WALKAROUND

At the entrance to the cells there is an area where prisoners were advised of the Prison Rules. During the 10-15 mins that we were in this area the temperature dropped from 21c to 19.6c . 2 members of SPI experienced twitching in their left eye and 1 member felt as though the bench they were sitting on was falling to the left and had to lean to the right to stay upright whilst feeling as though he was falling forward.

In the Gaol, 1 person felt pain and pressure on his chest and in the Night Holding Cell 1 person could feel a pulling sensation on his trouser leg whilst another member of the group felt dizzy and uncomfortable. On approaching a staircase leading down to the exercise yard, several members of the group heard a whistling sound behind them. In the bottom Cave area heavy, congested breathing was heard along with feelings of discomfort about walking into the Chains room. 1 member picked up the following names and dates:

• George Sutton
• 1764 & 1767
• Robin Stansfield

In the Lock area of the Gaol several people heard a cat-like sound and in the Women’s washroom and 1 person felt a strong presence and a cold spot. A Guest Medium provided by the Tour organisers believed this be the spirit of a Matron.

VIGILS

The following names and feelings were picked up by team mediums”

• Night Holding Goal : “Geoffrey” , “Car…” possibly “Carmichael” a “Landsman” / “Farmer” convicted of “Stealing” a “Pig”” but claims to be not Guilty.
• 1 member of the group felt a pressure on the back of his leg and another felt as though a comforting hand was supporting his chin.
• “William” and “Rattling of Chains and 3 quick taps” were heard in the corridor outside the Night Holding Cell.
• Stairway to Exercise Yard : “James Blackwood” and “Reginald”
• Courtroom : “men’s, white, sturdy working shoes “ Gentleman George”. All Team members reported feelings of being “Disrespectful” when sitting in the Judge’s Chair.
• Anti-Chamber : 1 person sensed the presence of an elegant sword with an ornate hilt, decorated with jewels and the hand holding the sword was gloved in a soft material. The sword was being brought down sharply as if to behead or swipe someone. Another member of the team also picked up on the sword and the hand holding it and confirmed that the glove was not to the wrist but a long armed glove in velvet.

CONCLUSION

The Galleries of Justice are steeped in history and a very interesting Museum to visit. The organised tours are a great way to experience the building at night however due to the amount of people on the premises any noises heard have to be discounted from a formal report of the event as we could not be 100% sure of who had access to the building and the actual whereabouts of everyone throughout the night.

Although there is a Henry George Sutton on record as being the 6th son of the 2nd Baronet Richard Sutton of Norwood Park in the County of Nottingham, any connection with the Galleries of Justice has not been confirmed

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area.

On the site of a former Franciscan monastery stands Lanark’s Clydesdale Hotel where a Grey Abbott has been known to push past people in the Hotel Cellar Bar which was once the monastery crypt

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area.

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area.

There is a great deal going on at Castle Menzies from the unexplained sound of footsteps, knocks and voices to objects moving on their own accord and people being touched.

Visitors to Tulloch Castle in Dingwall have reported being pinned down to the bed by an unseen force and an extreme drop in temperature despite the heating being left on.

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area.

Then there’s Tantallon Castle where the Jury is still out on the validity of a photograph of a ghostly figure dressed in period costume, peering through the bars of the 14th century ruins.

How about the Ghost of a Green Lady at Fernie Castle who makes her presence known bv tampering with the lights and electrical appliance.

A little known venue of great paranormal activity is Balbirnie House Hotel where flickering lights have been captured on film, moving slowly through the air of one of the bedrooms and foreign voices and footsteps can be heard in an empty corridor on the top floor.

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area.

There’s the National Museum of Flight (RAF East Fortune) where the figure of a man in Flying gear has been seen in various hangars.

Then there’s Tantallon Castle where the Jury is still out on the validity of a photograph of a ghostly figure dressed in period costume, peering through the bars of the 14th century ruins.

Following scrutiny by experts, no evidence of the photo having been altered can be found, so perhaps you’ll capture this apparition on camera and add to the mystery.

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area

Several sightings of a male ghost jumping out in front of cars on the Annan Road, A75 Kinmount Straight have led to some locals refusing to drive on this stretch of road after dark.

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area

There’s the account of a street in Sauchie where 3 houses were haunted by the same poltergeist, which was responsible for opening kitchen drawers and sending cutlery through the air.

Then there’s the Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui, a Bigfoot-type creature which people claim to have seen in the Cairngorms since the end of the 29th century

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area

Adventurous backpackers might get more than they pay for when they encounter the resident ghost at Carbisdale Castle youth hostel.

Another of the region’s castles is reputed to be haunted by The Green Lady. Castle Mey which is also known as Barrogill Castle is the home for the ghost of a daughter of the 5th Earl who took her own life after falling in love with a local ploughman much to the disdain of her father who imprisoned her in the castle.

SPI – invites you to share your stories of the area