Embracing parapsychology: 1957–64 Thomas Charles Lethbridge

— t.c. lethbridge, 1962.

as result of widespread rejection of gogmagog claims, lethbridge became increasingly critical of academic , professional archaeological community, believing attitude of called trade unionism had caused archaeologists reject independent thought. result, decided resign , move away cambridge in late 1957. relocating branscombe in southern devon, , mina set home in hole house, fortified building dated modern period, , angered of locals banning fox hunters crossing land. lethbridge came believe hole house haunted, describing unexplained noises , smells there; increased interest in paranormal, , decided devote of time investigating such phenomena in deemed scientific manner. lethbridge believed ghosts projections stored in rock , other material substances , echoed particularly emotional or traumatic events either happened in past or happen in future. focused many of experiments on dowsing using pendulum, coming believe length of string used , number of oscillations used determine type of object being detected.

his first book on subject of termed odd ghost , ghoul, published in 1961 routledge , kegan paul. in work argued mind separate brain; believed mind connected ancestral collective mind inherited. many of ideas expressed in work akin of carl jung, richard semon, , amy warburg, although not clear if lethbridge had been aware of beforehand. extract subsequently published in january 1963 edition of fantastic stories of imagination. followed work witches – investigating ancient religion (1962), articulated form of murray s witch-cult hypothesis contained many digressions , anecdotes unrelated topic. returning themes present in ghost , ghoul, lethbridge published ghost , divining rod in 1963, in discussed progress pendulum experiments. on basis of this, bbc filmed short documentary titled ghost hunting t.c. lethbridge in may 1964, in lethbridge filmed repeating pendulum experiences in garden.