Hillocks stories

[Jonathan T]

I was talking to an experienced caver recently who told me about a trip down Hillocks when he had the overwhelming sensation that he was been watched when he knew there was no one else down there. He's a really down to earth guy but it freaked him out. He also has a friend who was grabbed by the feet / lower legs on the coffin crawl on the way out and dragged back a bit. He also mentioned that people have heard children crying down there and another caver who always thanks the miners for a good trip when he leaves mines.

Does anyone have any experiences like this down Hillocks or any other mine or cave?

 

[dunc]

I was down there a few weeks back on a midweek jolly and felt nothing.. Perhaps they are too busy during the week and only watch over people etc on weekends?

 

[AndyF]

We had a barbecue in the main chamber once, and stopped in there overnight.

I did have a strange feeling but I think it was something to do with all the cider I'd knocked back... 

I've never heard stories about Hillocks, though a lot about Water Icicle there is a thread somewhere about that...

Andyf

 

[cap n chris]

Tend to find that these oft-repeated stories of hearing children underground, feeling eerie sensations and people claiming to have had their legs grabbed are all coded language for "I'm talking to a gullible person with eyes like saucers and a gaping mouth so let's see how far I push this before they realise I'm having a laugh, unless they just keep falling for it hook line and sinker". Haven't you ever told tales to wide-eyed people and kept a straight face?

 

[SamT]

there have been times in the past when I've felt that t'old man is about. Mulespinner mine, Maskill, Rowter, Moorfurlong are just a few of the places. Other times - he's not there.

Its a strange sensation but purely rooted in my imagination Im sure.

:alien:

 

[Mark]

Water icicle and the bottom of the 130' in Odin do it for me

 

[Jonathan T]

Tend to find that these oft-repeated stories of hearing children underground, feeling eerie sensations and people claiming to have had their legs grabbed are all coded language for "I'm talking to a gullible person with eyes like saucers and a gaping mouth so let's see how far I push this before they realise I'm having a laugh, unless they just keep falling for it hook line and sinker". Haven't you ever told tales to wide-eyed people and kept a straight face?

Yes I have but no it wasn't, in this case.

 

[bubba]

I've encountered T'Owd Man. It always seems to be in the old mines and never the caves.

I clearly heard voices following us all the way down the ramp in Oxlow. I assumed another party was in the cave but there was nobody there. It actually shook me up quite a bit when we surfaced to find nothing. I'm not a superstitious or easily spooked person but those mines can really screw with your mind.

I've heard one mate tell of how he was de-rigging a mine on his own - it got so bad he was actually talking back to T'Owd man out loud!

 

[drainrat]

I clearly heard voices following us all the way down the ramp in Oxlow. I assumed another party was in the cave but there was nobody there.

We were down Oxlow at the weekend. I was way out in front rigging, when we re-grouped at the bottom, the back markers said that they could hear people following us, however no-one materialised.......... :blink:

Drainrat.

 

[paul]

I clearly heard voices following us all the way down the ramp in Oxlow. I assumed another party was in the cave but there was nobody there.

We were down Oxlow at the weekend. I was way out in front rigging, when we re-grouped at the bottom, the back markers said that they could hear people following us, however no-one materialised.......... :blink:

Drainrat.

Ah - we (the three from Orpheus CC who you may have seen while we were changing for Nettle Pot and mutual friends of jasonbirder) had a quick trip down Oxlow after exiting Nettle Pot on Saturday. We knew jasonbirder wouldn't mind us using his ropes (as he confirmed back at the Orpheus Hut). We heard you lot when we reached the top of the Ramp and decided you must be on your way out so we turned around and left so as not to get in your way.

Sorry - not a ghost story in this case! 

 

[drainrat]

We knew jasonbirder wouldn't mind us using his ropes (as he confirmed back at the Orpheus Hut).

I mind you using my rope though, That will be ten pounds please for wear and tear 

Now you mention it, I remember someone mentioning you three attempting Oxlow when we were back at the hut. I was so busy conjouring up a culinary delight in the kitchen that I never put 2 and 2 together!! BTW The Orpheus hut rocks! At one point it looked like we were sleeping in our cars that night. Whoever let us in, You're complete legends! 

Drainrat.

 

[Hughie]

I remember a trip into Swildon's Hole a few years ago with Chris Castle and we heard a tremendous noise coming from the water chamber, we thought there must be dozens of people in there. However, it turned out there was only one - LesW. Now, HOW can you possibly explain that!!!

 

[Peter Burgess]

However, it turned out there was only one - LesW. Now, HOW can you possibly explain that!!!

On his own? Did he look startled when you 'caught' him? Any sign of redness in the face?  :-[

"Tremendous noise?" All sounds a bit Milligan-esque to me. Ooooohhh! No more curried eggs for me!

 

[Dave H]

I did many solo trips digging in the Kitchen area of Ogof Darren Cilau soon after the first breakthrough (I could never get anyone to come with me more than a couple of times - but that's another story!)

I could constantly 'hear' people, just that bit to far away to hear exactly what they were saying. Jigsaw passage seemed to be the 'best' for this.

A neurologist friend said that this is quite a normal reaction of the brain trying to make sense of low-level sound. As verbal communication is so important to humans, the higher-order brain seems to default to a voice interpretation mode if it can't work out what particular sounds are (there is some kind of lower-order, autonomic brain function for this initial identification of everyday sounds)

I can't remember finding any written descriptions at the time in the local University library, although there may be plenty on-line now? Perhaps some student would like to investigate this    Tutor:"Why weren't you in lectures?" Caver:"I was doing project research"

 

[Les W]

I remember a trip into Swildon's Hole a few years ago with Chris Castle and we heard a tremendous noise coming from the water chamber, we thought there must be dozens of people in there. However, it turned out there was only one - LesW. Now, HOW can you possibly explain that!!!

I don't believe this - everyone knows that Chris Castle doesn't go caving 

 

[ian mckenzie]

A neurologist friend said that this is quite a normal reaction of the brain trying to make sense of low-level sound.

Interesting.  I've heard distinct, distant voices after several days of solo backpacking... good, I'm not crazy!  Also have heard 'voices' underground that have turned out to be a small water pour off in the distance.

 

[SamT]

I think you can nearly always put far off voices down to trickles of water.. - it can screw with your head though.  :chair:

 

[andymorgan]

I think you can nearly always put far off voices down to trickles of water..

Which can give you little trickles of water!

 

[Johnny]

Water icicle and the bottom of the 130' in Odin do it for me

I am with you on that Mark, It was me that ended up talking to the 'old man' on my way out of Odin. I have been on my own in plenty of mines and caves but none have effected me like that place although I have also felt a similar malevolent atmosphere in Burton Pingles Pipe.

 

[Big Lewie]

I went down there last night with a few mates from work..... i must admit the first coffin level upto the first pitch was a lil scary but i think thats coz my mate kept touchin my ass on the way down it.... hahaha!!!!

I must say though the whole place does have an interesting feel to it....

But so far the only caves that have a really earrie feel is Cumberland show cave area and bottom of P8 for me!!!!! always get the heebeegeebees down them!!!

Laters
Lewis