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WOLVERHAMPTON PARANORMAL RESEARCH GROUP
THEATRE ON THE STEPS
INVESTIGATION REPORT
Location:Theatre on the Steps,
Stoneway Steps,
Bridgnorth,
Shropshire,
WV16 4BD
Date: Friday 13th February 2009
Team:Philip MaidenChris Maiden
Antony RoundBecks Daykin
David BallBindi
WendyTracey
Lee BullockMichelle
SimoneChris Piddock
Mandy ThomasCorrine West
Stephen Tranter
Equipment:
Background History
There is little history to be found on the former chapel that has become the Theatre on the Steps, and so the following extract is an adaptation of that found on the theatres website.
In 1662, as ministers were ejected from their churches due to a religious overhaul, Andrew Tristan, the former rector of St Leonards in Bridgnorth, was forced to carry out private meetings to preach. This continued until finally, in 1709, permission was granted to build a chapel on Stoneway Steps. Unfortunately this was three years on from Tristans death in 1706. The deeds mention that the cottage was bought by John Wilson, from the former tenants Thomas and Annie Woolastone. The chapel became Presbyterian during the early 1700s and towards the end of the century became a Congregational church. However, pressure from townsfolk led to falling numbers throughout the eighteenth century. A newly appointed minister, Samuel Barber, meant resurgence in the numbers and so the old chapel was demolished in 1829 to make way for a larger one. Barber remained until 1894, when Ernest Elliott became Reverend of the Stoneway Church.
Following the merger of Stoneway Steps Congregational Church and Cartways Methodist Church in the early 1960s, a public interest in the vacant building led to the formation of the Theatre on the Steps. Heavy renovation work followed during the mid-sixties that saw the original organ and pews taken away and building materials brought in. The inside of the theatre was almost transformed, with the staircase being rebuilt using redundant pews, while sound and lighting equipment, as well as décor was sourced from other local public buildings. Although the work was mainly carried out by members of the theatre, Shrewsbury Gaol prisoners took part temporarily, until one absconded until being caught a short time later.
Baseline Test Results
TO BE CONFIRMED
The Investigation
After a bracing walk through Bridgnorths High Town High Street, we arrived at the Theatre at 9.40pm. We were greeted by the Theatres proprietor, John, who gave a brief tour of the building before leaving us to investigate.
While the rest of the team became familiar with their surroundings, the technical crew set up static cameras on the balcony area. During this time, at 9.50pm, Simone and David became aware of a flickering light coming from behind the locked off bar area. David also said that he was aware of a male spirit at the other end of the space behind the bar. Several pictures were taken of this area (see Meetup website) and a possible orb was captured near to the coat hooks at the end of the passageway.
By 10.10pm most of the team were in the auditorium. Chris M, Phil and Lee were all filming, and all saw a possible large orb floating in the centre of the stage before disappearing. This seems to have been visible through the video cameras but not with the naked eye. The team continually mentioned the cold temperature in the room, although it was a particularly cold night and there was no heating present in the Theatre.
At 10.20pm a small group of the team had moved to the backstage area, and it was here that Michelle reported that she had seen a tall man amongst the costumes, who was watching her as she entered the room. A few moments later Michelle complained of a headache which subsided a few minutes later. The group decided to call out in the hope of more activity. As Wendy began to call out, Phil recorded a reading from the EMF reader near to where Wendy was standing and shortly afterwards a bang was heard from near the door. However, upon investigation this seemed to have been caused by a draught that came from the door at the other end of the room being opened.
At 10.45pm Michelle claimed to see the figure again, and Chris M and Corrine heard a disembodied voice whisper but could not make out the words which were spoken. It was around this time that Chris P saw a lone figure sitting at the back of the auditorium. He went into the foyer to check whether it was one of the group members that had been sitting there, but no-one was to be found. This possible sighting was unbeknown to Michelle, who moments later sat in the same seat and declared that she felt calm and wished to see the man again so that she could talk to him. Whilst this was occurring downstairs, David and Simone were conducting a glass divination session in the top room of the building. During this, the glass tipped over and both David and Simone reportedly heard a voice say its here. No one else was present at the time to confirm this encounter. During this period several of the group mentioned noticeable drops in temperature throughout the building and Wendy complained of a nauseous feeling as she stood in the foyer.
By 11.30pm the investigation was well underway and during a break outside the building Phil was certain that he had spotted a shadowy figure standing watching the group from the first floor window that overlooks the entrance to the theatre. Again, the figure was described as a tall male. Although no-one else saw the figure, the description did correlate with the one given by Michelle. It was after this second appearance that Michelle and I (Mandy) both developed a dull ache in our right temples.
Once the break was over, it was decided that we should divide into smaller groups to investigate separate areas of the building. Corrine, Wendy, Chris and Becks went to the backstage area, while David, Michelle, Lee, Steve, and I stayed in the Auditorium, and Antony, Bindi, Simone and Tracey explored the top room. We then moved around so that each of the three groups investigated the three different locations. At this time Chris M and Phil floated between the groups. The following is what each of the groups recorded.
CORRINES GROUP
The group entered the backstage area at 11.36pm and immediately recorded a drop in the temperature. Becks then developed a headache on the right side of her head. Shortly afterwards, the group moved to the second of the backstage rooms, and here the EMF reader gave a positive reading. Corrine felt a sharp pain in her side and the group witnessed the door creaking shut, although this again could be discredited as a draught coming from the other room. The temperature rose within the room, which would have been noticeable due to the low temperatures felt throughout the night. The group finally left the room at 12.05am for a break.
At 12.45am the group entered the auditorium and decided to try glass divination but there was no success and so the group tried some calling out and thought they had been successful, only to find the noise was in fact Lee moving about on the balcony area.
The group then moved up to the top room where they participated in mirror scrying. Firstly Corrine and Becks sat in front of the mirrors and Corrine saw her face transformed into that of an old woman, while Becks face grew a moustache and long hair. Then Wendy and Chris tried, with Wendys face changing into a square face with squinty, thin eyes which were close together, a wide nose, long dark hair and ruffle around the neck. Chriss attempt led to his face changing so that his eyes became small, he grew bushy eyebrows and a goatee beard, and small ears. The group then returned to the foyer area.
DAVIDS GROUP
Davids group started off in the auditorium at 11.40pm, where Steve and Lee heard banging coming from above, although this could have possibly been caused by the group in the room above carrying out their investigation. Shortly after (11.45pm), Lee and David simultaneously head a groaning sound echoing from the right side of the stage, while the rest of the group recorded a drop in temperature. After no other activity was apparent we decided to try glass divination on the stage (12.10am). We were fairly successful while we had our fingers facing down, but when using the backs of our fingers, no further movements were recorded.
The group returned to the foyer at 12.15am, where Michelle discovered that her torch had been damaged while we were on stage (she had been using it only moments earlier in the auditorium, but had put it down to participate in the glass divination). No explanation could be given for this damage. Davids group then made their way to the top room where they continued to call out, and again tried to use the glass to communicate, but no further activity was recorded.
Finally, Davids group went to the backstage area, where David felt a presence in the room and a feeling of frustration and anger. During the rest of the time only minor noises were heard.
ANTONYS GROUP
Antonys group began at the top room, where at 11.51pm a possible orb was caught on film floating around the room. This was followed by Tracey hearing a whispering voice coming from the side of her, and the rest of the group noticing a drop in the temperature. The group also reported a bright flash coming from the direction of the mirror and creaking noises coming from both the mirror area and from where the basket was in the room.
The group then moved backstage. Simone felt a male presence in the room, and then mentioned that there was more than one presence. She named the one by the stage door as William and the one near the opposite door as Victor, (these names do not appear in the published history of the building). Upon further investigation, Simone confirmed that these were different people to the ones seen earlier in the night. Simone saw the men dressed in long robes and placed them as being from the early 1900s. William finally left the room and moved towards the stage at 1.00am, as did the group.
While in the auditorium, Simone could hear someone shouting women should know their place. This was coupled with shooting pains in her head. Antony then saw something at the door, which Simone confirmed to be William, and the group reported that the door started to slowly open. Antony then complained of a burning sensation in his ears before recording a possible orb fly across the room on the camera recording equipment. No other major activity was recorded after this occurrence.
The groups rejoined in the foyer at 1.45am. Once the equipment had been packed away and the members had thanked the proprietor for allowing them access to the Theatre, it was finally time for the Wolverhampton Paranormal Research Group to make the gruelling journey back up the Stoneway Steps to their awaiting vehicles.
CONCLUSION
When investigating a place with such a colourful history, one hopes to experience at least one or two minor paranormal occurrences. However, on Friday 13th February 2009, we were witness to a catalogue of paranormal activity, some of which may be scientifically disproven. However, as the teams first formal investigation of 2009, there are undoubtedly events happening at the Theatre on the Steps that lend themselves to a more supernatural explanation.