Blackpool
Blackpool 8th, 9th and 10th April 2009 -- Report by Melanie
On 8 th April, David, Ian, my other son Alex and I all set out to Blackpool. Our intention was to not only enjoy the rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but to go to the famous Tower and Ballroom to discover what we could in the way of paranormal activity. One of our great loves as a family is the old fashioned roller coasters and rides at Blackpool – some dating back to the 1930's. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a very historical family-run place and has some of the oldest rides in the world. We go to enjoy these historical rides and to support them. They are a monument to Victorian engineering and seem to have an energy and life all of their own. One such ride is the Ghost Train. Most Haunted Live visited this ride and walked through its tunnels in December of 2004. The results of the vigil performed by the Most Haunted team in the tunnels of this ride are somewhat inconclusive, but what is generally believed is that the ghost of a maintenance person who died does like to walk through the ride and try and scare passengers. I was unable to do a vigil of course but on the 9th April I took my camera and shot it randomly into the dark throughout the ride. I have been on this ride many times and always felt there was something sitting on the back of the car behind me. This occasion was no exception and I was keenly aware of a constant presence at my right shoulder, the one at the outside edge of the car. About halfway through the ride there is a ring of skeletons on bikes that cycle round in a circle. These skeletons were stationary on this occasion, maybe there was something wrong with the turntable, but I managed to get a couple of shots of orbs at this place. I also got some more in a tunnel where there is a painted swirl at the end of it. I also managed to get an orb in front of a grill, behind which there appears to be a face. I cannot swear that this face does not belong to some sort of scary model; although I would have thought it would have been lit up if it were part of the ride. The next day – the 10th - found us entering the complex of buildings that surrounds the Blackpool Tower. "Standing over 518 feet high the Tower dominates the Promenade. The tower can be seen from all over Blackpool and its images are everywhere. It is depicted on ornaments, souvenirs, brochures and business cards. It was modelled on the work of Gustav Eiffel who created the even more famous Eiffel Tower, and the Blackpool version is a little over half the height of its French counterpart. The actual design was by Charles Tuke and James Maxwell two Manchester architects who also supervised the construction of the building. In 1889 John Bickerstaffe (often described as 'the father of Blackpool tower') visited the Great Paris Exhibition during his term as Mayor of Blackpool, and was captivated by the sight of the tower there. It inspired him to create a similar landmark in his home town of Blackpool, and he organised a consortium of local businessmen to finance the project." The feet of the Tower disappear into adjoining buildings inside of which are high ceilings, elaborate Victorian tiling, and ornate wooden floors and doors. The architecture is grand if not a little dark and heavy in places, and various alcoves and corners feel strange and disconnected to the rest of the buildings. The ball room is located in one of these buildings . "In 1956 the ballroom was nearly lost due to a discarded cigarette, causing some considerable damage, fortunately some of the original workmen were still alive and they restored it to its original state."
I managed to capture some orbs in the entrance hall to the tower. Then after we had been up the tower to enjoy the views we went into the ballroom. Unfortunately this was being used for a tea dance, and the organ was being played. We were able though to go up to the balconies with the camera and photograph. I captured many orbs on photographing the balconies, and on the walkways behind the balconies on both levels. I also managed to capture orbs on some of the seats. Unfortunately using other equipment was not suitable here as it was quite busy, but we felt the ballroom was a constant temperature. The very top balcony was very strange. The floor was uneven and you felt as though you were being tilted to the front of the balcony all the time. Remember these balconies are the width of most average rooms in a house - they are not small. I felt there was something playful at the top like a child who liked to go up there for the view. Because there were people in various seats in the Ballroom at all levels, I have had to be cautious with my photos – so easy to see a ghost in every chair! However the shot I got of the upper back level shows orbs in seat 34, 2nd row, seat 33 3rd row and seat 30 in the 7th row. There is also an orb by the ceiling. In a shot of this same area but taken further back there is an orb against the ceiling but in a different place, and one in a seat 29 of the 2nd row. The overall feeling in the Ball room is lovely. Not only is it beautifully decorated and ornate, with its highly decorative ceilings, it has obviously been the scene of many dance competitions over the years; many televised, and so feels wonderful. There are definitely ghosts that like to remain there, and I felt that some dance on the dance floor when it's being used and join in with their physical counterparts. I was sure, too, of an older man dressed in Victorian clothing sitting in the seats, and with the feeling of the child on the top balcony I was surprised to read the following when I got home. "In terms of ghost sightings the Tower has many. They say Bickerstaff loved the building so much he couldn't bear to leave it. The Ballroom seems to be the most haunted area, an elderly gentleman and a little girl, both dressed in Victorian period dress, have been seen in the balcony overlooking the stage area. They have been seen on a number of occasions these past two centuries." Oddly enough, none of us wanted to leave the Ballroom that day, and even Alex who is not into any of this paranormal stuff, found the ballroom a restful and relaxing place to be. Whilst I couldn't carry out full investigations on either the Ghost Train or the Ballroom, I definitely perceived activity there and orb photos seem to lend credence to these perceptions. I would love to be able to do a proper vigil in the Ballroom one day.
On 8 th April, David, Ian, my other son Alex and I all set out to Blackpool. Our intention was to not only enjoy the rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but to go to the famous Tower and Ballroom to discover what we could in the way of paranormal activity. One of our great loves as a family is the old fashioned roller coasters and rides at Blackpool – some dating back to the 1930's. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a very historical family-run place and has some of the oldest rides in the world. We go to enjoy these historical rides and to support them. They are a monument to Victorian engineering and seem to have an energy and life all of their own. One such ride is the Ghost Train. Most Haunted Live visited this ride and walked through its tunnels in December of 2004. The results of the vigil performed by the Most Haunted team in the tunnels of this ride are somewhat inconclusive, but what is generally believed is that the ghost of a maintenance person who died does like to walk through the ride and try and scare passengers. I was unable to do a vigil of course but on the 9th April I took my camera and shot it randomly into the dark throughout the ride. I have been on this ride many times and always felt there was something sitting on the back of the car behind me. This occasion was no exception and I was keenly aware of a constant presence at my right shoulder, the one at the outside edge of the car. About halfway through the ride there is a ring of skeletons on bikes that cycle round in a circle. These skeletons were stationary on this occasion, maybe there was something wrong with the turntable, but I managed to get a couple of shots of orbs at this place. I also got some more in a tunnel where there is a painted swirl at the end of it. I also managed to get an orb in front of a grill, behind which there appears to be a face. I cannot swear that this face does not belong to some sort of scary model; although I would have thought it would have been lit up if it were part of the ride. The next day – the 10th - found us entering the complex of buildings that surrounds the Blackpool Tower. "Standing over 518 feet high the Tower dominates the Promenade. The tower can be seen from all over Blackpool and its images are everywhere. It is depicted on ornaments, souvenirs, brochures and business cards. It was modelled on the work of Gustav Eiffel who created the even more famous Eiffel Tower, and the Blackpool version is a little over half the height of its French counterpart. The actual design was by Charles Tuke and James Maxwell two Manchester architects who also supervised the construction of the building. In 1889 John Bickerstaffe (often described as 'the father of Blackpool tower') visited the Great Paris Exhibition during his term as Mayor of Blackpool, and was captivated by the sight of the tower there. It inspired him to create a similar landmark in his home town of Blackpool, and he organised a consortium of local businessmen to finance the project." The feet of the Tower disappear into adjoining buildings inside of which are high ceilings, elaborate Victorian tiling, and ornate wooden floors and doors. The architecture is grand if not a little dark and heavy in places, and various alcoves and corners feel strange and disconnected to the rest of the buildings. The ball room is located in one of these buildings . "In 1956 the ballroom was nearly lost due to a discarded cigarette, causing some considerable damage, fortunately some of the original workmen were still alive and they restored it to its original state."
I managed to capture some orbs in the entrance hall to the tower. Then after we had been up the tower to enjoy the views we went into the ballroom. Unfortunately this was being used for a tea dance, and the organ was being played. We were able though to go up to the balconies with the camera and photograph. I captured many orbs on photographing the balconies, and on the walkways behind the balconies on both levels. I also managed to capture orbs on some of the seats. Unfortunately using other equipment was not suitable here as it was quite busy, but we felt the ballroom was a constant temperature. The very top balcony was very strange. The floor was uneven and you felt as though you were being tilted to the front of the balcony all the time. Remember these balconies are the width of most average rooms in a house - they are not small. I felt there was something playful at the top like a child who liked to go up there for the view. Because there were people in various seats in the Ballroom at all levels, I have had to be cautious with my photos – so easy to see a ghost in every chair! However the shot I got of the upper back level shows orbs in seat 34, 2nd row, seat 33 3rd row and seat 30 in the 7th row. There is also an orb by the ceiling. In a shot of this same area but taken further back there is an orb against the ceiling but in a different place, and one in a seat 29 of the 2nd row. The overall feeling in the Ball room is lovely. Not only is it beautifully decorated and ornate, with its highly decorative ceilings, it has obviously been the scene of many dance competitions over the years; many televised, and so feels wonderful. There are definitely ghosts that like to remain there, and I felt that some dance on the dance floor when it's being used and join in with their physical counterparts. I was sure, too, of an older man dressed in Victorian clothing sitting in the seats, and with the feeling of the child on the top balcony I was surprised to read the following when I got home. "In terms of ghost sightings the Tower has many. They say Bickerstaff loved the building so much he couldn't bear to leave it. The Ballroom seems to be the most haunted area, an elderly gentleman and a little girl, both dressed in Victorian period dress, have been seen in the balcony overlooking the stage area. They have been seen on a number of occasions these past two centuries." Oddly enough, none of us wanted to leave the Ballroom that day, and even Alex who is not into any of this paranormal stuff, found the ballroom a restful and relaxing place to be. Whilst I couldn't carry out full investigations on either the Ghost Train or the Ballroom, I definitely perceived activity there and orb photos seem to lend credence to these perceptions. I would love to be able to do a proper vigil in the Ballroom one day.
