investigation1

Thriller Nights was asked to conduct a private investigation on Saturday February 27th 2010, at Bartondale Engineering in Hirwaun, as a last minute decision prior to it`s permanent c;osure shortly afterwards. There was no time to plan or prepare a schedule because it was at very short notice, we only knew about it on the wednesday before! Before we arrived I asked my
guide Spectrum how many spirits would we encounter in the factory and he said 5. There were only team members present.

The team members in attendance were
Jason R, Sandie, Syreeta, Tina, Siân T, Angela, Alix, Andy, Joanne, Darryn, Jason C, Mathew, Jessica and myself (Karen).

Photograph Š Jason Reynolds
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On arrival we took a short tour around to decide on the evening`s activities. Already I became aware of the spirit of a middle aged man in the kitchen wearing blue overalls, the impression was as if he was greeting everyone with the offer of a cuppa! In one of
the offices there was a more serious energy of a man that appeared to be a foreman or manager, he wasn`t happy with people in
the building but he kept his distance and allowed us to do our job whilst he did his. It is reported that the door of his office is
known to open itself again when closed, even though the hinges are broken and it`s physically hard to open and close! It was reported this same spirit moves about between the different offices and corridors. We were also warned that the door on the
ladies toilet gets locked by unseen hands, Angela did get locked in and needed to be rescued by another team member!
When we went through to the main workshops the atmosphere became thick and heavy with desperation and anxiety. All our mediums and sensitives were particularly drawn to the end area near the shutter doors leading into the yard. What was puzzling
was that the energy of a little boy was very aparent, but unusually for a child he wasn`t playful, but fearful and upset. Other impressions were of a lot of hurrying and rushing around with great emergency, although I felt this was more residual playback
rather than spiritual energy. It became obvious there was some healing, rescue and clearance work to be done whilst on
the premises, and the investigation hadn`t even really started yet!

After we returned to the kitchen for a break, having some idea what we could do during the evening, I conducted the
protection and grounding routine before we started the investigation properly. Then we decided to take a walk out into
the yard. Immediately people were getting exceptionally beautiful orbs and other phenomena on cameras, voice
recorders and camcorders. The orbs are so clearly defined that you can see faces in them, and one even seems
to have a head of hair, complete with parting!. The little boy showed himself on camera, his sad little face haunting
everyone who looked at them. The poor little mite was so desperate for attention he latched on to Alix and gripped her hand
so tight her engagement ring buckled and dug into her finger, leaving a red sore mark where it broke the skin. We then
went back into the main building where the energy was still cold, heavy and depressing. Two team members got the distinct
message of "Get Out" clairaudiently in a male voice, but I got the feeling it wasn`t threatening or out of malice, more like
someone was worried about the dangers the building presented to us outsiders, and wanted us out of harm`s way!
Jason C found his own name unexpectedly in one of his photographs, yet it wasn`t even in the place he photographed!

After the break we had a Table Tilting (and sing song) session in the kitchen area. Although we didn`t get a great deal of table movement it was trying to respond, although it was fairly heavy and there wasn`t a lot of room to move. We had also set up some
pendulum divination boards and the angel board for the team to use during breaks and in between the main activities. Some team members made friends with a spirit called James using the angel board. He told them he got drunk, didn`t wear his hat and died in
an accident in the factory aged 56 in 1988. He said it wasn`t in the newspaper and that he was sorry. He told them not to look sorry for him, and that it was nice to have company! I feel this was the protective spirit in the workshops, I felt it had been an accident
victim who was trying to warn others of the dangers! James also introduced his new friends to a spirit called Gwyn who hadn`t
died in the factory. (Obviously we would like to research these names if possible!) James and Gwyn also had a few personal messages for some team members before telling them he loves them and then said goodbye!
I also got a short personal message on the angel board from Spectrum.

We found time to have a team photo taken before setting off to explore the second workshop. We stood in a single group for a
while, called out introducing ourselves one by one and asked spirit to come forward and communicate. We then stood in
silence and all heard several clicks, bangs and shuffling noises. Syreeta saw someone moving around to & fro and Mathew heard
the sound of metal swinging. We then split into smaller groups and two groups each went to one end of the workshop and Syreeta
& myself stayed in the centre. Again we could hear the sounds we had heard earlier. Then Syreeta and I found an old mirror
hanging on the wall, so we decided to do a bit of mirror scrying. Syreeta`s reflection immediately changed into that of a man with
a very sad round face, square jaw, mastache and deep set eyes. Then there was some excitement coming from one of the two groups, they had heard a shutter door being shaken from outside as if someone was trying to open it! Spirit was invited to show themselves on camera and each time permission was asked orbs appeared in the photo`s! It was then time for another break.

At around midnight we went to the main workshop for a Seance. We stood in a circle linking hands. I asked spirit
to come forward and communicate with us by various means and methods. We then re-introduced ourselves and asked
spirit individually to respond, standing in silence for a few moments whilst we heard various noises around us. Several people
noticed movement, lights, figures, scents and temperature/energy changes- which were confirmed on thermometers and EMF`s.
During the Seance our mediums and sensitives continued to be drawn to the shutter door area. Jessica in particular said
she felt she was being called to the shutter area, but that she also felt her feet were being planted firmly on the ground by her
spirit guide so she couldn`t physically go there. I explained it was likely her guide wanted her to ask for his permission and help,
that he couldn`t allow her to do so until he knew she wanted to. She asked him and he told her it was okay. She was
informed there were two younger spirits who trusted her because she was closer to their age, and they wanted to show her
how they died before they could move on and find peace, for which help was requested. I explained that it could be a very
emotional and unpleasant experience, that it would be like a movie being played in her head and she could even feel part of it!
She said she was ready and wanted to help, and was informed I was also trusted because of my experience in this field.
We agreed we would come back alone together (with our guides) later in the evening and help these two unfortunate souls.
We returned during the break. Jessica was shown the playback story of their dreadful deaths and felt as if the workshop had
changed back to the time it happened, so she felt as if she was there herself. Once this had occurred the two boys, named Edward and his younger brother Tom (the sad little boy we encountered earlier) were then able to move on to the light and their loved ones.
Jessica and I helped them cross over and immediately the atmosphere changed drastically and no longer felt heavy and depressing!

Later on we returned to the workshops and split into smaller groups and wandered around in twos or threes to places we felt
drawn to. Some of us felt a need to touch equipment, walls etc to see if we could get any information from it (Psychometry), some
of us talked to the spirits who remained and asked for reaction, getting various phenomena in return! Some of us were drawn to
going up the steps at the back of the first workshop onto a platform overlooking the building. I must admit I was more nervous of
that than the spirits, as for some unknown reason I don`t like ladders, scaffolds and high man-made structures! Others just felt
a need to walk around quietly taking photo`s, video`s, EVP`s etc.

Afterwards we went back to the kitchen where we had set up our base/break room. We then had a Remote Encounter
experiment, two at a time going to various locations in the factory with a walky talky radio, whist the rest of us asked for spirits
to do something to, or affect them in some way. Some of the results coming back to us by radio was fascinating!
It was almost time to end the investigation, but we decided we would go and do a short vigil in the end office before we finished.
As this was the closest room to the door out of the factory we moved all the equipment up there with us first, to save time later.
First we had to collect the trigger object which we had set up in the office where the door opens itself. When we were setting up
for the evening I had placed a highlighter pen from the office onto paper on the desk and drawn around it, placing a pair of
movement sensor alarms with it. The alarms hadn`t gone off, but the pen did appear to have been moved very slightly.
When we went into the end office we stood asking for spirit participation. We were not disappointed because we received
sounds, lights, sensations, temperature/energy changes and shadows in response!

All too soon it was time to finish. Just as Spectrum had predicted, we had encountered 5 spirits during our visit.
It had been a phenomenal evening and just goes to show it`s not just old castles and manor houses that can be
haunted, humble factories and workplaces can provide a wonderful experience for the dedicated paranormal investigator!

I would like to thank Alix for arranging our investigation of this very interesting location.

Karen Owens

TEAM REPORTS

PHOTOGRAPHS
(Click on "Investigation 2" album)