fawning reviews and awe inspiring tales of genius!

Chevyman

Just picked up on this BBC footage from 1975:-
Borley Rectory - 1975 BBC Video Story on the History of Borley Rectory

"One appears to have dropped one's monocle in the soufflee"

Why not visit the Festive Fayre section?

torinfan

So, was Borley Rectory ever haunted to begin with? I remember hearing stories of that place but always wondered if the majority of the stories were just local lore.

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

mallee59

Borley Rectory - www.borleyrectory.co.uk
The Most Haunted House in England was a book by Harry Price that Mrs Mallee read when she was at school.
I eventually found the son of the lady in residence at the time of Price's investigation a few years ago on the internet and managed to get a reprint of the book for christmas.
The link for the site is above and has some info on it.

Cheers
Mallee59

The only problem with having an open mind is that others keep trying to put things in it...

ajhooper

There was a documentary on TV a couple of years ago called Ghosthunter, profiling Harry Price. He was the paranormal investigator that brought Borley Rectory to public attention, and it is covered in depth in the programme. The documentary also features Jef, and Price's other research. Worth tracking down.