THE BIG ISSUE The Big Issue - 11 January 2016 | Page 9

WorldMags.net HIDDEN BRITAIN MY PECCADILLO IN ASSOCIATION WITH WALKINGWORLD.COM ED BYRNE IRISH COMIC MOUNTAIN CHECKLIST No.57 The Rectory BORLEY, ESSEX F or many years the rectory in the hamlet of Borley had a reputation as the most haunted house in England. The Gothic mansion was built in 1862 for Rev Henry Bull but it was not until the early 1900s that reports of ghostly phenomena surfaced. Four of his daughters ‘saw’ an apparation in the garden, which disappeared when they tried to talk to it. Some claimed it was of a nun who had been bricked up alive in the convent walls, after an illicit liaison with a monk. The house was investigated by paranormal researcher Harry Price, first in 1927 and again in 1937 when he returned with an army of 1956 was cancelled after the widow of the last rector threatened legal action. She later admitted to having colluded with the stories, to help cover an afair with a lodger. In the same year the Society of Psychical Research concluded that most of the phenomena had been faked. The rectory was damaged in a fire in 1939 and torn down in 1944. The adjacent church is shown in the main image. researchers. He described objects being thrown around and ‘spirit messages’ tapped out on a mirror. In the 1950s the tales began to unravel. A documentary scheduled for broadcast in Munro-bagging – or clocking visits to Scottish peaks of more than 3,000ft known as Munros – combines my love of the outdoors with a nerdiness for ticking things off. An app called Hill Lists helps to plan ascents – there are hundreds – and I use a wall map to chart my progress. I walked in Ireland as a teenager, then had a great time in my 20s getting wasted in dens of ill repute. But driving through a frosty Peak District in 2003, my then girlfriend (now wife) and I decided we should go hillwalking. That summer we went to Scotland and did a couple of Corbetts, which are not as high as Munros. Now I’ve done 77. Not bad for someone who lives in Essex. The last Munros I did were on the stark Cuillin Ridge (pictured); Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery traded blows there in Highlander. My wife sometimes joins me. I’ve dragged a few comics up, too – Des Grid Reference: TL 847430 Get instructions and OS map for this walk (ID 1702) for free until January 24 at walkingworld.com. Use discount code HB5 to access more than 6,000 routes for just £15. Share your photos of this Hidden Britain and ideas for others @bigissue; [email protected] FORWARD THINKING... Imaginary worlds. A virtual-reality theme park with a diference is set to open in the US in the summer. The Void, in Utah, will allow visitors to walk through imaginary worlds and experience real-life sensations. Scenarios include a haunted castle, a dinosaur safari and a futuristic battlefield. The latest in VR helmets, wired-up gloves and vests will complement actual objects that visitors will handle. Real-life sensations of heat, cold, water and the wind will also be experienced. THE BIG ISSUE / p9 / January 11-17 2016 WorldMags.net Bishop did Ben More, a relentless climb in constant rain that I’m sure put him off hillwalking for life – but I usually walk alone. One Edinburgh Fringe I had the bright idea to stay up all night and set off at 2am. I did An Caisteal and Beinn a’Chroin. There is something so beautiful about climbing at first light, with a cloud inversion where you are in a clear sky, above the mist. After a sleep, I hit the stage with such a bounce in my step. Ed Byrne is on tour with Outside, Looking In. edbyrne.com