No Sleep 'Til Wolverhampton
ARE YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL?
NOW, FOR MY NEXT NUMBER.......
Ok, I'm not exactly Tina Turner (or Yvette Fielding for that matter). I'm just your average ghosthuntin' girl next door.
However I recently got to play a blinding gig at Wolverhampton Civic Hall (Do I hear the sound of screaming boys?). I even got to sit in Robert Plant's special seat. I could almost smell his lingering aroma, the aftershave, the sweat, the test...
(Joanne, behave yourself - Sunday Mercury Moderator).
Ok boss, but I was only going to say testosterone. Now where was I? Ball is back in my court.
The Civic Hall contacted us and asked if we would be interested in conducting an investigation there. A lot of the staff were interested in the paranormal and some had experienced the odd bit of strangeness themselves. Of course we jumped at the invitation to investigate such a large grand venue.
The manager gave us a date and so a short while later we packed a thermos and some cheese sandwiches and made our way to the Hagley Rd to jump on the 126. (The black 4x4 was out of action, somebody had spiked the tyres).
Going to the Civic Hall brought back some fond memories. A handsome, floppy haired young beau once took me to see the Happy Mondays there. Back in those days my legs could still handle a mini skirt and numerous plastic pints of lager. Little did I think back then that I would be hunting ghosts here, rather than drunken boyfriends!
The Civic Hall was opened in 1938 to provide good entertainment to the people of Wolverhampton. (As opposed to the bad entertainment they receive at Molineux)
A lot of you have probably been here once or twice to see your favourite bands or comedians. It's played host to everybody from Ken Dodd to Blur. Somebody told me that The Sex Pistols were banned from playing here back in the seventies. (They did one of my favourite albums; I bet you can guess which one)
Older people will remember how dances and swing bands kept peoples spirits up during the Second World War, despite the Hall having to close at 10pm (can't see the kids putting up with that today).
We heard an interesting rumour that the Civic Hall had been built on the site of an old Victorian mortuary. A most enjoyable visit to Wolverhampton Archives unearthed a couple of documents that proved this. In 1935 the Town Clerk refers to the demolition of a row of houses plus a mortuary in Corporation St.
A much earlier document from 1886, gives the Post Office permission to erect a telegraph pole in the mortuary yard, Corporation St.
We also found out that one of the houses demolished to make way for the Civic Hall was the vicarage of St. Peter's Church. So there is also a religious aspect to this site.
This was a massive place to investigate, even for a group as big as BGAH, so we were very ably assisted by some friends from the Black Country and of course the marvellous Civic Hall staff.
The investigation was fascinating and there was definitely some weirdness occurring throughout the night. We all heard unexplained footsteps and loud knocks. Toilets flushed themselves and a spotlight seemed to have a life of its own.
A full report of the night's events can be read on our website. This includes a report by the Technical Manager who was quite baffled by his misbehaving spotlight.
We really enjoyed our visit to Wolverhampton Civic Hall and we made some great friends. Many thanks to our good mates from the Black Country and big hugs to the lovely Civic Hall staff. Can't wait for our next visit.
Now, I must say something about all of these comments.
Gobsmacked doesn't come close. Has everybody suddenly overdosed on Crunchy Nuts?
All comments - good, bad or just plain idiotic - are welcome. It definitely gets a girl noticed. The offers are simply flooding in.
Where we investigate, what we write, what we believe in is a matter for us and the people who become involved with us. The same applies to certain other groups who don't seem to grasp the fact that we live in a democracy.
It is very sad that certain people feel the need to try and ruin the innocent pastimes and pleasures of others.
They are like train spotters who hate the fact that other people are travelling on their trains.
Maybe we are all losing sight of what is the real issue here.
Is there some sort of existence outside of physical reality?
Now that's what I call a debate.
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Authors
Joanne Morris - Founder of the biggest paranormal investigation group in the Midlands
Well said Joanne. I love this blog of yours I no longer live in the Brum area anymore, otherwise I would be asking you if there would be space on your team.
Keep 'em coming
Jan
Here here I agree with what you have said and hope the sillyness will now stop. The Civic Hall sounds a good place to investigate and I will go and read what you found on your website.
Thanks again Jo and keep up the good work
Jo xx
What a fantastic blog, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Keep 'em coming Jo, you guys deserve a pat on the back for all your hard work and dedication. WELL DONE BGAH
XXXX
Great blog Jo. Very funny. The last bit is spot on. There is a much more interesting and serious debate to be had here. I hope the more witless comments have dried up now.
Hey Jo, this brings back some memories for me. Love it!
QUOTE "The Civic Hall was opened in 1938 to provide good entertainment to the people of Wolverhampton. (As opposed to the bad entertainment they receive at Molineux)"
I’m gutted!!!!
Well at least i didn’t turn up wearing a Tesco carrier bag pfft lol
carol is still talking about that night and loved having you guys visit
Great blog
Next time i see rob plant I’ll pass him your number *wink*
nice speach at the end jo but it doesnt escape the point that another group did this place before yet again. He, he
your not helping yourself aregue are you or is it that your group feels so special you just dont care what other people think?
typical and no help.
our-ern
Ernie - why don't you just drop it now, because no one is at all interested in your rather pathetic sniping.
I'm sorry, but if you think that you're actually making some sort of a valid point here, you're sorely mistaken mate !!
Yes - the WMGC were apparently the very first group to investigate the Civic Hall, on Halloween 2004. Been there, done that and we really couldn't give a hoot who is doing anything there now, so please don't use us as an excuse to stir things up.... (Or is this the actual point, I wonder???)
Nick
Ernie, if you don't like it, read something else, let the good people of Birmingham and the Black Country enjoy a good read, not everyone who reads this blog is in a paranormal group and they are just interested in what some people do in a paranormal group and enjoy a bit of history of the place we pass everyday without thought.
I enjoyed the read and is please the Sunday Mercury have such a dedicated blog. Well done the Mercury and BGAH
I'm glad to see that yet again Ernie has something to gripe about, as Nick has said, stop using other groups to put your ' pointless and pathetic ' view across. Can you read I wonder...No one on here is interested in listening to your constant moaning and 'stir' tactics do you understand? or do you need some help?
I can see what is going on here and I am not impressed with the games certain individuls are playing as regards the comments. All I can say is that the blog is fantastic and enjoyable. I think Joanne and her team have done a great job and I am pleased to see and read the positive comments, however some people really need to grow up - talk about hijacking - this blog has certainly been hijacked in my opinion.
Great blog, keep up the good work, looking forward to the next.
Bob
Another interesting read Jo, i certainly am impressed. Its a shame the snipers are looking to sabotage your wonderful work but at the end of the day they are reading YOUR blog and looking at YOUR website. fishing for ideas maybe mmmmm!. WELL DONE AGAIN!
Another great blog and some fascinating history and research! I never realised the paranormal investigation business was a competition to see who could 'do' somewhere 1st tho.....silly me! Did you draw breath while you were compiling the speech at the end? lol but I think you've summed up the feelings of the vast majority on here..... well done it was a long time coming!!
Hi all, I am new to this site and new to being interested in the "paranormal". I have found the research very interesting and find it fascinating that places I pass everyday could have such interesting history attached to them. I am a little bit confused to the comments I have read (as only just come in) but one thing that would be very interesting...to me... is anybody or any group that has visited the place that Jo and her team has visited should share their experience’s and thoughts, now that would be an interesting debate!!!
keep up the good work Jo.
i agree with Vince this blog is about the actual investigation and not the mindless wittering’s of a "in MY opinion" babbling fool.
i was there that night. all seemed pretty normal with the group i had been given to look after,” I’m the venue key holder and security", in fact i was getting a little bored as all i had heard most the evening was creeks and bangs which i put down to the building contracting as it cooled down from the days heat. the heating had been turned off 2 days before at my request,(for reasons which will become clear at a later date). A colleague and myself (carol) where stood in the Wulfun hall leaning on the edge of the stage quietly chatting whilst other members of the team where on the stage doing their thing. Suddenly i heard a whirring noise. i looked round to see one of the spot lights turning round and come to rest in the home position it also emitted a dim beam of light facing down to the ground. So being the brave fool i am i walked over to the light and stood under it(nothing unusual felt or experienced) so in my normal witty manor i piped up with the immortal words " if there’s any one there can you make that happen again" bugger me it did, my ass went 10bob 6pence for about 20mins.
i checked the panels and fuse boards and can honestly say there was no power to those lights that night which was confirmed my the venue tech manager the next day.
I will try to find a logical reason for everything, I am a huge sceptic, and I will try to find a logical reason for everything. I do not spook easy either, that night opened up my eyes wider than any other investigation I have done before. I have worked in high profile security areas, That night rate’s in my top 5