Ever wondered what goes bump in the night? Jordan Brookes of Brookes Paranormal doesn’t just wonder – he investigates. Armed with an array of ghost-hunting gadgets and a healthy dose of scepticism, Jordan has been investigating the paranormal for years. We delved into his experiences to uncover the tricks of the trade, the spookiest spots, and why your smartphone might just be your ticket to the other side.
The Ghost Hunter’s Arsenal
When it comes to ghost hunting essentials, Jordan’s list starts with the basics. “A Torch. This is a must needed piece of kit as you will be heading into some very dark areas, and the last thing you want is to bang into a wall or trip over a step (we’ve all been there),” he explains. It’s clear that in the world of paranormal investigation, safety comes first – even when chasing spooks.
Jordan’s ghost-hunting toolkit is a mix of high-tech and surprisingly ordinary items. For capturing Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), he advocates for accessibility: “Just a cheap voice recorder is what you’ll need. You don’t need to spend a load of money on a top range voice recorder with a gazillion microphones and directional settings. Heck, you can even use the voice memo recorder on your smart phone.”
One of Jordan’s most chilling EVP experiences occurred at Leicester Guildhall. “One of our team members Kat was in the Victorian Police Cells with a group of guests, and one guest recorded a loud male groan or scream which really spooked the group. It was one of the best EVPs we have captured and listened too,” he recounts.
EMF meters are another staple in Jordan’s arsenal. “The popular theory is that ghosts and spirits are made up of energy or electro-magnetic fields, and we’ve had some amazing intelligent responses using them,” he explains.
Jordan shares an intriguing incident at Derby Gaol: “We opened one of the cell doors and stood at the door, calling out to spirit saying they were free to go, and didn’t have to be locked inside the cell. Almost instantly we were getting spikes of 0.1, then 1.4, then 3.2, all the way to about 7.1 milligauss, and then it started going back down to 0.0 again. It was almost as if a spirit had come forward to us at the door and escaped the cell.”
Temperature equipment also plays a crucial role in paranormal investigations. Jordan elaborates, “Temperature Guns are relatively cheap to buy and allow you point at certain spots in a room or area, to not only measure baseline/standard temperatures, but to also be aware of any sudden cold spots, which could mean a ghost or spirit is trying to manifest.” He adds with a touch of humour, “Either that or someone left the window open!”
When it comes to visual evidence, Jordan is a firm believer in the power of photography. “My team (Brookes Paranormal) always stress this at the start of an investigation to everyone, and that is to take as many photos as you can, because we believe the more photos you take the more of the chance you might capture something unexplained,” he advises.
Jordan shares a remarkable experience from the National Justice Museum: “One of our guests took about 6-7 photos in one area called the Debtor’s Cell, and she captured one of the best ghostly captures I have personally ever seen. You can clearly see a male figure facing towards our team member Mark, but looking towards the camera as the photo was taken.”
The REM Pod is one of Jordan’s favourite pieces of equipment. He explains, “The REM Pod or Radiating Electromagnetic Pod is a device that emits a small radius of EMF around an antenna, and if this field is broken the device will light up and make a noise as indication. This piece of equipment is especially useful when establishing an intelligent conversation with spirit.”
Interestingly, Jordan also emphasizes the importance of more traditional tools. “Pen and Paper. Sometimes basics is the key, and a pen and paper is something our team always brings on investigations and during vigils,” he notes. This simple approach allows investigators to document experiences, sensations, and any patterns that emerge during an investigation.
The Spirit Box Debate
When it comes to the controversial Spirit Box, Jordan offers a balanced perspective: “Spirit Boxes, also sometimes referred to as Frank’s Box, is an interesting concept. The belief is that through the use of fast-sweeping radio frequencies, ghosts or spirits can make use of the radio frequencies to speak through the white noise.”
He adds, “Personally I think they do work to some degree, but investigators must be using them properly to the right conditions and understand how to setup the device with its settings.”
Jordan cautions against improper use: “I have seen it quite often when a paranormal investigator is using the Spirit Box on slow sweeping settings, have the radio antenna up all the way and forward sweep the Box instead of reverse sweeping it. These factors will likely result in you getting ‘voices’ coming through, however it’s more than likely just radio stations bleeding through and nothing else.”
Despite his reservations, Jordan has had intriguing experiences with Spirit Boxes. He recounts, “We use the SB-7 and SB-11 devices, and have had some fantastic results at some locations, such as our exclusive venue Allington Manor, where we heard both male and female voices having a conversation, as well as whistles coming through after we asked for spirit to copy our own whistles.”
Top Haunted Locations
Jordan’s list of top haunted locations is enough to give anyone goosebumps. The National Justice Museum in Nottingham tops his chart. “We have experienced growls, banging of cell doors, footsteps, loud taps, strong interaction with equipment, EVPs and voices through the Spirit Box, shadow figures seen, but best of all, one of our guests captured a phenomenal photo of a ‘male ghost’ during a ghost hunting event in September 2022,” he enthuses.
Strelley Hall holds a special place in Jordan’s heart. “It has got history, it has got clashing families, it was the home of medieval knights, it was a castle prior to becoming a hall, and of course it has many, many ghosts,” he explains. Jordan recounts experiences in the Castle Room, believed to be haunted by Nicholas Strelley, and the medieval cellars where an ominous presence known as ‘The Watchman’ is said to roam.
Derby Gaol, which Jordan considers the most haunted building in Derby, has provided some of his most compelling evidence. In addition to the EMF meter experience, Jordan shares another intriguing incident: “Another time I had a REM Pod placed on the bedding in one of the cells, with a camera inside recording and a second camera on a tripod outside facing the cell. Shortly after, the REM Pod began going off as if something was interacting with the field around the antenna.”
But it’s his experience at Tutbury Castle that really raises eyebrows. Jordan describes what he believes was a “time slip”: “I was standing in the King’s Bedroom, when suddenly I apparently blacked out, but what I could see was this sepia haze looming over the grounds. There was bloodied bodies of soldiers lying dead on the grass, and an archer who appeared to be shouting from the Tower on the motte.”
The Village in Mansfield rounds out Jordan’s top five. He recalls a particularly eerie experience: “I did a lone vigil one time in this area of the building, and seen on the CCTV cameras in base room above on the other side of the building, Lee Roberts formerly of Haunted Events UK and other members of the Brookes Paranormal team could see a large hooded shadow figure moving behind me.”
Advice for Aspiring Ghost Hunters
For those new to paranormal investigation, Jordan offers a wealth of practical advice. First and foremost, he stresses the importance of managing expectations: “Go into the investigation with very low expectations; basically expect nothing to happen,” he cautions. “A lot of people watch paranormal tv shows and horror movies and think chairs and tables will go flying around the room and people will get dragged across the floor, when this is simply not the case at all.”
Jordan emphasizes the importance of rational thinking: “Never jump to the paranormal conclusion, always rationalise what has happened or look for logical reasons. While it’ll be very easy to ignore rationality and immediately claim ‘it’s paranormal’, 9 times out of 10 the ‘ghost’ or paranormal activity can be explained, whether it’s wood cooling down in a building or an outside light near trees casting a shadow.”
Documentation is another crucial aspect of investigation. “While you can rationalise happenings, it’s always important to take note of what has happened anyway,” Jordan advises. This meticulous approach allows investigators to identify patterns and corroborate experiences with others.
Jordan encourages novice ghost hunters to diversify their approach: “Use various bits of equipment and try different techniques and experiments. You might try and table tipping experiment and get no movement whatsoever, but then you might try placing a motion triggered Boo Bear in the middle of the floor and calling out for spirit to interact with it, and find that the Boo Bear has lit up in response to you calling out.”
Interestingly, Jordan also addresses the controversy surrounding Ouija boards. “Don’t fear the Ouija Board,” he insists. “Hollywood has cursed the Ouija Board name by perpetuating it as something demonic and something to be feared using.” While caution is advisable, Jordan dispels Hollywood-induced myths about its dangers, describing it as a communication tool when used properly.
The Reality of Ghost Hunting
Jordan is candid about the realities of paranormal investigation. “Most of the time you will be calling out and waiting for responses in the dark for hours, and you may on occasion hear tapping, knocks, bangs, footsteps or even see light anomalies, shadows and apparitions, but you will be waiting long periods between each bit of activity. That is true paranormal investigating.”
He also offers practical tips for maintaining energy during long investigations: “Bonus tip, top yourself up every couple of hours with a hot coffee or an energy drink (Monster Energy is my preference), and perhaps a few biccies or chocolate bars. After all you will need to keep your energy up throughout the night from tiredness, as well as spirit withdrawing your energy.”
The Passion Behind the Paranormal
Jordan’s dedication to paranormal investigation is evident throughout his experiences and advice. For him, every investigation is an opportunity to unravel the mysteries of the unknown. “If you’ve never been on a ghost hunt or paranormal investigation before, or even if you have been on them before, and you’re wanting a fun but spooky night of the unknown, come and join our team at Brookes Paranormal on one of our events,” he invites. “You’ll be guaranteed to have a great time.”
Jordan’s approach to paranormal investigation blends scientific methodology with an open mind to the unexplained. His experiences challenge our understanding of reality and push the boundaries of what we consider possible. Whether you’re a hardened sceptic or a true believer, one thing’s for certain: a night of ghost hunting with Jordan Brookes and his team at Brookes Paranormal is bound to be an adventure of supernatural proportions.
The insights provided by Jordan Brookes offer a glimpse into the complex world of paranormal investigation. With each exploration, he and his team at Brookes Paranormal continue to push the boundaries of our understanding, one haunted location at a time.
For those feeling brave and curious about what lies beyond our everyday perceptions, joining Jordan on his next ghostly adventure might just be the perfect way to explore the unknown. Just remember to bring your torch, an open mind, and perhaps a healthy dose of courage. After all, in the world of paranormal investigation, you never know what – or who – you might encounter in the shadows.
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