WHORLTON CASTLE

It is understood that the Meynells acquired lands in this part of Yorkshire after the Norman
Conquest, and in the early part of Henry 1st's reign (1100-1135) Robert de Meynell gained
Whorlton by marrying Gertrude, daughter of Robert Fossard. First there was a wooden fort built then in the 12th Century a stone keep was built, The castle has lots of history and it is believed the marriage contract between Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley was signed in 1565. The village of Whorlton itself was destroyed by the Bubonic Plague. The castle had three families who owned it De Meynells, The Darcy's and then the Strangways.

PRESENT FROM AGH WERE MARK, ANGIE, JAZZ, STEPH, ALAN, ANDY AND MICHAEL.

Alan and Andy arrived at 9pm the rest would arrive later at 11pm except for Michael who would arrive at midnight. Alan and Andy decided to have a look around until the rest arrived, as Alan left the vehicle to enter, he got real bad stomach pains making him feel sick, he and Andy entered the Castle, but the pains got worse so he went out through the other door to the rear of the Castle, Andy followed him to make sure he was okay. They both suddenly heard a babies cry, and as they did Alan's pain stopped instantly. He explained to Andy how he now felt, and as he did they both heard someone cough. Inspecting the area inside and out, they could find no one present. As they wandered around Alan got the Isabella (there was an Isabella Darcy who Angie and Alan picked up on during our first visit), and the word Latin but could not understand why he did. Nothing else came of this so they continued to wander around. After a short while another name came to Alan he believes was George Thompson (sadly I have not been able to trace this name as yet) and the word Gamekeeper, he tried to get some more information on this but could not. Andy looked up to a doorway on the left of the rear wall as he felt someone was there watching down on them, although he could see no one, the name Edward came into his mind and the name Elizabeth was coming in as well.
They had to stop for a half hour as some local people came in for a wander around and then left, once they did they both re entered the building. But not much else happened.

23:00hrs. Mark, Angie, Steph and Jazz arrived to joined Alan and Andy. The team went in to meet them and see how they had been getting on, whilst Mark got the cameras set up. Whilst Mark set up the cameras in the car, he looked up at one of the first floor windows and thought he could see someone. He made his way into the Castle to take a look, all the team were at the rear of the Castle and so it could not have been one of them. After a quick check and speaking to the others we then spent fifteen minutes recording the information Alan and Andy had gathered thus far.

23:30hrs. We re-entered the gatehouse. Andy looked towards one of the ground floor windows and saw a flickering orange light, but could not get his camera ready quick enough. Angie turned and said she heard someone cough, which is something the others had heard earlier, before we arrived. Mark is just about to ask who is behind Angie when she says there is someone behind her, a male but not sure who yet. Angie tells us the coughing sound we have heard is an attention seeking one, someone wants us to know they are there. As Angie says that we all heard what sounded someone whistling. Angie then turns to a small room and says, "What year is this", she hears him saying his surname, but sadly Angie only hears part of it 'Henry' she could not hear the second part of it. Angie comes over to Mark and whispers to him, that she has been hearing music for about fifteen minutes, it sounds like medieval music. Angie then says she has the name Morton (see midnight for further information). She then looks to her left and says there is a little boy stood between Jazz and Steph, he is fading in and out she says, and it is difficult to get a good enough look at him, he then fades away completely. Jazz does not sense the boy but is feeling somewhat Antsy (which means either Restless or impatient; fidgety; Nervous; apprehensive). But everyone else feels okay at this time.
Angie then draws Mark's attention to the other corner of the room as she is aware someone is is watching us. Angie approaches the corner and asks "do you welcome us here" she gets no reply, so asks two more times then asks "Can you make words for us please" she asks this three times, when Mark comments he can see someone moving in between where Angie and Alan are stood. Alan comments "I'm feeling a lit freaky for some reason". Jazz hears the word "Door" being said. Andy and Mark both hear someone cough again. Angie asks "Can you make words for us" "Are you able to stand in front of us and make words" At this point Mark sees something dark move on the camera screen which we have caught on tape. CLICK HERE TO VIEW. Jazz then sees a figure move near the window, right by Angie.

Midnight: We were then joined by Michael, so we quickly bring him up to speed with things that have been happening so far. Just then Mark and Andy both become aware of someone stood by one of the cars peering through the gate. So they both quickly ran outside to see who it was, once outside and a thorough search around the vehicles we could see there was absolutely no one around. As we came back in Steph points to a window on the first floor and says she saw a red light appear and then simply go away. Angie then sees a very small man, who has his hands clasped together in front of him looking pretty anxious. She describes him as about 5 feet in height only, wearing a hat that had a feather hanging down from one side, she says it looked velvet, and had a jewel or brooch upon it. (During Tudor times Tudor hats for men consisted of silk, velvet, taffeta and wool. All classes and ages wore feathers in their hats. Hats worn by rich Tudor men were expensively decorated with jewelled bands (called bilaments), brooches, badges and ribbons). She said he has moved to one of the arches and is saying "something! give me strength" which he keeps repeating, so she asks him "Kind sir is there a matter which you wish to discuss, please do tell sir, let me hear your voice" although there is no response from the man Alan looks a little confused, and states "I can hear music, medieval music, sounds like a flute or whistle from that period, a tune similar to Greensleeves, but not that particular tune" Angie smiles as she can hear it too and confirms it for Alan. Then Angie says "someone has just brushed passed me, against my arm" as she passes the window on the side wall. Angie then tells us there is a De Morton (Robert De Mortain (which translate to Robert Of Morton) was a Count, who was half-brother to William the Conqueror. He held a vast amount of manors in Yorkshire, including Rudby. During the 11th century Whorlton was part of the Rudby Parish owned by Robert De Mortain), who is connected to this place too, Jazz is also aware of someone being present with us. As Angie looks over her shoulder she sees someone moving by the doorway on the first floor. She feels this is a residual energy of a servant, who is going about their business, her head and eyes appear to be following the figure across the floor which is no longer there. Angie takes a photo of the area and Andy can see a shadow of someone in the area, but no one is in a position for the flash to have cast their reflection. Alan is once again hearing the name George whilst Andy comments he feels like we are being watched.

0.30hrs. Alan sees someone standing by the gate, but again on inspection no one is there. Jazz has now took up position in the archway leading to the ground floor window, as he stands there, he says "someone has just touched my arm" he is also feeling as though someone is trying to push him forward. Then he hears a chink sound, like a heavy metal key being knocked against something. He is also wanting to speak to us in Scottish accent and is getting the name William (Alice De Ros was married to Sir Nicholas De Meinell in 1328 She was daughter to William De Ros whose family had claims to the thrown of Scotland through their ancestor Isabel, who was a bastard daughter of William I of Scotland, not the same Lord Meinell lower down, Also in 1322 Whorlton castle was visited by royalty, when Edward II stayed there during a hunting holiday. He was a guest of Nicholas de Meynell, who was described as one of the most violent and warlike Northern Nobles there was. The de Meynell’s were always being accused of heinous crimes which included murder, but they always got away with it, possibly due to supporting the king and offering him free accomodation at Whorlton). ).
. Alan has moved into the little room and is standing there looking out of the window in there, he turns to us and says he gets the impression someone stood there calling "Do not leave me, come back" as he is explaining this to us, he sees a pair of legs passing by, but cannot see the body that goes with them. Things went quiet then.

01.00hrs. As we are standing and waiting for something else to happen Alan hears a name Sedgewick as he sees a figure move in front of one of the windows, He and Angie are both aware of an Elizabeth too. Angie explains to us Elizabeth is seen as the Lady in Grey as that is how she looks when people witness her, (there have been many reports of a Grey Lady here), but Angie says the real colour of her dress is Blue. Jazz is still wanting to talk Scottish and is still getting the name William. Mark decides to go and stand in the arch, as he is stood there he too confirms it is almost like someone is pushing him in the back, as if to move him out of the way. Angie, Andy and Alan all comment they feel we are being watched by many, just as Jazz is leaning through a doorway to take a photo, but is startled as the flash goes off, he tells us he thought a figure was stood in front of him. Angie believes it was Phillip.
She then turns her focus to Elizabeth (again the same one we had picked up on during our last visit). As Angie cals out to her, Andy thought he heard a females voice,but could not understand what was said, Angie tells him she said "I beseech" (beseech means: to beg for urgently or anxiously, or to request earnestly). After that nothing else happened at all.

01.30hrs to 02.30hrs. We spent a further hour just observing to see if anything else would happen, but for the whole hour the place was still and quiet. Angie also told me that she had the name Christine who was of some importance to the Castle, but sadly she could not gain anymore information, much to her own annoyance. (The name Christine was important as she was the wife of Sir Nicholas de Meinell, Lord Meinell of Whorlton, He married Christine about 1270. She was daughter of Sir William De Ros).

02.30hrs. We ended the investigation.

FINAL THOUGHT: Our first investigation was great as none of the group knew where I was taking them we had met up at one place then drove for half an hour before reaching the location none of them had even heard of the Castle, so to get the names was good, but there the names John, Phillip and Elizabeth run through generations of the family tree. This visit proved also proved very interesting as a follow up and the video footage proved somewhat fruitful.

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