THE PONTEFRACT POLTERGEIST by Nichola Jeffery The Pontefract Castle which lies near the Chequerfield Estate is now a popular tourist destination, both because of its rich history (King Richard II is thought to have been murdered there), and because of the reported sightings of a black monk walking from the kitchen to the Queen’s Tower. Whether this apparition of a monk is related to the Pritchard families remains inconclusive.
The 2012 film When the Lights Went Out follows the story of the Black Monk of Pontefract. The film is directed by Pat Holden (Awaydays) and produced by
Family (changed from Pritchard), Len (Steven Waddington), Jenny (Kate Ashfield) and their daughter Sally (Tasha Connor), move into their new family home, only to discover that the house already inhabited by a “presence” of a malign nature. The film also stars Martin Compston and Jo Hartley. The film had its world premiere in Rotterdam but before
“The area surrounding the Chequerfield Estate, according to Wilson, favoured manifestations because they contained particular spiritual force from their religious histories.” Bill Bungay (Moon) and Deepak Nayar (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil). Director Pat Holden has a connection with the story – he considers Jean Pritchard to be his aunt, according to issue 293 of the Fortean Times in the article “Shooting the Lights Out”. This article also states that his mother was a principal witness to these events. The story is set in Yorkshire in 1974, when The Maynard 62
that Haunted were invited to a screening of the film INSIDE the actual house – too scared to go ourselves we sent one of our readers (and her mum) who lived in Pontefract, this is her report from the night!! “We arrived at 30 East Drive on the Chequerfield Estate Pontefract where the most violent poltergeist “The Black Monk” in Haunted Magazine Issue 12
Europe is supposed to reside at around 5.50pm. We were greeted outside the door by the British Paranormal Investigations “BPI” before entering the house. Upon first impressions the house looks like any normal house with light coloured walls and patterned carpets and didn’t feel oppressive. There were other paranormal teams there “Simply Ghost Nights” and Kester Dlee a member of “Ghost Nights Events” as well as medium Graeme Fryer, Richard Felix and Psychic Medium Chris Conway. There was also a freelance reporter called Jonathan Brown and some people from the media group of the film that is based on the Black Monk “WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT”. Tasha Conner (plays Sally in the film) arrived with her mum and sister for the screening of the film, when asked if she was ever scared while making the film she stated no but she didn’t know at the time that the film was based on true events. Carol Fieldhouse the next door neighbour for 24 years was here