Otherworld North East Research Society Journal 01 | Page 17

Journal 2007

across its width: however, this was no
ancient ghost, but described as a man in
what looked like a jogging suit! There
have also been reports of mysterious
shadowy figures chasing people down
the roads around the Hall and college –
reports usually by soild people with no
wish or need to make anything up or
embellish tales. Historic Dilston was
investigated by Otherworld North East
on the 18th of June 2004 and
consequently on the 5th August 2005,
the team investigating the Bridge, the
Chapel, the Castle and the current Hall
(not the original which was demolished
in the 1700s).
The Castle produced a number of
photographic and video light anomalies,
including a blue-tinged mist, dowsing
results, environmental fluctuations not
Above: The Earl of Derwentwater, James
in keeping with natural state, as well as
Radcliffe
ultrasound readings – from the bats! The
Chapel prduced minor poltergeist
activity with an environmental meter bag being thrown 6feet, a number of sound and
light anomalies, dowsing results, power fluctuations and intermittent EMF bursts. The
Bridge over the Devilswater on both investigations produced visible apparitions, with two
figures being seen by 3 investigators in 2004 and then a single figure being seen by 3
investigators in 2005. Numerous visible light anomalies were present and recorded, with
minor dowsing results. The Hall itself proved reasonably quiet in August 2005, with
dowsing results, a few environmental fluctuations and light anomalies being caught on
video camera. The sound of a door was also heard opening and closing in an area of the
Hall where it was known that no-one was present.
Of course, Historic Dilston isn’t the only Jacobite site to report ghostly activity.
Bamburgh Castle, one of the most famous of the Northumbrian Coastal castles has a
number of ghost stories attached to it, and it, as well as nearby Bamburgh Hall has many
Jacobite connections. Tradition has it that General Tom Forster met with the Scottish
forces to plan the attack at Bamburgh Hall. After his capture and imprisonment in the
Tower of London, his sister, Dorothy Forster (of Blanchland) is said to have mounted a
cunning rescue. The newly escaped Tom is said to have then hidden in a secret room at
Bamburgh Castle until he fled to France.

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