St Mary's Guildhall, Boston
13th November 2009


The team arrived at St Mary’s Guildhall in Boston at around 8.15pm on the night of 13th November 2009. The team were looking forward to this highly anticipated investigation, and to be the first ever group to conduct a paranormal investigation in such a wonderful and historic building! Upon arriving some of the team decided to carry out baseline tests. Emma and Charles used the EMF meter to identify any sources of EMF fluctuation, apart from the obvious sources, near electrical appliances. They picked up two high results; one in the Banqueting Hall, a reading of 6mg. Strangely later on when carrying out EMF tests, nothing was picked up in this particular spot at all. The other reading was in the council chamber, a spike of 2mg and then to 6mg whilst near one of the paintings. Interestingly again when investigated later on in the evening no EMF readings were picked up at all. Whether these incidents could have been paranormal is open to opinion. In addition to the EMF sweep, James and John B carried out a thorough temperature sweep of the building whilst Kris used the sound amplifier to identify any creaks or unusual natural sources of sound that could later be misinterpreted as paranormal activity. Whilst Kris did not manage to find any unusual environmental noises, he did experience a strange thud whilst everyone was stationary, something that at this time cannot be explained. The temperature checks produced an average of temperature of 21 degrees centigrade. Whilst checking the temperature of the council chamber mysteriously and seemingly without explanation the environmental meter turned itself off whilst near the same painting that experienced the high EMF levels a few moments earlier.

The team decided to set up two different trigger object experiments; one in the buttery, and another in one of the cells. Each experiment had a set of motion detectors focused on a coin on a piece of paper. By this time the baseline tests had been completed and the trigger objects had been set up and so the vigil could begin.

To begin the investigation, it was decided that the team were to split into two groups to each conduct a séance; one group located in the old kitchen on the ground floor, and another in the court room upstairs. Group one, in the kitchen, consisted of Kris, Charles, Emma, John H and Luke, the museum representative who accompanied us on our investigation of the guildhall. Group two consisted of James, Anna, John B, Sarah and Katie. It was decided that the teams would try to use their perception to see what they could sense and pick up on, and to then change locations without interaction with each other. Something that would allow us to compare the feelings and impressions of each group, whilst eliminating the suggestion factor. Kris in group one decided to stand back from the séance taking notes in addition to sound and EMF readings. James took a similar stance with group two taking temperature readings and notes. Almost immediately group one, whilst in the kitchen area, experienced the sound of scraping on the floor through the sound amplifier. Whilst during the séance regular cold breezes were felt over the participant’s arms, faint tapping was also heard by everyone throughout the vigil. Frequent taps were heard coming from the fire place. Interestingly the sound of gravel was also heard coming from inside the building. With the use of the sound amplifier a loud breath was heard. The group came up with several names; William, Jack, and also the sense of a female chef being present. Following on from this impression and upon mentioning it a tap was heard. Interestingly the building was a British restaurant during the second world war, and of course due to the majority of the country’s male population serving their country, the chefs would have most definitely have been female. The team also heard some small noises near the fireplace. After a while John H went into the cell closest to the kitchens, whilst in the cell he sensed someone sat next to him.

Whilst group one were conducting their séance on the ground floor, group two, who were investigating the courtroom decided to conduct a séance also. Initially everyone of group two participated, three names were picked up; Mary, Arthur and Vivian. As of yet these have not been verified. Not long into the séance, both Sarah and James felt warm especially in the face, and shortly after the whole group reported feeling dizzy and light headed. The date of 1944 was sensed but without any further connection. At 21:27 the group began calling out by asking whether any spirits that were tried in the building were present, and immediately a response seemingly was experienced in the form of a high pitched whistle. Interestingly this was the first time the group had called out and mentioned trials whilst in the séance. Three minutes later whilst talking about the role of the judge a loud clicking noise was heard by everyone in the group, it came from the top of the stairs, at this point James had stepped back from the séance to monitor any noises or reactions that were taking place, and so he immediately went to investigate the clicking noise, only to report shuffling once entering the area around the stairs. Due to the seeming paranormal activity taking place in another room, the group decided to close the circle, and for John B to sit alone in the Banqueting hall, a large and rather grand room situated the other side of landing, right next to where the clicking and shuffling noises were reported. The other group members decided to stick to the court room. Whilst in the courtroom Anna called out asking for any spirits present to affect John B in any way they could, and as a few minutes passed John B called out to the rest of the group that he had both heard and seen something at the far end of the banqueting hall. Whilst sitting still in the entrance to the banqueting hall, he heard what he described as a huge clicking noise, he also saw a flash of light in the same area, seemingly coming up from the floorboards. This is the same area that earlier had produced unusually high EMF readings. John suggested he switch places with James, and minutes later James, alone in the banqueting hall also experienced some possible paranormal phenomena in the form of a high pitched  exhaling breath, before getting the impression a monk was present. After this nothing further happened so James returned to the group in the courtroom. Interestingly when asking whether the rest of the group had experienced anything Sarah said she had felt that a figure wearing a long dark hooded robe was present. It’s quite interesting that James had written down his impressions of a monk being present prior to asking the group.  Group two decided to spend some time in the banqueting hall before closing their séance. Whilst conducting the final part of their séance the feeling of sickness was reported by the majority of the group in addition to some hearing what sounded like a high pitched whistle. The only name sensed whilst in this room was the surname of Hutchinson.

It was decided that the groups would then switch locations, without mentioning any of the phenomena experienced, until after the groups had both investigated both of the locations, so to not cause a suggestion factor. group one investigated the courtroom and Banqueting hall whilst group two investigated the ground floor kitchen and cells. The first room investigated was the Banqueting Hall, whilst in the hall, tapping was heard in addition to the sensing of two figures; a small girl and a rich and rounded counsellor. Afterwards the group moved on to the court room, one of the group thought that they sensed that someone who was charged for something that they didn’t commit was present, the group also reported feeling uneasy in the room, the feeling of not being wanted. Two group members also felt sick at the same time. During this séance, some rather high EMF readings were also picked up. Interestingly no electrical appliances were in the area, as verified by the earlier blank EMF readings on the baseline tests sweep. Once the séance in the courtroom was concluded, the group moved on to the council chamber, upon entering a loud bang was heard. Among the persons sensed by the group during this vigil was a judge, a mayor wearing a red robe, aged 50 to 60, bald and fat with a moustache who was bossy and arrogant. A lonely woman aged 20-30 with brown hair tied back, who could have been a maid was also sensed by one of the group members. Some other feelings and thoughts included a connection to Blackfriars, and also to the next door Fydell House, and also that of a fire. There was also a feeling of someone being hit with something and again sickness.

Whilst group one investigated the first floor of the building, group two conducted vigils in the kitchens and in the cells on the ground floor of the building. Whilst two of the group members were in the cell closest to the front of the building, the temperature fluctuated between 18 degrees and 20 degrees. A fluctuation of 2 degrees or more is said to be a possible side effect of paranormal activity. One of the group came up with the name ‘Thomas Woods”, and also a “Mr Harrison”, following the impression of “Mr Harrison”, a thud was heard. The name of George was also sensed. Upon mentioning the name of William Bradford, one of the pilgrim fathers, a tap was heard, and upon asking whether he was held in the cell closest to the stairs, a tap was heard, (the group were asking for one tap for yes, two for no). The name of Martha was also sensed whilst in the cell but it was felt she was connected to the kitchen area. At 22:55, whilst three of the group were sitting in the cell, the bench opposite seemed to creak and dip as if someone had sat on it. After this, several taps and thuds were heard, all seemingly coming from the bench itself. Whilst the group were in the kitchen area, Sarah mentioned hearing the sound of gravel, interestingly something that the other group had also witnessed. The feeling of happiness and being busy whilst in the kitchen area were also sensed. Apart from this, the group experienced nothing more whilst in this area.

Upon both groups concluding their vigils; group one upstairs, and group two downstairs, the team met up to discuss their findings. It was interesting to see some similarities among the thoughts and feelings. After discussing this, the team decided to attempt to carry out a brief re-enactment of a trial. There is a theory that re-enactments of historical events can sometimes provoke paranormal activity and reaction from the spirits. Perhaps due to them recognising something from their lifetime attracts them to the re-enactment in interest. Kris and John Burton being the two team members to stand trial, in front of the judge, Emma. John B and Kris were taken from the cells, up the spiral staircase and put in front of the judge. After pleading, and being sentenced they were taken back down the staircase to the cells. Whilst they remained in the cells, the rest of the group decided to carry out a séance in the courtroom. The team formed a circle, whilst John H took notes. One of the group sensed that a William was present, and upon asking out, Charles seemed to rock backwards. Due to this, the spirit was asked whether he wished to use Charles as a human pendulum to respond to our questions, rocking back for yes, forwards for no. Charles rocked backwards. When asking how many spirits were present, Charles went backwards on 5. Through using Charles as a human pendulum it was also identified that all of the spirits present were male, that William Bradford was communicating through Charles and that William Brewster was also present. There was also a spirit present by the initials of K.M. When the team was satisfied that they had obtained as much information as possible they moved on to the Banqueting Hall, inviting Kris and John B to join them for the final part to their investigation.

Initially the team attempted to conduct glass divination on the table in the centre of the room, after several minutes of no movement from the glass, the team decided to form a circle to conduct a séance. John H and Kris stood back from the séance to take pictures and to monitor EMF and temperature levels. Whilst conducting this séance none of the team sensed anything, however whilst calling out and asking for the temperature to be affected the temperature hit a low of 14.7 degrees Centigrade, and continued to fluctuate between this and the average room temp of 21 degrees centigrade. Whilst the séance was taking place John captured several photos with quite a large number of orbs on. After waiting a while for any spirits to make contact, and after checking the trigger objects one final time, the team decided to call it a night. Unfortunately neither of the trigger objects had moved.

In conclusion all of the team thoroughly enjoyed the investigation at St Mary’s Guildhall in Boston. Whilst the activity experienced wasn’t huge, it was still a very interesting night. The team believe that nothing is grounded or is resident in the building and that any activity experienced on the night was due to spirits coming to make contact with the team because they were asking for it. The building certainly has a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere, which whilst unusual for a building of it’s age, is absolutely wonderful. The team would like to take time to thank Luke Skerritt, representative of Boston Borough Council, who accompanied us on the investigation.

To see the team's photos taken on the night visit the photos page. Upon searching through the photos taken on the night, Luke Skerritt, Boston Borough Council representative on the night,  noticed a strange anomoly, possibly a face, on one of his  photos. To see the photo please click here.