Eden Camp (in Malton, England) may be one of the eeriest sites I’ve seen on “Most Haunted.”
It’s certainly one of the best locations for ghost hunting.
If you saw the two-part Most Haunted episode in January 2019, you might wonder why I’m so enthusiastic about Eden Camp’s ghosts.
There are two reasons I can recommend Eden Camp:
First, it’s an ideal site for new and easily startled ghost hunters. Most of the phenomena are “lite.” And, weird things happen more frequently than at many haunted sites.
Second, if you’re an experienced, professional ghost hunter, the personal nature of the hauntings… that’s chilling.
Lots of Ghostly Activity
In my review of the first half of Most Haunted’s Eden Camp Museum investigation, I mentioned the almost steady, low-level phenomena at the site.
Investigators heard clatters, thuds, footsteps, and other unexplained noises. In some locations, like the bungalow (the pre-fab house), Eden Camp’s ghost/s seemed to respond rapidly to what Karl or Stuart said.
But even when the ghosts weren’t reacting to questions or commands, the unpredictable – and usually random – noises continued.
Aside from the bicycle (in the bungalow) falling over multiple times, what happened wasn’t physical. No one seemed at risk.
That regular – but apparently minor – activity is ideal for new paranormal investigators. You’re likely to witness at least one or two “weird” things. You’ll know you’ve had a genuinely odd, ghostly experience. You’ll go home with a smile.
More experienced investigators won’t take Eden Camp so lightly.
Eden Camp’s Ghosts from a Professional View
In my previous review, I mentioned two impressive aspects of Most Haunted’s investigation.
Of course, it’s always a relief when a site has a steady patter of activity. At most locations, ghost hunters sit and stand for hours, waiting for something to happen.
It’s not that the ghosts were entirely obliging at Eden Camp. Yvette gave them many opportunities to manifest – as noises, poltergeists, and so on. But, they seemed less interested in startling her.
However, in the first half of the investigation – Part 1 – I noted two unusual things.
First, when the team were working in pairs of two, unearthly footsteps seemed to come from two distinct areas in one hut.
Mary Beattie impressed me when she quickly realized something was trying to separate – and isolate – team members from one another. As a professional investigator, that kind of activity is a big red flag. It’s one step away (no pun intended) from being malicious activity.
And, in most cases, it seemed like a deeply personal effort by Eden Camp’s ghost/s.
Then, something about Stuart’s demeanor troubled me. He seemed to internalize what was happening in the bungalow.
In other words, Mary could detach herself, mentally, from what was going on. She saw the “method in the madness” of the moment.
By contrast, Stuart Torevell seemed deeply affected by the ghosts.
If one of my team member’s demeanor was like his, I’d be very concerned. I might even suggest someone stay close to him, in case that investigator needed to leave the area for his own safety.
But Stuart isn’t a ghost hunting novice. Since 2002, he’s been part of the Most Haunted crew and team. He’s been at the center of some very troubling paranormal activity.
When you see Stuart seem troubled by what’s going on at a haunted site – even if the activity seems minor – pay close attention. That “red flag” may be subtle, but it’s significant. It’s a location that’s more haunted than most.
Remember: Those of us who’ve been investigating haunts for years… well, we get a little jaded. (That may be an understatement.)
- A plate flies across the room and we yawn, “Yes, it’s another poltergeist.”
- A team member feels a tap on his shoulder and we sigh, “Okay, it’s another attention-seeking ghost.”
- Listening to EVP right after we recorded it, if the ghost mumbles, we’ll say, “Aww, c’mon, speak clearly.”
And so on. We’re not as startled or impressed as we once were.
So, when a pro reacts – especially in a dramatic or uncharacteristic way – that’s an anomaly in itself.
At Eden Camp, It’s Not Just Residual Energy
When I researched Eden Camp’s history, I found many reasons the site could have simple, residual energy hauntings.
It was a POW camp. People were there against their will, and some prisoners were Nazi officers whose political views were both extreme and aggressive. That could explain lingering energy.
In later research, I uncovered Malton’s surprising importance as a Roman fort – and perhaps a hub of Roman occupation – for four centuries.
That’s why, when I started watching Most Haunted’s first episode about Eden Camp – broadcast “as live” – I thought, “Okay, Eden Camp has more than the usual amount of residual energy.”
Soon, I realized something intelligent was behind what’s going on at Eden Camp.
It wasn’t just what Mary said or how Stuart reacted… it was more. It was the consistency of the activity, and who seemed targeted by it.
That seemed… odd.
The clever subtlety of Eden Camp’s paranormal activity impressed me. And its variety.
From my experience, a lot of hauntings are “one-trick ponies.” There may be noises. There might be some poltergeist activity. Or, a “shadow person” might make a fleeting appearance. Or, an investigator might notice an odd odor, usually pipe tobacco or perfume. And so on.
But, when investigators talk in terms of three or four types of anomalies, either the site is profoundly haunted, or some “anomalies” aren’t extraordinary. Either they’re imagined, exaggerated, or – in rare cases – rigged.
In this case, I think Eden Camp is haunted… really, really haunted.
And, Most Haunted’s Eden Camp episodes were among the most authentic ghost hunting broadcasts I’ve seen.
Chicken or the Egg?
The intensity of the team’s encounters were why I started looking into other weird things in Malton’s history.
I found plenty. The question is, are there layers of turbulent history – or extraordinary energy – beneath what I found?
Or, was there some interesting energy around Malton from earliest times, and more recent events just added to its paranormal activity?
Each piece of weird history added to my general impression of Eden Camp and the Malton area… and its ghosts.
So, by the time I saw Part 2 of Most Haunted’s Eden Camp broadcast, I had a good idea of what I’d see on the show.
I was not disappointed.
Yes, It’s Personal
There may be residual energy hauntings at Eden Camp. Some noises could be explained that way.
In fact, the team went out of their way to debunk most of the phenomena.
In the first episode, the cat might have been responsible for some noises.
Maybe the bicycle wasn’t solidly propped against the wall, each time it fell.
And maybe there was a technical glitch so the smoke machine kept running, intermittently.
Rapping noises on the ceiling (or roof) and in the walls… sure, maybe they were squirrels or mice.
The swinging doors might have been an odd gust of wind. But then another… and another? Each time that happened, “normal” explanations seemed less likely.
When you put all of these seemingly low-level anomalies together, the picture changes.
The fact is, almost all ghostly phenomena can be explained by a dedicated skeptic.
But… ghost hunters (like me) raise an eyebrow when many odd, “explainable” things happen, one after another.
It’s not the cause/explanation that holds our attention; it’s that these things happen at an anomalous pace, and all at one site.
Also at Eden Camp, some expected things didn’t happen.
Each of those was an anomaly, as well.
For example, at Eden Camp, relatively little seemed to happen around Yvette.
That’s odd. Usually, she’s the one most targeted by ghosts.
(She also recovers quickly when she’s startled. And then she gets straight to the point, challenging ghosts to make themselves – and their interests – known. Is it possible that Eden Camp’s ghosts were intimidated by Yvette?)
Summary: Yes, Eden Camp is Haunted
Adding all of this up, I think Eden Camp isn’t just haunted: It’s intelligently haunted.
The ghost (or ghosts) know exactly what they’re doing, and tailoring each person’s experience to the individual.
Creating anomalies that could be explained/debunked… that’s a great way for ghosts to get you to drop your guard.
And that’s why the two-part Most Haunted investigation of Eden Camp was so compelling: Whether it’s a single entity or multiple ghosts, and whether some activity was poltergeist or residual energy, each investigator had a unique, unsettling experience.
That’s why I can recommend Eden Camp Museum for ghost hunting, even though I haven’t been there yet.
My only warning is: Always remain close to at least one other team member. Even if you’re in the same hut, don’t wander into separate hallways or rooms, individually.
Something intelligent haunts Eden Camp. I don’t know what its motives are.
It’s subtle. It’s clever.
Why to Investigate Eden Camp’s Ghosts
Eden Camp is an ideal site for casual ghost hunters to encounter a “good scare.” I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful visit and vigil.
But, even better, Most Haunted’s investigation barely scratched the surface of what I think Eden Camp’s ghosts can deliver.
So, professional ghost hunters – who know it’s often “the quiet ones” you have to watch out for – may find Eden Camp especially intriguing.
You can go to Eden Camp Museum on your own, but I recommend visiting with Most Haunted’s experts. (And no, they didn’t ask me to say that. I’d go to their events, if I were anywhere near Eden Camp.)
Congratulations to Most Haunted for an excellent investigation, and to the show’s producers for presenting it authentically. From my sofa, I was applauding.
And thank you to the owners of Eden Camp Museum for allowing the show to film an extensive investigation there. For ghost hunters, Eden Camp is a superb resource.
Especially in the early 18th century, Malton records are rife with the kinds of events that can spark later hauntings.
The bungalow – where 
That was a very astute observation. And, in my opinion, it was accurate. I hope Mary continues to investigate with Most Haunted.
The only response she received was a negative one when she asked, “Are you English?”