On Saturday 15th July, we gathered our ghost hunting gear and made our way to Inveraray Jail for the first of what we hope will be many such jaunts. And what a jaunt it was!
Why Inveraray Jail, you ask?
Built on the banks of Loch Fyne in 1820, this former jail and courthouse remained functional until 1954 before being turned into a museum in 1989. Made up of courtroom, “old” prison block and “new” prison block, it’s been fastidiously kept in its original style and its occupants have included everything from bread thieves to stone-cold murderers; some of the most notorious of whom were carried out of its walls feet-first.
It is considered by some to be one of the spookiest sites in Scotland, with reports of whisperings, pokings and general feelings of nausea and dread. It has such a reputation that even the Most Haunted crew decided to give it a go!
Not to be outdone, our group of seven intrepid investigators set out from Edinburgh on our spooky sojourn. After an illuminating history tour from our guide Bill, we had a wander round all the sights the jail had to offer before setting up our equipment and switching off the lights. Being fairly far north in high summer, it took a while for the darkness to descend but when it did, we were more than ready for it.
What kind of equipment does a ghost-hunter require on such a mission? Well, we’re still building our stash, but this particular trip included:
- An EVP Reader
- Our resident ghost-hunting furby (they respond to external stimuli – a surprisingly unnerving experience in the pitch black)
- A home-made Ouija Board
- A bell
- Night-vision camera
- Go-Pro
- Camera/polaroid camera/video camera, plus numerous stands
- Salt
- A grappling hook (no current need but good to be prepared)
- 1 x Emotional-support pigeon
- 1x copy of Ghost Hunting for Dummies
- Snacks (ghost hunting is hungry business)
We had heard tales of Cell Ten in the new jail being the one to watch, with many of the reports stemming from there; so we set up our Ouija board and spent some time communing. Nothing came through, but some of the group swore blind there was a face in the window (a particularly surprising turn, given we weren’t on the ground floor.)
The rest of the night was spent exploring. Splitting up, we each spent alone time in different cells, wondering if we’d have more than mannequins for company. The hunt culminated in a silent spell in the courtroom. Were the mannequins moving? Did their eyes flicker in the intermittent flashes of torchlight? On balance, probably not, but it certainly looked like it in the dark.
At 01:00, we packed our kit and said our goodbyes. No ghosts yet, but as with everything in life, there’s always next time.
If you’d be keen to get involved, we have big plans! Our next ghost adventure will be in Edinburgh on Saturday 30th September, in honour of that hallowed of events: International Ghost Hunting Day! Stay tuned for more information and if you have any ghostly experiences you want to share in the meantime, drop us a line and tell us your tales.