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Book uncovers UFOs, ghosts, sea-monsters, witchcraft and more in Portsmouth!
| Author: MattWingett | Published: 9th November 2019 09:40 |
The Mysteries of Portsmouth, a new book by local author Matt Wingett that explores the paranormal, myths and UFOs in the city will be launched at Cascades this Saturday 16th November.
Drawing on newspaper reports, historical accounts and local myths and legends, the book shines a light on historical unexplained phenomena from Portsmouth that have made it into the national news - and asks you to decide if they could be true!
"The Mysteries of Portsmouth looks at how myths and legends begin," says author Matt Wingett. "True stories in the book include ghost sightings, Arthurian legend and even the curse of King Tutankhamun!"
Matt says: "The book tracks how some stories in the Victorian era start off as sober reports and end up weeks later in other papers completely changed by regional editors looking for a sensation for their paper."
He adds: "It's fun to see how stories change on the retelling. The same thing happens today on social media, but thousands of times faster."
Some of the true stories use gruesome events to "explain" hauntings, such as the beheading of Lady Margaret Pole, one-time resident of Warblington Castle until she fell out of favour with the tyrant King Henry VIII and was brutally executed.
As well as baffling tales of hauntings and unexplained figures there is also an account of the first MoD-recognised UFO sighting, which happened over Portsmouth. What exactly the RAF pilot actually saw remains a mystery!
Equally strange is the story of the sole survivor of the famous Tutankhamun expedition in Egypt.
"Who knew that the man who discovered the site of the tomb of Tutankhamun lived in Portsmouth - and that he finally came to accept that there might be something in the curse he denied for years?" asks Matt. "It's crazy stuff, but well documented!"
The book also includes true accounts of ghostly contacts described by Southsea resident Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Portsmouth author, Sir Walter Besant. Charles Dickens even makes an appearance in a séance long after his death!
The true story behind the medium Helen Duncan, who in 1944 was the last woman to be imprisoned under the 1735 Witchcraft Act is also examined, using court reports and comparing them with supporters' claims.
"The book is great fun, with nearly 100 illustrations," says Matt. "It also includes stories from around Hampshire, including Hayling Island, Netley Abbey and Hinton Ampner. People are invited to share their experiences on the Mysteries of Portsmouth facebook group:"
Mysteries of Portsmouth will be launched at 3pm on Saturday 16th November at Cascades shopping centre Portsmouth in the former Thorntons unit. It costs £10 and is also available from the publisher's website at www.lifeisamazing.co.uk.
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