Is the town's library haunted?
5:52pm Monday 8th October 2007
Comments (34)Is there something ghostly going on at Watford Central Library?
"Paranormal investigator" Damian O'Dell plans to find out by spending Wednesday night at Watford Library.
He will be looking for evidence of spirit activity and report on his findings on Thursday night at a special event held as part of Family Learning Week.
Damian will discuss his findings and answer any questions about his paranormal investigative work at the library on Thursday between from 7pm until 9.30pm.
The theme of Family Learning Week is discovery.
Do you believe in paranormal activity? Have you ever had a spirited encounter at Watford Library. Fill out the form below and share your ghost stories.
Your Say YourWatford Observer
Cabron, Watford says...
10:45pm Mon 8 Oct 07
Perhaps its the acoustics up there, as every rustle and page turned seems amplified.
Scot Shill, Croxley Green says...
7:14am Tue 9 Oct 07
The closest thing to a spiritual encounter in the library are the free wine tastings.
Bah humbug!
Aimzie, Watford says...
9:05am Tue 9 Oct 07
E, watford says...
9:46am Tue 9 Oct 07
kris, north east says...
9:56am Tue 9 Oct 07
nvestigations.com i wish Damian, all the best. If ya don't find anything don't be disheartened, i know it can be hard to actually find the proof that some sceptics need.
Hamster, Watford says...
1:18pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Cabron wrote:But this is the same in the reference section of every library. I think, Cabron, you have seen Ghostbusters too many times!
I've always felt there is something spooky about the library, especially the reference section upstairs. But I've never been alarmed by the feeling. Perhaps its the acoustics up there, as every rustle and page turned seems amplified.
Hamster, Watford says...
1:21pm Tue 9 Oct 07
kris wrote:Of course people need proof... without it it'd remain blind belief. Silly.
as a fellow paranormal investigator www.northern-ghost-i nvestigations.com i wish Damian, all the best. If ya don\'t find anything don\'t be disheartened, i know it can be hard to actually find the proof that some sceptics need.
Hamster, Watford says...
1:25pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Spooky, Watford Library says...
2:45pm Tue 9 Oct 07
OHHHHHHHH
Roy Stockdill, says...
2:58pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Libraries seem obsessed with promoting the fact that they are places where you can use computers and access **** or find out how to make a bomb on the Internet, park your kiddies in a creche, borrow records and CDs and hold meetings about multicultural diversity and all that rubbish - in effect, they have become community centres. But does anyone actually go into a library to borrow books any more in this increasingly illiterate society where texting has replaced proper written English, calculators have replaced mental arithmetic and Mickey Mouse degrees in sociology and media studies have replaced the classics and sciences?
BTW, who on earth is daft enough to believe that the paranormal has any part of Family Learning Week? Is it not utterly irresponsible to implant belief in ghosts and spirits and spooks in the minds of impressionable children? The sane among us know that there is no such thing as the paranormal and it's all a load of mumbo jumbo.
Roy Stockdill, says...
3:05pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Kane, Watford says...
6:06pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Paul, Bushey says...
8:03pm Tue 9 Oct 07
herts reader, herts says...
8:58pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Take a bottle of scotch with you and keep your spirits up. I remember in about 1977 the librarian there was somewhat ghostly.
WatfordKev, Watford says...
8:43am Wed 10 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill, says...
12:50am Thu 11 Oct 07
Paul wrote:Oh dear, why are we still talking about this? Let's get one thing clear - there is NO SUCH THING as the paranormal! There are no ghosts, there are no spirits, there is no life after death, there is absolutely nothing outside the physical world. People such as this fellow Damian, whoever he is, are either charlatans trying to make a name for themselves or they are deluded fools who will believe anything and try to make the gullible go along with them. I suspect the whole thing is just a hyped-up plot to get people along to listen to his talk, such as it may be. Personally, I hope the library is totally empty when he is giving his talk. At least it will show that Watford people have more sense than to fall for such mumbo jumbo.
evidence of spirit activity - library built in 1928 there has not been any reported activity from that date so I see no reason for paranormal activity at this site! Interesting to read outcome on Thursday?
Andy, Croxley Green says...
4:11am Thu 11 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill wrote:Oh dear, why are we still talking about this? Yes its called freedom of speech! Damien O'Dell works with a Paranormal Research Group who look for evidence of the paranormal in various places in Beds, Herts and Bucks. Here he tells us about the methods used to gather information and even shows us, whilst on location, why a local pub is haunted, also published GHOSTLY HERTFORDSHIRE - Description: Who was the Pop star that shared her Sawbridgeworth home with a ghost called Richard? When does the ghostly Cavalier of Hitchin Priory make his appearance? What is Watford's link with a world famous Paranormal phenomenon? The author reveals what you could want to know about the supernatural in all four corners of Hertfordshire.
Paul wrote: evidence of spirit activity - library built in 1928 there has not been any reported activity from that date so I see no reason for paranormal activity at this site! Interesting to read outcome on Thursday?Oh dear, why are we still talking about this? Let's get one thing clear - there is NO SUCH THING as the paranormal! There are no ghosts, there are no spirits, there is no life after death, there is absolutely nothing outside the physical world. People such as this fellow Damian, whoever he is, are either charlatans trying to make a name for themselves or they are deluded fools who will believe anything and try to make the gullible go along with them. I suspect the whole thing is just a hyped-up plot to get people along to listen to his talk, such as it may be. Personally, I hope the library is totally empty when he is giving his talk. At least it will show that Watford people have more sense than to fall for such mumbo jumbo.
Roy Stockdill, Garston says...
1:14pm Thu 11 Oct 07
I am the first to defend freedom of speech, as regular readers of my blog on this website will know. However, freedom of speech also includes the right to debunk specious nonsense - which is what claims of ghosts,spirits, poltergeists, etc, are. There is nothing that cannot be explained by reference to the physical world. Supposed mediums and clairvoyants who claim they are in touch with the dead are simply, like magicians and illusionists, very clever psychologists and readers of human nature. They prey on the gullible.
However, since you obviously support the activities of Damien whoever-he-is, here are a couple of questions for you...
Do ghost trains stop at manifestations?
Is a ghost that haunts a pub called an INN SPECTRE???
Andy, Croxley Green says...
2:04pm Thu 11 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill, says...
12:37am Fri 12 Oct 07
Andy wrote:There is no such thing as UFOs. All the so-called sightings over the years can be explained by logic and natural and physical phenomena. Sadly, so many people desperately want to believe in the supernatural and little green men from outer space because it brightens up their otherwise boring lives. Human beings have a natural weakness for fantasy and the unreal - Hollywood film makers have known this ever since the movies were invented! Some people are very, VERY gullible.
Illusionists ah yes just like the USA and the first man to walk on the moon! Roy clearly you have an attitude towards these subjects great but dismiss what you cant explain. What about UFO's?
Martyn, Garston says...
12:33pm Fri 12 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill wrote:Roy Stockdill doesn't believe in anything outside the physical world? So presumably he's calling everyone in this world who has faith a deluded fool? Not all UFOs have been Identified beyond doubt and not all Paranormal occurrences have been explained either. I respect anyones right to free speech and Roy Stockdill should too!
Andy wrote: Illusionists ah yes just like the USA and the first man to walk on the moon! Roy clearly you have an attitude towards these subjects great but dismiss what you cant explain. What about UFO's?There is no such thing as UFOs. All the so-called sightings over the years can be explained by logic and natural and physical phenomena. Sadly, so many people desperately want to believe in the supernatural and little green men from outer space because it brightens up their otherwise boring lives. Human beings have a natural weakness for fantasy and the unreal - Hollywood film makers have known this ever since the movies were invented! Some people are very, VERY gullible.
Just because you think it Mr Stockdill doesnt mean to say its right
Paul, Bushey says...
12:56pm Fri 12 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill, says...
4:11pm Fri 12 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill, says...
4:16pm Fri 12 Oct 07
Just because you think it Mr Stockdill doesnt mean to say its right.<<
You have a perfect right to state your belief in religion and supernatural things. That is YOUR freedom of speech. I have a perfect right to debunk your beliefs as gullible superstition. That is MY freedom of speech. It's called democracy.
Andy, Loudwater says...
6:46pm Fri 12 Oct 07
The Haunted Museum
Join us for a night of spooky Halloween fun as the museum is transformed by the I Can't Believe We're Not Better Theatre Company!
The family events take place at 6.00pm (for ages six and above) and 8.00pm (for ages ten and above) on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th October 2007.
Tickets cost £5 per person. For more information, call 01923 278241 or email info@watfordmuseum.o
rg.uk.
Martin, Watford says...
8:44pm Fri 12 Oct 07
It should also be noted that a "UFO" does not mean a flying saucer, just anything that is not easily recognisable. The stealth fighters, bombers and weather ballons spring to mind. And if we know about them now, what are they testing that we don't know about? ;)
Roy Stockdill, says...
11:23pm Fri 12 Oct 07
Martin wrote:A number of thoughts about so-called UFOs occur.
I thought the International university in The Avenue was supposed to be haunted, What happened to that one? It should also be noted that a "UFO" does not mean a flying saucer, just anything that is not easily recognisable. The stealth fighters, bombers and weather ballons spring to mind. And if we know about them now, what are they testing that we don't know about? ;)
1) If indeed we are being watched by little green men from outer space, their technology must be so vastly superior to ours that they could have landed on Earth long ago and taken us over by now. Why haven't they?
2) Having observed how primitive we are, perhaps they don't want to bother.
3) The crackpot Scientology cult believes we descend from ETs who came to Earth millions of years ago. Prominent members of this movement are Hollywood luminaries (or should that be loonies?) like Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Priscilla Presley. Perhaps we should ask them.
4) If ETs are watching us, why haven't they issued any invitations to visit their planet and see how they live?
5) Presumably, they are time travellers, so can they tell us who's going to win the big match between England and France tomorrow in the Rugby Union World Cup, so I can nip down the bookies and get a bet on?????
Andy, Loudwater says...
7:35am Sat 13 Oct 07
Roy Stockdill, says...
9:51am Sat 13 Oct 07
Andy wrote:I'm afraid I don't entirely understand your question in relation to supernatural phenomena and extra-terrestrials. I am certainly a believer in the Darwinian theory of evolution, but I don't see that this has much to do with the other thing. Doesn't the scientific scenario hold that human life crawled out of the sea?
Roy, may one aske! How did we end up where we are today? DNA studies have shown that people shared a common ancestor who lived in between 50,000 to 200,000 years ago
Andy, 929-098 says...
12:03pm Sat 13 Oct 07
If not were then.
Supernatural phenomena I dont see how can dismiss this airline pilots overs the years have reported ufo's! and there is always Area 53
Roy Stockdill, says...
12:34pm Sat 13 Oct 07
Andy wrote:Most of my ancestors for as far back as I can trace came from Yorkshire! And by "trace" I mean confirmation from documentary evidence, which is what the genealogist relies upon.
ok Roy do you think your ancestors came from Africa? If not were then. Supernatural phenomena I dont see how can dismiss this airline pilots overs the years have reported ufo's! and there is always Area 53
As to the origins of life, perhaps it did begin in Africa but it's so long, long ago that I feel unable to relate to it. I am afraid I am still sceptical about the new pseudo-science of DNA testing, which some people see as the Holy Grail of ancestor tracing. I am not particularly interested in knowing that I have a common ancestor with someone, but in knowing WHO that ancestor was. This is something that DNA testing cannot establish. We genealogists and family historians call it "putting flesh on the bones". Yes, maybe I did have an ancestor who came out of Africa 50,000-200,000 years ago but since there isn't the remotest hope of knowing who mthe individual was, I have very little interest in him. On the other hand, I am very interested in finding out as much as I can about my great-great-great-gr
andfather who lived from circa 1718 to 1784 and who was a humble agricultural labourer.
Andy, Loudwater says...
1:32pm Sat 13 Oct 07
Log onto http://www.familytre
edna.com/ Regarding DNA the most popular is the Y-DNA test which traces the line of descent from male to male to male in a straight line
Roy Stockdill, says...
6:47pm Sat 13 Oct 07
Andy wrote:There is, of course, a danger in DNA testing which is that some people discover they are not who they thought they were! They may find that a documented father was not always the natural father and somewhere along the line a female ancestor "played away from home". Some people accept this quite calmly but others can get upset. So I always advise people not to trace their family history unless they are willing to accept whatever they find!
Roy we have something in common my ancestors were agricultural labourers from Walter Belchamp in Essex! Log onto http://www.familytre edna.com/ Regarding DNA the most popular is the Y-DNA test which traces the line of descent from male to male to male in a straight line
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Jerry, says...
7:55pm Mon 8 Oct 07