THE GHOSTS OF OLD WARDEN ABBEY HOUSE - NEW PARA-DOCUMENTARY WITH NIGHT INVESTIGATION

Seldom am I allowed to shoot anything from an ancient property, and particularly one which is 500 years old. But here was such an opportunity as I took a break from the `modern world` by renting for a few days stay, a house which originally formed part of a large 16th century mansion which had in turn been built from the remains of a former Cistercian abbey.

The house had a very pleasant environment although previous renters going back over 20 years had reported varying tales of paranormal activity.



Having decided on my own to shoot a night investigation I was beset with innumerable problems in setting up the shoot.

These ranged from:

1) Wireless microphones persistently refusing to work at first - despite the batteries being fully charged.
2) A new large battery I use for my IR light was flat, so I had to struggle without the usual flood of IR illumination.
3) My cellphone was completely drained.
4) Video and audio in the night shoot was affected by reduced audio and focussing issues.

These problems were recorded in the house day book as affecting electrical equipment which either refused to work, or even refused to switch off with these items apparently coming back to life in the middle of the night.

All in all, it was an interesting if not problematic experience.

Despite all, I managed to capture some EVP, and particularly the whine of a dog.

I also saw quite clearly a huge white flash of energy measuring some 2` x 1` move quickly across the room. Sadly, it was not recorded to tape despite my best expectations.

I hope you enjoy this investigation which will commence from the link below at 10pm (GMT) tonight.

A HAUNTED EXPERIENCE AT THE CONGRESS PLAZA HOTEL - HALLOWEEN 2016

Chris Halton in old Chicago.

Here is a video from my stay at the haunted Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, USA.

As you will see, I picked up quite a bit of activity in the area of my hotel room door and adjacent corridor. And as a bonus, the riddle of missing room, 666.

The Congress Hotel is regarded as one of the most paranormally active hotels in the world with ample evidence of material gathered by investigators. In fact, the movie, `1408` starring John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson was based on that building.

The link below will be `live`at 10pm (GMT) - 4pm (CDT) FRIDAY OCTOBER 28 2016.

Hope you enjoy and Happy Halloween Hauntings!

A VISIT TO HAUNTED BACHELOR`S GROVE CEMETERY

Here is the first of three productions shot while recently in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
In company with the writer and folklorist, Ursula Bielski and Wendy Moxley-Roe an investigator and archivist of this cemetery, we carry out a short investigation which provided some interesting EVP.

Both Ursula and Wendy also provide to camera their own experiences and with a special focus on the now famous White Lady Ghost whose presence haunts this area.
All in all, an interesting experience which I hope you will enjoy.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO FOLLOW:
https://www.facebook.com/BachelorsGroveForever/
https://www.thepathtobachelorsgrove.com/
http://www.chicagohauntings.com/

The show will start at 10pm tonight, (4pm (CDT) Friday, 21st October 2016

A RETURN TO A VERY HAUNTED CHURCH

Here in late July, I return to an earlier visited church at Fairstead in the county of Essex.
On this occasion I decide to chill inside the church and open up to spirit where I obtained some responses which I have shared for you today.

I previously visited this beautiful building in the quiet hamlet of Fairstead in November 2015, and you can view that visit here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhVO9KJPlo4

More investigations and para-documentaries coming soon.

If you haven`t already, please subscribe to my site here on Youtube and be sure to check out many other videos available here online.

THIS VIDEO WILL BE VIEWABLE FROM THIS LINK AT 10pm FRIDAY AUGUST 5th 2016.

MURDER AT THE RED BARN - NEW PARA-DOCUMENTARY

Here is my para-documentary on a very high profile case in late Regency England whereby a local daughter of a mole catcher in Polstead, Suffolk (Maria Marten)  has an affair with a young squire with devastating results. Her lover, William Corder subsequently murders her, and buries her body inside the Red Barn, and moves to London to later marry an affluent woman.

Maria`s body is discovered following alleged psychic dreams by her step-mother, and Corder is arrested, found guilty, and executed. What follows is even more interesting as his body is dissected, and his skin used to bind a book of the crime. His skeleton was given to West Suffolk hospital, to be used for anatomical training for nurses and doctors.

Even weirder was that his skull was removed years later from his skeleton, and Corder`s ghost appeared at the thief's home to demand its return!

I am especially indebted to the author and historical criminologist, Stewart Evans who acted as a consultant on the documentary, and assisted further by appearing in this programme and even sharing with me archive material which appears throughout.

I am also grateful to Alex McWhirter of Moyse`s Hall museum, Bury St Edmunds for allowing access to exhibits from the Corder trial and also appearing on screen to talk about them.

One of the most fascinating accounts I have come across for a long time, and related to camera for your interest and enjoyment.

THIS SHOW WILL BE LIVE FROM 10pm (GMT) on SUNDAY 10th JULY 2016 FROM THE LINK BELOW:

THE HANGING OF TOBY GILL - A para-documentary

My latest journey into history takes me back to the year 1750 where on 24th June, a young soldier named as Tobias Gill allegedly raped a young woman and strangled her with his handkerchief.
Gill (whose nickname was `Black Toby`) was found unconscious drunk and lying next to the girl`s body.
According to some witnesses, she appeared untouched and lying asleep, but to others who were used as witnesses in court, she had been, `sexually violated, raped and murdered by Gill`.

Suffice to say that Gill was later found guilty at a court in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and was subsequently hung and then placed in chains at a gibbet erected near to the scene of the alleged crime at 5 fingers crossroads in Blythburgh, Suffolk.

There his remains stayed for 50 years before finally being taken down and buried at the scene.

In this presentation I explore the background to this event, and discuss whether Toby was black or white. I also examine the case in detail, and explore the legends of hauntings associated with Toby.

And later I return at night to carry out a paranormal investigation on Blythburgh Common, a place noted for criminality and possible murder.

The video presentation will be live at 10pm (UK time) Saturday 30th April 2016 (tonight).

BELOW IS THE VIEWING PANEL WHICH WILL GO `LIVE`AT 10pm (BST)

ESSEX WITCHES - A HAUNTED EARTH PARA-DOCUMENTARY

On this occasion I decide to focus on some witchcraft legends within my own county of Essex.
Essex is historically associated with witches and black magic,  a belief largely generated by superstitious country folk whose fear of the devil led to the persecution of many people.  Their only crimes were being mostly female, old, poor and physically feeble.

The centre-point of many legends was the village of Canewdon, and in particular, a witch named George Pickingill who was very active in the 19th century.

Also featured is another Essex legend, a man named Matthew Hopkins the arch-nemesis of `witches`in 17th century England, and a man that later seeded through his work, the persecution of many innocents in Salem, Massachusetts.

In addition, we have a visit to Felsted in Essex, a place steeped in history and of a strange incident some years ago involving myself and a voice that sounded to be weirdly witch-like near to a spot where once lived a spinster who too was executed for being a witch.

I hope you enjoy this presentation on my journey back to a dark era in Britain`s history.

*THE SHOW WILL BE LIVE FROM THE LINK BELOW AT 2200hrs BST TONIGHT!*

THE JOY OF FILMING ON LOCATION!

Here is a short video of out-takes from my latest shoot in Felsted, Essex.

Many of you imagine I tread an ethereal world where time has stood still, but here you can see the reality and my frustrations of shooting in a public place. 

Despite the inconveniences, it will hopefully be a flawless production as part of my latest feature which examines the legend of Essex Witches. 

More shoots to do at various locations, and here I visit the beautiful village centre of Felsted in Essex. 

I hope you enjoy!

THE HAUNTING AT POTSFORD GIBBET - A TALE OF MURDER, EXECUTION & AN ACTIVE GHOSTLY PRESENCE

In the year 1698, a double axe murder took place at Letheringham water mill in the county of Suffolk,  England. The victims John Bullard senior and junior, were left hog tied to a beam in the mill after being butchered by an axe.

Chris Halton standing at the gibbet

The killer, a disconsolate temporary worker named as Jonah Snell was later found wandering and still in possession of the blood stained murder weapon.

He was detained and appeared at West Wickham Sessions Court the following year where he was judged guilty of both murders.No submissions were recorded by Snell which may have given an account as to why he chose to commit this terrible crime.

His punishment was to be hung by the neck, and for his body to be incarcerated in a gibbet at nearby Potsford, which was then a busy road, but now standing on the edge of a wood along a country footpath. His remains were left in chains until the year 1740 whereby they were taken down and finally buried nearby.

Today the remains of the gibbet post are preserved for posterity, and the site has gained a notorious reputation for haunting`s - both day and night.

The earliest sighting of Jonah Snell`s ghost occurred just prior to his remains being removed, and since then many people have experienced the presence of a paranormal entity over the centuries.
This may be a physical manifestation or by an unknown presence grabbing or touching people when they least expect it.

The site has been investigated many times with investigators experiencing some of the events recorded there.

In this show, the legend of Snell is examined in detail, and is followed by a night investigation at the gibbet.

The show will be linked from this page at 10pm (GMT), Friday February 5th 2016 where it can be viewed.

Below is a trailer for the show:




And here is where you can view the full show from 10pm (GMT) Friday, February 5th 2016.




Posted by Chris Halton

AN ANCIENT CHURCH LOST IN TIME - A Para-documentary

Today I travel over to an incredibly remote ancient church which dates from the early Medieval period and has remained virtually unchanged for 300 years. A church where an iconoclast named as Captain William Dowsing of the Suffolk Regiment visited in 1643 to destroy and  remove anything considered to be `superstitious` to the tastes of a puritanical England during the English Civil War.

 Here Chris Halton your guide covers the history of this wonderful building and shares the story of Captain Dowsing, and some of the remaining damage left untouched after his fateful visit. Fortunately much furniture still remains literally frozen in time.

St Mary`s Church in Badley is currently a redundant church under the care of the Church of England through their wonderful charity, the Churches Conservation Trust.

Like all redundant churches, it`s long term future remains uncertain, and it is hoped that by seeing and appreciating the same beauty that I saw and experienced, you too may one day travel here to admire and support this vestige of British history and culture which is set surrounded by countryside that remains virtually unchanged.  It is so remote that it is only accessible by a one mile unmade track way which has remained for centuries.

St Mary`s at Badley is a perfect example (and victim) of historic religious bigotry and intolerance to other people`s beliefs.

As always I touch into the ambient spirituality that I sense and feel in this pleasantly historic building from the days of yore.

A truly rare and wonderful place to visit and appreciate in a fast disappearing world.