Greenways Farm, Kent

Date: 29th March 2008

Time: Afternoon and evening until after midnight

Weather conditions: overcast, wet and windy conditions

Persons present: Nick Jones, Tracey Milliams, Patrick McNamara, Karl, Malcolm Dyer

These notes were compiled during the evening and subsequently written up on the day following.

Despite power cuts, which are an increasing feature of life in the rural South East and weather conditions more accommodating to the preference of ducks, our hosts plied us with their usual warm hospitality, with traditional farmhouse fare and a roaring log fire in the Inglenook, made the more agreeable by the necessary resort to candlelight for part of the evening.

5.45pm: Karl Fallon and Patrick McNamara drive into the front yard. They had their usual quota of equipment to unload and bring in by the side entrance. As Patrick approached the door, “I was pushed aside by a dark haired man, around 5’ 2” in height, wearing dark clothes. He went straight through the unopened door and into the house.” Needless to say, no trace could be found of this individual.

6pm in the Kitchen and living room: Patrick, as usual, rapidly ‘tunes in’ to whatever ‘presences’ are in his proximity. “There are three ladies present, one of whom is always whistling and happy.  She wears a wrap round pinafore, of the type commonly worn in the 1920s and 30s and later. It is has two strings that wrap around her waist. She is always present here in what used to be the kitchen. She has something to do with thatching. I see her working on this kind of thing. She definitely lived here. I am getting the names Margaret and Ann.” He subsequently explained that, “Margaret is living in harmony with you and she used to work in the kitchen, (now a simple room, the kitchen being re-sited to one adjacent), I see her with the two girls.”(Patrick has picked up on Margaret on many occasions. She has two daughters and she made jams and preserves with them. She has in the past complained about pruning or “cutting back” of fruit trees in the garden). He then went on to say that, “many spirits are living in harmony with you.”

“Many spirits are living in harmony with you”: either that or my lens was dusty. Cleaning it made no difference.

“A major presence here is a pet ‘black bird’. It could be a raven, or something of that kind. It was a pet. We have seen this bird three times on three separate occasions. The dogs, (Nick and Tracey have two), are very aware of it. It hopped around the place.”

“There is a cat and a retriever present here, (their recently deceased dog). A cat is coming in for a drink. It looks rather like a heat haze. (Here Tracey agreed with this description because she had become aware of the phenomenon). There is a cat here with all her kittens.”

Then Patrick seemed to speculate on the likely future awaiting our hosts. He said that they might one day own a guesthouse. Interestingly, just a few days ago, they had stayed with Nick’s mother, who owns a b & b. Apparently she expressed to them her desire that they should ‘sell up’ Greenways and ‘go joint with her in a guest house venture.’ Patrick could have known nothing of this conversation. He went on to tell Tracey that it would be hard work.

6.30pm: On visiting the upstairs bathroom, Patrick saw “what looked like a big black dog, from the early Victorian era, almost wolf-like in appearance.” In such a tiny chamber this would have been an urgent experience to say the least!

Upon his return downstairs to the Kitchen, Patrick turned to me and said, “I am getting the name Victor, and am being instructed to tell you that, ‘I am here and that it is a very nice grandfather clock’. He saw you looking at a grandfather clock.” Victor then instructed him “to tell him about the floorboards, tell him about him working out costings on something. Is there are problem with wrists – either you or Jan?” Apparently Victor would ‘have worked with mittens or fingerless gloves on machinery?’ Patrick then went on to inform me that, “Victor is with someone with a name beginning with ‘D’”.

‘Victor’ could well be my father’s brother. He was right about the grandfather clock and the floorboards. The latter need replacing after the 2007 floods although I certainly cannot recall telling Patrick of this damage to our property, whilst the former adorns our Hallway.

Hearthside ‘orbs’: Patrick here was surrounded by a great many folk whose presence is apparent by the many ‘orbs’ visible in the picture, which can be seen on closer examination.

The building dates from around 1450 and has had many alterations to accommodate a changing domestic world. For example, in the illustration the Inglenook fireplace is in fact a ‘modernisation’ which superseded a simple fire sited on the space it now occupies, the smoke and fumes of which exited through vents in the roof high above. Patrick often gives information upon folk who lived in these distant times. He first pointed out that there is a strong ‘Flemish connection’ with this house and a ‘Naval connection, because, “I can see an officer in late c19th/c20th uniform.” He then delved far deeper into history. Apparently there were two families, one Saxon, the other Norman, who lived here, in a house pre-dating the one now extant, and they owned a ‘Mill through the Church’. “There was some sort of grain store here. They also made cider. There was a water mill in the vicinity. This was owned by an aristo in association with The Church. He charged for corn milling. It seems to predate this building and there was an earlier structure. This was owned by an Anglo-Saxon rather than a Norman. There might have been a marriage between Norman and Saxon in connection with Land. I am getting the name, Sir Hugh De Brassey/Brousy? Who seems to be associated with the beginnings of this building. I see a small, squat, strong man.”

7.25pm: Patrick stood in the Living Room, in front of the Inglenook and said that, “ I see a man with a bible. He is dressed in black and is wearing knee length trousers and white stockings. He is saying to me ‘ I am the resurrection and the life sayeth The Lord’. This is the Lutheran who was here when the house was on fire. He is strongly religious. He threw the coke from the fire at the dog.” (A few minutes previously, a hot coal landed on the fluffy tail of one of the dogs, creating an ambience of burned dog hair although said pooch seemed non the worse for it all).

Referring back to that ‘officer in late c19th/20th uniform, (?)’, being once again in the Living Room, Patrick said that he could see, “A man with binoculars. He is grey, thin, had been in The Services, most likely holding rank of lieutenant or colonel. I liken him in appearance to Kenneth More. He is clean-shaven and is wearing a light blue jumper/cardigan. He seems to have something to do with aircraft recognition because that is what he is showing me. He has something to do with aircraft. He is very proud of his new Ferguson TV. He is a nice man and owned a white horse”.

Finally, he went far far back in time and told us that he could see a man wearing a ‘white ruff’ possibly of the late c16th and with him a woman who ‘looks like a Rubens painting.’

8pm Main Bedroom upstairs: Here Patrick stated that, “ I see a blond woman with two children, a boy and girl. She is in visitation. A man has died here of a heart attack. I see a woman wearing glasses and I am getting the name, ‘Colly’. I think that it is a nickname. The children are aged between 4 and 7 years, the girl is the eldest by a small margin. They date from the late c19th or early c20th. The blond woman is big.”

“I am getting a woman named Ivy, she is small, thin and with a chiselled face. She seems to have been a housekeeper. She was very busy, of a nervous disposition and a gossip”.

Busy Bedroom: Patrick sensed many spirits in this room. Even, ‘Nick’s other granny’ turned up with a “birthday cake for him to see”. Patrick then saw “the Norfolk Broads and a number with 80 in it.”

Patrick said that “the name Collingwood comes up and is associated with this house. I see a brown leather satchel, dating from the 1940s/50s. Someone lived here and had some connection with ‘something official’. It was always put in this room. There is a ‘safe’ in here too. There is a ‘secret panel’ or ‘floorboard’, (here Nick interposed to point out that he had actually found a small secret ‘chamber’ in the floor of this room. It is under the floorboards), and it was used in the 1930s and 40s. I get someone named Ann and she is using an Imperial typewriter to write reports. She is petite. Her activities are connected with a ‘box safe’ with a ‘handcuff’ attached to it. Date is 1930s/40s and there is association with a leather satchel. Could there be a ‘secret box’ in the room somewhere?”

He then said that there is an association with very well made ‘model aircraft’ and again he came up with the names, ‘Colly’ and ‘Collinwood’. “This room has been an office. I see old-fashioned wireless equipment, morse coding and cipher equipment. This is a very strong impression. I get the name Robert Stafford. I am seeing a small man in a dressing gown.”

“The room held computers in the 1970s. They were big ‘clumpy things’. There was also a small roller top desk. The owner smoked a pipe.”

Patrick then went on to say. “I see a big hole in the roof. I can see the stars. I see a Bishop in a Mitre. There is something hung on the wall, (the wall immediately opposite to the entrance and shown in the photo), something religious was hung here. Maybe, something, ‘blessed’ hung here. There is a white Dalmatian dog here.” At this point Patrick ‘felt’ the name ‘Betty’ or ‘Beatty’ to be associated with this animal.

Patrick felt that, “ this room extended back in a ‘L’ shape”. At one time there was a stairway in the corner.” (Nick confirmed that there had originally been a medieval ladder access in the area of the room indicated by Patrick and that the room had indeed been extended long ago, but this had fallen into ruin and no trace is now apparent).

What follows is my first attempt to use a digital Dictaphone to directly type out what was said in the Main Bedroom, (Olympus DW-90 and mini headphones):

(Patrick) “Something used to hang here which had religious significance from an abbey – there was something there like a little plate which had been blessed or something like that – something specifically to do with a bishop – (Nick) “to do with Thomas” (N) “It could well be – and as I look down here I see a white dalmation dog – it looks like your one downstairs – only he is smaller – but he is here – give me your hand – just here and you will feel a warmth – can you feel it – feel the warmth?” (Nick) “Yes” (at this point a very strange succession of sounds is audible which may well be EVP) (P) “I have got a name which might be Betty or Beatty – one of the timbers of this house came from a ship – I’m seeing sails and the whatsitsname – it is like a salvage timber – I do not know which one – but its one of these beams came off of an old ship. (N) Can you learn whether it was ever used for anything else other than a bedroom?” (P) “It was used as an office at one time – I am seeing computers – 1970s 60s 78s – it would be 70s 80s actually – I am seeing computers along there (pointing to a side wall) – they are old fashioned old clumpy things – (Nick agreed with this as being likely) – and also there was a desk – here there was a desk here – it was a roller top one – you know one of the old fashioned ones – it was a small one not a great big one – and it was stuffed with papers and some such – also this man smoked a pipe – he was a heavy smoker because I can smell the smoke.” (Nick) Can you wind back the years to its original purpose?” (P) “This room here extended back this way (P indicating the rear wall end elevation) – there was an entrance that went that way – there was an added building – I am getting like an ‘L’ shape – attached on the back here – and I am also seeing a ‘boss’ or ‘shield’ up on the wall” (P) “ Are you thinking of getting a new fridge-freezer?” (Nick) “Yes I am actually because the one that we have got keeps filling up with water” (P) “I have just got this woman I got earlier saying ‘tell him about the fridge freezer – it’s a big one you want – it’s big job but you are not going to get it immediately.”(at this point Tracey, who had just arrived agreed with him). “I tell you one other thing – she is showing me some sort of machine – it is like a centrifuge – or a spin dryer – like a tumble dryer – it’s a round thing of some  sort “ (Malcolm Dyer) “ A hatchery of some sort?” (P) “I don’t know, it’s a round thing – and I am seeing it – and I am not going to alter it – round thing, looks a bit like a tumble dryer.” (Nick) “We have looked at incubators which looked a bit like that” (P)”What I have got is for hatching something out – do you understand that – it’s a round thing – the only thing like it is a tumble dryer – it would not move “ (Nick) “Yes, yes, we have looked at ones like that.”(P) “I can see one in this room, I do not know why – I can see one in this room – this is Margaret – this is the lady who is associated with your family – this is the older lady – it is given in this room – it is as though you are looking after something and are getting up in the night – (Nick) “did you get her name at all?” (P) “No, err, I am getting an Ann but that is not the lady I am talking to.” After a pause Patrick went on to say, “ I am seeing someone in that corner – writing with an old Imperial Typewriter – ta ta ta ta ta ta ta – I can hear it – and this is Ann – this lady (at this point Nick interjected “Ah, that has been heard before here”) – this lady is something to do with that briefcase and that man – something to do with something official possibly the RAF – and she would have written out reports or something like that – this is Ann – she is a small lady, very delicate – petite – and as I said, this thing, this secret thing – it was utilized – like a box safe that was put in there – and boxes were taken in and out of it – because I am also seeing – I am seeing a handcuff – it would be attached by a handcuff – it is like a typewriter and I have got Ann and it is tap, tap, tap, tap……….-it is an Imperial – which means that it is 1930s 40s it is not one of the earlier ones – it is one of the big – I own an Imperial” (Nick) I can find out from my neighbour, my neighbour is in his 50s, but his father is in his 90s.” (P) “Good, because you can find out – and I am not going to alter it – there is someone called Ann , small, quite good looking woman, she would have been a secretary, she is not in her first flight of youth – she would be 40s or so – pretty – put it this way, she looked better than her years, she looked good for her age. (Nick)  Apparently there is a secret box or compartment in the room, it predates the 1930s and 40s and it might still be there. “What I have got here – when I asked – my mind freezes which means that they don’t want me to know.” “When I am looking up at the ceiling I am seeing model aircraft – model aircraft suspended from the ceiling – these aircraft are very well made – whoever made these really knew what he was doing – Colin, could be Colin – nickname I have got – could be Colly short for Collingwood – I have got Collingwood separately and I have also got Colin – the early computers I think are a different association (from Ann and co?) in fact this was used as an office – I am choking with smoke suddenly – I see this big hole – I am also seeing an old fashioned clothes horse – this room has been many things and at one point it was an office – and I am seeing old fashioned wireless equipment – morse  coding and old fashioned cyphering equipment – could have been used for business – and I have got the name Robert Stafford – and I know you have got a dressing gown there – I am seeing a man dressed in a towelling robe – small man .” (Nick) “You have mentioned about people being held captive and things like that.” (P) “Yes, well the point is that several people have been ‘detained here’ at different times – it is very strange for I am seeing that at one time there would have been a stairway here – (Nick) “that is correct”(he was indicating a corner of the room which once had a ladder stairway to the chamber underneath back in medieval times). “I have also got that extension going out that way – it was added and then was taken down – I have got somebody coming and they did not have the room so they built an Annex – and what they did was – slowly the Annex decayed – so they removed half of it and the other half decayed – (Nick) “that is completely spot on”.

(There is so much more data apparent when this method of recording is employed. Even so, because some of the recording is indistinct I have missed or perhaps misunderstood some material).

8.30pm Kitchen: Patrick soon said that, “A lady has shown me a ‘Cherry Picking Ladder’ and Nick confirmed that he was likely to purchase one. (This is particularly interesting because a few minutes prior, back in the Bedroom, Patrick said that in the future, “ I see a hatchery in this room – a round thing like a tumble dryer.” Nick agreed that this had been planned.

 Patrick then said that, “I understand that a son or brother was ‘shot down in the drink’ This is connected with the man with the binoculars. He was in the back of the plane, maybe a navigator, gunner, etc.” This must refer to a similar individual described earlier. (This is typical of the way in which information is gathered. It is sporadic and not necessarily in convenient order!).

Then we held a session in semi or complete darkness in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Here we created a, ‘circle’ in order to raise psychic activity in order to obtain footage on infrared cameras.

Malcolm Dyer 30th March 2008.