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Highgate Vampire

songstress

Thinker
S
Joined
Nov 26, 2004
Messages
192
Hello All,

I am interested in a supposedly factual story regarding Highgate Cemetery and its environs in the late 1960's early 1970's. A real vampire was allegedly spotted in the world-famous cemetery and after many adventures, including tomb vandalism, the beast was finally defeated. Several books have been written on the subject, mainly from self-promotionists.

Have other posters heard of this story? I appreciate that many on this forum are from the United States, but there's no harm in asking! If so, what are your thoughts?

Patsy.
 
I hadn't heard of the story before but a search of Google comes up with a few links:

This seems the most sober account, although no way of telling how reliable

This site firstly thinks that:
Much has been written about the strange happenings in and around Highgate Cemetery. Happenings that are said to have taken place in the late sixties, early seventies of the last Century. Much of the material that has been published about these happenings is based on what we consider to be a work of fiction. A novel titled "The Highgate Vampire", written by a man of many faces. A man, who after being involved in an occult society in his younger days, now purports to be the bishop of his own sectarian little church. His wild account about the supposed happenings in Highgate is quite entertaining, just as long as we take it for what it is: an amusing piece of horror fiction. The author, however, insists that the fantastic happenings in his novel are completely based on true events. He also claims to have destroyed an undead vampire corpse. And, by sticking to this sensational story, he has managed to get a lot of press coverage (read: free advertisement for his books, cassettes and other merchandise) for a couple of decades. Quite an accomplishment.
Click to expand...

But later it recommends David Farrant's book "Beyond the Highgate Vampire" which it describes as
more serious and intelligent in his approach to the Highgate happenings. Whereas our "bishop" demands us to believe that he, and he alone, has all the answers, David Farrant is simply giving us the facts, offering no easy explanations, and obviously expecting us to draw our own conclusions. Which, of course, is the way it should be...
Click to expand...
Hard to judge what the conclusions there are, but as "David Farrant is the President of the British Psychic and Occult Society" I doubt it will turn out to completely rule out the possibility that vampires might exist.

This is a very interesting article on the subject
In which David Farrant comes across as slightly less stable than the above article implies:
Some months later Farrant decided to destroy the vampire. Needless to say, he was not successful. In fact he was arrested by police searching for black magic devotees in St. Michael's churchyard, Highgate. He was remanded into custody at Brixton, where he was examined by two psychiatrists, who could not agree about his state of mind.

--------------------------------

The following is taken from a report of the trial in The Daily Express:"Farrant, who boasted that no jury would ever convict him because of his mystical powers, was found guilty of two charges of damaging and breaking into tombs at Highgate Cemetery. There he held bizarre midnight black magic rituals involving naked girls who danced on coffins, the Old Bailey jury was told... Pale-faced Farrant, who conducted his own defence after sacking his counsel, was found guilty of maliciously damaging a memorial to the dead at Highgate Cemetery, North London, and unlawfully breaking into a place of interment and interfering with the body.
Click to expand...

So it appears no-one takes this vampire case seriously except for Farrant.
It's up to the individual as to whether they trust Farrant's account.


Please click here for more information about vampires
 
A bit of local history --- those whacky vampire hunters --- edited to add: but I see Ashles got in first.

The wilder claims seem to have come from one Sean Manchester, who affects clerical dress and the title Right Reverend Sean Manchester, Superior General for Ordo Sancti Graal, Founder of the Sacerdotal Society of the Precious Blood, Primate/Bishop (with dignity of Archbishop) for Ecclesia Apostolica Jesu Christi --- and is obviously a complete nutter.
 
Here is a photo, taken by a an American tourist (Harold Puthoff) in 1968. Puthoff was doing a photo study of Highgate Cemetery for a book on famous burials. He said, when interviewed:

"I wanted to catch the sun coming up behind the crypts and mausoleums. When I took this photo, the figure that appeared when it was processed was not there. It was very quiet that morning, and somehow peaceful in the cemetery. What I do remember vividly about that shot was that it was the last I took that morning. For no reason, a sudden chill came over me. I noticed the birds had stopped singing and in the air was the strong smell of ordure. That is when I took the shot and packed up for the day.

"I'm not superstitious -- I've been photographing old graves for years and had never experienced that feeling before. So, when the shots were processed by my friend, Mr F.W. Murnau, we could hardly believe our eyes.

"I've been told by a leading psychic medium, Patsy de Cline, that I had captured on film the infamous "Highgate Vampire" who was beginning to dematerialize as the sun came up and he scurried to his "resting place".

"I asked Patsy why the Vampire was dematerialising. She told me it was common in Highgate. Indeed, she said, there were many dead songwriters and musicians buried in Highgate who were actually decomposing. They leave no marx."
 
The Mighty Thor said:
Here is a photo, taken by a an American tourist (Harold Puthoff) in 1968. Puthoff was doing a photo study of Highgate Cemetery for a book on famous burials. He said, when interviewed:

"I wanted to catch the sun coming up behind the crypts and mausoleums. When I took this photo, the figure that appeared when it was processed was not there. It was very quiet that morning, and somehow peaceful in the cemetery. What I do remember vividly about that shot was that it was the last I took that morning. For no reason, a sudden chill came over me. I noticed the birds had stopped singing and in the air was the strong smell of ordure. That is when I took the shot and packed up for the day.

"I'm not superstitious -- I've been photographing old graves for years and had never experienced that feeling before. So, when the shots were processed by my friend, Mr F.W. Murnau, we could hardly believe our eyes.

"I've been told by a leading psychic medium, Patsy de Cline, that I had captured on film the infamous "Highgate Vampire" who was beginning to dematerialize as the sun came up and he scurried to his "resting place".

"I asked Patsy why the Vampire was dematerialising. She told me it was common in Highgate. Indeed, she said, there were many dead songwriters and musicians buried in Highgate who were actually decomposing. They leave no marx."
Click to expand...

Sorry, I forgot the link to the photo

http://photobucket.com/albums/v616/themightythor/?action=view&current=highgatevamp.gif
 
songstress said:
Have other posters heard of this story? I appreciate that many on this forum are from the United States, but there's no harm in asking! If so, what are your thoughts?

Patsy.
Click to expand...

The Mighty Thor said:
"I've been told by a leading psychic medium, Patsy de Cline, that I had captured on film the infamous "Highgate Vampire" who was beginning to dematerialize as the sun came up and he scurried to his "resting place".
Click to expand...

Anyone else notice this, or am I reading in too much?
 
Huntsman

Erm -- splash cold water on face, then read it again noting all the names ;)

Crossword, 5 Across, 7 letters

Provides light for desk plus used to kill sharks minus the music.

:) :) :)
 
The Mighty Thor said:
Huntsman

Erm -- splash cold water on face, then read it again noting all the names ;)

Crossword, 5 Across, 7 letters

Provides light for desk plus used to kill sharks minus the music.

:) :) :)
Click to expand...

Sorry, I thought it was an actual story and you'd just added the funny bits.

Sad thing is, you can't really tell what's a parody with many "psychic" reports...
 
Dr Adequate said:
Mockery is a test followed by anger. 6 letters.
Click to expand...

SATIRE.

But no anger here. :) Look at Patsy's sig.

I think she made her scepticism clear by using "alleged" etc.

Strangely, I found looking at stuff on Highgate to be interesting. The Victorians, especially, had wonderful death beliefs and practices.
 
I've just figured out how to do this -- show the image on the forum. So, for those who don't like to click on links:

THE HIGHGATE VAMPIRE

highgatevamp.gif
 
Highgate

Thanks for all your replies. Personally, I don't believe that a vampire actually walked in Highgate. My personal view is that this story was started up by self-publicists and 'theatrical characters', whipped up hysteria amongst the locals, and which attracted all sorts of vandals, devil worshippers and those out for late-night thrills in the old cemetery. What was interesting to know though, that a film crew were making a horror film about vampires at the time and maybe people saw the actors in full make-up and THOUGHT that they were witnessing a real vampiric event. In any case, it became absurd when Farrant and Manchester began 'sparring' in the local press about who was the 'real' vampire-hunter.

Another interesting note - the young girl named 'Lusia' who was said to have become a vampire after encountering the beast and who was later staked, was actually someone called 'Jacqueline' and she was found alive and well a few years ago and living in Hornsey, North London.

I believe that the judge in Farrant's court case accused him of being 'the real vampire of Highgate.' Not an unreasonable assumption, given that he was found in possession of vampire-hunting equipment consisting of two bits of wood tied together with a shoelace to make a cross and a selection of sharpened stakes and a wooden mallet, all carried in a supermarket carrier bag.

Nowadays the old cemetery is managed by a local 'friends' group and nobody is allowed access to the place unless by guided tour. It is a cemetery that is kept as a museum and is situated on the southern fringes of Highgate Wood.

Another twist to the story - I became interested (or inquisitive) enough to approach the Vampire Research Society to ask to see/hear some of their video/audio tapes that they allegedly hold in their archives. I told them that my interest was innocent, since I was interested in the 'factual' story. I received a very terse reply from them, demanding to know 'why someone unconnected with the matter would be interested in the tapes?' I politely told them not to bother. This led me to believe that the whole thing was made up. After all, if it was not, why were the VRS so reluctant to release the tapes? I did explain to them that I was prepared to visit their premises to listen/see the tapes, so they would not need to send them by post, etc.

All very strange.....

David Soul, who starred in the vampire flick 'Salem's Lot' lives now in a flat in Highgate, close by to the cemetery. Apparently, he loves living there so much, he has become a 'naturalised' Briton. How very apt...
 
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