Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #341261 in Books
• Published on: 1996-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Synopsis
This text concerns the author's research into the enigma of Borley Rectory. Featured on the television documentary "Strange But True", the Rectory has gained attention for decades into the unpredictable and strange events that have occured. The late Harry Price first started investigations in 1929, unaware that people would still, 40 years after his death, be interested in the events occuring in the old Borley Rectory. This book offers an insight into the Rectory, together with an account of the events that occurred. A screaming girl, a headless man and strange mutterings in the night are just a few of the inexplicable events that have reputedly had numerous witnesses.

Customer Reviews

Excellent detail down to the most minuet.
As the summary of this excellent monograph dedicated to the Borley hauntings states on the nack cover, it is '...one of the most historical, compelling and investigative books about Borley yet.' The book attepts and completes much historical research into such people as the Bull family and inparticular, the Katie Boreham mystery and the 'screaming girl.' It stands steadfast on neutral ground between complete sceptisism and uncritcal belief. The case of Harry Price is handled with much meloncholy and does not completely dismiss the hauntings as a fraud )in similarity to Trevor Hall) but does not rule it out. As the author states, 'Borley will blend into folklore long after we are all dust in the ground.'

Old ghosts never die - and they won't even fade away!
Borley Rectory hit the headlines in Britain for the first time in 1929 and hasn't really been out of them since then. Even the collapse of a chicken coop in recent years was blamed upon the fact that the foundations had used bricks from the "haunted" rectory! Ivan Banks draws together the various threads of the mystery in a competently produced account of the phenomena which allegedly continue to this day. It is an entertaining volume, but the author's strong belief in the events at Borley permeates the text, and even his occasional attempts at distancing himself from the rumour and gossip fail to convince the reader that this is a clinical assessment of Britain's greatest haunting. The truth is that the Borley tales are riddled with half truths and inconsistencies, and the prime mover behind the "hauntings" was Harry Price, a man who made a tidy sum out of books connected with the so-called phenomena, and who was caught red-handed on at least one occasion producing them himself. Borley Village is a pretty little hamlet with an interesting church, but the local residents have suffered greatly for their infamy. Perhaps after the publication of this "definitive" volume it is time to call a halt to this nonsense. Regard Banks' book as a spine-chiller for cold winter evenings, take the "facts" with a bucketful of salt (a pinch is nowhere near enough) and you'll find this an enjoyable read.

THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSE IN ENGLAND ?
The Borley mystery has to be one of the most spine chilling post and pre war ghost stories ever. Harry Price who was a devoted ghost hunter made the Rectory an almost life work. But with good reason as the Victorian monolith seemed to be doomed right from when it was built in 1863. Henry Bull had the large Rectory built on the site of the previous rectory of which little is known. The Bull family really seemed to be a catlyst of the later hauntings even long after there deaths. The range of the hauntings would scare even the most hardened ghost hunter and parasicologyst. From wall writings to a flying brick to furniture being thrown about in an empty building. Then there was the Ghost walk in the rear walled gardens to the fire instigated by Captain Gregson who was the final owner. The Author digs deep into the history of the Rectory and it's many residents with great chilling detail. But most interesting is the 'Locked Book' which was written by Sidney Glanville before his death. This book was said to have a complete record of the hauntings and was sold. Off to a rich American to the Glanville family could pay off there debts, or that the book was stolen from the family ?. There is no doubt that though this book tries to solve the mystery that it still only skims the surface. Maybe the owner of the 'Locked book' might have it in there hands to finally solve the mystery ??.