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The Tower of London was on my list of must-sees in London - in England for
that matter! So many paranormal experiences have been recorded here over the years, there must be some
merit to these reports. For some reason, I was particularly drawn to the Salt Tower and returned to it several times.
After the following experience, though, I began to think perhaps I had been drawn there by someone...
There are carvings all over the walls in this tower, which at one time was the darkest, dankest
dungeon in the tower. The one wal of this room is completely dominated by a huge fireplace. The walls
are covered with carvings, mostly names. On one wall is an "E" surrounded
by a heart decorated with scrolls. It is thought this was carved by an admirer of Queen Elizabeth I.
I strolled around the room, examining the various carvings. As it was near the end of the day, I found myself alone
in this room for a time. I believe that is when the picture below was taken.
I do not recall taking this picture. That is odd, as I keep a record of where and when each picture is taken. Nothing is written for this, but
the pictures taken before and after are of the salt Tower, and the window and the carvings are visible in this picture as well.
As I was in the tower alone, I was startled out of a reverie of sorts by a woman asking me if I was allright. I
was surprised by her because I hadn't heard anyone enter or ascend the stone staircase, and I also realized that I was speaking, but I did not understand what I was saying!
I was left with an impression that it was a prayer of some sort. I felt a little shaky - she suggested I get some air, so I left the tower.
When the roll from the tower was developed, I saw the above print and was amazed.
I wanted to add some information I recently read in a book called Walking Haunted London by Richard Jones. The first chapter is on the Tower, and contains a section on the Salt Tower, where I had my strange experience and took an even stranger picture! I just bought this book, in July of 2003 and my experience took place last summer,in July 2002. I had searched and searched for some reference to any experience that resembled mine. Until I read this book, I had come up empty. When I read Jones' section on the Salt Tower, I got chills. According to Jones, the Salt Tower was used in the 1500's as a jail for Jesuit priests, who courageously ignored the edicts of Henry VIII and insisted on promoting the Roman Catholic faith. In the room where I had my experience, he notes the massive fireplace as well as the carvings on the wall which were done by such notables as Henry Walpole. Walpole carved the names of saints on the wall to help give him courage during the horrible tortures he was subjected to in the efforts to persuade hime to name his Roman Catholic contemporaries. Jones then goes on to write, "Some visitors, finding themselves alone here (as in my case), have been surprised by a mysterious yellow glow that gets brighter and fills the room. They hear a low whispered murmuring like a voice at prayer, then suddenly feel the touch of ice cold fingers on the back of the neck. (my emphasis) Although I did not feel anything like icy fingers, I was interrupted in my "reverie". The situation described by Jones so closely matches what I experienced that I did, literally, get chills! He does not come out and say this is the spirit of Walpole, although that is implied from the preceding passages. Another development, which I had also not though related in any way to my trip or my experiences there is that in September of 2002 I began to attend church services again at my Roman Catholic Church - and have rarely missed a Sunday since then! Walpole's influence? Is his spirit able to continue, in some way, the work he chose in life? | ||||||||
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