The Black Monk of Pontefract

The Pritchard family’s home at 30 East Drive in the Chequerfield housing estate seemed ordinary when they moved in. But beginning in 1966, they would experience one of Britain’s most violent and prolonged poltergeist infestations, culminating in the appearance of a dark, robed figure that came to be known as the Black Monk of Pontefract.

The First Incidents

The phenomena began in August 1966 when Joe and Jean Pritchard left their children, Phillip and Diane, with Jean’s mother while they went on holiday. One afternoon, the grandmother and the children witnessed white powder cascading from mid-air in the kitchen, followed by pools of water appearing on the floor despite no source.

When a neighbor was called to investigate, they witnessed the phenomena continuing. The local water board was called to check for leaks but found nothing. That night, heavy footsteps were heard crossing the landing when no one was there.

Escalation

The activity intensified dramatically over the following months. Green foam oozed from water taps. Objects flew across rooms with tremendous force. Photographs were slashed by invisible hands. Furniture moved on its own, sometimes rearranging itself in unlikely configurations.

The poltergeist seemed to develop a particular fixation on Diane, the teenage daughter. Her hair was pulled by invisible hands. She was pushed down stairs. Scratches appeared on her body. Once, she was dragged up the stairs by an unseen force while her parents watched helplessly.

The Black Monk

At the peak of the activity, witnesses began seeing an apparition. It appeared as a tall figure in a long black robe with a cowl obscuring its face. The figure matched descriptions of a Cluniac monk, leading to speculation about the entity’s identity.

Research revealed that the house sat near the site of a former monastery and, more disturbingly, near an ancient gallows. One legend told of a Cluniac monk who was executed for rape and murder during the reign of Henry VIII. Whether this figure had any connection to the phenomena was never proven, but the entity became known as the Black Monk.

Physical Violence

The Pontefract case was notable for its physical violence. Family members were struck, pushed, scratched, and thrown. Objects became weapons, flying with force enough to cause injury. The entity seemed malevolent in a way many poltergeist cases do not exhibit.

Heavy items like refrigerators moved without assistance. Cupboards emptied themselves. On one occasion, eggs from the kitchen floated through the house and smashed themselves against ceilings and walls. The destruction was continuous and exhausting.

Witnesses

Unlike many haunting cases, the Pontefract phenomena were witnessed by numerous people outside the family. Neighbors, relatives, and local officials all reported experiencing activity. A local member of Parliament visited and witnessed objects moving.

Investigators from the Society for Psychical Research documented the case. The consistency of accounts from multiple independent witnesses gave the case additional credibility.

Resolution

The activity gradually decreased in the late 1960s and had largely ceased by 1969. Some attributed the decline to Diane’s maturation (she was the apparent focus of much activity) or to the entity simply exhausting itself or losing interest.

The Pritchards eventually moved away, though reports suggest the house retained unusual qualities. Later residents and visitors reported occasional phenomena, though nothing approaching the intensity of the original outbreak.

Legacy

The Black Monk of Pontefract became one of Britain’s most famous poltergeist cases. The house at 30 East Drive has been the subject of documentaries and was featured in the 2012 horror film “When the Lights Went Out.” It now operates as a haunted attraction, with overnight visitors reporting continued phenomena.

Whether the Black Monk represented a genuine supernatural entity, psychokinetic energy emanating from a troubled teenager, or some other phenomenon, the case remains among the most disturbing and well-documented poltergeist outbreaks in British history.