Paranormal Investigations Ltd
" seek and ye shall find "
St. Nicholas Church, Elstree
There has been a Church on this site since 1188 and there is also a strong possibility that there was a chapel dating back to Saxon times before that.
The original church was built in wood but has been rebuilt in stone possibly in 1360 with a later restoration including the addition of the organ room in 1853 paid for by the wife of the Rector at the time.The South Wall, part of the tower and the font are all Fifteenth Century.
There are a number of mysteries that surround the village and indeed a couple of notorious murders.
The first murder was of Martha Ray, a woman who came from a working family in Elstree. Her Father was a corset maker and her mother was a servant for a local wealthy family. Martha wanted to better herself and became an Actress and singer. She then became the Mistress of Sir Edward Wortley Montague, Lord Sandwich who was also the church warden in 1760.
Martha lived with Lord Sandwich at his residence with his wife who was said to be of a very unstable mind! She also had five children by him. Eventually Lord Sandwich purchased a small London Residence for Martha so that when she was working there was somewhere convenient for her to stay.
Another admirer then appeared on the scene. This was James Hickman who came from a prominent wealthy family and had been in the army. It is alleged that he also had an affair with Martha whilst she was in London. Lord Sandwich on discovering this from a mutual friend despatched Hickman to Ireland. On his return the infatuation with Martha remained and he moved to Living in Norfolk where he became a Reverand.One evening Martha had visited the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden with a friend and on leaving she was shot by Hickman overcome by his obsession with her.
Lord Sandwich was devestated and interred her body in the Chancel of the Church. Nearly one hundred years later during the restoration, her body was discovered and transferred to the graveyard with a headstone provided for by the Montagues.
James Hickman was arrested, tried and hung for his crime at Tyburn London.
The second murder was of William Weare, a Solicitor and gambler. He actually lived in nearby Radlett but was known locally. A group of fellow gamblers took umbridge over his behavior during a gambling session and murdered him in a coach in Gills Hill, Radlett. His body was hidden in a pond firstly in Radlett and then moved to Elstree. The murderers were caught. One was hung, one deported to Australia and over time became a respected member of the community, the third was not punished having turned King's Evidence but was hung three years later for stealing a horse.
William Weare's body was allegedly stored in the cellar of the Artichoke public house until his burial in St. Nicholas graveyard in an unmarked grave at midnight. The site was just beyond an old Oak which is now gone.
The location of St. Bartholemews Church last recorded in 1327 is an unsolved mystery as is the location of Edolf's Tree.
Our first visit to St. Nicholas provided us with some interesting results as seen in the photos below.
A mist seems to settle unseen by human eyes. An orb on the wall, right hand side below the lower gutter.
Another mist over Martha Rays grave. Another Orb near to William Weare's grave.
An Orb under window right hand side. Blow up of Orb.
Even bigger blow up .
