Northern Ghost Research & Investigation Team - UK

Clifford’s Tower at York proved an interesting investigation for NGRIT on Saturday 23rd October 2010
The group investigated the historic castle with English Heritage and Minster FM as part of the radio station’s Halloween coverage.
Clifford’s Tower is situated on a large steep mound (not particularly good for carrying equipment to it) in the centre of York. It is so-called because Sir Roger Clifford was hung there for treason. It is best known as a site for a massacre of Jews in 1190 but has also been used as a castle and debtors’ gaol in the past.
With such a rich history we hoped the team – and Minster FM – would be in for a good night.
During a walk before the start of the investigation, the group’s medium, Joe, picked up on a variety of spirits – particularly in the upper sections of the site.
She was particularly drawn to the chapel area and the upper walls where she picked up on a husband and wife – a wealthy and powerful couple – who seemed to have been gaoled there. On the ground level, she picked up on the presence of servants as well as the image of a hanging man in the gatehouse.
In her words: “The place is full of activity!”
The NGRIT team took a variety of equipment including DVR cameras to cover the whole ground level, data loggers, EMF and NID sensors and audio recorders.
Before the investigation started, NGRIT and Minster FM were reporting batteries being drained, including all the data loggers, tape recorders and video cameras.
Once the investigation started, the main activity seemed to be in the chapel and the stairway outside. Throughout the investigation, fluctuating levels of EMF were recorded on the KII meters, often seemingly in response to questions. At the same time flashes of light and shadows were regularly seen on the stairs.
In the early hours, the team and observers witnessed several bright flashes of light in various parts of the chapel room, but particularly under a table with our equipment on it.
A small stone seemed to be thrown at an observer and an NGRIT member reported being pushed in the chest.
The other main area of activity was in the gatehouse where different groups reported hearing what sounded like the ringing of a bell in another parts of the castle. Frequent flashes and streaks of light were caught on the DVR in & around the gatehouse that could not explained or be seen by the naked eye – ruling out car lights. These need further investigation.
Minster FM’s verdict on the night will be aired on Friday at 10pm.