Sinister Secrets Found Written on Convent Walls

For inquiries contact: [e-mail]

[@donnasauer5462]

Simon-thank you so much for telling us about your trade and especially about your pride and precision in the work you do every minute of the job. True-200 years from now your beautiful handiwork will still be like new. I feel privileged to have you share with us.

[@lindabattles9094]

It’s wonderful to see a true craftsman at work. No shortcuts. And now we have another young one in the making.

[@ladonnafuoco2684]

That’s why no one ever changed that room. They wanted to preserve it!

[@skloak]

I bet a lot of people (both viewers, and historical preservation societies) would be interested in getting a better look at the writing on that wall. You can try yourself to get better images (this may be Alex’s department) by blacking out the room entirely, either with black fabric over the window or going in at night, and then shining a UV light at the wall(s. If there’s writing on one, there may be writing on others; attempting to preserve it would explain why the room was untouched). It seems counter-intuitive, maybe, but iron gall ink will fluoresce under UV. How much depends on how faded it is, and the quality of your light source. If that doesn’t yield results, I’ve heard there’s a research project going on at the Uni of Northumbria’s school of conservation using false color infra-red imaging. Even if the UV *does* work for you, they may be interested in testing their methods on your unique sample. But in either case, I know i’d be keen to actually see the writing, and see if there’s any more hidden around the room somewhere. History’s mysteries will always spark curiosity!

[@Tayra_SteelHeart]

I would love to see some high-res photos of the writing for sure!

[@indiataylor1813]

Simon is right. You definitely don’t want those beans getting plastered.😂

[@ROSIEH007]

How about colored chalk?

[@michellebyrom6551]

​@@ROSIEH007a rubbing on paper would be as clear and avoid damage. Clean newsprint - butchers paper - works well for being thin enough to reveal indents without tearing too easily.

[@SM-le9qd]

Curious about that strip of plaster thats been torn off. Maybe the writer mentioned names someone else didnt want seen?

[@lindamitman4538]

This is truly one of the creepiest discoveries in the convent.

[@catherine1057]

Alex is doing a great job for you….. so pleasantly entertaining. Must say, that writing on the walls, gave me the shivers… Poor folks who wrote. I would definitely try and keep that as a reminder of the people who passed at the convent, in the loving care of the French Nuns. Sont Dieu donnés , c’est sur🙏🏻❤️ Bonjour from California ☀️🌴

[@kencase2179]

Love the images Alex is showing us of the convent. Well done!

[@maryjomathews4749]

I love that you can tell Alex goes exploring. What a find!

[@marysell6184]

What an interesting discovery of the writing on the wall. Very observant of Alex to notice it. I wonder how many secrets are yet to be discovered as you continue the restoration of the convent.

[@gabrielemueller7865]

Simon is doing a wonderful job! Such a labor intensive job.

[@coletteretif6316]

Lovely introduction music and pictures.😊

[@giovannipenagos2351]

I would try two things to help piece the words on the wall together. One would be get a black light and see if the ink shines better for translation. Or a neat trick is to take a picture with your iPhone and click the lock button on the side of your phone three times consecutively and it places your screen in “negative” color mode which inverts the colors. I use this trick often as a film photographer to view negatives on film rolls and it works amazingly. Perhaps they could also help. Either way, I think it should be noted and you should contact a historian to look into it as it could help piece together historical events. I would also go as far as to preserve that section, if not the whole room by placing a piece of plexus glass with UV protection over that area for others to view as party of history of the convent. Very cool discovery!

[@csl5859]

Regarding the writing on the wall, if you take a piece of paper and do a rubbing as people do on grave stones, you could have a "print" of the writing.

[@ericacole7102]

Yes. That is what I was thinking.

[@cbart1987]

beat me by 12 min me andmom would go looking for graves of are family and do rubbing with paper and cole or pencil

[@sidobern4374]

No, you cannot. It's written with ink, not engraved in the plaster.

[@TR-rz1xt]

@davesansom8742 Not necessarily, French white plaster is incredibly soft.

[@TR-rz1xt]

@@sidobern4374 That was my thought

[@jesschee5891]

Watching the work being done in the garden is bittersweet, it has to be cleared for improvement but seeing the roses being disturbed hurts a little. I can imagine how beautiful it was in its day and it will be again. Thanks Billy. I would love to see some drone shots of the whole garden to get a good perspective of the size.

[@ambilaevus7607]

I'd give my eye teeth to get some cuttings of them to try to root

[@marymcandrew7667]

I know, I saw that little rose and winced!

[@ambilaevus7607]

@@1MartinWaite No sarcasm, it's supposed to be however I have yet to be successful at it with roses. Lots of other stuff has done great. I haven't had time to try to figure if it's my soil mix or what.

[@heatherphelps3799]

Billy, I really enjoy seeing Phil. I like him. Phil is so 😎 cool. Thanks for having him on your Channel.

[@brandyjean7015]

The artistry of Alex's very professional video work is a joy to watch.

[@TheConfusername]

I didn't see ledger lines for the musical notes but if the tune was identifiable, it might give a clue to the date of the writing.

[@royvera5906]

Hello Pethericks! I very much enjoy your channel and the personalities of your friends and family. Really like the fact that it is a family effort and endeavor. I am a carpenter and cabinet maker from Texas. Really enjoy the craftsmanship and attention to detail. Roy

[@pamabernathy8728]

Every episode brings me joy. The videography is incredible, Alex. Love how you explore scary areas of the convent!!! Music today is impeccable. Roger & Yanis = great team. Glad to see the garden again. Crazy idea, for the future: wonder if any organized group of volunteer gardeners would plant & care for a vegetable & herb garden, with some flowers, of course? They could access the produce & the rest for Covent use, whatever that might be (families of your crew, Billy?). Blessings from the US.

[@azsinger49]

I had to stop at 1:23 and take a moment to tell you this is the best intro to your videos ever. The camera work and framing of each shot was spot on. The music added a lot to the first impressions. I'm going to roll it back and watch it again. Having the person you engaged to do your shooting and editing was the best move you could have made for your channel. So, back to the beginning...... with love from Arizona, USA

[@laurelldockall2399]

Wow. Great video. The camera work and music gives me chills in a good way. Epic epic video. ❤️🥰❤️I would happily camp out in the convent alone with no fears, and I’m a 64 year old Gran. Love the spirits of the old Nuns.

[@blueneptune146]

With relocating the hallway upstairs, i was thinking about the ground floor floorplan. Though it may be past this point when it comes to the plans for the kitchen, I think putting a hallway along the courtyard side that goes all the way across would be pretty nice. As it stands, you have to walk through the kitchen (or out into the courtyard) to access the 18th century stairs from the ground level. When one thinks of "luxury", they don't often think about having to cross a (potentially very busy) kitchen to access other parts of the house. If you instead had a hallway flanked on one side by windows that traversed the courtyard, it could pull the place together Added bonus is it would add symmetry to the kitchen as it would center the fireplace on the wall. On the refectory side of things, the hallway would also provide easy access to the library, plus allow more space to put in bathrooms (I think that's what you'd said you were putting across from the kitchen) and perhaps a nice dining room next to the library. It's not my project, but if I were doing it, I'd have the rooms go Kitchen - Entry Hall - Formal Dining Room - Bathroom - Library, and then have a long window-flanked hallway at the front that allows you to go from the 18th century stairway all the way through to the library. You'd have garden views from the rooms and courtyard views from the hall. Meanwhile upstairs you'd have courtyard views from the suites and garden/town views from the hall.

[@claretan5469]

Simon is a wise man! “If you going to do something, do it once and do it properly”

[@conitorres9774]

My granny used to say that

[@marcikrause3462]

It would be great to get a special light in there that might expose more of the writing, then have it photographed. Don't they do some special photography with paintings to see what's underneath on the canvas? Seems like something like that would work.

[@nancynally]

I think you mean a blacklight?

[@janabeckman545]

Landscaping the garden will be fun. An area of formal garden, perhaps a bit of English cottage garden and wooded trails with places to sit in the shade. Glad to see Phil. He seems lonely.

[@amysbees6686]

I wonder where Lightning (Phil's husky dog) is?

[@matishtar]

This episode was epic! I hope you guys will look further into the writing on the wall. It's delightfully creepy.

[@susannahwhitaker994]

Billy you and Gwendoline are both such kind and lovely people. What you are achieving at the convent is amazing and I hope all your ideas and dreams are fulfilled🤗

[@janeantoniou3216]

Alex you're a master! Thank you Billy for bring Alex on board!

[@artslife3876]

Yannis, you should be wearing a mask when dealing with the dry plaster, you can get Silicosis, especially mixing indoors. My Uncle Robert was a plasterer all his life. He spent all his latter life crippled with it, as it causes major issues in the lungs, in various ways. Now, not bossing you, just be careful youngfella. Lungs are really handy things to have working correctly, and let's face it, this job suits you 🙂

[@elizabethcazan4049]

I am in total agreement with this comment. And you have put it’s astutely, kindly and humorously so! Yannis is quickly building a fan base of his own isn’t he! A truly “good feel” addition.

[@artslife3876]

@@elizabethcazan4049 thank you so much for your comment! Aw yeah, I'm just 8.46. Because it's so good I can take it in sections. I'm absolutely buzzing watching it, and you wouldn't expect that after a minor operation, earlier this afternoon. My best wishes to you, and yours 😊🙏🏻💜

[@DawnYockey]

Simon does great work, and don’t think I’m being weird, but I love the sound of his voice. Not sure what it is with me and voices, but some, like his, I could listen to all day! Major kudos to everyone who has been working on this project! It’s quite daunting, but ya all just “crack on”!

[@jeansirois3812]

I have a blacklight flashlight I bought for $10 on ebay. Just get one of those. I think your convent holds many more secrets. Seems you are finding them one by one. I admire the sense of adventure you have, although that upper floor of rooms I would not walk down that hall alone either. I love how Philip was "outta there!" That room with the inscriptions on the wall, could it have been something other than storage long before anything else. Have you gone to a Historical Society that might be able to tell you more about the convent? Convents keep their secrets as I mentioned in a response before this one. "The children are dead"---now that's the scary one.

[@marilynwade9448]

Love those old doors

[@gailatkinson1955]

Well, that was interesting. I, too, hope you discover and translate more writing. The ceiling is looking really good after Simon’s and Yannis’s hard work. 😊❤ I hope you save that old door with its mustaches!

[@judithstonier9872]

An interesting find by Alex and his opening sequence was lovely today 😊

[@Chromeman]

I think you should start composting all of that wood, branches, scrubs and other organics from the garden. Then you would get some really nice soil for use in the garden and flower beds.

[@merrileeheard3889]

I totally agree!

[@carolwhite6979]

That was fun! Maybe you could get an archeologist type to take a look and provide some suggestions for preservation or capture of the details recorded on the wall. Hey might have ways to better reveal the writing without destroying the record. Again, great photography, everyone!

[@Supercheeseburger666]

Yeah, that writing on the wall was creepy. No wonder it was covered up. Simon is doing a great job on the ceiling. I'm sure he's already heard that a thousand times already. Thanks for sharing your day. 😀

[@nancywltrs]

I am so enjoying Simon. Such a great spirit.

[@elainemcnulty1635]

I've been watching these videos. I love this redo. Everyone needs a Simon in their life. He is so talented.

[@dianeb5380]

I just saw an archaeologist using some sort of filters that were making Pictographs that were worn and completely invisible to the naked eye, visible with the filter. It was on boulders and rock cliffs in SW United States. The technology exists and it super cool!

[@lisajahn6839]

Quite the mystery! Writing on the other walls in that room? Very creepy! Wonderful episode, love the side discoveries and mysteries! Great job Alex with the creepy factor. Thank you all for making and sharing this lovely video! 😮😊

[@dominiquedelhaes8329]

If it were truly written in old French, Ryan wouldn't be able to read it so well. The style of the hangman as well as the meny references to various cancers, including a brain tumor, may give you a clue as to its age. The age of the room is very intriguing. Since the convent was also a hospital, perhaps the occupent suffered from dementia and feared by the nus as a sign of possession, which could explain the abandonment of the room all together. How sad.

[@SusanDenny-o8y]

Where were the pts bodies stored until they could be picked up by the mortician? Could this have been a catalog of the different patients cause of death?

[@amysbees6686]

Billy, did you see the rose in the garden where you were working? You may want to consider rescuing these botanical treasures!

[@ThePethericks]

i’m doing my best, we have saved a lot of them it’s abit hot at the moment to move them but when it cools down

[@amysbees6686]

Have you considered repurposing the short room doors for closet doors eventually? Those old doors are gorgeous!

[@amysbees6686]

"The children are often dead after burial" gave me CHILLS!!!😱 Not to get all spooky, but THAT room is CREEPY AF.

[@amysbees6686]

@@ThePethericks Understandable! Your efforts have been tremendous overall to save the convent. Well done!

[@amysbees6686]

@@janetpendlebury6808 That's rather horrific.

[@sterlingmke]

Billy, great idea. Get another one of the black pots you have In the court yard and modify it to cover the air conditioner. Then it would match everything. If you do It right, I'll bet you could even add a grate and then put a few pots with flowers In It and not block too much air and it will just look like another planter.

[@aimeed4523]

Wow, what a find. Would it be possible to have a town historian take a look it? Maybe they might have more context to the findings based on their town knowledge.

[@sandrabutcher1961]

Love the different places we see because of Alex filming from different places, think it's time for your and Phil to go on a boys adventure lol

[@mu77]

The treatment for cancer was the poison that killed you. Those poor people and children.

[@markh3271]

If the lettering was the same through the writings I would agree that it was an orderly or staff member. If it changes each line it might have been the patients themselves who wrote them. I would like to learn more about them and maybe save them some how. Different lighting methods might bring them out in better contrast. Very interesting video.

[@maryb.7043]

What a lovely opening with wonderful footage and music, thanks Alex. Gave me goosebumps! So many things going today it seems to have kept Alex very busy. Simon, thank you for being so eloquent as usual. All the clearing will make such a huge difference; I've learned to enjoy watching digger-work. The writing in the plaster was fascinating. Someone wanted it remembered (written-in-stone) and here we are all acknowledging it. Hopefully you can have an old French language translation done. The mystery continues.

[@heehaw8401]

The lovely videos of interesting parts of the convent makes me think about what it was like when it was full of people. The hustle and bustle of their lives and going about daily chores and religious duties. I wonder if there are photos anywhere.

[@joyceclark8476]

Wow😮. Another mystery. I wonder if someone knows how to read music. The musical notes may hold a clue to date the writings. Great job Alex on filming and music. Hello to all you wonderful fellows. Joyce from Connecticut, USA 🇺🇸❤️🙏. P.S. I believe Philip saw someone in the window.

[@EVDaysOut]

Could Michael play those notes?

[@bilbobaggins3336]

Thanks you Alex. The intro video and music are awesome!

[@artslife3876]

Thanks Simon, you mentioned the silver tape you're using this time, thank goodness. I've only been trying to remember to bring in my silver gaffer tape, since yesterday! I'm on it, like a car bonnet!! You're on pause Back again. Job's Oxo! Thank you 🙏

[@irenebrown3144]

Billy you might want to check on the air conditioning that’s your tenant can move from room to room very easily as long as the room has a window. No heavy lifting and it does a very good job. Might be worth checking it out. Nothing to lose. 😊❤

[@SandyD2022]

I love how Simon explain it. I feel I could try, even though I know it's harder then it is. Will leave to the Simon's in the world.

[@terrileyda5346]

Wonderful opening music! Also the bluesy rock!

[@sarmaforyou]

Loved this episode. Has anyone tried to decipher the music notes to see if there's a melody that goes with the writing?

[@michellejenkins5922]

I would love to know if there is some way to preserve by picture all the writings to be analyzed especially the mention of the poison. Fascinated by that

[@lilianmcguigan9240]

The intro music you choose is always so beautiful.

[@JacksonWi]

Billy, you need to get a claw for your digger. It would make it way easier to grab large piles of debris. Keep up the good work.

[@jackiesaylor2487]

Wow. That is an intriguing find. But please please show us the scary hallway

[@busterdee8228]

Opening is one of my favorite tunes; very nice fit. Potential residents will want to know the cobwebs have left the building for other jobs. I wonder if there are enough artifacts to support a 'display' room--like a small museum. Now that you've uploaded, don't be surprised if archeologists descent on the building.

[@debracarey2129]

Play the musical notes to see what they say. A true mystery that would be very interesting to find out.

[@TalkTalk44]

They may have been someones favourite piece of music ..

[@ReverendLinc]

This is quite an interesting process (plastering) but I guess I just don't understand *why*. I am from the US and generally speaking we don't do a lot of full plastering here now. We generally do sheetrock and then tape up the joints and use some joint compound on them and screw holes, sand and paint (or wallpaper too, I guess). I thought people mostly did plaster in places where the wall needed to breathe but clearly in this application evernthing is either interior or well insulated with a vapor barrier.

[@catherinemushaw1956]

Billy, I think you should try a lead pencil and try to shade the writing to see if the letters pop up more. Interesting find. Cheers 🍻 from Pennsylvania ❤

[@bergermary917]

I really enjoy the video's. If you want my opinion on the corner apartment that Ryan flaked on....Enlarge the bathroom into the kitchen, have 2 doors...1 to the front bedroom and 1 to the living area (like we do in America, on suite) then make the extra room in the back the Kitchen...it has the most light. Your bathroom could then be a decent size and connect to the bedroom.

[@joanne.robert5576]

Well done Alex, loving the scenes of the attic 🥰 kind of get a time stands still vibe 😀. Also thanks for going back to the writing on the wall as curious as to what it said. After Ryan’s deciphering more intrigued to the know the story behind the writing and if anything else can be detected. Hope you revisit this and possibly preserve if possible 🤷‍♀️

[@katharinatrub1338]

Aha! a surprise from Billy! The welcome by Simon and he does it superbly! You want to know... Yes, it should be you welcoming 'Us', but hey... we know you're there somewhere. Yep, I'm curious to know about the sinister secrets. So 'I' crack-on-watching.... ; )) Fascinant l'écrit dans le plâtre, et Ryan, c'est mieux quant tu le lis en français, ainsi on peut mieux vous aider a déchiffrer. yes I think it the writing has been painted over. and yeah something else, Alex seems to be comfortable in the Convent ; )

[@MsElfdee]

from a medical point of view if it appears ramblings, none-sensical, if the room was a 'hospital/respite/hospice' room for a patient, the illness or the drugs used could cause delusions, hallucinations, manic behaviour. I've worked in MH for too long seen patients do that, especially in old asylums.

[@crazyguy_1233]

I think maybe that room should be left as is to preserve it. The note on the wall is interesting and creepy. Could they be talking about how the cure is like a poison? Or maybe that cancer itself is like a poison?

[@rkern1]

I can't believe that you have a creepy hallway like that and haven't filmed a Scooby Doo chase scene yet.

[@MoOnYsLaYs]

I really liked the ending to this video. Creepy music. Loved it!

[@jesschee5891]

I did notice the writing right away. I think its been painted or limewashed over. Very interesting find. Poor Phil, he seems to get dragged up to the "spooky" floor almost every time he comes by. LoL Id love to confirm if that is the room he saw someone in last visit. 😉 I hope you can ease all the spirits worries.

[@lauraagliata6757]

Phil should keep a lavender smudge brush handy for his visits.....

[@peggymousacraftingideas7911]

Those inscriptions were really interesting

[@timeformore]

Billy, thank you for the google translate! 🙌 Then again, Ryan is better than google translate! Sad message to read, for sure. The convent is such an historic treasure.

[@ceeceemac9072]

Great job, Alex, on that discovery! I wonder what happened to all the records of who was treated when. The writer may never be discovered, but it sure made for a good video topic! We could feel the excitement as all of you looked and read the wall in the darkness. What stories those walls would tell if they could!

[@ursulatevis5146]

Hmmm..... Authentication? Those rooms are kind of bizarre in themselves!!!! The kitchen ceilings are looking fabulous! Thank you!!!

[@jennifer64707]

Okay a little creepy but still so cool and Alex is doing a fantastic job of capturing the convent

[@margarethouston8998]

Agree other eyes looking at the inscription! Also, agree SIMON is the BEST in front of camera. Great voice, too‼️Billy everyone on your team is remarkable!!

[@kimclarke5018]

Great idea to put an outdoor air conditioner and cover it with trellis. Attractive and useful.

[@judyrosey]

Right out of the gate I just want to say that the filming is getting better and better. Just beautiful opening. Hats off and a curtsy to the crew. ❤

[@kathy7718]

Several things! Simon and Yannis are doing a marvelous job and a great explanation! Billy, so you already have a renter for the apartment you’re working on? That’s wonderful! How many apartments are you or others working on right now? Ryan has demolished one and is starting on another one. You said you would tackle the one that’s been gutted! Sadie and Mo are working on one too. Are all these apartments in the same area? Also the area where you’re cleaning up is quite large and will be beautiful! I probably won’t get any answers, but just wondering!!

[@karendaniel8149]

Possibly this room was used to keep psychiatric patients. As a nurse, that's the vibe I get.

[@EVDaysOut]

We all love a Simon ‘PTC’ (Piece To Camera). Hubby wants to tackle plastering a wall in his office after watching The Pethericks Plastering School 😀. Nice to see Phil, and he wasn’t needed to repair any machine! Well done, Ryan, for the translating. I am very interested to see if you can find out any more information on what/why was written. See if Michael can play those music notes.

[@irenelacour3486]

Love the ceiling work it looks beautiful. Very dramatic ending

[@kelleyhawk6595]

“And on that happy note”….😂 Only British accents can make any doom and gloom sound so delightful. ❤🇺🇸

[@jessicaee6616]

Maybe you can chip the wood in the garden to make mulch for the courtyard plants so there is less weeds and it holds moisture better in the hot summer

[@hennym5674]

excellent videography Alex. Loved the intro shots!

[@mariagillinson8527]

Simon and Yanis great job!

[@andytasker5881]

Hi Billy and family hope you are all well? Have you thought of taking some dogs up onto the top floor of the Convent. If anything sinister is up there, the dogs hair will stick up on end and they will back away or growl. Keep well Andy T

[@daltonwade2716]

As if the beauty of the convent, the beauty of the craftsmanship of the hand carved wood work isn't beautiful enough, you have added music that is just as beautiful to ones ears, as the video is to ones eyes. Thanks so much for sharing this video.

[@nokesbob2256]

The ceiling is looking great. So much work to see the beams. Today was one of those days where a new discovery and another chapter of the convent is revealed. I hope you can figure a way to photo that wall and scan it and print it out so it can be preserved with the rest of the history. It is a strange sort of letter. Thank you to all 4 of you, in finding, lighting and translating as much as you could. It is so creepy and I think if you can translate the whole thing it might tell you a different story. Maybe this person was explaining what illness's were going on there and a bit of how they delt with. Although the bit about the children being dead after burial. That is just creepy. I've never thought about children being there at all. Just adult Nuns, and adults. So creepy!

[@SuselLee]

Don't renovate or modify that room! 😱 It's so mysterious. I love it! 😍

[@suehall3298]

Wow you never know what will be uncovered next 🤔 🤗👍 Love Sue❤❤❤🇬🇧❤❤❤

[@meganhall1306]

Wow that vlog had a bit of everything, so enjoyable. Well spotted Alex, the writing is so intriguing xxx💕💕💕

[@vaalrus]

Strap or chain a 3m timber to that bucket, and you’ll have an excellent rake/screed for cleaning up. We grew fond enough of gripping an I-beam in the thum of our excavator that we took a surplus bucket and welded a 12m rectangular tubing on it to have a permanent ridgid tool for leveling and grading with the excavator. I’ve lost track of how many square meters of floor subgrade inside industrial and farm buildings we’ve brought to grade with that setup.

[@scoobysnacks]

The opening music and the pictures made it feel like I was watching a tour of the sunken Titanic. Oddly beautiful. You should attempt to cut that section of wall out in some way to preserve it and maybe find better ways to reveal what it says. If you can lay it horizontally maybe put some sort of dark powder on it, like toner from the printer, and then wipe it off. It may leave the dark powder inside the indentations of the writings and make it easier to read. Brilliant ending shot and music!

[@LMB-vj4we]

I love the music at the end it's so fitting to the content.

[@micheledenise2305]

If u make a hotel out of those rooms plz keep the doors u can add some lumber at the top and bottom so it will match to lengthen them sand and refinish because they are beautiful!!! And those hinges 😊

[@gabschasse600]

If walls could talk - and apparently yours do ,Billy !.I'd hope you might leave all that writing up - perhaps put up a false wall to cover and protect it . Ill wager you'll find more writings on walls as you go along . Simon.....is great !