Investigation Report

 

Arrival & First Impressions

Upon arrival, the team explored the castle grounds, venturing through the Great Hall, Buttery, Eastern Lodgings, Kitchen and Yard, Chapel and Priest's Lodging, Western Lodgings, and the Motte and Keep. We completed baseline tests and began strategising for the evening's investigation.

 

Vigil One – Eastern Lodgings

The small, dimly lit room had a heavy atmosphere. K2 meters, cat balls, and EVP equipment were set up. The word bank app was running throughout.

The moment Ros placed the EVP recorder in the corner of the room, the app immediately said "Take it away," followed quickly by "Stop recording."

 

Human Pendulum – Sophie

Sophie took position as the pendulum in the main lodgings area.

Spirit One – The Carriage Accident Victim

A gentleman came through who had no connection to the castle, its grounds, or anyone present. He had died in a tragic accident—thrown from a horse-drawn carriage. The word "1826" came through, confirming his time of death. With his departure, the atmosphere grew colder.

Spirit Two – Violet

The pendulum movements became erratic and forceful, indicating a younger presence. The word bank displayed "Undocumented death."

Violet, an eight-year-old girl, came through. She spoke of a tragedy and the name "Thomas." The word bank said "Thomas," followed by "Thomas has a secret." Violet promised she would reveal this secret later through the Ouija board. The room grew darker as if more spirits were gathering. Violet shared she was not alone—other child spirits were present, including Thomas. The word bank spoke the names "Billy" and "Omar," followed by "9" and "2." Violet refused to elaborate further before departing.

Spirit Three – Lady Mary Howard

A powerful female spirit identified herself as Lady Mary Howard. She confessed to the murders of her husbands and children, revealing no remorse. She remained bound to the castle grounds but refused to share where she now resides.

Spirit Four – The Angry Male

A forceful male spirit arrived with an overpowering presence. His energy rattled the pendulum with startling intensity. When asked to soften his presence, his answers were terse and distant. He refused to identify himself but was clearly angry.

The word bank revealed "Ryan" and "Thadeus," followed by "A summoning has begun," "Lost their life," and "Ryan is lurking in the prison, during blood moon phases." The pendulum began swaying violently. We asked if he caused the strange movement—he denied it. The word bank spoke "Virginia" and "6." The pendulum stopped dead. The word bank repeated "voice in the recording" and "poltergeist." The pendulum began swaying again—violently, moving in circular motions faster and faster. We shut down the session.

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Vigil Two – Great Hall and Butter

In the Great Hall we set up K2 meters, cat balls, and EVP equipment. The REM Bear was placed close to the Buttery entrance. The team split into two groups: one in the Great Hall, the other in the Buttery.

Ouija Board – Great Hall

The planchette began rocking back and forth, faintly at first, then with sudden intensity. A spirit spelled out a cryptic name: "STEFPRIYUYV." We asked if it was Stefanie or Stefan—the planchette remained still. Four or five loud bangs echoed from the far side of the castle grounds. The word bank said "85 years old" and "STRIET."

Buttery – Spirit Box & Physical Activity

As the group moved to the Buttery, activity escalated. Gravel stones were thrown from three separate areas of the room with no apparent source.

The spirit box said "The light will protect you," followed by "Make them stop." A live viewer commented they could hear humming—no one present could hear it. The word bank said "You are mean," and immediately more gravel was thrown. On the live feed, the stones can be heard hitting the floor just after the words "You are mean." Ros stood where the stones had been thrown and challenged the spirit to throw them again—nothing moved. When Ros left the Buttery, the humming sound was heard once more.

Ouija Board – ZoZo Contact

Back at the board, a spirit came through and spelled "zozo" then began rainbowing across the board with erratic, unpredictable movements.

The board spelled "goodbye" and "666." We closed the session. K2 meters under the table flickered wildly, flashing to amber and red.

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Vigil Three – The Keep and Motte

In the room at the back of the Keep we set up K2 meters and cat balls. We called out but received no response initially. Some of the group explored the Keep taking photographs while others used the word bank and spirit box.

Ouija Board – Violet Returns

Ros opened the Ouija board and Violet came through once more. She confirmed her identity by spelling her name and age, matching what we had learned earlier. Violet indicated she was scared—Thomas was here. We reassured her that Thomas could not hurt her now.

When asked about Thomas's secret, Violet revealed the truth. Violet's Revelation: Her death, long thought to be an accident, was murder. She had been pushed from the Keep battlements by Thomas. Thomas and her mother had been involved in an affair. When Violet discovered them, Thomas pushed her to silence her. Her mother had kept the secret, as had Thomas. Violet's death had been covered up, leaving her to wander the castle.

Violet asked us to reveal the truth—to let the world know that Thomas had killed her. We asked if she wanted to stay. She refused. She wanted to move on.

Ros offered to help her cross. Violet agreed. With a final thank you and goodbye, she moved toward the light.

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Aftermath

As the atmosphere shifted, Aidan suddenly began to feel ill with stomach churning. We immediately saged him and left the area, returning to the Eastern Lodgings. Some of the group departed. A few remained. Colleen ventured into the small room alone and reported no further activity—just an empty stillness. The energy had lifted.The investigation was concluded.

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Communication Experiments

Human Pendulum (Eastern Lodgings)
Extended session with Sophie as pendulum. Multiple spirits communicated including a gentleman killed in a carriage accident in 1826, Violet (8-year-old girl with knowledge of Thomas's secret), Lady Mary Howard (confessed to murdering husbands and children), and a forceful angry male spirit. Session ended when activity became too intense with violent circular pendulum movements.

Ouija Board (Great Hall)
Contact made with spirit spelling cryptic name "STEFPRIYUYV." Followed by ZoZo contact displaying classic warning signs—rainbowing movements, "666," erratic behaviour. Session closed when K2 meters spiked to amber and red.

Ouija Board (The Keep)
Violet returned and revealed the truth about her death—murdered by Thomas who was having an affair with her mother. She was pushed from the battlements and her death covered up. Assisted to cross over by Ros. Departed with thanks and goodbye.

Spirit Box (Buttery)
Messages received: "The light will protect you," "Make them stop." Humming heard by live viewer but not those present.

Word Bank App (Multiple Locations)
Highly active throughout. Notable phrases: "Take it away," "Stop recording," "Undocumented death," "Thomas has a secret," "A summoning has begun," "Lost their life," "Ryan is lurking in the prison, during blood moon phases," "voice in the recording," "poltergeist," "You are mean."

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Auditory Phenomena

• Four or five loud bangs from far side of castle grounds

• Humming sound heard by live viewer—inaudible to those present

• Humming heard by Ros when leaving Buttery

• Gravel stones hitting floor (captured on live feed)

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Environmental & Physical Effects

Sophie:

• Pendulum movements became erratic and forceful during child spirit contact

• Violent circular pendulum motions during angry male spirit contact

Aidan:

• Sudden illness with stomach churning following Violet's crossing

• Required saging before leaving the Keep

Ros:

• Challenged spirit to throw stones again—no response

• Heard humming upon leaving Buttery

• Assisted Violet in crossing to the light

Colleen:

• Ventured alone into small room—reported empty stillness but no activity

Team:

• Gravel stones thrown from three separate areas in the Buttery

• K2 meters flickering to amber and red under Ouija table

• Room growing darker as more spirits gathered in Eastern Lodgings

• Atmosphere lightening following Violet's crossing

• Chill descending as night progressed despite warm arrival

Word Bank App:

• Immediate response to EVP placement ("Take it away," "Stop recording")

• Contextually relevant phrases throughout

• Names and numbers corresponding to spirits communicating

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Conclusion

A significant investigation at Okehampton Castle yielding extensive spirit communication, physical phenomena, and the resolution of a long-held secret.

 

Notable Spirit Contacts:

• Violet – Eight-year-old girl whose death was believed to be an accident. Through the Ouija board, she revealed she was murdered—pushed from the Keep battlements by Thomas, who was having an affair with her mother. Her death was covered up to protect the guilty. Violet asked us to reveal the truth before accepting help to cross into the light.

• Lady Mary Howard – A powerful female spirit who confessed without remorse to murdering her husbands and children. She remains bound to the castle grounds.

• The Carriage Accident Victim – A gentleman with no connection to the castle, killed in 1826 when thrown from a horse-drawn carriage.

• The Angry Male Spirit – Forceful presence who refused to identify himself. Connected to word bank messages about summoning, lost lives, and someone called Ryan "lurking in the prison during blood moon phases."

• ZoZo – Made contact during the Great Hall Ouija session displaying classic warning behaviours—rainbowing across the board, spelling "666," erratic movements. Session closed appropriately.

• Child Spirits – Violet indicated other children were present including Thomas, Billy, and Omar, with the numbers 9 and 2 given significance.

 

Key Evidence:

• Gravel stones thrown from three separate locations in the Buttery

• Loud bangs echoing across castle grounds

• K2 meters spiking to amber and red during Ouija sessions

• Word bank providing contextually relevant and verified information

• Humming heard by live viewer but not investigators present

• Stone impacts audible on live recording following "You are mean"

• Violet's detailed revelation about her murder—corroborating earlier hints about "Thomas has a secret"

• Physical illness affecting Aidan following spirit crossing

• Atmosphere lightening after Violet's departure

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Historical Significance:

Violet's revelation—if accurate—rewrites a piece of the castle's history. A death long considered accidental may have been murder, covered up by those involved in an affair. The consistency of Violet's communication across two separate sessions (Eastern Lodgings and the Keep) adds weight to her account.

Overall: Okehampton Castle delivered a significant investigation. The evening progressed from contact with challenging entities to the moment of helping a child spirit finally find peace. The physical phenomena in the Buttery, the warnings about ZoZo, and the presence of Lady Mary Howard remind us that not all spirits seek resolution—some remain bound by their own actions.

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We left the castle having uncovered secrets long buried and perhaps given peace to at least one spirit lingering in the castle's shadows.