The Black Monk of Pontefract

Number 30 East Drive in the Chequerfield council estate of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, became the site of what many consider Europe’s most violent poltergeist infestation. From 1966 to 1969, the Pritchard family endured an escalating nightmare that included physical attacks, levitations, and encounters with a terrifying spectral monk.

The Pritchard Family

Joe and Jean Pritchard lived at 30 East Drive with their children Phillip (15) and Diane (12) when the haunting began. Grandmother Sarah Scholes lived nearby and became a frequent witness to the phenomena.

The First Manifestation

August 1966

The activity began on a hot August afternoon in 1966 while Joe and Jean were on vacation, leaving Phillip and grandmother Sarah home with Diane at a neighbor’s. Without warning, a fine white powder began falling from a point below the ceiling in the living room. Then water pooled on the kitchen floor despite no apparent source.

When a neighbor and her son investigated, they witnessed:

• Pools of water appearing spontaneously
• A plant thrown across the room
• The tea dispenser activated on its own
• Loud crashing sounds from upstairs

The water department and police were called but found no explanation. The activity ceased when Joe and Jean returned, leading to initial dismissal of the events.

Escalation

1968-1969

After a two-year lull, the phenomena returned with terrifying intensity:

Object Movement

• Furniture slid across floors
• Heavy objects hurled violently
• Pictures spun on walls
• Eggs from the refrigerator pelted family members

Physical Attacks

• Diane was dragged up the stairs by an invisible force
• Family members were slapped and punched
• Red marks appeared on Diane’s neck, resembling strangulation
• Phillip was thrown from his bed repeatedly

Apparitions

• A black-robed figure was seen throughout the house
• The figure was described as a tall monk in a hooded black habit
• Its face appeared disfigured or skull-like
• It left behind a nauseating smell

Other Phenomena

• Lights switched on and off
• Writing appeared on walls and surfaces
• Holy water sprinkled in the house turned to ink
• Crucifixes were inverted
• Diane was slashed by unseen forces

The Black Monk

Research into the property revealed that the estate was built on the site of a former gallows and an ancient monastery. Local historians identified a possible source for the entity: a Cluniac monk who was reportedly executed in the 16th century for the rape and murder of a young girl.

This grim history seemed to connect with the entity’s apparent focus on teenage Diane and its violent, even predatory behavior.

Investigations

Multiple witnesses corroborated the Pritchard family’s accounts:

• Neighbors experienced phenomena when visiting
• Photographers had their equipment malfunction
• Journalist Rene Holden witnessed objects moving
• Colin Wilson, the renowned author, investigated and wrote about the case

Local vicar Father Davy attempted an exorcism, but the activity intensified rather than diminished, with the entity seemingly mocking religious intervention.

Resolution

The Pritchard family endured the haunting until approximately 1969, when the activity gradually subsided. Diane had left for college, and without the apparent focus of the entity’s attention, the phenomena diminished.

The family remained in the house for years afterward, experiencing only occasional minor disturbances.

Legacy

The Black Monk of Pontefract case has been extensively documented and remains one of the most compelling poltergeist accounts in British history:

• Colin Wilson featured it in his book Poltergeist: A Study in Destructive Haunting
• The case inspired the 2012 horror film When the Lights Went Out
• Number 30 East Drive is now privately owned but occasionally opened for paranormal investigations

The combination of physical attacks, multiple witnesses, the length of the haunting, and the historical connections to the executed monk make this case particularly compelling to researchers. It remains one of the few poltergeist cases featuring a consistent, identifiable apparition.