My interest in the paranormal first started as a young child. My grandfather was a painter to trade, and a specialist in gold leaf work, which led him to work in places of historical significance, such as Falkland Palace, the formal home and country retreat of the Scottish Royals, where he carried out the gold leaf work to the chapel and king’s bed-chamber. While working in buildings such as this, he would hear tales of ghostly goings on which he would bring back to re-tell to me in front of the fireplace whenever I stayed overnight.
As I grew up, being told a ghost story was never enough for me, I wanted to know more. It is easy to say a place is haunted, but it’s not so always easy to say what or who haunts it, or why it is haunted. My inquisitive mind wanted more, I wanted to understand why some places are said to be haunted, while others aren’t, and I knew the answers would lie in the history. People are often surprised when they hear about my interest, or see the bookcase in my study full of old ghost story and history books, that I cannot actually say that I believe in ghosts! I am sure there is something else out there, something we don’t understand, and so for that reason I equally cannot say I disbelieve in ghosts. I feel the word ‘ghost’ is too generic and conjures up images in the minds of what we think ghosts are, but in truth, we don’t know what they are…..yet! I consider myself a true open minded sceptic. I will try to find logical reasons for everything, but will never exclude the possibility that there is something paranormal going on.
Over the years, I have visited hundreds of reputedly haunted locations. In some, such as the Edinburgh underground vaults which are said to be one of the most haunted places in Britain, I have rarely felt uncomfortable. In others, the opposite can be said. One such place is the Tolbooth Tower in the quiet fishing village of Pittenweem, Fife. The tower houses the jail and torture rooms from one of the worst cases of witch hunting recorded, and something still lurks within the metre thick stone walls of this ancient tower.
I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay in the tower overnight on several occasions. For these investigations, I consider the essential pieces of equipment to be a camera, voice recorder, a thermometer and electromagnetic field meter. While many believe the changes in the electromagnetic field is a spirit drawing on energy to manifest, there is no evidence of this. The meter does however alert that there is something happening in the atmosphere worth checking.
During these investigations, I have recorded numerous unexplained sounds, such as the heavy wooden doors slamming shut with a loud ‘Ker-chunk’, even though the doors were removed a long time ago. Footsteps on the stairs are frequently heard, and voices, including one of a small girl who has also been seen in the tower on several occasions, have been recorded. One of the best pieces of unexplained phenomena I have recorded was in this tower. While approaching the end of the investigation, we began to hear noises again. I asked the question whether whoever is in the tower objects to people being brought in and told what happened there. A response, partly speaking over our own voices, appears to respond ‘definitely, too much talking’. Could this be the spirit of one of those responsible for the murder of so many innocent people who does not want the story told? Listen, and decide for yourself! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXMTWRBFxeU
Compiled by paranormal investigator Gregor Stewart, Haunted Kirkcaldy contains a chilling range of spooky tales from around Kirkcaldy. From haunted public houses, which have left both customers and staff terrified, to the ruins of the ancient Ravenscraig Castle, which still attract a mysterious visitor many years after their death, this collection of ghostly goings-on, phantom footsteps and playful poltergeists is sure to appeal to everyone interested in the paranormal and the history of Fife’s largest town. Richly illustrated with over fifty images, Haunted Kirkcaldy is guaranteed to make your blood run cold.