Description of Area
Three storey mansion house surrounded by 60 acres of farmland comprising of fields, gardens and woodland. Property has a long tree lined drive leading to a front aspect gravelled turning point/parking area. There is a separarte building containing an indoor swimming pool with shower rooms and toilets. Siruated in Northam, Bidefprd, Devon.
Reported Possible Activity
Another paranormal group had been here previously and reported they had very good activity on their last visit but didn't disclose what the activity was as this was DCPI'S first investigation at the property so didn't want to influence our findings.
Brief Summary of History or Legend
Knapp House has a history leading back to 1743. Squire John Benson
, a ship builder and merchant trader, owned the house. In 1743 the house was then inherited by Thomas Benson at the age of 37. Thomas was a tobacco smuggler and ll round philanderer and got into a miriad of troubles with the inland revenue for non payment of taxes. He also sold woolen products overseas. Over time he eventually sorted his financial burdens and became the MP for Barnstaple. In 1982 the property was owned by the Clements family and was used as a holiday park and activity centre. All went well until August of 2017 when a 4 year old boy named Alexander Miller, also known as George, drowned in the swimming pool. He was there on holiday with his family, Mum, Dad one brother and one sister. Dad, George, george's brother and sister all went for a swim in the pool. A member of staff, that guests thought was a lifeguard, gave George a bouyancy aid but unfortunately it was far too big for the small boy and did not have a crotch strap. George jumped into the pool and drowned un noticed by everyone in the pool area with no one going to help him. After 3 hours of George being missing people were getting frantic and searching the entire area. People had been in the swimming pool building looking for him, but once everyone left the area the tarpaulin pool cover was placed on top of the water and lights turned off and doors locked so no one saw him. Upon removing the tarpaulin and netting the pool his lifeless body was found in the deep end of the pool. The water was extremely cloudy which was the reason why no one saw him in the pool prior to it closing. During the investigation into George's death it was discovered that there was no lifeguard employed by the owners to watch the pool area and the condition of the pool water was extremely dirty with very poor visibility making the swimming pool a danger to anyone that went into it. This was the end for Knapp House Holiday and Activity Centre and it closed. The building was put up for sale at a staggering £2,000,000 with planning permission to build holiday homes but was not passed as many people objected due to there already being plenty of holiday lets in the area. Since the house has been left to fall into disrepair with vandals breaking in and causing damage in every area of the house and pool area and also appears to have evidence of rough sleepers.
Description of Area
Has a long winding drive from the main road leading to a turn round circular driveway to the front of the property. Large three storey house surrounded by gardens, trees, shrubs and flower borders. All very overgrown. Inside the building are many rooms that are all not in a good state of repair. In the dining room the table is still in one piece but the sideboard is smashed up with the glass from the mirror all over the floor along with smashed up windows, plastic cutlery and plates everywhere and general debris. All the rooms have been used by rough sleepers at some point and some of their belongings such as old dirty sleeping bags are still left on the floors. In some of the rooms there are multiple single and bunk beds, just the frames. In other rooms there were some dirty old mattresses leant up against the wall. Upstairs was covered in smashed up hand wash basins and mirrors everywhere. The structure of the main building including the inner staircases were all in fair condition all still with carpets. Across the garden to the left of the main building is another delapidated building. This was the swimming pool in its hayday. Inside is remnants of what would of been the boys and girls changing rooms and a large rectangular swimming pool with surrounding paths. Inside the pool was broken plastic chairs and an abundance of other litter, smashed up materials and rubbish.
Reported Possible Activity
Other groups that accompanied us on previous visits had experienced knockings and taps in response to questions, equipment being set off such as rempod, cat balls, k2's. Some very clear evp and spirit box sessions.
Brief Summary of History or Legend
A four year old boy named Alexander Miller is known to haunt the swimming pool area. He liked to be called George. He drowned in the pool and is said to still go through the traumas of what happened that fateful day.
Knapp House - 21/04/2023
Investigation Report
When we arrived at the site we joined the other groups that accompanied us at the venue. We completed a site walk around so that everyone knew their way around the site, the different areas we would be investigating and also the hazards of the site.
Upper Corridor Adjoining Dormitories
We set up some trigger objects, cat balls and k2's, along the corridor and in adjoining rooms. We also set up a video camera in the corridor. The teams split off into different dorms and some stayed in the corridor. Whilst videoing in the corridor we all did some calling out asking for spirit communication and response. Those of us in the dorms were all experiencing various activity. In the dorm Ros was in there was scratching noises as if someone was scraping their fingernails down a wall. Ros also heard a deep sigh, possibly a male as it was very deep and heavy, coming from the same corner of the room as the scratching. It went quiet for a while then Ros sensed something was behind her so slowly turned around but no one was there but the room seemed to be much darker than it was before. We had a lot of cat ball activity and k2's were flashing in the corridor indicating a spirits presence in the immediate area.
Upper Floor Flat
We set up cat balls and k2's around each corner of the room and set up a laser grid. Kieron, a member of another paranormal group, did some recordings. We had a lot of responses with spirits using the cat balls to answer our questions. In the corner of the room was a door to a staircase. We all heard knocking on the door and noises coming from the staircase. Keiron asked the spirit if they could knock for us and almost immediately there was loud knocks heard by everyone. These knockings continued for quite a while, a lot of them in responses to answers one knock for no two knocks for yes. Stated that it was a young male that had lived in the flat. Didn't disclose if he passed here or how he passed. Ros at this point was knealt on the floor by the window felt several knocks on the floor all around her. These knocks were so hard she could feel the floor move from the vibration. Almost as quick as the activity started it ceased to happen and the room went quiet.
Outdoor Swimming Pool
We all made our way together to the swimming pool building. We set up an EVP in the middle of the swimming pool, 2 laser grids and k2's around the pool. At first it was quiet but after a few minutes of everyone sitting in various spots around and inside the pool calling out we began to have activity. We asked if George, the boy that drowned here, was here with us. As soon as we asked this the cat balls lit up. George was happy to use the cat balls to show he was here with us. We asked him if he could touch certain different cat balls and George touched each ball that we asked him to in the order we asked him to do it. Suddenly the laser grid on the right of the poolside turned itself off so presuming it had ran out of energy Ros started to walk over to get it. As Ros approached it went on again. The laser grid pointing at the other end of the pool was fine and stayed on the entire time. We were all perplexed as to why the laser grid was off then on again. We stayed still away from the grid pen and it went on and off several times. At one point when the laser was off Keiron asked if this was George playing with the green lights? If it is could you please light them up for us now. Immediately the laser came on and stayed on until we asked George to turn them off to which the green lights went off. George enjoyed this game and did it several times before returning to the cat balls. Keiron asked George if he could please light up all the cat balls that he had lined up in the shallow end of the pool from the ball that's closest to him to the ball that's furthest away. George did exactly that and lit all the balls up one at a time nearest to farthest so we all gave him a round of applause. We decided to let George go as it was getting very late at this point so we said our thank yous and goodbyes and left little George in peace.
Overall we felt it was a good night. We got the most activity in the side entrance and through the spirit box and EVP. Again we welcome conversation and constructive criticism and all evidence is subject to opinion.