On 10th February 2007 Mandy & Paul from ‘Paranormal United’ joined Phil Whyman ( Most Haunted & Scream Team ) via Dead Haunted Nights for a paranormal investigation night in Margam Castle. Dead Haunted Nights promo line is …Do you want to spend a night in one of this country’s most haunted locations? Do you want one of the best known personalities, Phil Whyman, in the world of Paranormal Television to be your host for the event? Our answer was YES.

So Let The Coverage Begin …..

Prelude To Margam Castle Paranormal Investigation::

Margam Castle is a Tudor gothic mansion located near Neath, Port Talbot. It was commissioned by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, designed by architect Thomas Hopper and built in between 1830 and 1840.
The Talbot family owned the property until just after the outbreak of the war in 1939 and was brought in 1942 by Sir David Evans-Devan the owner of Vale of Neath Brewery although he never actually lived in the premises. With no occupants from 1942 the building fell to ruin and became an empty shell. It was not until 1973 that Glamorgan County Council purchased the estate and began the renovation of the estate. The castle was the last of their priorities so little work was done on its renovation. In June 1977 a fire totally gutted the interior of the castle leaving just the masonry shell intact. From August 1977 a restoration programme began replacing fire areas and a new roof, with the magnificent entrance hall and stairways getting the main attention.
The buildings North wing now exists as a Field Study Centre and the only areas open to the public are some of the ground floor rooms, entrance hall and bottom of the stairway. The upper floors are still accessible and the first floor consists of sheet wooden flooring sitting on new timber joists, some of which is very unsafe.

The gallery is popular with paranormal enthusiasts, especially due to the coverage by Living TV’s Most Haunted.

After a tour by ‘light’ of Margam Castle by an employee of the Galleries, we started our investigation.

Equipment Used

Pentax Optio S55 5.0 megapixel digital camera, HP Photosmart R717 6.2 megapixel digital camera, KII EMF Meter, & Sony Video 8 Camcorder.

Conditions

Heavy rain which leaked into many areas of the building. First floor was constructed of sheet timber so the noise of movement was loud and echoed. Light from the ground floor could be seen on the first floor through cracks around the edges of the floor.

Investigation Format

45 minutes sessions. Teams of 8 people

 Margam Castle Paranormal Investigation 

Nursery and Adjoining Rooms On The First Floor. Teamleader : Vince Draper

Mandy and I started in a corridor leading to the nursery by a spiral staircase that led to the tower. (The tower was not accessible due to insurance issues.) Nothing could be reported, all sounds heard and drafts felt were down to the weather conditions.
We joined the rest of the team including medium Tracy Higgs to carry out a séance in the nursery. Prompted by the tour of the property we tried to assess what song was associated with the room, the teams original thoughts was ‘Ring A Ring Of Roses’ however this was to be replaced with ‘Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush’ and this was confirmed by Tracey Higgs. (The origin of this nursery rhyme was Wakefield Prison sung as the inmates danced around a Mulberry Bush).
The medium also picked up on two other presences. The first a lady with a high collar she identified as Emily, was this Miss Emily Charlotte Talbot, the daughter of Christopher Rice Mansell Talbot, who inherited Margam in 1876. The second was that of a child.

Stairwell and Two Ground Floor Rooms. Teamleader : Tracy Phillips

We started in the back room of the two on the ground floor. There were some old items placed there including a cot and mangle. We sensed no activity in either of the two rooms and moved on into the hall and stairway. The team spread out and moved around the area over the period of the vigil. While Tracy was sat on the stairs we all heard the noise of something hitting stone near her. When we investigated we found the possible source, a five pence piece on the carpet of the stairs, if this was the cause of the sound its origin, one of us or paranormal, could not be confirmed. While Mandy & I were on the balcony overlooking the stairs members of the team downstairs reported see a shadow or shape near us. We can not confirm this but can say we felt no change in temperature and sensed nothing.

Bedrooms On First Floor : Team Leader : Phil Whyman

We started with the team and sat around a table in the centre bedroom after some Q&A with Phil we tried calling out. There was no response and we must say we felt totally relaxed in that room. Moving into the adjoining bedroom with Ian, where he had set up a fixed video camera. Again there was nothing to report other than lights from the team downstairs showing around the edges of the floor.

Table Tipping with Tracy Higgs

On the last vigil we would be involved with we joined Tracy Higgs and Ian and returned to the bedroom we had previously investigated with Phil. Tracy was keen to try this having picked up on some things in this room earlier. This was our first experience of table tipping with a medium so we were a little sceptical of its possible outcome.
Tracy was quickly disturbed by a transformation she saw in Ian’s face. She described his face becoming older with bushy eyebrows and larger ears. Mandy confirmed she saw the same, but did point out later that Ian had his back to a window so this could merely have been the effect of being backlit. However this transformation disturbed Tracy as she also felt the presence of a man in the room who she did not want to interact with. I personally can say I felt ill at ease and had trouble focusing on Tracy although there was some light in the room. I have reflected on this and on the rational side say she was wearing dark clothes against a dark background, on the non-rational side I still wonder if it was energy Tracy generated. I have my belief but as always try to be analytical.

We left Margam at 4.10am, leaving the team to carry on till 5am.

 

 

Overview Taken from www.talismantv.co.uk/jasonkarl

TV presenter, actor, author Jason Karl is best known for co-presenting the first series of ‘Most Haunted’ (16 part series) and ‘Most Haunted Unseen’ (16 part series) – the hit television series on LIVINGtv, freeview FTN and The Travel Channel in the USA. He has recently been presenting ‘Yes Live’ on Sky channel 661 and in June 2005 he appeared in the short comedy film ‘Le Clenched Twat de Notre Dame’ for Lean Waters Productions – this was launched at The Commonwealth Film Festival in May, and is now screening throughout the UK. He is currently presenting a radio series called ‘The Ghost Zone’ for the BBC.

Jason’s first TV appearance was at the age of 14 in Anglia’s award winning ‘living computer game’ – Knightmare, now showing on Challenge TV, this was followed by various TV appearances and theatre roles. At the age of 16 Jason was lucky enough to work at Shepperton Film Studios through a family connection and his career path was born. After studying media, photography, television and film at North Oxfordshire School of Arts & Technical School in Banbury, he moved into variety work and gained his equity card whilst performing various interactive live theatre shows at Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures for The Tussaud’s Group. Jason has played various roles in touring theatrical productions including an Ugly Sister in ‘Cinderella’, the villain – Silas McNasty in ‘Red Riding Hood’ and the Genie in ‘Aladdin’.

Jason is an experienced live TV presenter, with over 1000 hours under his belt including ‘Haunted Halloween Live’ for ITV1 and ITV2. He has also presented various documentaries in recent years including two DVD series ‘Jason Karl’s High Spirits’ produced by Pure Productions and ‘Phenomena’ for Galaxi TV. In 2003 Jason presented a live segment on American television introducing ‘Diana – Spirit of a Princess’ – the controversial live television experiment to contact the ghost of Princess Diana, and made various appearances including Channel 4’s RI:SE and Optomen TV’s ‘The F**king Fulfords’, he also presented ‘Ghost Quest’ for Belgian Television.

Throughout 2005 Jason appeared as part of ‘Jason Karl’s Ghost Research Foundation’ live interactive events and also wrote a monthly column for ‘Prediction’ magazine, he now writes features for various journals including ‘Chat’ It’s Fate! His third book ‘Jason Karl’s Great Ghost Hunt’ was released by New Holland Publishers on October 31st 2004, his next book ‘The Haunted Places of Lancashire’ will be published by Countryside Books in October 2006. He has recently signed a book deal with New Holland Publishers for a further 2 titles, and a 5 book deal with Carnegie Publishers; these titles will hit the shops in late 2006 and throughout 2007.

Between 2004 and 2005 Jason was Creative Director of Pure TV Ltd. an independent television production company for whom he produced the 5 part ‘Spellbound’ mini series, ‘Spectre Inspectors’ – the world’s first psychic adventure gameshow which he also presented, and ‘Haunted Homes’ which he fronted with medium Marion Goodfellow. In July 2004 he produced ‘The TV Chef’ starring Julie Goodyear and Ken Morley, the show was recently screened at the Edinburgh Television Festival.
Jason is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and British Actor’s Equity. In his spare time he collects rare Disney figurines and enjoys film, theatre and travelling. He lives in a Georgian farmhouse in rural Lancashire.

Interview with Paul & Mandy

Q: Hello Jason, firstly thank you for taking the time out to answer our questions today, and congratulations on the success of the BBC Radio Lancashire show The Ghost Zone. Can you tell us a little about the show and how it came about.

A: The show is part of a BBC Radio Lancashire programme which we have been recording at various locations over the last year, it’s a kind of documentary/investigation strand where I take a Medium or Sensitive to a haunted site to see what they can uncover.

Q: Your latest book Haunted Places In Lancashire, which ties in with the radio show, is all about places you have investigated in Lancashire with medium Veronica Charles. Would you like to tell us some of the highlights of the book and what was your favourite location and why?

A: The book has been incredibly well received locally and became a best seller very quickly. It was a great project to work on and we had lots of unusual encounters while undertaking the research. I particularly remember Hall I th Wood and Mains Hall as we experienced some very strange goings on!

Q: You have worked with a number of mediums/psychics during your years investigating the paranormal, including Derek Acorah. What is your view on the benefits of having a medium on a paranormal investigation, and who of all of them who would you say was the most impressive and why?

A: I don’t ‘rate’ mediums in line and therefore couldn’t answer this questionfully. I do think that any line of research should be taken, and mediumship is one of those, but as for saying who the ‘best’ mediums are, they are all different and have good and bad days like anyone else!

Q: In your book Jason Karl’s Great Ghost Hunt you cover in-depth your recommended method of investigation. Briefly for readers who are interested in taking the first steps into paranormal investigation what advice would you give them?

A: Join a reputable group! Don’t go it alone, and ensure you are fully equipped to undertake a serious study of the paranormal.

Q: As well as a paranormal investigator you are also well recognised as an accomplished actor. Do you feel this sometimes leads to speculation by the public you are acting as opposed to honestly reacting to something paranormal, and how do you handle that? After all the well publicised events that occurred with Most Haunted did spread some doubt on the integrity of paranormal investigation

A: I haven’t watched Most Haunted since I left, and although I have been informed about various bad press it has received, and approached by journalists for my own version and stories, I have decided not to comment at this stage. With regards to my career as an actor, the production team behind Most Haunted were well aware of my previous experience on TV, theatre and film before I signed up to the show.

Q: Of all the sites you have investigated over your career we must ask what’s the most memorable experience and why?

A: Wow, what a question! Having been to over 1000 haunted locations around the world I would hardly know where to start! I have fond memories of many places, each for a different reason, take a look at the chapter ‘Favourite Old Haunts’ in my third book – Jason Karl’s Great Ghost Hunt, to see my favourites!

Q: Reading many investigation reports there are always references to orbs and light anomalies, what’s your professional view towards them? Are they all purely reflections of light on dust? If not how do you distinguish between the two ?

A: I think in most instances these are caused by the presence of natural phenomena including dust and airborne moisture particles, however there have been a few instances where these explanations do not seem to have been the case.

Q: What have you ever experienced or caught on camera or film something that is beyond rational and scientific explanation?

A: I have some incredible things on film (forget orbs, strands of cobweb and shadows) including a full figure walking down a staircase.

Q: Is there anyone in the paranormal field today that you would like to work with on an investigation and why?

A: I occasionally make appearances on public ghost events and sometimes take part in groups investigations around the country but my career and home life (renovating a 18th century country house!) take precedence. I have been fortunate to meet and work with some passionate, creative and objective people over the years, and anyone who fits that description is welcome to approach me!

Q: Do you feel that the highlighted interest in the paranormal due to programmes such as Most Haunted and Dead Famous has been positive or detrimental to professional paranormal investigation and why ?

A: I think it has severely damaged the reputation of serious researchers, but on the other hand, it has highlighted the subject matter to a greater audience. Either way it is a fad, and will eventually die out, leaving the people that have been doing this for the last 50 years back in the driving seat again.

Q: Of the many paranormal programmes that are now on television which ones do you watch or rate ?

A: I very rarely watch television! I watched ‘Shameless’ last week as my friend was in it! And I do like Ugly Betty!

Q: We gather you have been commissioned to write a number of books over the next two years. Can you give us any inside information on what’s ‘instore’ for us?

A: Yes, I have a further three titles coming out in 2007. 21st Century Ghosts, a colour hardback. An Illustrated History of the Haunted World, a colour coffee table book, and Preston’s Haunted Heritage, a local title. I also have a further 4 books commissioned (which I can’t tell you about!) and a potential fifth which I am in discussions about at the moment.

Q: What else do you have planned for 2007, any plans for you to return to the TV screens in the paranormal field?

A: I am always open to offers of any kind, but primarily I am happy to be away from the paranormal field, I think its very easy to be stereotyped. I have recently been presenting for BBC Jam (Childrens) and QVC (the worlds largest shopping TV network).

Many thanks to Jason Karl for taking part in this interview, and we wish him every success with his new books.