Harvey More, 23, trained as an electrician but now spends his time investigating haunted locations after a childhood encounter made him certain there is an afterlife.
Growing up in the West Midlands, he says he repeatedly saw a man dressed all in black walking from one bedroom door to another on the upstairs landing of his parents' home. “When I went upstairs onto the upstairs landing, I would see a man dressed all in black, walking from one bedroom door to another. It happened a few times, and I could hear unexplained footsteps outside my bedroom,” Harvey remembers.
First spiritual experience
His parents told him that vicars used to live at the address and that it was likely to be their spirits. “I thought, there is definitely another world out there that we don't know about,” Harvey said. “That experience was just crazy. From there I have believed there is something out there, that there's an afterlife.”
Intrigued after watching paranormal live streams on TikTok during lockdown, Harvey decided he wanted to find out more and immersed himself in learning about crystals, spiritualism and what he describes as alternative realities. Today he is a podcaster, videographer and content creator who investigates locations believed to be haunted.
Sights, smells and sounds
“I have seen apparitions, from white mists to black figures in the corner of the eye. But when you look, they vanish,” he says. “And I've experienced random smells and scents coming up out of nowhere.”
After filming footage, he often notices noises on the edits that he didn't hear at the time. “You often hear taps and bangs, that you didn't hear at the time. You might hear a lady humming or a droning sound,” says Harvey. “Once I heard a girl laughing when none of the team heard it. But when I edited I picked it up again. It is amazing the things you pick up.”
How the investigations work
During investigations, Harvey and his team ask what they believe are spirits to make their presence known. “When they go on a hunt, they ask the spirit world to affirm their presence with a noise,” says Harvey, who hosts the Unexplained Mysteries Paranormal podcast. “Often we get unexplainable footsteps and knocks. You can tell when it is something paranormal. The majority of what we catch is supernatural.”
One location that continues to draw him back is a former 17th century burial ground near his home, now a public park where families picnic and children play. “I have always felt that there is an energy there that has called me to investigate. Every time you go there, you pick up new information, evidence of the spiritual world,” he says.
Historical link at a burial ground
Using a paranormal voice box during one investigation there, he picked up words to do with crime, justice, water and pipes. Research revealed that Richard Jesson, who is buried there, was a well-known attorney and one of the founders of South Staffs Waters, a water work company.
“When I got back and started researching who I was connecting with. It emerged that Richard Jesson, who is buried there, was a well-known attorney. And he was one of the founders of South Staffs Waters, a water work company,” says Harvey. “I couldn't believe it. I always go to a location with an empty head with no background. Any information I get I then go back and research it. Nearly every time it links to historical records.”
At the site of Jesson's grave, the temperature dropped significantly, he says, and his team detected “a really strong, musky scent, almost like incense, even though nobody was around us”.
Spirits that don't want visitors to leave
Harvey says investigations rarely end when the team decides to leave, as spirits will sometimes try to pull them back. “There are some spirits that are reluctant to come forward and communicate, whether they've got low energy or they just don't want to talk to us,” he says.
“But when we're leaving the location, when we've turned our backs, things get thrown at us. I've had twigs, stones and other debris thrown as I tried to leave. That is the point of an investigation where we have to set up a boundary and say 'no more', because it takes our energy.”
Car unlocked at Cannock Chase
His most frightening experience came at Cannock Chase, a Staffordshire beauty spot known for ghost stories and alleged sightings, where he says his car unlocked itself while he was investigating.
“I saw a light in the corner of my eye. And I saw my car unlocked itself. That frightened me. I thought, it's messing with the car. If it wants your attention it can go to your property,” says Harvey. “Thankfully the battery hadn't gone flat. It was completely dark and we contemplated abandoning the investigation and going home. That will stay with me for the rest of my life because it was so bizarre,” says Harvey, who has also carried out an investigation with Yvette Fielding and Karl Beattie from paranormal reality show Most Haunted.
Comfort rather than fear
Despite the unsettling moments, Harvey says paranormal investigation has brought him comfort rather than fear, particularly after the death of someone close to him. “Paranormal investigation brings me so much peace. It's not all scary and spooky. I have been able to contact spirits who have left a legacy. Being able to connect with roots of where I am from is comforting,” he says.
