Fort Widley: Voices in the Stairwell and a Glimpse of the Lantern Man
- Dr Iain M Lightfoot
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
Fort Widely is an amazing place, and we have now returned to visit multiple times, each investigation has offered just enough to keep the questions alive. This most recent investigation was no different, subtle, frustrating at times, but ultimately we can state that we took another step forward.
Our aim was to meet the Lantern Man!
Investigating as Paranormal Hunters UK alongside Barry Depp, the event was organised by DS Hampshire Haunts, led by Paula. As with many organised investigations, the environment comes with its own variables, namely people. Noise pollution was, at times, a factor. Footsteps, distant voices, movement overhead, it all adds a layer of complexity when you are trying to isolate something genuinely anomalous. However, everyone brings an energy too which is not possible with just 2 or 3 people. Hey, that’s the nature of these nights, and part of the discipline is learning to work within those constraint - it is enjoyable to meet like minded people too.
We based ourselves primarily in the central stairwell, a location that has consistently drawn our attention. Structurally, the location acts as a natural conduit through the fort, connecting the tunnels and perhaps, we think, energies. Interestingly, visual phenomena were minimal this time. Very few orbs presented themselves, certainly not in the way we have seen previously at other sites. Instead, the night leaned far more toward the auditory.
We captured several EVPs, nothing overwhelming, but enough to suggest interaction. It is one in particular that stood out, but this was only heard during the analysis. The most compelling moment of the night, however, came back at the stairwell.
There were three of us present. We all heard it.
Voices. Footsteps. Movement descending.
I moved over and looked directly into the stairwell and saw what appeared to be lights moving, accompanied by the sound of a man and a woman talking. Completely natural. Completely explainable. My immediate assumption was simple: another group coming down.
“It’s just another group,” I said.
Then after a few moments something didn’t align. More movement followed, this time in Tunnel 2. That’s when the realisation hit. Where had the people from the stairwell gone? There was no crossover. No passing. No visible exit.
Barry immediately went to check upstairs.
Nothing. No one.
Slightly earlier in the evening, maybe 10 minutes before we had seen two people coming down those same stairs. For a moment, it felt like a repeat of that event, but it wasn’t. There was no physical source for what we had just experienced. Three people, all hearing and perceiving the same sequence, with no environmental explanation. Genuinely, I thought it was people coming down the stairwell - watch the video at the events as they unfolded. On the video you will hear an EVP, a voice saying "Hello?" and I assure you it wasn't us...
This is where Fort Widley becomes interesting.
It doesn’t overwhelm you with activity. The Lantern Man, we think, especially lulls you into believing that he is a part of the normal show... Slowly. Carefully. Enough to make you dismiss, and then to question, reassess, and return.
The night concluded with continued footsteps and subtle movement, but if I’m being candid, the overall energy felt slightly muted then compared to earlier. Not every investigation delivers intensity, that’s important to acknowledge but this event was amazing and similar to our last encounter but better! This was a strong nights work.
We gathered evidence. We experienced shared phenomena. And most importantly, we moved incrementally closer to understanding the presence we believe may be the Lantern Man.
That alone makes it worthwhile.
Fort Widley doesn’t give you everything but it gives you enough... So, we will return!!
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