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This Haunted Isle: The Ghosts and Legends of Britain's Historic Buildings
Your illustrated guide to the most haunted houses and places in Britain.Find out where you might
287 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Peter Underwood
91 books16 followers(1923/2014): Author, broadcaster, historian of the occult; investigator of the paranormal.
Born in Letchworth in Hertfordshire, Underwood wrote prolifically on ghosts and haunted places within the United Kingdom, and was a leading expert on ‘the most haunted house in England’, Borley Rectory.
An early formative experience came at the age of nine, on the day he learnt of his father’s death; that night, he awoke to see an apparition of his father at the foot of the bed.
Around the same time, he was fascinated to learn of a ghost story associated the old house at Rosehall - where his maternal grandparents lived for a time; it contained a bedroom where guests claimed to see the figure of a headless man..
It was at this young age that Underwood's interest in hauntings and psychic matters began to take root.
On January 1942, Underwood was called up for active service with the Suffolk Regiment. After collapsing at a rifle range at Bury St Edmunds, a serious chest ailment was diagnosed. He was discharged, and returned to his employment at the publishing firm J.M. Dent & Sons.
One of his early investigations was the Borley Rectory haunting, where, over a period of years, Underwood traced and personally interviewed almost every living person who had been connected with the mysterious events surrounding the place.
Underwood built upon the legacy of the work of Harry Price, who had investigated Borley before him. Together with Paul Tabori (literary executor of the Price Estate), Underwood was able to publish all his findings in The Ghosts of Borley (1973).
In his autobiography No Common Task (1983), Underwood remarked that ”98% of reported hauntings have a natural and mundane explanation, but it is the other 2% that have interested me for more than forty years”.
Having joined The Ghost Club back in 1947 - at the personal invitation of Harry Price, Underwood was to become its President for over thirty years: from 1960 to 1993.
Underwood was a long-standing member of the Society for Psychical Research and the Savage Club. In 1976, a bust of him was sculpted by Patricia Finch - winner of the Gold Medal for Sculpture in Venice.
In recognition of his more than seventy years of paranormal investigations, Underwood became the Patron of The Ghost Research Foundation (founded in Oxford), which termed him the King of Ghost Hunters.
Born in Letchworth in Hertfordshire, Underwood wrote prolifically on ghosts and haunted places within the United Kingdom, and was a leading expert on ‘the most haunted house in England’, Borley Rectory.
An early formative experience came at the age of nine, on the day he learnt of his father’s death; that night, he awoke to see an apparition of his father at the foot of the bed.
Around the same time, he was fascinated to learn of a ghost story associated the old house at Rosehall - where his maternal grandparents lived for a time; it contained a bedroom where guests claimed to see the figure of a headless man..
It was at this young age that Underwood's interest in hauntings and psychic matters began to take root.
On January 1942, Underwood was called up for active service with the Suffolk Regiment. After collapsing at a rifle range at Bury St Edmunds, a serious chest ailment was diagnosed. He was discharged, and returned to his employment at the publishing firm J.M. Dent & Sons.
One of his early investigations was the Borley Rectory haunting, where, over a period of years, Underwood traced and personally interviewed almost every living person who had been connected with the mysterious events surrounding the place.
Underwood built upon the legacy of the work of Harry Price, who had investigated Borley before him. Together with Paul Tabori (literary executor of the Price Estate), Underwood was able to publish all his findings in The Ghosts of Borley (1973).
In his autobiography No Common Task (1983), Underwood remarked that ”98% of reported hauntings have a natural and mundane explanation, but it is the other 2% that have interested me for more than forty years”.
Having joined The Ghost Club back in 1947 - at the personal invitation of Harry Price, Underwood was to become its President for over thirty years: from 1960 to 1993.
Underwood was a long-standing member of the Society for Psychical Research and the Savage Club. In 1976, a bust of him was sculpted by Patricia Finch - winner of the Gold Medal for Sculpture in Venice.
In recognition of his more than seventy years of paranormal investigations, Underwood became the Patron of The Ghost Research Foundation (founded in Oxford), which termed him the King of Ghost Hunters.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 22, 2020
The things I enjoyed about this were the history of the buildings and the many first hand stories of reported hauntings.Among the more famous haunts were Berkeley Castle,Hampton Court Palace,Tower of London,Glamis Castle,Windsor,Hardwick Hall and King John's hunting lodge.It was pretty well writen aside from some misplaced letters on some words which just could have been the Kindle format's issue.It was also the perfect get in the mood book for chilly,dark and cozy evenings when leaves are blowing and Halloween is in the air.
July 23, 2018
An interesting book that includes the history of the many castles trout the British Isles
August 2, 2020
I was hoping to read about peter his own experience, not what others had have seen in the past, i'm disapointed.
January 11, 2022
Brilliant book on haunted buildings.
February 4, 2023
Excellent read.
May 28, 2020
Very enjoyable - it wasn't particularly well written or insightful, but the stories were always quite interesting and it was lovely to read about the history of some of the historic homes and places in the British Isles. I read a few entries every night before bed and it was always a soothing way to fall asleep.
November 8, 2015
Lots of interesting places to visit, but once again noticed that two counties are missing completely.
Some of the places mentioned I've come across before, others I have never heard of but now want to visit. Places like Glamis Castle, though not when the queen is visiting. Sort of haunted building I'd love to see on Ghosthunters.
Some of the places mentioned I've come across before, others I have never heard of but now want to visit. Places like Glamis Castle, though not when the queen is visiting. Sort of haunted building I'd love to see on Ghosthunters.
February 3, 2008
This book is about real ghost stories all over the British Isles. Underwood is or was president of the Ghost Society and has written many books on the subject. Enjoyed the book because I enjoy the subject.
Want to Read
January 2, 2013How do I actually start reading a book I can't find the option anywhere
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews