A Case Study
The couple who reported this case to us has kindly allowed us to reproduce the events, investigation and findings described here. We have used different names, however.
This case demonstrates that even the most spooky of events can have a rational explanation. This is not to say that we can explain away all such reports as being the mundane, but it does demonstrate the approach NSPR takes in getting to the bottom of some unusual reported events.
This case demonstrates that even the most spooky of events can have a rational explanation. This is not to say that we can explain away all such reports as being the mundane, but it does demonstrate the approach NSPR takes in getting to the bottom of some unusual reported events.
The Wardrobe That Opened Itself
We were contacted by Ian because they were alarmed at a cupboard door that seemed to open itself quite regularly. Ian said that they would often come in from work to find the door open, even though they were sure they had shut it in the morning. There were no children or animals in the house, and no apparent explanation. Ian was beginning to wonder if they were haunted and if so, by whom?
We held our initial meeting with one investigator and the couple themselves present. The purpose of this meeting is to both get to know each other and to establish the facts of the case. Those facts were that the wardrobe itself was almost new, and the house was not particularly old. Their house was a terraced property on a quiet road. Neither Ian or his other half Joanne had experienced anything "ghostly" in the past, although Joanne thought she might be a bit psychic as she often had feelings of other people present in the house when she was actually alone.
As is quite usual (and frustrating) the reported event (in this case the wardrobe door opening by itself) did not occur during that initial meeting. During the course of the discussion however, it was established that it rarely happened at the weekend. This seemed to be a significant fact because it seemed to suggest some periodic nature to the events.
The neighbours had not experienced anything unusual, so whatever was happening was local to this house (and was probably not happening to the couple themselves so to speak) and to specific times.
NSPR's initial approach is to assume for the time being that it is more likely that there is a rational (if obscure) explanation for such an event than it being paranormal. That is not to say we dismiss claims of the paranormal, but it is easier to check out the possible mundane explanations first.
Subsequent discussions and several investigations determined that the event seemed to happen in the late afternoon - it was even captured on a web cam we set up. Our suspicions were aroused when the web cam also picked up creaking sounds just before the event. They sounded for all the world like central heating pipes, although this house had the heating on low all day, not just in the late afternoon.
To cut a long story short, it seemed that when the central heating came on next door, the heating pipes that ran along the party wall also had an effect on those running under the wardrobe. This would swell slightly, causing the cupboard to presumably tip ever so slightly to the front. Even this small motion was enough to swing open the door. It seemed incredible at first but simply wedging folded card under the front feet of the cupboard was enough to prevent it happening - surely if a ghostly hand was at play here, that would not have been enough to prevent toe door being opened......
This case was interesting because the explanation, whilst pretty mundane really, looked for all the world like case of mischievous unseen hands at play. Not all cases are so explainable, however!
We held our initial meeting with one investigator and the couple themselves present. The purpose of this meeting is to both get to know each other and to establish the facts of the case. Those facts were that the wardrobe itself was almost new, and the house was not particularly old. Their house was a terraced property on a quiet road. Neither Ian or his other half Joanne had experienced anything "ghostly" in the past, although Joanne thought she might be a bit psychic as she often had feelings of other people present in the house when she was actually alone.
As is quite usual (and frustrating) the reported event (in this case the wardrobe door opening by itself) did not occur during that initial meeting. During the course of the discussion however, it was established that it rarely happened at the weekend. This seemed to be a significant fact because it seemed to suggest some periodic nature to the events.
The neighbours had not experienced anything unusual, so whatever was happening was local to this house (and was probably not happening to the couple themselves so to speak) and to specific times.
NSPR's initial approach is to assume for the time being that it is more likely that there is a rational (if obscure) explanation for such an event than it being paranormal. That is not to say we dismiss claims of the paranormal, but it is easier to check out the possible mundane explanations first.
Subsequent discussions and several investigations determined that the event seemed to happen in the late afternoon - it was even captured on a web cam we set up. Our suspicions were aroused when the web cam also picked up creaking sounds just before the event. They sounded for all the world like central heating pipes, although this house had the heating on low all day, not just in the late afternoon.
To cut a long story short, it seemed that when the central heating came on next door, the heating pipes that ran along the party wall also had an effect on those running under the wardrobe. This would swell slightly, causing the cupboard to presumably tip ever so slightly to the front. Even this small motion was enough to swing open the door. It seemed incredible at first but simply wedging folded card under the front feet of the cupboard was enough to prevent it happening - surely if a ghostly hand was at play here, that would not have been enough to prevent toe door being opened......
This case was interesting because the explanation, whilst pretty mundane really, looked for all the world like case of mischievous unseen hands at play. Not all cases are so explainable, however!
