Wiltshire's Ghostbusters

Inspired by staff reports of figures being seen, bangs and voices being heard and, during the filming of Living TV’s entertainment show, Most Haunted, activity occurring around a crucifix embedded within the wall, the team of trained investigators embarked upon a night of study.

The investigation of the forge differed from PSI’s usual mode of investigation. Due to limited access time and space and the presence of uncontrollable factors (namely being near the centre of a bustling town on a Saturday night!), it was organised as fieldwork visit, rather than a full investigation.

The main difference between a fieldwork investigation and a full scientific study of a premises is that the usual environmental monitoring equipment is used exploratorily rather than in controlled experimental use, due to the general lack of environmental control and reduced amount of available time needed to establish, measure and test environmental recordings and fluctuations.

Photographic and video recording devices are, therefore, the pieces of equipment most utilised in such investigations.

Throughout the course of the night, there were several instances of investigators perceiving phenomena, including feeling a cat, sensing a dog and seeing a little girl at the rear of the premises.

However, as all of these instances were only experienced by one group member and could not be verified by other group members or previous accounts, these must be dismissed as unverifiable evidence. They remain, however, as points of interest.

There were, however, two instances of potential activity experienced by all investigators present. Firstly, there was a steel rod which appeared to, over time, have moved position.

Its change in position was verified by both photographs and video footage, although the actual movement to cause the change was not captured. Whilst this is, at first glance, interesting, it cannot be ruled out that such an effect could have been caused by an investigator inadvertently knocking it as they moved past it, or it may have simply swung around as a breeze went past; as a result of someone moving near by.

The most compelling experience of the study was a loud inexplicable noise heard by all present. Towards the end of the study, after cameras had been shut down and lights raised, the group of investigators were sat talking through the events of the night.

Seemingly coming from the stone floor alongside one of the investigator’s feet, was a very loud and clear sound similar to the static of a walkie talkie, or also compared to the sound of somebody clearing their throat or making a noise in agreement.

With all equipment powered down, the noise was not captured and therefore cannot be verified. Whilst an extensive search of the area was conducted to attempt to identify the rogue sound, nothing could be confirmed as having caused the noise. Despite no apparent source being identified, we cannot draw paranormal conclusions from this event.

Whilst photographic and video footage did not reveal anything of significance, there was a multitude of individual and shared experiences which remain to be of interest, although not corroborated or to the level of significance to stand up to scientific scrutiny.