'Headless monk' seen by workmen forces Thorpe Park
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A real white knuckle ride: 'Headless monk' seen by workmen forces Thorpe Park to relocate water slide
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:48 PM on 7th February 2011A headless monk, a sudden chill, objects moving of own accord.
A new ride at an amusement park? No, the strange, seemingly paranormal, behaviour was experienced by workmen building a water ride at Thorpe Park, one of the country's biggest theme parks.
There were reports of workers feeling like someone was watching over their shoulder and sudden cold feelings being experienced.
As a result of the ghostly sightings, and fears that an ancient burial ground has been disturbed, the project was moved to another site.
This image was taken at Monk's Walk in Thorpe Park by the South West London Paranormal Society team who investigated the site. They said the vague white mist appeared in a number of images but was not visible to the naked eye. However, they did add that it could just as likely be to do with the weather as the paranormal
A figure (circled) appears in a photo of one of the investigation team (right). 'Is this just mist, or someone passing by? You decide' is the question posed by the group which investigated the claims of a headless monk wandering around the theme park
A paranormal detection agency was then called in to the park in Chertsey, Surrey, to carry out tests and found that a burial ground or settlement could have been disturbed.
Managers at the park decided to relocate the ride to another area of the park and also called in a forensic team to carry out further investigations.
The 64ft-tall water ride, Storm Surge, was originally planned for an area known as Monk's Walk, an old footpath that has linked the ruins of nearby Chertsey Abbey to Thorpe Church since AD666.
Forensic geophysicist Peter Masters, seen here in Thorpe Park, has been called in to analyse the site, using deep ground radar. He said: 'From the preliminary investigations, we have picked up signatures similar to that of a burial ground - possibly ancient'
Managers at Thorpe Park decided to relocate the ride to another area of the park after reports of paranormal behaviour
The ride's foundations would have been over an area of the park where stone coffins have previously been excavated.
'The results were so strong, we felt the only explanation could be that an ancient burial ground or settlement was being disturbed, prompting the extra paranormal activity'
Mike Vallis, divisional director of Thorpe Park, said: 'It became apparent that something strange was going on when teams started clearing Storm Surge's initial site.
'Staff reports of eerie goings-on shot up and the only physical change in the park, at that time, was the beginning of ground preparation work for the new ride.
'As employees were getting freaked out, we decided to call on an expert to see whether there was anything to report but had no idea of the dramatic effects.'
Jim Arnold, of South West London Paranormal, said: 'We carry out these kinds of investigations quite regularly, with medium to weak results being reported on a weekly basis.
'Thorpe Park, however, was more striking as results were picked up immediately, with orbs, ghostly images in photography and ouija reaction results being strongest around the site where they were proposing to build Storm Surge.
'The results were so strong, we felt the only explanation could be that an ancient burial ground or settlement was being disturbed, prompting the extra paranormal activity.'
Forensic geophysicist Peter Masters, of Cranfield University, has since been called in to analyse the site, using deep ground radar.
He said: 'From the preliminary investigations, we have picked up signatures similar to that of a burial ground - possibly ancient.
'Although this could simply be an old building, with Thorpe Park's history, the investigation is definitely worth continuing.'
Visitors savouring one of the rides at the theme park. Mike Vallis, divisional director of Thorpe Park, said: 'It became apparent that something strange was going on when teams started clearing Storm Surge's initial site'