VAMPIRES - FACT OR FICTION?
(At last... the True facts revealed behind the strange case of The Highgate Vampire).

By David Farrant
President of The Highgate Society


LONDON 1969, AND WIDE REPORTS WERE COMING INTO the British Psychic and Occult Society concerning a tall black apparition that had been seen lurking among the tombs of London’s Highgate Cemetery.

Most of these reports were from people who claimed to have been confronted by this apparition which invariably took the form of a tall dark figure and petrified people both in, or passing, the cemetery. Where possible, most of these reports were followed up but unfortunately (as is frequently the case in psychic investigations) many turned out to be vague repetition of local gossip or the result of unqualified rumour.

Eventually a man was traced, however, who claimed to have had a first-hand encounter with this phenomenon, although he requested that his name be withheld to avoid his account from being subject to ridicule. According to this person (referred to here as ‘Thornton’), he had been ‘hypnotized’ by ‘something’ in the cemetery after he had gone there late one afternoon to look around.

As the light began to fail he decided to leave, but somehow, he became hopelessly lost. Not being a superstitious person or even believing in the existence of ghosts, he walked calmly around looking for the gate when he suddenly became aware of the presence of something behind him. Swinging around, less than six feet away, he saw a tall dark spectre hovering just above the ground. He found himself transfixed to the spot completely unable to move; drained of energy by some powerful ‘hypnotic force’ that in a matter of seconds rendered him unconscious to any sense of time or his surroundings. So great was the intensity of this force, that he remained like this for several minutes (or what seemed like several minutes) before the spectre abruptly vanished and he slowly regained his normal faculties.

Recalling the incident afterwards, Thornton said that it was almost as if some force of terribly evil proportions had actually sought him out with the intention of doing serious harm.

This account was intriguing. Thornton was a sincere and logical person and not the type liable to fantasy or exaggeration. (His profession as an accountant by itself suggested that his interests lay in things of a logical nature). That he had seen ‘something’, there seemed little doubt, but what was especially interesting was that he had described the entity as ‘seeking him out’ and actually trying to cause physical harm; an uncommon occurrence with reports of ghostly confrontations when ghosts themselves are rarely reported as exercising any physical control over their human counterparts. It was a fair conclusion that the phenomenon was definitely malevolent by nature.

Several more people were interviewed in the following weeks, but again, most of these accounts turned out to be second-hand reports or exaggeration of what by now had become an already established rumour.

An exception to this, however, was one old lady who claimed she had been frightened by a ‘tall dark man’ who floated at her from within the cemetery gates. She had been walking her dog late one night but as she approached the gates of the cemetery, it started to howl and tried to retreat. She looked up and saw a figure with ‘glaring eyes’ staring at her. In a matter of seconds, it promptly vanished.

This account was also entered on the Society’s files, but it seemed the next step to obtaining more precise information was to visit Highgate Cemetery in daylight to check the sites of the phenomenon’s reputed appearances and perhaps discover some clues that could have otherwise accounted for its presence.

This visit was made by the author who had taken a personal interest in the case, although it turned out to be disappointing as nothing significant was found that offered any explanation - by way of hoax or otherwise - for the two sightings.

I arrived at the cemetery in the morning and spent several hours there. It was the first time I had been there for over two years and the increase in vandalism was immediately apparent. Vaults had been broken open and coffins quite literally smashed apart. One vault near the top gate (although not visible from outside it) was wide open and one could see the remains of a skeleton where it had been wrenched from a coffin. Another vault on the main pathway had been thus entered and one of the coffins inside, set alight. Although this vault had been padlocked and chained, the door was made up of an iron grill and the vandalised coffin was available for all to see. Furthermore, it appeared that virtually no attempt had been made to repair any of the damage.

A strange thing that was discovered was a freshly dead fox lying in the middle of a main pathway. This was puzzling because there were no outward signs betraying the cause of death, and besides, a wounded animal would usually have crawled away and hidden itself if it sensed impending death.

All this, however, came no nearer to solving the mystery of the black apparition. Indeed, apart from rumour and other unsubstantiated local stories, the only real ‘evidence’ were the testimonies of just two people, and it seemed the only way to credit their accounts (or discredit them as the case may be) and thereby justify a full investigation, was to spend a night in the cemetery to see if the phenomenon - or whatever it was - could be witnessed. The place where Thornton had been confronted inside the cemetery seemed an appropriate place as it was secluded and there was no risk of being seen by anybody happening at the top gate - the place where the old lady had seen the entity. The date chosen was December 21st- the eve of the winter Solstice and a traditional time (due to the maximum hours of darkness) when potent psychic forces have easy access to the ‘earthly plane’. That the entity may be dangerous from a psychic point of view, was a fact not overlooked. But I was confident that previous experiences with potentially malevolent psychic forces would enable me to deal with any such possibility.

Around 11pm on the proposed night, I set off for the cemetery. It was a bitterly cold night and the surrounding area was deserted. Walking down the narrow lane that ran alongside the cemetery, there was a sudden awareness of some ‘alien presence’. This was difficult to define, except in so far as there was a distinct impression of no longer being alone.

Reaching the top gate and preparing to scale this, I decided to wait a couple of minutes with the intention of perhaps noticing some material object through the gate (such as a shadow cast by a tomb-stone or from a tree moving in the wind), that could have otherwise accounted for the old lady’s phantom.

Peering through the rusty bars of the gate scrutinizing the pervading darkness, objects near the gate itself lining the pathway, were fairly easy to discern. But after 20 yards or so the path disappeared into impenetrable blackness. Staring into this, perhaps due to some trick of the light, there was a distinct impression of ‘something moving’. What appeared one minute to be a definite black shape or shadow, would suddenly alter its form or change in density. The wind moving through the undergrowth was probably the cause of this, but it was equally feasible that this could have been the cause of the ‘black apparition’ seen by the old woman.

To the right of the path, some large animal was scurrying through the undergrowth. Then suddenly, something caught my eye and looking up, just inside not 5 yards from the gate and clearly visible, was a tall dark shape.

Instinctively, my conscious mind rejected this figure as being supernatural. It was more consoling to assume that it was somebody wandering through the cemetery; notwithstanding that the figure appeared to over seven feet tall. Any immediate doubts were soon dispelled when I saw two redish eyes meeting my gaze from a ‘black mass’ at the top of the shape, which I took to be its ‘head’. But these eyes were not human, rather reflected some ‘alive presence’; they were dull and penetrating like some hungry wolf, although the rest of ‘it’ had no discernable features, apart from a vague ‘human’ shape.

The whole situation seemed unreal - like some unwanted dream - but with determined effort, I tore my gaze away realising that the entity was malevolent and that I had come under psychic attack. Without warning, the figure then suddenly vanished, and it appeared that for the moment, at least, the entity had retreated.

© David Farrant 2004

To Be Continued ...

Are you back again? oO

FOR CLEARWITCH

As a matter of fact, I have never been here in person before which you can see if you look back to all the original postings ABOUT me.

One of your moderators, Sire, invited me to post up my account of what really happened in the Highgate Vampire case. That's all I am doing!

DAVID FARRANT

You're about a year late ? :)

A brief warning:
If anyone uses this thread as the basis for an argument, it will be unwelcome. An opposing view of the Highgate story must be done in a new thread so as not to disrupt this one.

Thanks for the info.

We are a bit unclear about what you actually mean as we thought this was a new thread! Could you explain a little more clearly ie do you want us to stop posting up any more about our version of events at Highgate here?, or should we start another new thread?

I have since spoken to David Farrant,and he's asked me to point out that he's simply not interested in the many other versions about the Highgate Vampire Case, nor does he want to enter into futile arguments with anybody or use your board for this purpose. He said that if you wanted us to stop posting here, that is absolutely no problem. He is just unclear about whether he should go on posting on his leading role in the so called Highgate Vampire case or not?

Could you please clarify this? We try to convey this by PM, but your system wouldn't accept it.

Catherine Fearnley
Secretary for The British Psychic and Occult Society/The Highgate Vampire Society

I think what Sire is trying to say is that he would not appreciate this thread being flamed nor the account given in this thread debated here (in this thread) but would rather that be done outside of it so that there will be no disruptions . . .

Hence the make a new thread statement . . .basically the short version = if you don't like what is being said here whine about it somewhere else.

Btw, welcome to Darkness forums and I look forward to reading more of the account by David.

If 'Somebody else' turns up, do not post in his thread, and we would expect him not to post in yours. Two threads for two views - fair enough?

The notice about a new thread was meant for someone else, should anyone feel tempted to use your thread to debate. I'm well aware there are two widely publicized accounts regarding this case. Yours is the only that will be presented in *this* thread. It was a note that should the other parties wish to present their own highgate story, they should create their own thread to do it. I would of course expect equal courtesy being given and threads will be informative rather than debative.

As to being a year late, the invitation to post was given here on my forum several months ago. No one seemed to accept the invitation and create their threads until now, which you have done. :)

Do you have anything in mind for our forum ? Maybe some question and answer sessions so that members can ask questions ? Merely cutting and pasting information seems a bit dull. Something more lively would be great if you're up for it. If anyone tries to bait you into an argument, just ignore it and click the 'Report' button on their post. A copy will be sent to me and I promise I'll deal with it appropriately.

Oh, as a final courtesy I will be bumping your access so that you may PM and email as necessary. Welcome.

I'm on it as well should anyone cause trouble in this thread....

Thank you for your reply Sire,
I would be quite willing to answer any questions here anyone has about my involvement in the Highgate Vampire Case. I have no intention of naming or discussing other people; only in so far as it might be relevant to try and relate to events as these actually happened in other words, I do agree, with the manner in which you wish everything to be presented.

It might make sense to post up a little more about what really happened in those early days - only in that it would give people more opportunity to know the facts a little better and have something to ask questions about.

I think my actual arrest for 'hunting a vampire' would be an important issue as this has been much maligned and misunderstood over the years, even though I was acquitted in that original 'vampire hunting case' back in September 1970.

So please bear with me, I'll try and put the personal facts together simply, though as concisely as possible.

David Farrant
President The Highgate Vampire Society

ARREST IN HIGHGATE CEMETERY

In August 1970, there was another development in the Highgate investigation. That month, the body of a woman was dragged from a vault in Highgate Cemetery, staked through the heart, and left lying in the middle of a main pathway. The fact that this was discovered by two schoolgirls made the incident even more gruesome. The Hornsey Journal’s reportage of this incident, perhaps also did little to allay the already public growing concern over reports of ‘black magic’ and vandalism at Highgate Cemetery.

Evidence of vandalism at the cemetery was, of course, no new thing. But the element of ‘staking the corpse’, seemingly as the aftermath of some black magic rite, pointed convincingly to the work of Satanists and their possible connection with the phenomenon.

Soon afterwards, it was decided to conduct an important ritual in Highgate Cemetery; the object was to summon the entity, make psychic communication with it and then - if proved to be malevolent, which seemed an obvious fact - banish it from the earthly plane by conducting an appropriate rite of exorcism. The view was held that, if indeed the author’s personal theory was correct, and the Satanic group were in some way responsible for ‘controlling’ the entity’s appearances by means of black magic, such an exorcism would also dispel much of this group’s power by negating the evil they had summoned into existence.

It was almost full moon (three days preceding the full moon and those immediately after being especially favourable for conducting magical ceremonies), and it was decided to hold the séance at midnight on August 17th.

Accordingly, Highgate Cemetery was entered late one night on the appointed date, the purpose basically, to conduct this psychical séance. The place chosen was the ‘Thornton spot’ as this was secluded and well within the cemetery.

In requirements for this ritual, a large circle was inscribed upon the ground which was adorned by protective symbols and ‘sealed’ with consecrated water and salt. Some ten feet away from this, where the phenomenon would be summoned to appear, a smaller circle was cast with protective symbols (it had not been overlooked that we were dealing with a particularly lethal form of psychic energy).

When the preparations were complete, the séance commenced but after only a few minutes, torchlights could be seen in the distance and there was the muffled sound of human voices. It was the police: still some way off but approaching the back gate of the cemetery. This presented something of a dilemma; for not only was it dangerous - from a psychic point of view - to leave the protective circle once the ceremony had commenced, but there was the very real problem of explaining such clandestine nightly activity and being believed, let alone being understood. Because of this, the psychic paraphernalia was quickly gathered up and respective members headed for different exists in the cemetery.

On sudden impulse, I made for the back wall, which the police were approaching, thinking it was possible to scale this further along. After all, this was the only way out. Unfortunately, just by the wall, I was caught by a flashlight and quickly arrested. Luckily, however, the police must have assumed their captive was alone and they made no attempt to look for other people.

Perhaps ironically, any concern about being arrested was not so much for fear of having done anything wrong or illegal, but because the séance would be misunderstood and such misapprehension could attract adverse publicity to the investigation and the Society.

For this reason, the ceremonial paraphernalia I was carrying (which included candles, incense, a wooden cross adorned with protective magical symbols and a small tape-recorder) was to the understanding of the police, or the Press.

In fact, some newspapers had a ‘hey day’ with all this sensationalism and some let their imaginations loose beyond the bounds of credibility. The Daily Express said, for example, that the Society had ‘over 100 members looking for vampires all over Europe in the Middle Ages, as originally stated, but this historical fact was certainly not the immediate concern of the British Psychic and Occult Society!

With a little more sobriety, although not without a hint of sarcasm, the Baltimore Sun observed that apparently it was ‘no longer a crime to hunt vampires in England’.

But the publicity brought by the court case made it impossible, at this stage, for the investigation to continue. Attracted by reports of ‘vampires’, scores of people visited Highgate Cemetery and desecration and vandalism of graves and tombs increased to an alarming degree. People flocked to the cemetery in droves and police were frequently called to evict groups of hooligans or self-professed ‘vampire hunters’. Indeed, the situation had become so grave, that on Hallowe’en night, 1970, police literally had to throw a cordon of police cars around Highgate Cemetery to prevent people from entering on the night of the undead.

One small group of aspiring occultists, however, seemed to have evaded the ongoing police presence and claimed to performed a ‘secret exorcism’ at a tomb in the cemetery that had been desecrated by Satanists; although the only ‘evidence’ to support this was a photograph that had been sent to the Hornsey Journal showing a man dressed in an evening suit brandishing a crucifix and wearing a ‘garlic necklace’ posing outside some unrecognisable tomb in the cemetery.

Contacting the Society for comment, the Hornsey Journal were informed that we recognised the person concerned as a well known prankster and, if in line with his past record, the whole thing was just a well timed publicity stunt.

Unfortunately, a sad side to all this activity at the cemetery, at least, as far as some elements in the police and the media concerned, was that the Society itself was held directly responsible for influencing its occurrence. This was an especial irony, when I had already stated publically on several occasions that this sort of activity was to be deplored and had nothing to do with genuine psychic investigation. Indeed, in a article I was to write for a local paper scarcely a year later, I stated that the growing menace of Satanism in general - especially at Highgate Cemetery - was a ‘very real meanace indeed’. (This article appeared in the Islington Gazette on September 29th 1972, and in it I also pointed out that it was the young, with their tendency to think they were invulnerable, who were most at risk to the dangers of Satanism. Attracted by some ‘dare-devil’ instinct to the challenge of Satanism, some would become entrapped in a web of corruption and degrading from which there was usually no escape).

But before the publication of this article, BBC Television decided to mount their own investigation and sent a team of cameramen and reporters to see if they could locate the ‘vampire’. Although they were unsuccessful, what they did find was a mass of desecrated coffins, many of which had been deprived of their lead. Invited on the programme, I explained that although most of the desecration was the work of vandals, the activities of the Satanic group was a very real problem, as was the existence of the ‘vampire-like’ entity that had been witnessed there. This programme was televised on October 15th, 1970 and went some way in vindicating my claims that black magic was being practised at Highgate Cemetery.

But regarding the threats from the Satanic group, they had apparently given up. The threatening letters suddenly ceased and it was likely that - as they saw it - the damage done by the Society in exposing their activities to the public view had already been done and so there was no point in continuing their vendetta.

Meanwhile, there was a major development at Highgate Cemetery. Reports were coming into the Society that a young girl had been ‘attacked’ by the ‘vampire’ in Swains Lane which runs alongside the cemetery. Eventually, the girl’s identity was discovered and I arranged a meeting with her. Although reluctant to discuss the matter at first, I assured her anonymity and she gave the following account:

She was returning home in the early hours walking down Swain’s Lane. As she passed the cemetery, a little way further on, she was suddenly ‘thrown to the ground’ with tremendous force by a ‘tall black figure’ with a ‘deathly white face’. At that moment, a car stopped to help her and the figure ‘vanished’ in the glare of the headlights. She was taken to Highgate Police Station in a state of severe shock suffering abrasions to her knees and elbows. The police immediately made a thorough search of the area but could find no trace of her attacker. More mysterious still was the fact that where the figure had vanished, the cemetery was lined by 15 foot high walls.

On hearing this, I felt a tinge of apprehension. Until now, the ‘vampire’s’ appearances had been mainly confined to frightening people. It seemed now, however, that the ‘creature’ was becoming ‘bolder’ and presented a real threat to innocent people. It it had attacked somebody once, it could do so again. Only next time, with more disastrous consequences.

It was decided to conduct a full scale ceremony in Highgate Cemetery whereby the phenomenon would be summoned and then banished back to its preordained place of existence.

This time, however, the Ceremony would involve the use of High Magic as a means of communicating with the demonic entity. It was not dared to use less than an advanced form of ritual. At least, if the ritual was not successful, it would be possible to control the entity, whereas Low magical techniques - albeit less complex - could not have afforded adequate protection.

Thanks Drakul,

But I do not believe anybody is 'truly evil'!

Why not come back and ask some real questions?

Over to you, Drakul!


Catherine and David.

I have a question if you would please indulge me;

Did the highate vampire appear to anyone who would communicate would it? Or was it restricted to scaring people.

- Thank you for sharing by the way . .

A question from me too: when was the last recorded sighting?

FOR AZRIELA

To my knowledge, the entity or ‘vampire-like’ spectre witnessed in and around Highgate Cemetery never tried to communicate with anyone (I presume you mean through psychic means), although it certainly ‘confronted’ a number of people, including myself. It could be argued, of course, that these ‘confrontations’ were intended to communicate some message, but nobody seemed to get any such ‘message’ or communication; apart from an impression that it was ‘trying to scare them away’.

From what exactly, I do not know. Maybe from some grave, perhaps, (even its grave?). Or perhaps from an area of ground that contained some long lost hidden secret?

On the other hand, we certainly did try to communicate with ‘it’ - or whatever it was - by means of holding a psychic séance. This got ‘slightly out of hand’, and I was arrested and subsequently charged with ‘being in an enclosed area for an unlawful purpose’; a purpose the police later stated in court was ’vampire hunting’. This was not, in fact, true and I was later acquitted of this charge. The rest is really history!

I hope this answers your question.

DAVID FARRANT.

FOR NIGHT VISION

You asked when was the last sighting of the Highgate ‘vampire’.

This is a difficult question because I have not returned to Highgate Cemetery (inside it) since 1973 to be able to check any claims out.

There certainly have been a few claims over the last few years from people claiming to have seen the figure there; either whilst actually inside the cemetery or from others who claim to have witnessed it through the cemetery gates.

It is quite possible that some of these claims are authentic. After all - and as I have frequently said - this apparently entity has never been properly exorcised; and if lingering forms of psychic energy (in the forms of figures or apparitions, or whatever) are not properly exorcised, they tend to remain ‘earth-bound’. I believe this to be the case with the entity (some would say ‘vampiric entity’) reported at Highgate Cemetery.

DAVID FARRANT.

It's a very interesting thread.
If you wouldn't mind answering this question though.

I appologize if this comes off as a little cocky.

Is it policy not to tell anyone about the seances when being performed as not to give anything away to the public eye?
Meaning, is it against the common occult to not tell the police who are recently in suspicion of the cemetary?

Thanks

Thank you, and yes you did answer my question fully. I am very intrigued by this and I would like to hear more; if there is anymore though I don't have more questions at the moment; I'll be sure to visit this thread again.

There was another ceremony which took place in Highgate Cemetery in June 1971, that marked an important 'turning point' into understanding the alleged 'vampiric' phenomenon there ...

THE RECKONING


BY DAVID FARRANT


ON JUNE 21ST, 1971, several members of a secret Occult Order gathered in Highgate Cemetery to perform one of the most dangerous magical rituals in existence. The motivation for performing this ritual was to counteract the activities of a Satanic Coven who had violated magical Law by evoking a malevolent evil force to execute their own desires; the basic object being to establish psychic ‘contact’ with the existing phenomenon (or ‘vampire’) and thereby negate the diabolical power that had been brought into existence.

Of course, such a task was by no means easy for, in magic, darker forces are most potent when summoned to the earthly plane and may only be revoked by a White magical ritual. Thus in context - and in accordance with magical law - an extreme force of eveil may only be counteracted and neutralised by an equivalent force of Good. Any other method - if attempted - would have little effect and, in all probability, would only serve to aggravate an ‘opposing evil force’.

For the sake of the uninitiated, and to allay any confusion arising from this point, a few words should be said here to explain the difference between white magic and black magic, and black magic and Satanism.

Firstly, it should be understood that magic itself is neither ‘black’ nor ‘white’ - it is neutral. Furthermore, magic is only a psychic element through which ‘outside’ forces may be evoked, not itself active but only a channel through which such forces may be brought into operation.

Of course these supernatural forces which can be summoned as a result of magical techniques are both good and evil (or ‘white’ and ‘black’), but even the definition of these forces is a man-made conception.

Yet this is not to say that magic alone is harmless, for although it may only act as a catalyst in producing an end result, the very nature of its source makes it lethal in the hands of those who don’t understand it - rather like a trainee chemist who does not know which chemicals, if mixed together, will cause an explosion.

Therefore, it may be seen that magic is only governed and subsequently labelled by the intentions of those using it. It follows, that a ‘black’ magician may also be a ‘white’ one, and vice versa.

With Satanism, however, it is a slightly different matter. For here, unlike a magician who can harness various types of forces at will and without obligation, a Satanist is dedicated to the continual service and worship of evil powers. And as he cannot retain the neutrality of the magician, (the very doctrines of Satanic belief make this impossible) he becomes bound, or possessed, by the dark forces he has pledged to serve. Thus, unlike black magic, Satanism is a form of religious belief, and because of its doctrines and requirements laid down in its beliefs, it is far more potent and dangerous.

The communication ritual was performed after taking all these things - and more - into consideration. According to the magical requirements of the ritual, a Circle was constructed on the ground in which were placed various ceremonial ‘items. These included vessels of consecrated water, charcoal and salt, and protective talismans which each member must wear. Different coloured candles were placed at strategic points around the circumference to correspond with the elements of air, fire, earth and water. Whilst a small fire burned steadily in the middle. To the North of the Circle a small ‘sealed’ triangle was cast (also containing a small fire) where the entity would be summoned to appear, and hopefully, be able to ‘communicate’ with a psychic medium who would be inside the protective Circle.

When all was prepared, the ritual commenced and was timed so that the vital part would coincide with midnight. The first part of the ritual was dedicated to the relevant incantations and ‘Calls’ necessary to summon forth the entity. These magical ‘Calls’ were made in strict accordance with the form of ritual and served two purposes: to dispel any unwanted elementals which might have hindered the appearance of the entity, and to open a channel of psychic energy through which the entity could later materialise.

When the preliminary part of the ritual had been completed, the actual evocation to summon the entity then began.

The intrinsic details regarding this part of the ritual, however, may not be disclosed as this would violate magical secrecy; suffice it is to say that the entity would be magically induced to appear in the triangle where it would have a direct ‘psychic line’ to communicate with the medium.

As midnight approached, the medium began to make the Commands for manifestation and almost immediately the Circle turned icy cold as though some warm power had suddenly left it, and the candles went out. Simultaneously, the fire in the triangle was obliterated by a misty smoke and some sinister force seemed to be amidst everyone present. For the next minute or so, nothing happened. There was no wind and it seemed unnaturally silent and the fire in the Circle cast an eerie red glow over everything. Suddenly, the area was full of a dense mist, more intense around the triangle, and in this, scarcely discernible through the haze, was a quivering ‘black shape’ that seemed to be trying to materialise. The medium spoke aloud, attempting to aid ‘its’ materialisation and all at once, two eyes could be seen at the top of the moving black form. They were the same eyes that I had witnessed inside the gate, dull red and almost diabolically evil; only this time, they had increased in strength to such a degree that it was like being confronted by some ‘living presence’.

A girl present screamed and fainted, but such was the hypnotic power of the creature, that nobody was really conscious of her. There was a tremendous power emanating from the demonic eyes and it was at this stage that I realised that the entity might be too powerful to control and we would be entrapped in the Circle. The whole thing was like a vivid dream, a complete awareness of what was happening but with little means of controlling it. Strangely, (and this was an impression that other members later recalled) there was no sense of imminent ‘evil intent’ from the entity, it being more an impression that it was trying to ‘absorb’ you.

Seeing the dangers of prolonging the ritual, without hesitation - although not without some effort - the medium and myself performed a rite of banishment during which the entity promptly vanished.

Yet, notwithstanding the manifestation and urgent dismissal of the entity, the ritual had not been a complete success. For although the entity’s materialisation had proved a success and it had been possible to dismiss it, circumstances had not allowed for a full time exorcism and, to this extent, it still remained earthbound.

But the ceremony had established beyond doubt - at least as far as most serious psychic investigators were concerned - that the majority of sightings, and witnessed encounters relating to the Highgate phenomenon, were not entirely without foundations.

Unfortunately, however, it was realised that such proof would hardly be acceptable to the hardened sceptic, but we had at least succeeded in establishing that not only did some genuine psychic presence exist at Highgate Cemetery, but had also uncovered valuable information about the nature of the phenomenon and possible aspects that might have primarily caused its existence.

Of course, while it could not be irrefutably stated that this demonic entity was the direct result of Satanic activity, it could be reasonably said that Satanic practices had perhaps been the cause of activating some age-old supernatural phenomenon.

Given that the investigation at Highgate Cemetery still remained incomplete - an opinion, shared by most Society members - not long afterwards it was decided to again return to the cemetery with a view to perhaps obtaining some photographic evidence by means of performing another ceremony.

This though, was never to be. The police, keeping surveillance as a result of continuing vandalism, arrested two members just inside the gates.

On this occasion, however, they were released as no offence had been committed but the Press picked up the story the next day (presumably as a result of police information) and more attacks were levelled against the Society’s name.

With the usual precision of Fleet Street, the Society investigation was irrevocably limited to a continuation of clandestine midnight manoeuvers that took place amongst dank decaying tombs inhabited by a ‘blood-sucking vampire’, whilst the author, in turn, was reduced to some modern-day Van Helsing type vampire hunter.

Ironically, perhaps, concerning the Highgate phenomenon itself, the Press may have for once come closer to the truth than they originally intended.

Black Moon Rising

By David Farrant (2005)

TO MANY, THE PUBLICITY surrounding the investigation at Highgate Cemetery, suggested that vampirism, Satanism, and black and white magic were all one and the same thing. The fact the Society’s name had become closely linked to Highgate Cemetery was an indication to many that the Society, itself, was linked to the bizarre black magic rites that had been taking place there. Egged on by ignorance and misleading Press reports, those with no knowledge of the occult whatsoever came to associate the Society’s name with all the dark and subconscious fears of the unknown that their imaginations could produce. It was no longer a question of trying to convey the true meaning behind occult beliefs and practices; the media in general was simply not interested in anything that did not reek of ‘perverted sexual rites’ or suggest the existence of some clandestine occult movement that was out to undermine civilised Society. This was perhaps partly understandable. After all, anything less sensational simply wouldn’t have sold as many newspapers.

It followed, perhaps, that most Society members were especially concerned by the hostility that the Press may have unwittingly invited (especially from the police), and the fact that such hostility might out-step the bounds of all proportions and mar future investigations by the Society.

Already, the practice of black magic and Satanism had increased in the area because of the publicity and - although many of these incidents were undoubtedly the result of ‘occult experimentation’ by gullible youths acting out wrongly acquired conceptions of black magic (probably conceptions that had been gathered from various newspaper reportage - it was the British Psychic and Occult society that was ultimately seen to be in some way responsible. It was almost as if nobody could be bothered to define the ‘occult feasibility’ of any of these occurrences and any element of doubt seemed destined to fall upon the Society.

Yet this ongoing activity was not only confined to Highgate Cemetery and, during that year, several graveyards and churches in the London area were desecrated and used as ‘centres’ for the practice of Satanism and black magic. Whether this apparently new spate of occult activity was due entirely to the work of misguided amateurs or the genuine Satanic group extending their activities farther afield from Highgate Cemetery - or both - was hard to discern, but one major development involved a raid on an Islington church in January, 1971.

Apparently ‘Satanists’ then broke into St. Michael’s church in Islington, violated the Blessed Sacrament and performed a Black Mass on the altar. The Revd. Dennis Pauley who discovered the desecration was later reported as warning other churches in the are to ‘beware of Black Magic’. He said that he had entered the church to find four candles burning on the altar that had been arranged to suggest a Satanic rite had been performed. The High Altar tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament had been taken, candles and crucifixes broken and thrown around, and, on another crucifix, a rope had been tied around the figure of Christ.
He went on to say that the whole affair suggested the practice of black magic and that following the incident, Mass had been celebrated followed by an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which lasted twelve hours as am act of reparation.
In conclusion he commented:

“ I immediately connected the incident with the body-snatching at Highgate Cemetery last year. I believe those concerned took the Blessed Sacrament to use in their devil worship, and they could take similar action at other churches. I have warned other clergy inside and outside the area to take precautions.”

Islington Gazette, January 22nd, 1971.

On the surface, this warning seemed convincingly alarming, although due to lack of professional evidence and the somewhat amateurish way the whole thing had been left so obviously displayed, I found Rev. Pauley’s assumption that the incident was connected with the Highgate Satanists to be far from convincing.
Yet apart from these reputed outbursts of ‘Satanism’, there was little doubt that the publicity following my arrest at the cemetery had influenced the gullible and unwary.

In August, 1971, two young men, apparently following what they believed to be the author’s example, were arrested in Highgate Cemetery ‘hunting the vampire’. as if history chose to repeat itself, they were charged by police and appeared in Clerkenwell Magistrates’ Court before Mr. Christopher Lea.

Notwithstanding that the circumstances were virtually the same surrounding the authors arrest, however, Mr Lea chose to release them immediately as no offence had been committed. Perhaps the fact both these young men told the police they were only in the cemetery ’for a laugh’ (and therefore not serious occultists) served to satisfy the court. In the author’s case, the very fact he had admitted that psychic research had been the purpose for being in the cemetery, was sufficient to delay the hearing of the case twice in an attempt to secure a conviction.

Shortly following this escapade, an event occurred at the cemetery that was impossible not tot take seriously.
In September, 1971, a man was found dying in Highgate Cemetery. He was covered in blood caused by stab wounds to his throat and chest. At the inquest shortly afterwards, it was decided that the man had taken his own life; a decision apparently helped by the evidence of a police officer who had found the dying man. According to him, the man had told him that he had caused the injuries himself with a knife. He concluded … “I was convinced he was telling the truth.” A verdict of suicide was duly recorded.

I was not convinced that this was the case, however, and couldn’t help wondering why the man had gone to Highgate Cemetery in the first place and why he had chosen such a difficult method if he intended to end his life. Surely it would have been easier to cut just his throat or wrists rather than attack himself in a wild frenzy - hardly the condition of a man rational enough to plan the place of his own execution.

Yet apart from this, the very circumstances of his death seemed to take on a familiar significance. The foxes, too, had died in such a manner. However, such evidence would have hardly proved likely to persuade the police that there might perhaps have been some other reason for his death. They, least of all, could risk inviting public unrest by admitting the possibility of something sinister lurking in the cemetery.

All these developments - and more - were carefully recorded in the Society records. No incident, however small or seemingly unimportant, was made exception to this rule. The view was, that, through a gradual accumulation of facts (obviously disregarding the activities of ’copy-catting amateurs’ or like-minded people jumping on the ’occult bandwagon’), enough information would eventually emerge to give a precise picture of genuine black magic activity in the area; and, of course, about sightings and encounters with the Highgate phenomenon itself. All this, of course, was bound to take time, but from the Society’s point of view, there was particular concern about bringing the misguided practices of such people to book; if, for no other reason, than to prevent the Society’s name from being further linked to their sordid activities.

Highgate Some More Ghosts

Not far from Highgate Cemetery in the quaint surroundings of Highgate Village, lie two Public Houses, The Flask and Ye Olde Gatehouse that have long since been connected with stories of ghosts and other unexplained disturbances. By coincidence (also, perhaps, because of the close proximity of both pubs to Highgate Cemetery) both are also reputedly haunted by a 'black-clad figure' that has been sighted on their premises.

An interesting thing about the two hauntings at these pubs, and other locations in Highgate, is that they seem to take on remarkable characteristics to the 'evil black cloaked figure' reported in and around Highgate Cemetery; which you might remember, had already become established as a 'blood-sucking vampire'.

A brief description of these 'ghostly cases' will follow (cases which are still going on today in the otherwise relatively quiet surroundings of quaint old Highgate). . .

Please stay tuned anyone interested,

Catherine Fearnley