So Supernatural: HAUNTED – The Black Monk of Pontefract

Podcast: So Supernatural (Audiochuck | Crime House)
Hosts: Yvette Gentile & Raja Pecorero
Date: March 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Yvette Gentile and Raja Pecorero explore one of England’s most infamous hauntings: the Black Monk of Pontefract. They examine the terrifying experiences of the Pritchard family at 30 East Drive, the disturbing history behind the ghostly monk, and how the alleged haunting has evolved from a family’s personal nightmare into one of the UK’s most legendary supernatural tales. The hosts also discuss faith, skepticism, and the uncertainty of confronting the unknown.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

Setting the Stage: Faith, Fear, and the Unexplainable

[01:02 - 02:24]

• Recurring Haunting Motifs: Yvette reflects on previous cases involving spirits and poltergeists, noting, “Some people turn to their faith for answers. It’s that trust in a higher power that gets through the moments we simply just can’t control ourselves.”
• Faith as Comfort—and Vulnerability: The episode questions what happens when the spirit being exorcised “was once a man of faith himself?”

The History of Pontefract and 30 East Drive

[02:58 – 05:36]

• Historic Context:
  • Pontefract Priory founded ~1090 CE, closed in the 1530s during King Henry VIII’s dissolution of monasteries.
  • Low-income “council houses” built post-WWII, including 30 East Drive.
• Transition: The land’s history becomes key to later supernatural interpretations.

The Pritchard Family’s First Experiences

[05:36 – 11:06]

• Move-In & Initial Events:
  • In August 1966, the Pritchards (Jean, Joe, Philip [15], Diane [12]) move in.
  • Philip and his grandmother Sarah first notice extreme cold, shaking doors—then green foam from the tap and mysterious puddles ([07:00]).
• Escalation:
  • Plant thrown downstairs, dishes rattle, wardrobe moves on its own ([08:47]).
  • “Sarah turns the light on, and she and Philip both suddenly see the wardrobe scooting across the floor on its own. They get out of there immediately.” – Raja ([08:47])
• Police Called, No Evidence: The police find nothing unusual.
• Family Skepticism:
  • The parents doubt the story—until “everyone hears three loud bangs coming from the next room over. Well, then a freaking frigid burst of wind blows through the room, powerful enough to make the windows rattle.” – Yvette ([10:03])

A Haunting Returns: The Black Monk Appears

[11:06 – 12:04; 14:21 – 15:24]

• Lull and Return:
  • “Two full years pass with no more green goo...nothing weird at all happens. It’s the sort of thing that would almost make you wonder, did all those strange things even really happen?” – Raja ([11:06])
  • In August 1968, activity returns: Diane’s lights flick on and off, banging noises start up ([14:21]).
• The Family Seeks Help: Decision to get religious intervention.

Religious Intervention and Escalated Haunting

[15:24 – 20:00]

• Anglican Priest’s Visit: Reverend Davey visits; witnesses candlesticks move/fly unaided ([15:37]).
  • “It floats through the air like somebody invisible is actually carrying it...it’s the sort of thing you just can’t explain away.” – Raja ([15:37])
  • Reverend cannot authorize exorcism, advises the family to move.
• Catholic Priest Attempts Exorcism:
  • The haunting seems to intensify, showing defiance: religious objects destroyed, upside-down crosses painted on doors ([19:09]).
  • Debate on Faith vs Evil:
    • Yvette: “We’ve covered plenty of hauntings where people pray...only for nothing to change.” ([20:00])
    • The hosts consider whether faith ever guarantees safety.

Years of Terror: Physical Attacks and “Fred” the Ghost

[21:19 – 26:35]

• Haunting Becomes Personal:
  • Family gives entity a name—Fred. Over time, they catch glimpses; the form solidifies into a dark-hooded monk.
  • Neighbors also see the monk ([23:03]).
• Attacks Escalate:
  • “...they feel a pair of hands pushing them. And whenever they have guests over, some unseen entity creates tiny, round burn marks in the visitor’s skin...” – Yvette ([24:23])
  • The crescendo: Diane is dragged upstairs by her hair—witnessed by family, who see “fingerprint-shaped bruises on her neck” ([24:33]).
• Desperation & Fading Activity:
  • Multiple exorcisms, seances, religious symbols fail. The entity, it seems, gets bored; activity subsides ([26:35]).

The Monk’s Identity: History Intertwines with Hauntings

[26:35 – 33:08]

• Search for Answers:
  • Amateur historian Tom Cunliffe’s research uncovers a dark legend: a monk executed for sexual assault during the priory’s closure ([29:43]).
  • The site of the gallows matches 30 East Drive.
• Historical Irony:
  • “How ironic is it that Fred attacked Diane by trying to strangle her after he died by hanging?” – Yvette ([30:46])
  • The haunting’s details echo the monk’s supposed violent death.

The Legend Grows: From Local Nightmare to National Fame

[33:08 – 36:33]

• Media and Pop Culture:
  • 1981: The haunting published in the book Poltergeists; (not related to the film).
  • 2012: When the Lights Went Out movie (director: Pat Holden—Jean Pritchard’s nephew).
  • Multiple owners flee 30 East Drive; “five separate buyers moved in, experienced the hauntings, and got the heck out of there.” – Raja ([33:08])

Modern Day: Skepticism Confronted by the Supernatural

[36:33 – 39:14]

• Producer Bill Bunge Buys House, Becomes a Believer:
  • Initially purchases for marketing/movie premiere; becomes a hub for paranormal tourism.
  • Unexplainable Events:
    • Caretakers see “a blue light moving in the hallway...like a glowing ball of energy.”
    • House produces loud banging noises at night, objects are moved or thrown ([38:08]).
  • Bill’s transformation: “Maybe he’s not a skeptic and he’s becoming a believer after all.” – Raja ([39:14])
• Consistent Testimony:
  • All visitors, even seasoned ghost hunters, report fear and supernatural experiences ([39:14]).

Reflection & Final Thoughts

[40:13 – 42:04]

• Moral and Message:
  • Raja: “Maybe long ago, he was a man of faith. But faith doesn’t guarantee goodness. And any light he may have had inside of him, it’s gone now, extinguished...” ([40:13])
  • “If the Black Monk of Pontefract teaches us anything, it’s that sometimes belief isn’t about a higher power at all. Sometimes it’s about believing in ourselves, trusting our judgment, our intuition, our stories, our truth, even when others tell us our experiences aren’t real.” – Raja ([40:13])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Sarah turns the light on, and she and Philip both suddenly see the wardrobe scooting across the floor on its own.” – Raja ([08:47])
• “The police think it’s all just in their heads.” – Raja ([09:29])
• “Three loud bangs coming from the next room...then a freaking frigid burst of wind blows through the room, powerful enough to make the windows rattle. And that’s when everyone stops in their tracks.” – Yvette ([10:03])
• “Can you imagine going to someone’s house and leaving with burn marks?” – Raja & Yvette ([24:23])
• “They can’t see the monk, but they can tell Diane’s shirt and hair are stretched out like an invisible hand is pulling on them.” – Raja ([24:33])
• “Faith doesn’t guarantee goodness. And any light he may have had inside of him, it’s gone now, extinguished, lost to whatever he has become.” – Raja ([40:13])
• “We are capable of facing the unknown, whatever it is, and the only thing we can rely on to get us through that is our own courage, our own strength, and our own guiding light.” – Raja ([41:38])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:02 | Introduction—Faith’s role in confronting hauntings | | 05:36 | The Pritchards move in; initial paranormal phenomena | | 10:03 | Family witnesses event; parents’ skepticism challenged | | 14:21 | Haunting resumes—Diane’s experiences | | 15:37 | Reverend Davey witnesses poltergeist act | | 19:09 | Haunting intensifies after exorcism attempts | | 21:19 | “Fred” the ghost, attacks escalate | | 23:03 | Neighbors also see the monk | | 24:33 | Diane attacked; family’s desperation | | 29:43 | Origin legend of the Black Monk | | 33:08 | House’s pop culture legacy, ownership turmoil | | 36:33 | Modern hauntings, skeptic turned believer | | 40:13 | Reflection—on faith, evil, and self-belief |

Tone and Style

• The hosts blend skepticism, empathy, and fascination, punctuating the discussion with personal asides (“Hell, no,” from Raja on the idea of visiting the house) and cultural references, maintaining an approachable yet suspenseful mood in telling the story.

For Listeners New to the Story

Even for the uninitiated, this episode delivers an immersive narrative that:

• Grounds the ghostly phenomena in real history and human trauma
• Grapples with the limits of faith, the persistence of evil, and the ordinary family thrust into bizarre circumstances
• Demonstrates how a local legend can spiral into international notoriety—while the central mystery remains unsolved

If you enjoy chilling legends, debates about the power of faith, and stories where the truth seems stranger than fiction, the story of the Black Monk of Pontefract is required listening—and this episode is an excellent starting place.