SNOOKS GRAVE
April 2011
Snooks Grave is located on Boxmoor Common, Hemel Hempstead. It lies about 20m off the busy A41 road.The area is reputedly haunted by 'Robert' Snooks - the last Highwayman to be hanged at the scene of his crime in England. There have been reported 'sightings' of a ghostly body being seen hanging from a tree on the Common, and a ghostly 'mist' is said to occur when Snooks appears. - It is said that if you dance around his headstone and call out his name he will appear and join in the danse macabre!Snooks was hanged on 11th March 1802 and the day was locally declared a Public Holiday ensuring a large group of spectators congregated for his hanging.
OUR INVESTIGATION
As a group we had never investigated Snooks' Grave before, and none of our members had visited the site previously, although most were aware of Snooks and his infamous demise!We met at The Swan (now Swan Antiques) which used to be The Swan Pub - it is believed that Snooks had his last drink here on the way to his execution, declaring to the large crowd outside that "they couldn't start the fun without him". It is believed that Snooks himself haunts the Swan and this belief has been local legend for as long as most people can remember. A former landlord we had spoken to said he was aware of the ghost stories, but we couldn't find anyone who had witnessed Snooks' apparition in The Swan firsthand.
THE SWAN
We took some photos around the Swan venue, and some showed 'orbs' that could not be atributed to lights from street lights, or cars at the side towards the road. However, no-one seemed to 'sense' anything of a Paranormal nature in the area.
(Click on each picture for larger image)
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THE SWAN
Snooks Grave Investigation
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SWAN ENTRANCE
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THE SWAN
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THE SWAN
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THE SWAN
Box Lane
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THE SWAN
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SNOOKS GRAVE
From The Swan we ventured to the site of Snooks' Grave to begin Investigations. Unfortunately we were unprepared for how uneven the terrain is, and how noisy the area is - even at night. Situated by a busy road and railway line things like E.V.P proved impossible to record. There are no other features on the moor aside from Snooks' headstones, and there seemed to be no tree that looked old enough in the immediate area from which Snooks might have been hung. (reported to be a group of 5 Chestnut Trees).
We tried a Ouija Session in the area between the headstones to see if we could 'contact' Snooks, but although it started promisingly (when we asked the 'spirits' name it spelt out 'Robert' immediately then JA before stopping) it seemed to lose energy and those participating in the Session felt although 'something' may have been there it had gone quickly.
Although our Ouija Session did not give anything of note, it was noticed that two of the group suddenly developed a cough while participating in the session, which lasted for some time after, then suddenly went. It was described as though 'something was sticking in the throat' - One member also left the Investigation at this time after suddenly feeling unwell and they remained outside of The Moor, by the road for the duration of the Investigation saying they didn't want to return there. We said our Thanks to the spirit we may have contacted, and walked around the surrounding area.
SNOOKS GRAVE AREA PHOTOGRAPHS
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Snooks Headstone - erected in 1904
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SNOOKS GRAVE
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Trees near the headstone
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SNOOKS GRAVE
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SNOOKS GRAVE
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SNOOKS GRAVE
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SNOOKS GRAVE
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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SNOOKS GRAVE
Ouija Session
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WHERE WAS SNOOKS HANGED?
None of our members strongly felt that the spirit of 'Snooks' remains in the area of his gravestone, and there was some feeling that the stones location and the small trees nearby were not near the original location of Snooks' hanging.
There was a large Chestnut tree near the roadside some way across The Moor, and this certainly looked old enough, and we intended to go nearer the tree to see if we could pick up anything there, with some of the group heading towards it. However, two members of the group who remained at the site of Snooks' headstone both had very strong feelings about two areas approximately 10metres from the headstone, in different directions.
AREA 1
In this area one group member felt there was a 'circle' which when they walked into it it felt very cold. They described it as 'being like the shade under a large tree' when the temperature falls compared to outside the shaded area. They had walked several times around this circular area, and had seen a 'white shadowy figure' in front of them, which seemed to be following. There were certainly Temperature fluctuations in this area recorded both by the Temperature Gun, and by other members.
(Click on each picture for larger image)
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 1
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 1
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 1
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AREA 2
This area was also identified by a group member as being 'unaturally cold' on what was a very warm April evening. Unfortunately some of the group had made their way towards the road by this time and were too far away to call back so only a few members were there but we did manage to record a fluctuation in temperature from plus 1-2 (average for the area in question) to minus 11 - both of which were not naturally possible given the temperature at the time! We walked around the area, which seems to be a slightly raised patch dense with nettles and recorded some temperature fluctuations which only occured on this particular area of ground. At this time we cannot say what could have caused the fluctuations to occur naturally.
Some photos were taken at the location, and some showed 'orbs' with one in particular showing a very bright (v-shaped) light in the sky, which seems to be moving. At the time of taking the photo we were careful not to try and include streetlights, etc. and also car headlights from the nearby road - at the time this photo was taken the photographer noted no other light sources around at the time.
(Click on each picture for larger image)
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BOXMOOR COMMON - AREA 2
Snooks Grave can just be seen in the background
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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Area 2
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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Area 2
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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BOXMOOR COMMON
Area 2
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CONCLUSION
The location of Snooks' grave and its proximity to both busy Road and Railway lines makes it virtually impossible to undertake a controlled Paranormal Investigation. Despite taking numerous pieces of equipment we were limited in what we could use successfully, with Photography being the most successful means of capturing any 'evidence'. However, the number of streetlights, road and vehicle lights around the area also means that some 'orbs' caught on camera can be explained to non-paranormal factors.
There were a few occurences that might be worthy of some further research - Areas 1 and 2 were identified as possible locations of Snooks hanging, and the Temperature Gun used in these areas certainly picked up marked fluctuations in temperature. There seems to be some uncertainty as to where Snooks was hanged, and also the original location of his headstone (it is thought the headstone has been moved at least once since 1904) so perhaps either, or both of these areas identified are the 'original' locations.
As for the 'danse macabre' - we didn't try it!! - maybe if we had Snooks may have made a personal appearance, but, by the end of the evening we had lost half our group (last seen heading towards a large Chestnut Tree!!) , been stung by nettles, dodged cowpats (sometimes unsuccessfully!) been bitten by something??? caught mysterious dissapearing coughs, and for one of the group went home feeling very unwell - so we called it a night and bid farewell to the elusive Robert Snooks....
THANKS:
To the manager of Swan Antiques, Boxmoor.
Words and Pictures property of Gateway Paranormal Society / G.P.S. 2011.
