Introduction:

In late January, 1997, a correspondence was received from the House Guide for Northycote Farm and Country Park in Bushbury, enquiring whether the W.M. Ghost Club would be interested in looking into a number of potential 'paranormal experiences' said to have occurred at the farm over the space of a number of years.

Northycote Farm itself was built around the year 1600 and throughout the duration of the 17th Century was the home of the Catholic Underhill family. In 1845, the farm is listed as being the property of George Thomas Whitgreave and, at that time, comprised of a tight complex of structures including the farmhouse, a number of outbuildings, a yard, and a Chapel belonging to nearby Moseley Court. From the 19th Century onward, the farm was lived in by a series of tenant farmers involved in arable and pastoral farming.

Wolverhampton Borough Council took over the site in 1978 - five years before the last remaining farmer left. In the early 1980's, the farmhouse and outbuildings were in a deplorable, derelict condition. Under the supervision of F. W. B. Charles, one of the most experienced architects in the study and preservation of timber framed buildings, Northycote Farm was successfully restored to something approaching its former glory.

During August 1984, Workmen digging drains on the site of the former Moseley Court Chapel to the rear of the farm - unearthed two small skeletons. Despite initial police interest, it was eventually discovered that they were, in fact, the remains of two children of Whitgreave family descent, who had been interred in brick built tombs in the - at the time still extant - Chapel.

A History Of The Associated Haunting

In 1651, a representative of the fugitive King Charles II - fleeing from his crushing defeat at the battle of Worcester - called at Northycote Farm, appealing for shelter for his sovereign. With her husband away from home at the time - possibly engaged in 'Royalist' activity somewhere - the farmers wife apparently turned down the request....... resulting in the King taking refuge at Moseley Old Hall, less than a mile away.  Perhaps as a gesture of penitence, there is said to be some historical record to suggest that an attractive maid was sent from the farm to Moseley Old Hall, presumably to serve as 'amusement' for the King during his brief stay. Following this dalliance, the maid was seen to leave the Hall, travelling back in the direction of the farm. Whatever fate befell her during her return journey home is not known; however, local legend dictates that the unfortunate girl was never seen again. Despite this tale being the basis for the main 'Ghost Story' associated with Northycote Farm, it is not the vanishing maid who is credited with haunting the site. It is actually her grief stricken beau - a lowly farmhand - who, dying with a broken heart, is said to return to the farm, searching for his lost love.

The Blue Room: According to the farm guide, some 30 to 40 visitors (per year) had reported sensing 'something strange' upon entering this room. (However, the bulk of these experiences fall into the Psychic Impressions category and, as such, do not necessarily represent actual paranormal incident). In the Summer of 1996, the Site Manager was standing in the Blue Room when his accompanying wife complained of feeling cobwebs brushing across her face. The Site Manager looked across to where she was standing and allegedly saw what he took to be a 'shadow' next to his wife which didn't move when she did. Checking the room later, there were supposedly no cobwebs to be found anywhere. (See details of WMGC involvement below).

Parlour: During a Craft Fair, a trader looking after a stall set up in the Parlour claims to have heard the sound of footsteps cross the length of the floor above her - closely followed by a noise akin to someone falling down. Somewhat concerned, the trader mentioned the sounds to a member of staff who immediately investigated. The stairs leading to the upper floor had been securely fastened against members of the public and there was no sign whatsoever of anyone having been in the area.

The Tea Room / Restaurant: A number of 'Poltergeist-like' occurrences have happened in this converted milking parlour. One member of staff claims to have seen a vase fly from the Tea Room counter onto a nearby table, while another is said to have entered the kitchen area and found a mysterious woman apparently sweeping the floor with a broom. Rushing outside and quickly returning with a friend, they found that the woman had disappeared. A female customer reported feeling uneasy and experiencing 'extreme cold flushes' while dining at the restaurant. She says she was constantly putting her jacket on and taking it off, and complaining of an intense cold blast that other diners were apparently oblivious to.

Womens Toilet: Upon leaving the Restaurant, the customer mentioned above visited the toilet and, as she was washing her hands, saw the figure of a man - standing behind her - reflected in the mirror on the wall above the hand basin. The man is described as being somewhat swarthy in appearance and wearing a black, or dark brown, suit, with a tall top hat. (Possibly mid-Victorian in style). The man 'doffed his hat' to the woman before disappearing.

Stable Block Staircase: Two men looking after a stall at a Christmas Fete (Circa. 1994) claim to have seen a ghostly 'Cavalier' walking up the Stable Block Staircase towards them. The figure was described as having long black hair and a brown hat with a white band and white feathers stuck in it. He wore white gloves - with the cuffs of a white shirt showing below his outer garment sleeves - and carried a sword of some description. Reaching the top of the stairs, the figure is said to have 'doffed his hat' at the bewildered witnesses before turning to his left and disappearing through an external wall of the building. Despite having been seen walking up the bare, wooden stairway, the figure made no sound whatsoever.

Stable Block Office: A notepad was seen to turn over by itself in front of a number of witnesses during an official farm meeting.

Farmyard: During the 1960's, the owner of the farm often spoke of seeing the figure of a 'Cavalier' at the end of the farmyard. The mysterious sound of horses hooves were also said to have been heard around this area.

Moseley Court Site (Nearby): Local legend has it that the last owner of Moseley Court is said to haunt the area around where the house once stood. There is also a tale concerning a phantom horseman who supposedly gallops up the driveway to Moseley Court - a trackway situated just to the rear of Northycote Farmyard.

The 'Visits'.

Visit 1: Sat. 8th - Sun. 9th March 1997

Early on in the investigation, a researcher entered the Blue Room and immediately reported walking into a sizeable quantity of - very real - cobwebs. He presumed this might explain away previous reports of experiences with seemingly non-physical cobwebs in this area.

Temperature readings from thermometers set up at various points around the farm showed constant readings throughout the night.  Despite this, the temperatures actually physically experienced by all investigators present plummeted to most uncomfortable levels during the early hours of the morning.

Two separate researchers reported a feeling of 'nausea' during their respective vigils in the Blue Room. One found himself so affected by the Blue Room, he was unable to stay there for any real length of time.

From 3.30 to 4.30am, two investigators conducting a vigil in the passage between the Blue and Green Rooms reported experiencing potential paranormal activity centering around and incorporating a collection of dried flower heads which appeared to have moved around the room of their own volition.

Throughout the night a number of audio and video recordings were made in various rooms. While nothing was caught on video tape, a considerable array of sounds - mainly inexplicable clicks, bangs and cracks - were found to have been picked up by a cassette machine left in the Tea Room / Restaurant. (Wave files available via e-mail) Also, a number of Photographs taken during the nights activities contained irregularities that may be a result of some form of paranormal activity.

Visit 2: Sat. 10th - Sun. 11th May 1997

Throughout the night, uncomfortably cold temperatures were experienced by all of the investigators, despite constantly mild temperature readings given by thermometers positioned around the building.

One investigator reported a feeling of 'nausea' again upon spending time in the Blue Room.

Unfortunately, the Tea Room / Restaurant wasn't open to investigators on this occasion, so all audio / visual recordings were carried out in the Blue Room and on the Stable Block Staircase.

Again, nothing was picked up on video, but a cassette recorder positioned in the Blue Room did detect a clear sound sequence containing what appears to be someone 'walking away' from the cassette recorder - approx. 12 paces - followed by the sound of a distant door squeaking open and closed. (There was no indication of anyone actually 'approaching' the recorder to begin with). A number of doors around the farm had definite 'squeaks', but, upon checking, none could be found that came close to matching the particular sound picked up by the recorder.

None of the photographs taken during the vigil showed any irregularities whatsoever.

Visit 3: Sat. 21st - Sun. 22nd June 1997

Audio / visual recordings taken during the night revealed nothing anomalous. Temperatures remained 'reasonable' throughout the night.

Visit 4: Sat. 20th - Sun. 21st September 1997

For this visit, the WMGC were accompanied by Kharis Harvey (the customer who had witnessed the 'top hatted figure' in the Womens Toilet); two (unnamed) male acquaintances of Miss Harvey and Darlaston based 'White Witch' and 'Psychic', June Smith, and her (unnamed) apprentice.  (*The latter being present as a request of guide, Chris Modd)

Around 2.00am, a number of investigators left the farm and walked down to Bushbury Church to take a look at the grave of a supposed local witch - the infamous 'Clutterbuck Grave' - and the area known as 'The Plantation', situated just outside the main Church Gate. Leonard Jackson dowsed 'The Plantation' briefly (with rods), and reports having picked up considerable traces of energy from the collection of large stones piled up at the centre of the site.

Again, audio / visual recordings taken during the vigil revealed nothing anomalous.