Scottish Paranormal Investigations

A 17th century former coaching inn situated in Lockerbie. The Kings Arms Hotel is one of the oldest establishments in Lockerbie, dating from the 17th Century. Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed here in 1745 & Sir Walter Scott in 1813. The Hotel has catered for weary travellers since the times when horse drawn coaches would pass through the wide passageway to the stable beyond (the undercover parking area today). The original beamed buildings and tack room are now the comfortable Lounge bar and Buccaneer Restaurant.

Pre Investigation Reported Paranormal Activity

The following information was unknown by all team members with the exception of the Team Leader & Assist Team Leader

Owner’s report

Area: Kitchen (approx 6 yrs ago)

The owner & another chef were working in the main kitchen area; the chef had just walked out of the wash up area with a large pot of boiling water. As she walked out of the wash up room and over to the work bench, a wooden spoon jumped out of the utensil holder, spun in the air and landed on the other side of the work table. The owner hadn’t touched it and the chef couldn’t, as she had her hands full.

Area: Reception corridor & Landing (current)

The owner regularly feels someone behind her or catches a glimpse of someone passing.

Area: Room 16 (March 2005)

The owner was making the bed and was putting a fresh pillow case on. She walked away and went back to move the pillow and found that it was wet as was the bed underneath.

Area: Room 17 (Nov / Dec 2005)

The owner had taken a clean duvet from the store cupboard to put on the bed in Room 17. She started to make the bed and halfway through, she realised that the duvet was wet. It had been taken from a dry cupboard. Guest reported waking up during the night and seeing a woman in a crinoline dress.

Area: Room 15

A regular customer of the hotel was staying in Room 15. When he got up the next morning, he complained to The owner that the guests in Room 14 kept him awake most of the night by opening & banging closed the sash windows in the room. No one was staying in Room 14 on the night in question.

Area: Public toilet in bottom corridor

1 of the staff went to use the toilet and tried to get into one of the cubicles. She shoved the door, but couldn’t open it. She went into the next cubicle and knelt down to look under. No one was in the cubicle.

Area: Kitchen

Many members of staff have smelt perfume (described as old fashioned like rose water / lavender). It has also been smelled on the staircase (at the bottom).

Area: Spirit Cupboard

Many staff members won’t go into this room or walk by the corridor as they say that their hair stands up & they feel spooked.
General Manager’s Report

Area: Room 16

The General Manager got a phone call at 2 am from the residents in Room 16. They had been to a wedding, and had come back to the hotel to get ready for bed. As they were getting into bed, they pulled back the covers and the bed was soaking wet. They were adamant it wasn’t them.

Area: Room 8

A member of staff was spending the night with a guest in Room 8. Around 4 am when they were lying in bed (awake), the taps in the bathroom (both sink & bath) came on full at the same time. He now refuses to spend the night in the hotel.

Area: Room 6

A couple were staying in this room on the night before their wedding. The brides dress was hanging up on the wardrobe inside a suit bag. During the night they were woken up by noises but assumed it was other guests. When they got up the next morning, the brides dress had been taken out the bag and the bag thrown on the floor. The groom saw the dress before the wedding!

Area: Managers Flat

The General Manager has seen a black cat walk into the lounge and turn and walk back out. The General Manager has a cat but it’s not black and it was sitting on his knee at the time. He also smells an antiseptic smell a lot.

Housekeeper’ Report- Area: Room 14

The housekeeper was cleaning Room 14 and had cleaned the bath & shower screen. She finished up and went on to the other rooms. Later before she left, she went back in to check everything was ok. Outside Room 14 (the door was closed) she could hear water. When she went into the room, the bath taps were running full and at the other end of the bath (away from the taps) there was mud, as if someone had stood in the bath with mucky feet. The bath had been clean when she left the room and she had locked the door behind her. On a side note, she stated that she always disliked Room 14. In the morning the room is always cold and smells musty.
Note: The residents lounge (Room 10) was once a bedroom. Mr Frank Gibson died in this room. The Gibson’s owned the hotel from 1950 – 1980’s.

SPI’s Investigation Report

Conditions

• Outside: Calm and Frosty.
• Inside: Room temperature of between 23 – 25 deg C.
• Rooms had ample room light and windows.
• During investigation the lights were turned off.

Baseline Tests

The temperature throughout the theatre averaged between 23 – 24 deg C. Due to the extensive amount of electrical equipment in the theatre, it was difficult to take EMF readings without picking up interference. However, no unusual readings were recorded.
At this investigation we had 3 Mediums present, they walked round the location separately and this is what they picked up on

Medium 1:

Room 18 – Feeling of hearing knocking and noise from fire exit area to the left as you leave the room.
Room 17 – Billy and a whoosh past my right. The name *June*.Could be a name or the month (think it’s the month).
Top of main stairs – feeling children playing & running around from right to left as you look up. On the way down the stairs at 8.15 p.m. I had the feeling of being pushed in the back like trying to make me fall. I turned saw no one and ran back to base. Once back down the stairs to the back of the base room, I stood by a doorway and could smell straw & horses manure. David informed me that we were in the old stables. While in the kitchen I got the impression of some walking up & down the small corridor to reception.

Medium 2:

Room 15 – Little Girl, blonde curly hair, Emily, blue dress, affluent.
Room 18 – John (very faint). Young man
Room 7 – Grandma, white haired.
Upstairs corridor – image of children, looking up & holding hands with another child. Name: Albert / Bert
Spirit Room: the medium thought they saw a young boy cowering in the corner of the room.

Medium 3:

This medium began their walk about with a tuning in session in Room 6. As they were starting to tune in a man came in, ushering some others with him:

• Young woman: seemed to be kitchen or house staff as she had her hair covered and was wearing an apron.
• Young girl: Thin with long brown hair. Seemed to be shy. Emily / Amy, aged 9 yrs.
• Man: Tall, wearing a dark suit. Got the name Robert with this man. He seemed to be the group organiser.

Shortly after, more people arrived in the room:

• Airman in flight gear, the impression was he was Canadian.
• More children.

The medium then asked the woman for some evidence. They got the impression of an ornate iron key being placed in their hand and the name Catherine. They were then was drawn towards something being drawn on the floor. They thought it was a figure 8, but then saw lots of old coins on the floor.

During set up, a team walked into the Spirit Room and saw a small boy cowering in the left corner. This may be the same young man as seen by the 2nd medium.

Vigils were held in Rooms 6, 5, 17, 18, 14 & 15, the bar & Kitchen areas. The various team members got impressions of various names and activities that have previously happened at the location this was in rooms 6, 5, 17 & 18. No activity or impressions were picked up in rooms 14, 15 and the bar & kitchen area.

There was a communication circle performed in Room 10 (Residents Lounge) this place was decided upon as several team members picked up strong impressions inside and outside this room. The circle itself produced a wide variety on names and information, some of which we have been able to confirm in further research after the investigation.

Conclusion

The investigation proved to be very interesting for all the investigators present. The highlights being two team members having visual sightings of a small boy in the Spirit Room and the lengthy Communications Circle in Room 10. The experience with the nasty male spirit was a first for all of us! Indeed, the general conclusion within the team seems to be that the Kings Arms has surprised us with the quality & quantity of activity.. We do feel that a further investigation should be carried out particularly with more investigators present to cover the areas that we did not manage to spend time in. We also feel that the Spirit Room & Kitchen warrant further investigation as well.

Further research has found a reference to the Kings Arms Hotel in the 1834-45, volume 4, 451 of the Statistical Accounts for Scotland. Also found in the Account is a reference to the provision of schools in the town of Lockerbie . At the time, there were six private schools all run by females. Possibly the Kings Arms was the location for one of these schools.

We would like to thank the owners and the staff for their kind permission to allow us to spend time in such a wonderful place and for their wonderful hospitality during our investigation.