Thanet GhostWatch Property Investigation Report
Drop Redoubt Fort, Dover
3rd investigation
Photo: Bob
Introduction
Construction of the Drop Redoubt
began in 1804 during the Napoleonic Wars, situated on the Western
Heights and overlooking Dover Harbour, it is now under the care of
English Heritage and the Western Heights Preservation Society.
More on the history of this structure can be found on the Western
Heights Preservation Society website.
Thanet GhostWatch Property
Investigation would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Western
Heights Preservation Society, in particular Paul and Jeff, and to
English Heritage for again allowing us access inside this unique structure.
Hold your mouse cursor over the plan below
to highlight the investigation areas:
Red - Caponnier 4's Gunrooms, connecting
stairs, Officers' Quarters, Guardroom and Cells.
Blue - Caponnier 3 and connecting stairs.
Purple - Soldiers' Barracks.
Green - Caponnier 2, Gunrooms and connecting stairs.
Yellow - Main Gunpowder Magazine.
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Plan of the Drop Redoubt
Reproduced here with the kind permission
of the
Western Heights Preservation Society
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May 16th, 2009
Previously, a Risk Assessment had
been prepared which was subsequently updated on the night. Due to
safety issues, the investigation of internal areas was limited to
those as indicated on the above plan.
19:50
Following a Risk Assessment briefing, as
required by our insurance, a Spiritual Protection and Grounding was
conducted, for those who wished to participate, on the Parade Ground.
20:07
In Barracks No.4, a Communication Circle
was commenced - REPORT
20:40
Break.
Split into our respective teams:
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Team 1
Bob
Sarah
Julie
Martin
Jack
Bryony
Scientific
Bryn
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Team 2
Sue
Dawn
Jake
Keef
Natalie
Paul
Claire |
21:00
Team 1, Caponnier 2 and Gun Rooms - REPORT
Team 2, Caponnier 3 - REPORT
22:00
Break.
22:30
Joint investigation of the Main Gunpowder
Magazine - REPORT
23:45
Break.
00:15
Team 1, Caponnier 3 - REPORT
Team 2, Caponnier 4's Gun Rooms, Officers' Quarters, Guardroom and
Cells - REPORT
01:15
Break.
01:45
Team 1, Caponnier 4's Gun Rooms, Officers'
Quarters, Guardroom and Cells - REPORT
Team 2, Caponnier 2 and Gun Rooms - REPORT
02:55
Spiritual closing-down.
03:00
End of investigation.
Bryn - REPORT
Video
and Audio Compilation
Sceptical Conclusions
by Bob
There was no conclusive evidence of any paranormal activity on the
night, however there are still some currently unexplained and interesting
occurrences, including the apparent EVPs and significant temperature
drops, which definitely warrant a return visit for further investigation.
Unfortunately, what could potentially be evidence of the paranormal,
the photograph of the figure above the Officers' Quarters, cannot
be regarded as "safe" as it was discovered after the event
and the area was not verified to be free from group members at that
time - therefore it could be argued that this figure was a group member.
Summary
by Jake
The Drop Redoubt is a truly impressive building.
It's beautiful, peaceful yet at the same time so very very bleak and
imposing. Imagine being stationed at such a place, imagine working
there morning, noon and night. The men there must have felt a mixture
of emotions, some of which has seeped into the building's fabric as
our investigation would suggest.
Some of what we heard could be attributed to third party noise, children
in the moat playing or dog walkers talking loudly but what we felt
was completely different. The spirits that came through were often
quoting military terms, they were very hard spirits, hard to the point
of being hostile on several occasions. If our spirit guides hadn't
been there to offer protection then we would've been in serious trouble
on at least two occasions. On the whole, looking back, we were looked
at with suspicion and treated as trespassers in the fort by a lot
of the spirits we encountered, typical of military men.
The EVPs also back up the paranormal claim with previously unheard
voices on the recorder.
Yes the argument could be that they are third party noise or echoes
but they were unheard at the time (when it was very quiet in the early
hours) and what they say isn't directly what is said by those present.
Without a doubt the fort is haunted and continues to replay past events
and dramas. The spirits still there are doing their job, keeping out
the civilians and protecting their fort.
I look forward to returning to this dramatic location and seeing if
we can unlock any more of it's hidden past.
