Borley Rectory - "The Most Haunted House in England"

My annual Halloween Special - enjoy if you dare!
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
Help support my channel:
www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
/ markfeltonproductions
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: The National Archives (Public Record Office), Kew; Foxearth & District Local History Society; Open Doors, Sacred Doorways; The Harry Price Website.

[@ravismcromarty5600]

Having once worked as a grave digger and cemetery caretaker I can tell you it's the living not the dead you want to worry about.

[@francesco245]

Indeed it is! At last someone who knows what he's talking about.

[@AtheistOrphan]

My mum used to tell me that when we walked through a graveyard, “Dead people can’t hurt you, it’s the ones that are living that you’ve got to watch out for”.

[@glasgowgallus247]

Aye, you got _that_ right...👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Clipgatherer]

@@AtheistOrphan Sound advice from your mum. As the people of Gaza and the Ukraine can attest to.

[@Clipgatherer]

@@o234 Oh, I merely picked two examples of menace from the living. There are countless others, of course.

[@Frank-qs3pe]

You can tell Mark was an 80’s kid. All over the world we had our BMX bikes and we were unstoppable! 👍🏻

[@MakerInMotion]

Just be home for supper.

[@Frank-qs3pe]

@@MakerInMotion exactly !

[@DarrinR.-pq8md]

Don't get into any strange Vans that say "Free Candy."

[@dc-4ever201]

Yeah I had a BMX which were a generation on from my older Brother and Sisters Chopper and Grifter, BMX was then in turn superceded by Mountain Bikes, now it's electric bikes. Gotta love the disc brakes on these new bikes though replaces those old rubber pad ones that slipped when the wheel got wet 😂.

[@yankee1985524]

BMX was still huge in the 90's 💪

[@RADIUMGLASS]

I worked at a cemetery which had a crematorium and a mausoleum, and I never experienced anything paranormal. The one thing the cemetery did was it attracted a lot of weird living people.

[@msjannd4]

😂😂😂

[@overlord1295]

Cemetaries are probably the least haunted places to go overall cause all the dead didn't die there

[@cv507]

´when i came to i was walking the perimmittäir. .? öhr sö ^ ^ wäredäim störeese??

[@hermanjacobs4425]

@@overlord1295 Cemetery being one of the least haunted places on earth is probably because the dead have been duly arranged for their final resting places. For a similar analogy in the living world, we mistakenly find homeless people a menace to society because they sleep rough and steal life essentials out of desperation.

[@markwilson7788]

My mum visited the church in the 1950s, with her parents. She said exactly the same.... there was a horrible, oppressive feeling and you felt the need to get out.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Church was open to all and as pleasant, if not more so, as many others, but very c o L D, even in mid summer.

[@davidhusband5022]

oh please

[@truracer20]

That description is my definition of a church...

[@englishalan222]

I live in the outskirts of Sudbury, only three miles from where the house used to stand. Walled up to Borely several times, they say though that when the house burnt down in 1939 the ghosts moved across the road to the church. I have stood in the church yard there. Did I feel anything, like uneasy, or spooked. NO, it was no different than a thousand other churches.. The times I have walked through the hamlet I got no hostility from the locals. In fact one old boy tending his garden even gave me a cheerful 'Afternoon' I did not feel anything in the hamlet (Calling it a village would be stretching it a bit). Borely lies on a major walking route, because the scenery on this part of the Essex Suffolk border is breathtaking, and the area is criss-crossed with public footpaths. Bortely lies on a hill, so the scenery there is worth seeing. Most of the people who walk up there are not interested in the ghosts, in fact I would say most of them do not even know the story of the Borely ghosts, but are simply enjoying a walk in the sun amongst pleasant surroundings and enjoying the peace and quiet that this part of the Essex Suffolk border has to often. I am 59 years old and was born in Sudbury and lived there all my life. The Borely Rectory legend has been hyped up out of all proportions. Borely offers the walker with a pleasant stroll among rolling hills and and well kept cottages, but as for ghosts no.

[@Alsatiagent]

Maybe allow Felton a little dramatic license on Halloween? @@englishalan222

[@SeahamV2]

I've never witnessed a Mark Felton Halloween special before, that was a bloody hoot!!!!

[@alanblanes2876]

I fully agree... the best lore I've heard in a while.

[@ebrim5013]

Yeah, this was fantastic fun.

[@David-yo5ws]

The 'quirkiest' to me, was the 'Howling Woman'. Such an over acting actress, if I ever heard one. 😂 (Especially the little 'choke' at the end, priceless.)

[@duncancurtis5108]

Inspiration for Murder By Death. Falling gargoyles, screaming doorbells, fake storms.. 😅😅

[@OllamhDrab]

Especially cause I was late noticing it was one of Mark's, rather than clickbait, I was still wondering if there was going to be a particular WWII military history angle to this. :)

[@94Angelwing]

I'm not surprised the reverend heard footsteps with 14 kids running around! Great fun and fascinating story. Cheers Mark!

[@tacticalmattfoley]

Any moaning heard could also easily be explained....

[@doberski6855]

@@tacticalmattfoley 🤣👍

[@Alan.livingston]

10 bedrooms and your kids still have to share with you siblings.

[@MightyMezzo]

What a ride!

[@MightyMezzo]

Enough siblings to have co-conspirators.

[@daniellee8565]

I'm now 51 years of age. At age 8 I saw a ghost one dark night near a footpath leading to a manor house close to the church in the village of Fen Ditton, near Cambridge UK. The ghost was a man dressed in top hat and tails of what I believe was the Edwardian era. I could see through him. I was petrified and I have never cycled away so fast in my life! I have returned to the spot a couple of times in adulthood and felt chills run through me, but saw nothing.

[@invisibleray6987]

That was me I was at a fancy dress party and some idiot chucked flour over me, I was on my way home I remember waving at you

[@mrfugazi6713]

@@invisibleray6987haha😂

[@mrfugazi6713]

Buddy it’s not the dead that you have to worry about it’s the living, I’ve been spiritual since I was a child, I woke up in the night and sitting on the bottom of my bed was a old man who I’d never seen before in my life, he was that close to me our eyes actually met I half smiled at him and I turned over and went back to sleep, I told my father in the morning what I saw and he asked me to describe him and when I did he immediately said that was my father Steve your grandfather, I thought no more about it until I went to stay with my grandmother a couple of years later and on my grandmothers fireplace was a little photo and I said gran who’s this man in the photo and she said that was my late husband your grandfather and I swear to you it was the same man dressed in exactly the same clothes that was sitting on the bottom of my bed 2 years earlier, that is the only full spirit that I’ve ever seen and I’ve heard spiritual activity around me ever since over the years and I’m 61 years old now but Ive not heard anything in the last 3-4 years, I’m not a medium or anything like that, I’ve never once tried to communicate with the dead for some reason they have always contacted me for some reason but, I’ve even saved a life due to listening to my spirit guide or I presume that it’s my spirit guide, but when I saw my grandfather believe me he was as solid as you and I, that’s probably why I didn’t run out of my bedroom screaming because he was so human looking, he even had broken fingers and I was told when I was younger that he held my grandma’s hands so tight that they had to break his fingers to release my grandmother’s hand. But please don’t be frightened of the dead it’s the living that you need to fear buddy but I can understand your fear when you were a 8 year old child, I think if I saw someone on a old country lane and I could see straight through the person I know I would’ve ran as well mate haha 😛, anyway take care of yourself buddy from Stevie boy from the West Country.

[@legacy2010able]

Sounds like a run in with the Hat Man. Google it.

[@ascar1nthasky03]

I wonder why every ghost sighting is of people or children dressed in old pre-1900’s clothing. How come ghosts never wear ripped jeans and hoodies?

[@pablojose4890]

This makes me recall once working on a house years ago. I had to paint the interior in the middle of the night to avoid the other contractors during the day. All week I kept hearing noises and voices and thought I was going crazy. The last night there I called out, "whoever is here show yourself!" Within a split second the only light on in the house burned out. Not the Borley Rectory, a much younger house in the States, but that made me a believer, and I knew I hadn't gone koo koo yet.

[@pinklady7184]

It seems you had harmless ghosts who did not inflict injuries upon you. If they were evil and hostile, they would have pushed you down the stairs, grabbed your ankles and caused your falls, tossed you to the wall and fractured your skull, etc. No injuries, it means they are gentle and friendly. The most benevolent ones are the opposites of evil. When you twist your ankle on the stairs and be about to fall to your death, they come swiftly to break your fall and save your life. True story, one builder in UK, for example, had lost his balance on the scaffolding and almost fallen to his death. A ghost behind him prevented his fall by placing his hands on the builder's back and helped him regain foothold on the scaffolding. A life saved.

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

A word of caution, please don't challenge any entity to show itself. Ever. It's dangerous.

[@pablojose4890]

@@drunkensquirrel7545 Yes, I know that now!

[@Cheshyre.]

@@pinklady7184 Those are called guardian angels, and God has assigned His children with them.

[@stuartd9741]

I read a story about a haunted house. And they used a torch /flashlight to communicate with the spirit. They asked the sprint two flashes yes one flash no. And they asked a few questions and it apparently worked! Obviously anecdotal..

[@mithras5768]

A proper Halloween tale would not be complete without a "case of the willies". Excellent video!

[@cliveo3]

If my wife plays her cards right tonight ,i will give her a " case of the willies " 😂😂😂😂😂

[@frwystr]

@@cliveo3you’re wrong brother😂

[@la_old_salt2241]

​@@cliveo3Well, one at least.

[@rovercoupe7104]

@@cliveo3You sound unusually gifted.

[@cliveo3]

@@rovercoupe7104 Not the words my wife would choose 😂😂😂

[@user-em2pe3rf4h]

I think it's great to hear Mark talk about he and a friend hopping onto their bikes to ride to see some spooky location. It's something that I did as well when I was that age as well. The States and England may be two nations separated by a common language, but we have more important things in common... teenage boys riding bikes long distances for adventure... the never come again good ol' days.

[@manchesterunitedno7]

It happens to all of us when we were young. I remember back then when I was a junior high, in my hometown back in the 80s. One day me and my neighborhood buddies decided to bike along to somewhere. Then a couple miles later, at the highway crossing, we noticed a thick smoke billowing on the distance, and the sound of fire engine drove by. A new destination awaits! We raced toward that smoke, Minutes later, a view of burning warehouse and busy firemen made quite a spectacle to us, young adventurer. We can't get close, obviously, since the road is cordoned off. But we can still watch in awe from a comfortable distance, alongside the other onlookers. Quite an unforgettable adventure.

[@user-em2pe3rf4h]

@@manchesterunitedno7 My best memory of high adventure is being 13 or so back in 83,me and a bunch of other kids rode quite a ways to an abandoned, flooded quarry. Between the flooded, possibly bottomless pits and so much abandoned machinery,it was great. Spooky, the machines seemed like dinosaurs that came from those bottomless pits. We were glad to have our BB guns. "It's a shame that youth is wasted on the young..." - Mark Twain.

[@CarolFremel-my4hs]

I remember 60 years ago seeing my 12 yr old brother and his mate taking off on their bikes armed with a crucifix to hunt vampires in the old cemetery- they were back before it got too dark tho lol

[@user-em2pe3rf4h]

@@CarolFremel-my4hs Nice! I'm so grateful that I grew up during a time when a cell phone was only a phone in a jail cell. Do kids even go outside anymore?

[@danielholden5847]

Kids riding off on their bikes into an adventure; sounds like an Enid Blyton story

[@tonybarrett8543]

You need to do more of these as a side project Mark, regardless of real or not they have and still play a significant part of our history and culture

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

I agree. The act of storytelling is both a way for information to be passed on generation to generation. It also a way for the following generation to pass on their own stories which added together form a part of the history of a house, a village, an area and a country and its people.

[@melissafraser2190]

Maybe lose the cheesy loud sound effects tho

[@adammarkbarwick1597]

Not a good road to go down

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

Indeed I Agree As, They're Most Intriguing & Interesting !

[@antonchristian873]

This story has always facinated me, In 1982 I was fortunate enough to visit the church, ( It wasn't kept locked in those days ) Me and a friend camped adjacent to the church grounds in a well hidden place. Through an already broken window we dangled a microphone linked to a cassette player, and recorded, we did pick up some noises from inside, but nothing un-usual. The noises we recorded could easily have been made by some small animal like a mouse etc, We left the following morning a bit dissapointed at not having recorded anything more concrete. Thank you for this post Mark ! I'm a big fan of your WW2 posts. Keep up the great work !

[@stuartd9741]

You were indeed brave souls camping out in a possibly haunted church.. Fair play to ya...

[@jimschofield8734]

The kitsch jump-scare sound effects in the Halloween episodes are always perfect. Mark definitely enjoys making these at least as much as I enjoy watching them.

[@nojuanatall3281]

As soon as that sound effect played I chuckled.

[@michaelsteven1090]

Hilarious! Loved every one of them!

[@raypurchase801]

I'm looking forward to Mark's 1st April upload.

[@fugu4163]

Honestly i always find those sound effects rather annoying. Could be because of korean and chinese TV shows that are abusing various soundeffects and memes constantly.

[@QueenBamBEE32724]

Yeah, man-'scared ME! I'm driving, and have it playing through my speakers, have it up kinda loud, because my window is down and was NOT prepared for the "DUNH!!" Haha!😂

[@davidsirett5560]

Mark as soon as you said that Borley rectory had burned down my first thought was to wonder if a planning application to convert the rectory in to flats had been refused. It's an Essex tradition.

[@peterlee5535]

I don't think that is just an Essex tradition. I think lots of the UK also practice this!

[@glasgowgallus247]

😂😂😂😂

[@ABC1701A]

@@peterlee5535 Not just the UK

[@lisette2060]

Here around latest cultural enriching segment are often involved in such insurance scams. Old buildings with no issues during 60-80 years suddenly burns to the ground, when another pizza production in a tiny village apparently turned out having no economic basis 🙄💸💸💸

[@davidjma7226]

I was born in a haunted house in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor. Originally a monastery it then became a 'home for wayward girls' run by the Sisters of (no) Mercy....Us four kids saw loads of paranormal stuff. Then when we were much older, mum told us what she witnessed ...... I am a believer for sure!

[@wanderer7755]

Years ago when “Most Haunted” was at its zenith in TV we stayed at the Old Churxh House Inn Torbryan, Devon. It was the only place we’ve been that had a very noticeably “lived in” atmosphere. Nothing much happened but we were a bit on edge staying in the room where most of the disturbances were reputed to happen. Devon’s an ancient place and so very haunted.

[@davidjma7226]

@@wanderer7755 Yep, I am a Devon boy but living overseas now. We saw young girls with babies and thought they were mum's friends come to visit but they were just hanging around in the corridor. Then when they appeared in the Nursery where us 4 kids were we told mum and she said it was just a trick of the light blah blah so as not to frighten us. But when we were older she told us about the monks in habits walking through her bed and into the wall. Mum grew up in the Blitz in London, she was tough, no nonsense and not easily frightened, fortunately. I have been back there for a visit. Its still and impressive building in beautiful grounds, now busted up into luxury flats.

[@wanderer7755]

Yikes, that’s very scary stuff to see when you were a kid I’d imagine!!

[@Aconitum_napellus]

No you weren't.

[@davidjma7226]

​@@Aconitum_napellusYou know nothing about where I was born and my upbringing. If you have an opinion maybe it should be supported by some facts....

[@gerrydrummond3287]

Point of fact. Almost every Parish Church in England now firmly locked because people will pinch anything that isn’t nailed down.

[@paulm3033]

That's not my experience.

[@lordeden2732]

That failed to stop them they just smashed stained glass windows to get in

[@whiteonggoy7009]

Marks Halloween uploads are as regular as dinner for one film at Xmas, something traditional.

[@brianmilthorp6690]

There appears to be a number of "most haunted houses" in England. In 1975 my wife and I stayed at Wymering Manor near Portsmouth when it served as a Youth Hostel. Not knowing of it's reputation we were not visited by unworldly apparitions. Upon subsequently learning of its history, I felt rather disappointed not to have been contacted by its ghosts.

[@caw25sha]

That's just rude isn't it? Some ghosts are so inhospitable.

[@David-yo5ws]

Maybe you 'out-spooked' them? Ooooooooooo, scary thought 😂

[@777XGang]

Because it’s not real lol

[@Aconitum_napellus]

Not even the ghosts could stand spending time with you.

[@Nancy-nc4sw]

When are people going to understand, ghosts don't do command performances.

[@ThePersian61]

Three friends and I did some wild camping there in the mid 90s and camped in a field close to the Church. We got there late evening and left early in the morning, we didn't see one person throughout the whole time we were there. We were daring each other to walk round the church yard after night fell and in the end we all went. I will say, that it was extremely eerie and felt like a void as there was absolutely no sound whatsoever - I also noted what I thought were pillars at the front of the church but upon seeing the church the next morning, there were no pillars or anything like them. I will always remember that night as it was the same night Princess Diana died.

[@CameraObscure]

As it's that time of year, I will share experiences I had in a friend's house. He lived in a cottage that was made of two cottages that had been formed into one. So they were identical in that 2 staircases, 2 bathrooms, rooms identical. Many many times when we were both alone in that cottage we would hear heavy footsteps across one of the master bedrooms above our heads and many times the sounds of someone coming down one of the staircases. This happened over several years and was just accepted as part of everyday thing for his family. Which I should point out his parents were both doctors and his sister later became one too. We both ended up in engineering based industries and are rational types. To this day, despite or many attempts at the time to try to catch the "culprit" playing tricks on us No one was there, we rushed to the staircase or bedrooms. The cottage was next door to the parish church between the rectory and the church. It was not settling sounds or traffic vibrations being in a quiet village and the cottage was 200 years old. Still have no explanation for the events experienced.

[@David-yo5ws]

Thanks for sharing your story. So question? Having 'awareness' of this experience as you grew up, did you find any other places you stayed in, having a similar occurrence?

[@CameraObscure]

@@David-yo5ws Hi YW. Sadly no, though I would love to have. Personally, despite my rational head, I like to think it's echoes of the past in some form we experienced.

[@stuartd9741]

From what I have read. And I like the whole ghost spiritual genre. The noises was most likely a past inhabitant tennat of the house.. Sometimes if someone dies. Painful traumatic death it seems to in print itself onto the surrounding familiar area. An easy way to find out would be to search the history of the houses.. House fires were common in the past due to candles, and in some cases people burned alive.. horrid..

[@lisette2060]

​@@stuartd9741As a factual side note, people very seldom burn "alive". You're often intoxicated by toxic fumes way before any flames reaches your body.

[@stuartd9741]

@@lisette2060 Indeed and you'd be correct. I was stating the fact during the medieval period candle light was common - and so were wooden buildings. It's not surprising there were occasional fires. .. I read a sad account of a mother a newborn baby sleeping together, The candle lamp fell onto the bed catching the bed a light including the newborn.

[@willspence7858]

I've been watching Mark since he had under 50K subs. His Halloween specials are always a hit!!

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

I think I’ve been watching longer fanboy.

[@dai19721]

@@CaymanIslandsCatWalks I think I’ve been watching longer fanboy.

[@dangleecock6704]

I wish YT would list when we 1st subscribed to channels! I'm not sure if it was 2020 when we hand loads of time indoors when I subed

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

@@dangleecock6704 ah man back in march 2019 I think for me.

[@lemonaid8678]

@@CaymanIslandsCatWalksI’ve been watching longer fanboy

[@timsullivan4566]

I can just imagine the reaction of the beleaguered Borley residents upon seeing this KZbin posting : "Oh dear - here we go again!"

[@TheBierHooligan]

I installed the CCTV round the area and at the Church in 2003 because they were getting concerns about the huge numbers of people visiting.

[@MrKinglizzie]

I remember back in 1981 reading of this in the "Unexplained" soft cover and the article made it clear that the rectory happenings were fake orchestrated by Pryce. But the church had the genuine hauntings with one team recording rapping, the sounds of a large heavy wooden door squeaking, shutting when no door of that type existed and, a voice like the actor Lee Marvin singing somethin that resembled , "I was born under a Wandering Star". That is what stuck with me all this time.

[@TH3-MONK]

I was fascinated by this place as a child. It was in every ghost book I owned. Shame it's gone now.

[@HighWealder]

Where were the bricks taken?

[@TH3-MONK]

@@HighWealder No idea. Thinking of souvenirs?

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Visited the church in 77, twas wide open to any callers back then, yet c o L D within despite hot summer day outside. Waldegrave family tomb in the corner.

[@ladycplum]

I've always been so fascinated by Borley Rectory, I just love stories about ghosts, poltergeists, pretty much anything paranormal.

[@David-yo5ws]

Have you heard about the 'supposedly' haunted room, 1 of 160, at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand. (Sadly now closed) Apparently some 'sensitive' guests were greeted with a woman sitting on the bed combing her hair, if I recall correctly. The staff never revealed which room it was and were trained to just apologise to the 'sensitive' guest for the 'double-booking' and would assign them another room. They never mentioned the woman was an apparition. Also, the lift would go to the ground floor without anyone in it at random times. Got to love these 'mystery' stories. I believe people can see a 'ghost', but I don't believe a ghost can make sound or move an object. I think people see with the visual processing part of the brain, I don't believe their eye's see a physical ghost. But I am only 64, so what do I know.

[@bobleicht5295]

Had to smile when Dr Felton said he got the ‘Willies’ in the old church.

[@bangochupchup]

I found a book in my school library some fifty years ago that touched on Borley Rectory. It creeped me out so bad I had to go wake up my parents. Funny how things are. I watch everything Dr. Felton puts out as soon as possible but I waited several days before watching this. 😬

[@enscroggs]

This always welcome Mark Felton presentation reminds me of the scariest movie I’ve seen, “The Haunting” (1963, don’t waste your time with the much inferior 1999 remake). No blood, no monsters, no apparitions, but it will give you chills, and you’ll never look at wallpaper again without a slight shudder. Great Halloween stuff.

[@silvermorlock441]

Great story Mark when I was a kid in the 1970s a pestered my Dad to buy me a cassette tape about Borley Rectory he did and I have been fascinated about it ever since living in Sydney Australia it’s a long way to go but in 1989 I finally made it to Borley saw the church and the house love it all.

[@nigelcharlton-wright1747]

I visited Borley Church with my late father and a friend in the autumn of 1983, and found that the church did indeed have a very evil presence and for some bazaar reason the memorial on the left hand side of the nave took up a quarter of the area. Alas my father spoilt the experience by saying outloud that there was nothing to be afraid off. The following year on Good Friday, we visited the church again, and found the place had a happy feel to the place. A few years later my father, eldest brother and I went there again only to find it had had a fire and needed to be restored. It did have a very sad atmosphere about the place. I think I read the Harry Price book sometime in the mid '80's. Always found it a very interesting case. A very enjoyable video.

[@Jlevin1955]

Learned about this place from a tv show on NBC when I was about 8 yrs old. I am 68 yrs old now!I have always been fascinated by it and have read a lot about it!

[@jaycfc6955]

Having seen a ghost when with my mates and a dog that literally froze while at Hampton court palace during the night next to the Thames pathway in the 80's, i cannot dismiss any ghost story i watch or read .

[@charlesferdinand422]

Tell the story

[@johncoulter2]

My dad once met English folklorist and author Eric Maple when he was at college. He told my dad that he thought it was the village kids responsible for the mysterious goings on at Borley Rectory.

[@David-yo5ws]

They certainly had their eye in, throwing stones.

[@jamestkirk6198]

I used to enjoy Eric Maple's late night talks on LBC radio :)

[@ads998]

Mark, you and I are the same age, and in the mid 80s I was also obsessed with Borley Rectory! My mother had a book of ghost stories, and Borley Rectory was my favourite chapter. Unfortunately, I didn't grow up 8 miles from it (more like 10,500 miles away in Sydney Australia). I'm so glad you did this episode. A real flash back to a story I still often think about :)

[@duncancurtis5108]

Was it the 80s big book o' Spooks?

[@a.t.c.3862]

'A Gazeteer of British Ghosts' ?

[@pommiebears]

I’m from Essex. I live in Newcastle NSW now. My husband is an Aussie, born on the central coast. It’s a small world really. We used to venture to an old manor house called “copped hall” and according to legend (I don’t actually know how much legend was true) and every time the manor, or hall, was rebuilt, it burned down again. It was near a place called High Beech, outside of London. We got chased out by security, and never went back again. It had tunnels with all sorts of scary graffiti. I was around 15 years old then. I’m 50 now lol. I often wonder if the hall is still there.

[@blackenedmagic888]

Great story done in Dr. Felton's typically impeccable manner! I absolutely loved all the sound effects - especially the anguished wail of the murdered nun! Well done, Dr. Felton, well done!

[@jbos5107]

That was some really anguished wailing wasn't it?!

[@stuartd9741]

Sounds like me on the toilet after a curry...

[@bavariantrawler]

@@stuartd9741 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@filmchick6389]

This story fascinated me as a child and I read everything published on it with my father who enjoyed a good ghost story as well. Much embellishment no doubt. However, I agree about the church. I’m an organist and used to being in old churches on my own but this church certainly has an unsettling atmosphere. I too was pleased to leave on my last visit. Happy Halloween !

[@garyfrancis6193]

Bosh and twaddle old boy. That’s Jolly rum story indeed.

[@David-yo5ws]

@@garyfrancis6193Aaaah, I see you are keeping the 'spirit' alive. (The rum, that is. Oh, the days I would say my service number and receive a tot of rum for me troubles. Now i'm a teetotaller. Go figure?)

[@englishalan222]

I live in the outskirts of Sudbury, only three miles from where the house used to stand. Walked up to Borely several times, they say though that when the house burnt down in 1939 the ghosts moved across the road to the church. I have stood in the church yard there. Did I feel anything, like uneasy, or spooked. NO, it was no different than a thousand other churches.. The times I have walked through the hamlet I got no hostility from the locals. In fact one old boy tending his garden even gave me a cheerful 'Afternoon' I did not feel anything in the hamlet (Calling it a village would be stretching it a bit). Borely lies on a major walking route, because the scenery on this part of the Essex Suffolk border is breathtaking, and the area is criss-crossed with public footpaths. Bortely lies on a hill, so the scenery there is worth seeing. Most of the people who walk up there are not interested in the ghosts, in fact I would say most of them do not even know the story of the Borely ghosts, but are simply enjoying a walk in the sun amongst pleasant surroundings and enjoying the peace and quiet that this part of the Essex Suffolk border has to offer. I am 59 years old and was born in Sudbury and lived there all my life. The Borely Rectory legend has been hyped up out of all proportions. Borely offers the walker with a pleasant stroll among rolling hills and and well kept cottages, but as for ghosts no.

[@leod-sigefast]

Me too! As a child in the 80s, I would often go down to the local library and look for books on, military history and the paranormal. Similar childhood reading list to Dr Felton it seems! My local library did have a copy of Harry Prices's "Most Haunted House in England" book, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

[@filmchick6389]

@@leod-sigefast I think we had very similar hobbies! The local library was a treasure trove and yes - Harry’s book was repeat reading. My interest in topics from 11 or 12 years old - warfare, the paranormal - hasn’t changed very much …

[@jemc4276]

More of this please good Doctor. Far too much history is occupied with war and military affairs. And whilst I am equally, as many, fascinated by those events there are so many non military events like this that have been forgotten to history. Thank you Mark.

[@michaelsteven1090]

Agree! I hope Mark will do more mysteries..

[@JESUSisLORD24151]

You produce some of the best historical documentaries on KZbin. They are not only educational but also entertaining. Thank you for sharing.

[@Spartan902]

I have spent the night in a haunted house and have had my experience with a poltergeist. The locked door flew open 3 times before I said screw this and got out of there. My friend saw the apparition of a little girl on another night. I was 18 at the time and was a complete non believer in ghosts etc before that night. Cheers Mark.

[@curiousworld7912]

Shirley Jackson, author of 'The Haunting of Hill House', used some of the legends of Borley Rectory, as well as the writings of Harry Price, as inspiration and even examples of the various 'hauntings', for her book.

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

Interesting! Also a good series on Netflix.

[@curiousworld7912]

@@kasimirdenhertog3516 Yes, it is. It has very little to do with the book, but tells an interesting story of its own.

[@TheSaltydog07]

One of my favorite Shirley Jackson books, as is the original movie, filmed in England. 👻 👻

[@curiousworld7912]

@@TheSaltydog07 It's certainly one of my all-time favorites. And, I loved the original film. (The less said about the '90s remake, the better.)

[@Neil-Aspinall]

I was there in the early 90's. The thing I thought was interesting was the fact that the house opposite the church had it's windows blacked out not just curtains. It would be very interesting to know if the modern occupiers have actually had any situations? Great work as usual Dr.Felton.

[@borderlands6606]

Borley property attracts well-to-do London escapees. I'm guessing blinds keep out the riff raff looking in windows.

[@tusken2305]

I believe that the Church is supposed to be haunted and that residents have spoken of a phantom cat in the ground s and bungalows , plus the cottage mark mentions had a history of ghostly goings on well into the late 20th century if not still, mainly footsteps, poltergeist activity and phantoms

[@kenw1295]

First visited the village and church in the 70's and certainly found the church quite spooky. My interest went back to my teenage years when I read the Harry Price book found in my granddads bookcase. I later discovered that my Grandad who was a journalist with The Times was a friend of his in the 30's and 40's and I've now got some of their correspondence discussing the release of the book.

[@leafgreensniper13]

For some reason Mark’s poorly edited sound effects are actually charming.

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Absolute nonsense, did you not hear Mark scream? Oscar winning performance displaying real dedication .

[@Aconitum_napellus]

How dare you say anything against Mark Felton!

[@dmitrishostakovich1447]

Right? I was about to comment that the sound effects are sending me 😂

[@stuartd9741]

When telling a tale of mystery spiritualism & ghosts. It's _de rigueur_ to use sound effects to enhance the ambiance - to create chills down one spine.... 💀👻👀😱

[@terrancecoard388]

The wailing at 12:54 is absolutely priceless !! Thanks for the laughs...much needed in the world today. All these stories pales in comparison to the ones my Grenadian grandmother told us in Trinidad back in the 60's. The "things" always seemed to want to interface with you rather than float away. We developed strong bladders and did not move from under the covers until it was daylight. My mom and dad always said they were made up stories followed with a BUT... there was this one time... Happy Halloween to all.

[@williamharris9525]

Good morning Dr. Felton, thank you so very much for the upload! It’s always a treat to have a history lesson first thing in the morning!😊 Very suitable episode considering the holiday today. 1939, a very active year. I was not aware of the fire at the rectory. The barracks I was stationed at in Erlangen, (West Germany) were former Wheremacht Barracks and was haunted as well.

[@frontenac5083]

We're in the afternoon, but whatever!

[@joshuagibson2520]

​@@frontenac50839am here!

[@David-yo5ws]

@@frontenac5083 Well knock me down with a feather, clever Trevor! You haven't heard the world is bigger than your house! Haven't heard of 'Time Zones'? Unbelievable! And spoooooky 👻

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

I honestly believe that this man has no limits when it comes to educating us

[@Plysdyret1]

I first read about Borley Rectory in a book, I borrowed from the library. I must have been eleven years old. Then I was fascinated!

[@DrLoverLover]

10% of the parish were his own kids? Impressive

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Victorians had large families.

[@edwinthompson6510]

@@suzyqualcast6269 not all my parents was Victorian they had 3 me being the last my brother being 21yrs sister 18 i was born 1941

[@philjones6054]

Thank you so very much for this documentary about one of the most famous hauntings in modern history. The BBC made a superb radio documentry about the rectory and church back in the 1970s also. Thank you!!!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

TV documentary.

[@zolfodor4835]

Visited there about 17 years ago,we went onto the field that is nuns walk,if i remember rightly,people gardens back onto it & we took photos around the church,it is a creepy place & the locals dont take too kindly to people traipsing about,thank you for this. 👌👌❤️😊

[@PhilipKerry]

I read Harry's book " The Most Haunted House in England " as a child in the 60's and found him to be a really good narrator , apparently while he was there doing his studies the BBC did a few live Radio Broadcasts from the Rectory .

[@tommo9757]

"Tawdry affair" an expression you dont hear much any more 😂

[@StevenKeery]

Tommo: They speak of nothing else, down at my local Tesco's. Lol

[@missionpassed4584]

I remember back in the 80s having a really great ghost stories book that included this story and its fascinated me ever since, great video!

[@ImWithBigRed]

I can vouch for the hostility of the locals. I visited as a 12 year old back in the ‘80s and when I asked where the rectory had been and was screamed at by an inhabitant of one of the bungalows that now sits on the site.

[@webspaghetti]

A 36 mile round trip on a BMX shows some dedication!

[@VodkaRob]

I remember as a kid in the days when most people went to church my parents were doing a tape recording of the church anniversary with all the kids singing. When the tape was played back at home it was full of eerie ghost sounds and it was proper scary. I don't remember what they did with it after, they may have just destroyed the tape but I remember clearly that it wasn't your usual bad recording sounds. I wish it was still around so I could listen back to it now.

[@user-ru6gp6km1c]

I've been fascinated by this tale since I read about it in the a children's book of supernatural stories when I was a kid, and my favourite KZbinr makes a video about it! Well, you've made my Halloween, Dr Felton! Thanks.

[@agentolshki4265]

Was that the Osborne books, there were three of them or all three in one? Im

[@user-ru6gp6km1c]

@@agentolshki4265 Ha ha! I think that's the one!

[@SChamberlain1978]

I remember reading about this place as a child in elementary school. The way it was written scared me to death.

[@sophiecutegirl]

After a day of hiding away from the monsters who roam on the scariest day of the year (I am an easily frightened scaredy cat afterall), it was my favourite historian who I greatly admire who managed to lure me into a spookiness of the day with a terrifying tale of horror in the most haunted house in all of England. Thank you, Dr Mark for a little bit of scariness that I can cope with, just about. 👻👻🧛‍♀

[@Controlled_Robots]

I Used to live in Long Melford near Borley,the local butchers house backed on to Borley Rectory cemetery,he always said he never witnessed anything unusual there but many locals had a tale or two to tell about the place.

[@opticfloyyyd]

I can’t get enough of Mark, he’s incredible and cares nothing of saying the right things to appeal to KZbin

[@stevelauda5435]

I first came across this story back in the late 70,s and ended up using it for a school project on ghosts!, what a treat to see this again and thank you for the video on it! Great job as usual!

[@daverage4729]

Thoroughly enjoyable. A wonderful spooky bit of history. Happy Halloween Mark & fellow viewers!

[@PatrickPierceBateman]

So they found a human skull in a paper bag and nobody thought to investigate?

[@simonh6371]

I never know which recycling bin to put those in whenever I find them. I think it goes in the green one with food waste, that's where I normally put them.

[@johnbrereton5229]

When I was in my early twenties I was studying at a local business in Bexley Heath in Kent. Opposite their premises was a library housed in a wooden building which I used to visit to borrow books. One of the books I borrowed was the one you featured about Borley Rectory. I remember reading it vividly even today, it was quite a dark and disturbing book that certainly put the fear of ghouls in me .

[@Neil070]

I must say, the initial description of Borley reminded me of Royston Vasey. "This is a local shop for local people". Perhaps the creators of the League of Gentlemen visited Borley and received a similar hostile reception?

[@dsbmwhacker]

I've had a few very strange occurrences over the years...but one stands out. I was on a solo motorcycle camping trip and camped in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. I camped at a remote campsite high in the mountains for one night. Upon awakening in the early morning I found a 6"-8" high perfectly conical mound of dirt near the entrance to my tent....it was not there when I went in for the night. I kicked it down and proceeded with my ride home....I figured it was made by a Mole or something, but did not know. I rode the 175 miles home to my new apartment which I had recently rented. When I opened my apartment door I was shocked to see an identical, conical mound of dirt on my perfectly clean kitchen tile floor. I will never have an explanation for this.

[@yvonnehayton6753]

Blimey! I would have moved out immediately! That would have taken a bloody big mole though😮

[@Spitfiresammons]

Great haunted story Dr Felton. I had a my first ghost experience in early morning in November 1st 2017 me my mum and other groups went to the Tanners Hatch in Surrey dorking to do paranormal investigation. One time not only we heard the sound of knocking voices and footsteps but me and the women heard what sounded like a flute playing across the dark woods as clear as day which was coming from behind me. My mum and other groups didn’t hear it but only me and and women heard the flute playing in the dark woods. Happy Halloween everyone

[@757Spy]

🎃Oh wow! This could be the real-world Screaming Shack! #halloween #harrypotter #ghoststory Thank you for such great stories Dr. Felton!

[@ironman7630]

Mark, you are still my favorite KZbin creator. Your videos are always fascinating and extremely well done. Thank you for all that you do.

[@JayBee-cr8jm]

I visited Plainfield Wisconsin a few years ago by motorcycle. Plainfield was where the most creative man in Wisconsin, Ed Gein, called home. I could feel the eyeballs on me. It is not a pleasant experience. Also unpleasant were the sounds of disembodied boots storming down the hallway in my military barracks in Bad Kissengen Germany. Happy Halloween Dr. Felton.

[@jimfritz2087]

I can hear violin music . And I'd avoid showers in Plainfield , Wisconsin. 🎻 🚿 🛁

[@peterpaul7932]

Love to see Mark's Tradition of Halloween Classic Haunting Stories Continues! Bring us more Sir!

[@planetwisconsin9901]

I wonder if the people in those new houses experience anything. It can be the land itself that is "haunted".

[@paultreadaway9950]

Some twenty plus years ago I was made aware of the stories of Borely Rectory and made a brief visit there after reading the book to which I recommend reading. Only a few weeks ago after a visit back to Essex did I think of returning and taking another drive out to Borely. I had forgotten about this until this evening when KZbin subscription alerted me to this Video by Mark Felton. Having watched the recent video of his visit to the Eagle's nest and several other of his videos and as a follower of his videos , what a great joy it has been to watch this video by him of the story of Borely Rectory. As always, another great presentation, Well done Mark. P.S. For the future if you dare look into some ghost stories, there are few going with the Ghosts of RAF Bradwell Bay.

[@tonyarichards5430]

This is officially my favorite episode. Chef’s kiss for the sound effects, sir.

[@Ogaitnas900]

A friend and I sneaked into a house that had recently burned down when we were kids, looking back it was very dangerous, but I'll never forget it 💀 the back garden had a lone pear tree surrounded by charred remains, dead leaves and it's own rotting fruits

[@jayernster7869]

Professor Mark Felton is a pure genius. Through all of the years that I have watched and listened to every wonderful video, I shake my head and smile like a Cheshire Cat at their completion. God Bless Mark Felton. A rare and very sharp brain.

[@davidscott2821]

I cannot thank you enough Dr Felton for this incredible addition to your body of work. HUZZAH!

[@robertsmith5970]

I had a massive craze on this place as a child in the early 80s ! Nightmares and imagining shapes of toys in my room in the dark were black monks and nuns i think indicates it got a bit out of hand ! Still fascinates.Handsome Victorian interiors this building had.I seem to recall the marble fireplace shown in one of the photos with figures of monks, had been exhibited at the great Exhibition of 1851.

[@rynonymouss]

always look forward to the Mark Felton Halloween specials!

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

Ah... its officially Halloween!! Thank you Dr Felton... 👻

[@charliedogg7683]

It's the audio effects that really cap this wonderful overview of Borley Rectory's history and "hauntings". Well done Dr. Felton.

[@GypsyHunter232UK]

Another excellent presentation from our very own Dr Mark Felton.

[@pavelsolovyev8129]

Thank you very much Mark for this most interesting story! Happy Halloween! 🎃🎃🎃

[@blemonn]

Looking forward to another Halloween special!

[@Bdog99]

Great Halloween episode!! Thanks for putting these out, I always enjoy the holiday features.

[@mssuxmyass]

That was the story I needed to hear this Halloween delivered by an excellent creator, thank you!

[@therealdoubleyou]

This might be my favorite part about Halloween.

[@kellydonivan6513]

Dr. Felton, you mentioned that you felt as though you were being "watched" as you walked around the area of the haunted village. A spirit of some kind lives in my house and that is the feeling I get when I am home alone. Great video, as expected. Thank you! Kelly in California 🎃😊

[@rossbach451]

Dude, the stingers were priceless. I am loving the fun side of your productive output. You have some of the best history content on YT, and now things of not so great import fall under your watch.

[@ThomasMusings]

Fantastic cinematography and story here!

[@philliphudson9092]

14 Kids ,that's a nightmare in itself !

[@Inge-99]

Haha

[@memory-man]

An artist - Mrs Wilson - told of a strange creature - the 'Borley Bug' - that approached her while painting the rectory building. Later she drew a sketch of the insect; creature in drawing is similar to an elongated (and very dead) bug I once found in a box while working in a warehouse. The box had been shipped from somewhere outside of the U.K.

[@henriknilsson7851]

Your Halloween episodes are fun! Great research and photos as always.

[@russellwhite6795]

from Australia. dude you can seriously write. your commentary is why I watch... 👍

[@thepeskytraveller3870]

Man's arrogance prevents him from believing in the other world, paranormal and unseen. Happy Halloween! Another great work Mark! Thank you!

[@joejones9520]

but youve overcome that?

[@CallMeMrX]

It's worrying that you would confuse rational thought and critical judgement with arrogance.

[@thepeskytraveller3870]

@@CallMeMrX Being rational and critical does not always mean we are correct.

[@CallMeMrX]

@@thepeskytraveller3870 Nor does it mean we are arrogant. There is as much scientific evidence for the existence of Santa Clause as there is for the existence of ghosts, I assume you don't believe the former exists?

[@thepeskytraveller3870]

@@CallMeMrX Somethings do not need scientific evidence to prove their existence. Especially if one has experienced it. Until you do, you have every right not to believe. And oh, I do believe in a Santa Claus. Just not in the way commercial establishments portray him, but more on what he does.

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

GREAT episode, Dr. Felton! We all know by historical truths that evil lurks exponentially in reality than folklores.

[@banjoist123]

I remember being absolutely thrilled by the photo of the brick floating in the doorway! I'm sure Harry Price backfilled a lot of the legend surrounding the place, but it still makes for a great mystery. As always, Dr. Felton covers it better than any other source.

[@sharkheadism]

The floating brick photo was in a number of books about ghost legends and stories in the US, it along with the photo of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, captivated me as a kid. Loved reading about the rectory.

[@gothmamasylvia462]

I enjoyed this history, and the corny music and sound effects you added to the video. Gave me some good chuckles. Good job!