Please not that during all experiments and vigils undertaken at the Galleries all lights and display equipment were switched off at the main office. This is because the lighting and audio circuits used to give information on the tour are on the same switches. The lights/sound going off timed all experiments and mini vigils until they came back on. Due to part of the building being used as a restaurant we had to rule out some of the sounds caught on tape especially in the night cell and, although the kitchens aren't that close to the main corridor the sound does travel so any voices picked up have been put down the kitchen staff. The medievel miden however was unaffected

(UK Paranormal) Samantha Marriott. Louise Marriott. Phil Dobson. (Guest parapsychologist) Alan Gauld. (Guests) Denise Morris Heather Dobson. Lisa Beasley. Tina Mellon. Shona Brasier. Edna Brasier. Cathy (Galleries). Russell (Galleries).

3 x digital video camera (night shot). 1 x Advantix camera. 4 x digital stills cameras. 1 x 35mm camera 3 x EMF meters. 3 x Dictaphones. Walkie Talkies.

We split up into 2 teams -

Team 1 Samantha Marriott Alan Gauld Tina Beasley Lisa Mellon Cathy Russell Team 2 Phil Dobson Denise Morris Heather Dobson Shona Brasier Edna Brasier

The team and guests started arriving at 7pm giving the guests time to walk around the building and familiarise themselves with all the levels. One area we went into was the Women's prison, the door closing behind us. As the door closed there was a sound like a bolt shooting across. We tried closing the door again and this time there was no sound. As we were leaving, the door automatically closed and the same noise was heard once more. On later inspection it was found to be a loose hinge. We were given two rooms - a base room with two settees and chairs and a control room (up a set of stairs) for the equipment. By 11am the final team members arrived from Swindon and the investigation began....

11.15pm. Medieval Miden - Team 1

A silent vigil was held in the miden for 30 minutes. The sound of heavy footsteps was heard and 20 minutes into the vigil the team heard a sound similar to a groan. Although a dictaphone was left in the entrance to the miden the sound wasn't picked up.

However, on the way out of the miden the dictaphone picked up this voice

11.15pm. Night cell - Team 2

The sounds coming from the kitchen staff emptying bottles into a skip made it virtually impossible to hold a silent vigil in this section. Nothing was picked up on the dictaphone from inside the cell however there was the smell of carbolic soap which kept coming and going.


11.45pm. The teams swapped over.

12.00pm. Night Cell - Team 1

Again the sounds coming from the kitchen staff emptying bottles into a skip made it virtualy imposible to hold a silent vigil in this section. Nothing was picked up on the dictaphone from inside the cell however there was the smell of carbolic soap which kept coming and going.

12.00pm. Medieval Miden - Team 2

Shona -
"when I was first in the Midden I stood with my back against the second pillar and I felt very uneasy. Like someone was stood at the side of me (no one was) and I kept seeing shadows moving at the side of me and also flashing lights. This is where I heard for the first time the 'huh huh' sound. I heard this once again there and then I had to move. Then I went to stand against the first pillar. Not long after that is where we all heard that dragging sound. We all agreed it sounded like a big stone being drag across the floor. Not long before we left, I heard that 'huh huh' again. I asked my mum if she heard that? She said yes. I was also very light headed in there and felt slightly sick. But, when we went back there altogether, I felt fine. It was a completely different atmosphere, this might have something to do with the fact it was a bigger group."

We made our way back up to the base room where Louise was waiting for us. Deciding not to join the teams, Louise stayed with the security guard. At 12.40 she was in the control room when she heard a male voice angrily say 'Christ' in the base room. Thinking it was the team returning she walked down the stairs to find it empty.

01.00am

For the next vigil the team stayed together and returned to the Medievel Miden. Doing another silent vigil. The dicaphone was placed on the ground in the middle of the circle and picked up this.

Next the team moved to the women's prison/laundry - sitting in the womens cell. We tried a Q & A however nothing was caught on tape. Denise mentioned hearing furniture being moved in the next room so Sam and Denise went to sit in there. Again nothing was heard or picked up on tape.

02.00am

Alan Gauld and Denise went with Shona, Edna, Cathy, Russell, Tina and Lisa to the Criminal court. Denise sat in the Judges chair and they could hear noises coming from behind one of the side doors. It was like a rustling noise and lots of what sounded like movement, both Denise and Alan went to investigate. It turned out to be some boxes with plastic on and the wind was moving it.

03.00am

Phil and Heather leave.

03.15am

For the final set of vigils the whole team head off to an area where Russell mentioned always feeling uneasy.
Knowing that we didn't have access to the 1833 cells we went to the Transportation exhibit area. While we were standing at the entrance to the 1833 cell Lisa heard either another door closing down the corridor behind us or something dropping on the floor in the Transportation area.
Leaving that section we made our way up to the second level. We were now standing in a corridor outside the entrance to the 1833 cells.

03.20am

A door slams shut. The noise seems to come from the 1833 cells.

04.00am

Alan, Shona and Edna leave.

We decided to call it a night and do one last vigil in the Condemned Cell.

04.45am

The final vigil for the night is spent in the condemned cell. Denise mentions hearing movement out in the corridor.


05.30am

The end of another great vigil at the Galleries of Justice. We would like to thank Cathy, Laura and Trev for allowing us to investigate the Galleries.

Experiments

A tape recorder was left in the chapel during the second vigil in the Medieval Miden. Nothing was picked up.

A digital camera was set up in the main corridor however we ruled out anything recorded due to the noise from the kitchen.

A dictaphone was left in the womens prison/laundry area while the two teams were in the miden/night cell. Male voices were picked up at a time when we new there was no-body in that area.