SPR file

SOCIETY FOR PSYCHICAL RESEARCH FILE ON THE RAYNHAM GHOST PHOTOGRAPH

Contents

RAYNHAM HALL, NORFOLK

PHOTOGRAPH OF ALLEGED GHOST - 19TH SEPTEMBER 1936

FILE CONTENTS AT 17 SEPTEMBER 1989

The file contents appear to be mainly from the records of Nandor Fodor's organisation The International Institute for Psychical Research (Dr Nandor Fodor - Research Officer, Arthur Kingston, Mr Isaacs - Photographic Expert) - he must have donated them to the SPR when he emigrated to America. A small number of papers derive from the ISPR (Walker - Secretary, C V C Herbert - Research Officer); these have been left in a bunch to emphasise their separate identity. THE REST OF THE FILE HAS BEEN PUT INTO DATE ORDER - PLEASE MAINTAIN.

No example of the photograph is in the file, both copies originally included are missing, as are other duplicates from 1989. The location of the negative is uncertain. Investigation is proceeding.

TEXT

EPHEMERA

Publisher's flier 'It Was & It Wasn't' Marchioness Townshend

21 Sep 65 British Library request slip by J T A Gardner

Press cutting London paper? 'Real Life Ghost Stories: No 2 the Ghosts of Raynham Hall' by Marchioness Townshend. Second half same as the 30 Jan 37 cutting, doesn't mention ghost photo.

HERBERT'S REPORT

I saw Shira and Provand at their studio in Dover Street. Provand appeared nervous.

Film: Kodak S.S. Ortho. Lens: RR type, symmetrical doublet. Approx f/8. Camera: old stand camera. Provand said that the bellows were faulty, and that he was always afraid that light might get in. This is significant.

I saw the negatives (cut films) of both exposures. The first (empty) film was much under-exposed. Exposure in each case was by daylight (high-lights on stairs, etc) assisted by Sasha bulb (large size, one in each case). The second film (both were in one dark-slide) i.e. the one with the 'ghost', is obviously shaken in a vertical plane, causing doubling of all horizontal lines (or else is two exposures?).

Provand said he had noticed this, which surprised me, as it is very obvious even in the process block. Provand says the camera was on a marble table or pillar and was not very rigid. He uncapped in a hurry. It looks as if exposure due to daylight was doubled by vibration. Flash exposure single.

Both negatives show a circular marking (not clear in block) which in the second looks like a halo round the figure. This is presumably due to reflection inside the lens mount, either from high window on stairs (blocked at bottom only) or from flash.

Shira is uncertain about where the figure was when he first saw it. It moved, he says down the stairs. Provand says he did not know that Shira had seen anything queer. He hurriedly uncapped when Shira called out, thinking that some sightseers, who were going round the house, were coming. Both Shira and Provand seemed to me to be honest. Provand says the lens was uncapped for about 6 seconds.

FODOR'S REPORT

The ghost was standing on the 13th step from the top.

There is inconsistency in Shira's account. Provand was under the black cloth to focus. Shira said "Quickly". Provand uncapped. Being under the black cloth he did not see the ghost. and enquired what the fuss was about.

1: He could not have focused with the cap on.

2: After focusing he would have taken off the cloth, capped the camera, taken out the ground glass, and inserted and opened the slide. He should have seen the ghost as well. Almost impossible he did this while under the black cloth.

Indre Shira was broad Scots with psychic wife. 'Indra Shira' is a pseudonym.

Photo taken at 4pm. Marchioness not told at the time, she only knew when sent the photo. Marchioness suggests 'Madonna' because she has a private chapel under the staircase.

Photo of Mrs Fodor on 13th step at 7pm. I had continuous noises from above my bedroom number 12 all night. The butler said the room was empty, then that Mrs Bevan (an old lady of 89) was near.

14 Nov 1925		Article on Raynham Hall in Country Life
08 August 1936		True Ghost Stories' Gwladys Marchioness Townshend & Maud Ffoulkes (6 weeks before)
19 September 1936	16:00:00	Photograph taken by Capt Provand assisted by Indre Shira
18 November 1936	Declaration Jones (the chemist on the ground floor)	"I saw negative fixed and the image was on it".
	Declaration Provand	"It was not faked, the negatives were not tampered with, they were kept by me until developed and no one but me had access to them. I have no theories"
26 December 1936		CL publishes - Editorial p 671; Photo p 673 plus 'Spirit Photos' by Harry Price p 674
04 January 1937	Fodor to Shira	I am interested, please send a print. The Marchioness and I have written an introduction to her book ('True Ghost Stories').
6 Jan	Shira to Fodor	I enclose declarations, due to so many requests for enlarged prints must charge 1 gn for 10x8 print.
6 Jan	Fodor to Townshend	Visit? Invite to lecture 29 Jan
7 Jan	Fodor to Shira	Can we have a free Print? Our backing would be worth more than a guinea.
9 Jan		Visit to Raynham - Fodor, wife, child & Kingston
11 Jan		Report of visit(with carbon copy [removed]) The name 'Indre Shira' is made up, he speaks in broad Scots and has a psychic wife. (See below)
11 Jan	Fodor to Townshend	Thanks, enquires about noises
12 Jan	Herbert to Shira	Examine negative?
12 Jan		Report of visit Fodor & Isaacs to Shira & Provand (with carbon copy). Provand has 30 years experience. His explanation was satisfactory - the camera was backed almost against the wall forcing him to stand sideways.
13 Jan	Fodor to Townshend	Enclose photos, yesterday interviewed Shira. Studio on first floor, there was a framed enlargement of the photo at the street door. Indre Shira is out to make capital out of your ghost. It is an excellent case but needs a vigorous character examination.
14 Jan		Report of visit Herbert to Shira & Provand - technical details (see below). Shira saw the ghost on the third step.
14 Jan	Townshend to Fodor	Shira wouldn't risk reputation
28 Jan	Fodor to Shira	Thanks 2 prints ghost, can I have the empty stair one as well? Aligning the two will rule out a bellows hole.
30 Jan		Press cutting on 'The Phantom Cavalier' by Townshend in 'The Bristol Evening World'. Doesn't mention ghost photo.
4 Feb	Shira to Fodor	I enclose empty stair, it should satisfy there was no hole. Can I have tickets for the lecture?
09 Feb	Fodor to Shira	Thanks for the empty stair.
18 Feb		Press cuttings on 'True Ghost Stories' lecture Townshend Kings Lynn - on her book, no mention of ghost photo.
22 Feb	Fodor to Townshend	2nd visit?
23 Feb	Townshend to Fodor	[From secretary L Parker] Can't make lecture 26 Feb, come any time
25 Feb	Fodor to Townshend	Will ring with date, could you give a lecture?
09 Mar	Townshend to Fodor	April OK, can Miss Ffoulkes come too - we collected the book together?
11 Mar	Fodor to Townshend	Lecture 19 April, invite to opening of IIPS on 6 April
26 Mar	Gibson to Walker	March Journal report? Research Officer's Report is available in the SPR Societies Room.
10 Apr	Townshend to Fodor	[Secretry Charles Steuart] 26 April instead
10 Apr	Walker to Herbert	Please deal with Gibson's query.
12 Apr	Fodor to Townshend	Confirm new date
13 Apr	Herbert to Gibson	Enclose report - thinks bellows hole allowed light into camera. Very curious it should be the right size for a human figure, and still more so that Mr Shira thought he saw a figure
20 Apr	Fodor to Townshend	Confirming date
26 Apr		Lecture Townshend to IIPR˜
27-Apr	Fodor to Townshend	Thanks
01 February 1938	Gibson to Herbert	Thanks for comment on Raynham ghost

PHOTOGRAPHS
19 September 1936	Provand	2 @ 9x7 enlargement [1 missing]	Empty staircase
09 January 1937	Fodor	7x5 enlargement	Staircase & wife 7pm
		3x2 contact	Staircase - long exposure & flash, after dinnr
10 Jan	Fodor	2 @ 3x2 contact	Bed in Monmouth room
10 Jan	Kingston	3x2 contact	In bed
10-Jan		3x2 contact	Portrait of Dorothy Walpole (Brown Lady)
		7x5 enlargemnt	Dorothy Walpole
		5x3 2 of general interior; 2 of Monmouth bedroom; man, Fodor & woman with Marchioness; Fodor on staircase - uniform yellow paper
		4x3 negative of double exposure? showing identical twins (moustache, spectacles,cardigan) in chaotic studio. Thick inflexible celluloid 'plate'. (Dr Vernon Harrison?)

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