First week in England, September 1973. Went to visit Winchester
Cathedral, my very first visit to a really OLD structure (America's
oldest is only a few centuries at most...) I went with a fellow
student who was Mexican and didn't speak English. We walked around the
outer sanctum and then entered the rear of the inner sanctum.  We sat
down in the two back pews on the left side. Presently, a ghostly group
of round shiny objects whooshed past us and moved slowly up the aisle
in a loose formation and seemed to dissipate when they reached the
alter. My friend turned around and had eyes as big as saucers!

I didn't register 'ghost' until a short while later when someone
mentioned that these were famous ghosts who have been visiting the
cathedral for many centuries.  Apparently the round shiny objects are
the shaven heads of monks. This person said they are only four feet
off the floor because they're still walking on the old floor, from
before they rebuilt after some major destruction.

I went back many times in the next three years but never met with any ghosts; darn!

Can you tell me more about this story?

ts

---

Clarification of Question by timespacette-ga on 24 Nov 2004 17:20 PST

see, what'd I tell ya?  thanks Pink!

What I'd like to know, specifically is:

over what period of time (centuries) have they been seen?
when was the cathedral destroyed and rebuilt?
how many times a year are they seen?
anybody know what order of monks they are?
do they do anything else except move up the aisle?
do they appear in any other part of the cathedral?
has anyone documented them scientifically?

I guess that's worth considerably more than five bucks ... sorry ....

Here's a brief mention of the story:

"Monks

 Location: Winchester - Winchester Cathedral
 Type: Haunting Manifestation
 Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Disappearing at the knees, these phantom monks
reportedly walk on the original floor of the building."

http://www.paranormaldatabase.com/hampshire/hampdata.php?pageNum_paradata=3&totalRows_paradata=86

TS, did you go back at the same time of year and the same time of day?

Archae0pteryx

Hi Archeo,

I did go back at the same time of day, which was late afternoon,
several times.  I remember because there was always this wait for the
bus when I had time to kill, and I'd wander over to the cathedral.  
Don't remember if I ever went back at exactly the same time of year. 
All I know was when I saw them it was about the second week of
September.

ts

Hi, TS--

What I'm thinking about, of course, is the position of the sun.  Light
effects under certain rare but recurring conditions.

Tryx

Now I'm frightened ...

First the Timely One's scary experience;

Then the Pink Lady's Link.

I probably won't sleep tonight UNLESS ...

Stop & Think, Bryan, before venturing into your Wine Cellars.

And now a Dark Shadow has entered the room making ooo-ing noises.

Go away!

Hi ArchaeO,
Yes, I've thought of that too.  But I really think there was something
more there than light effects... mostly because I felt a presence
before  ever making the connection to the visual, and also, the
visuals were so destinct, and they were moving in a very human-like
fashion.

Hey Pro,
Did you know that they say laughter is the best way to dispell a
ghost?  Since you live in one of the most haunted countries on the
planet, I think you're on the right track . . . offer him some sherry!

may the spirit be with you,
ts

Ts, how about taking a guided ghost tour around Winchester? The guides
should be able to answer your questions.

There are at least two tours available, Winchester Tours and Phantasm, according to
http://www.afallon.com/walks.htm

No webpage for Phantasm (e-mail only).


Winchester Tours:
"The numbers of genuine ghosts in such a small area is surprising!"
http://haunted-winchester.50megs.com/

The Tour:
http://haunted-winchester.50megs.com/whats_new.html

However, "No Tours at the moment!" (due to "increase in insurance premiums"):
http://haunted-winchester.50megs.com/contact.html
http://www.winchester-tours.50megs.com/

Winchester Tours "have been awarded the coveted purple badge for
excellence in Supernatural Tours!!"
http://www.winchester-tours.50megs.com/index.html

by the Association of Supernatural Tour Companies
http://astc.50megs.com/

I found this, but was unable to take it any further.
"Quite a stir was caused in 1957 with the publication of a photograph
taken inside the cathedral by a visitor. It seems to show thirteen
ghostly men in medieval clothing standing before the High Altar. No
logical explanation has been found by experts who have studied this
celebrated picture and another, taken moments before, showing the area
to be deserted. Theories that they might be reflections of nearby
store sculptures have been discounted."
The Haunted Places of Hampshire by Ian Fox
answerfinder-ga

Sorry, forgot the link.
http://www.invink.com/x17.html