Situated in the very heart of historic Salisbury, The Kings Arms Hotel lies within easy reach of some of the most important treasures of Southern England. The stone for Salisbury cathedral was cut in what is now the restaurant, placing the hotel's initial construction around the same as that of the cathedral, which was built in 1220 AD, making the original building almost 800 years old. Some of the original stone and ironwork is still left exposed inside the property. It is also claimed that King Charles I stayed in the hotel on his tour of England, whilst trying to retain his head during the civil war, and that his son King Charles II also stayed in the same room and planned his escape to France through Southampton and on to the Netherlands. The building today consists of two and three storeys in parts with attic spaces with the west side being from around the late 1500's and the north range part of the building being of an early 17th Century structure. In 1638 the property was leased by the Dean & Chapter to William Symonds, records detailing '...newly erected house, heretofore seven tenements commonly called the Seven Deadly Sins'. In 1649 the house was then leased to Sir Giles Mompesson and occupied by a Henry Hewett. Along with being a living dwelling, the building has been split in times to make way for shops and trading places including one time being that of a stonemasons workshop. Today, the hotel is a family run business offering the finest hospitality, restaurant and atmosphere. Paranormal activity at this location is many and varied, recent activity includes that of a fire door opening and closing on its own and staff living at the hotel hearing furniture being moved around in the bar area below. The housekeepers have a real dislike of the atmosphere in certain rooms, feelings of being watched bestowed upon them. Sensitives that have stayed in the hotel have sensed a female presence in a couple of the rooms and also that of a highwayman hiding away in the upper floors.

Our second night of the double header took place at the Kings Arms hotel where the guests had been staying for the weekend. Now for the most part the night was spent in vigils investigating the various bedrooms of the hotel. Whether it was because the rooms were too small for the large groups to investigate, and the resulting levels of apprehension being eroded by the comfort of fellow investigators, the night as a whole was something of a disappointment. It can also be the case that back to back investigations can sometimes mean the second night of the event is somewhat slow and tiring due to the effects of sleep deprivation from the previous night. Whatever the reason we would have been excused for deciding that the investigation of the hotel would bring little activity of note, however strangely enough it was at a moment when we were not actively investigating that something noteworthy captured our imaginations.

We were taking a break between vigils in the bar area when Neil asked if somebody behind the bar could assist him with finding a bin for his chewing gum. A lady's voice came quite clearly from the bar asking if Neil needed any help, at which point he turned and looked behind the bar but was unable to see any of the staff working that night. The voice had clearly resonated from behind the bar, but there were no staff in attendance and the only two female members were in other areas of the building preparing drinks and refreshments. At this point Neil seemed quite perplexed and had it not been for Andrew saying he had heard the very same voice then maybe this incident would have gone unnoticed. Nevertheless we decided to clear the room and Neil, Kevin, myself and one of the bar staff decided we would try some glass divination on the section of the bar where the voice had been heard. After turning out the lights we proceeded to put our fingers on the glass and ask for the woman to whom the mystery voice belonged to make herself known.

Now after many years of glass divination accompanied by great scepticism on my part as to the validity of such an experiment I expected the usual period without movement followed by some small but insignificant jerks of the glass (usually, of not always, the result of unconscious trigger finger movements made by one or more of the team). This time however seemed strangely different. The glass started to move almost instantly, and apart from the staff member who appeared quite nervous I was with two of my most trusted companions whom I have no doubt would never falsify a divination experiments and who shared some of my own cynicism about this experiment. Nevertheless after a few instant movements we were greeted with what could only be described as a couple of short, sharp, aggressive shunts of he glass across the wooden bar. It was almost as if somebody had hit the glass forcefully from the side, and it was only the presence of our fingers on the top which seemed to keep the glass from flying off the bar and smashing onto the floor. This was the first time I had genuinely been convinced by glass movement, and I am as certain as I can be that this was nothing influenced by any of the four individuals attempting the experiment. In truth even the staff member seemed visibly shaken. This event was then followed by some more controlled glass movement through which we asked questions in an attempt to gain the identity of any spirit person that may have been responsible. It was certainly an experience to have been a part of, and one which most definitely took me by surprise.