I was asked to submit this by Wyowatch, who is a forum member at Ordsall Hall, but I admit I'm intrigued as well.

Last February, Ordsall Hall forum member Patricia submitted this cap of an odd shadow at the foot of a man in the Star Chamber:

As I recall, we were unable to come to any conclusion, although we did eliminate the possiblity of a rug. I think we may have discussed this cap here as well. This cap was taken during an investigation and Homer of Ordsall said there was no rug. I recall looking at other caps that night, and can confirm myself that there was no rug there.

Recently Wyowatch capped these images of a shadow under the feet of a man in the Star Chamber . . . not in exactly the same spot as Patricia's man.







Of course, there was a lot of discussion and it was noted how similar these were to Claudia's cap, but for a while, we didn't know who the people were and I speculated that it might be a film crew and perhaps they put a rug under this man's feet, but here is Homer's response:

Posted by: IAmEvilHomer on 14/10/2007 at 02:58
Hi Guys - there's definitely no rug in the SC, the original cap that was posted was from an investigation, same as the second, so there's no additional lighting in place, just the same as always. What I found weird about the first cap, was the perfectness of the circle, how does that happen with a shadow? With the second cap, it's made almost stranger with the ruffling effect, yet still not what you would call a shadow cast by a person? These were two individuals - so not an effect create by just one person, but maybe it has something to do with the body shape of the people in question - but, basically, I don't know! We've had an investigation on tonight, has a similar image been created? H. Just thought I should add that the people in the second clip all work here and we were talking about how investigation night work, rather than investigating as it were!

Here is the discussion thread at Ordsall: Ordsall Shadow Thread

So, here's the puzzle. It is NOT a RUG! Is it a shadow? Your thoughts . . . ?

*bump*

I find this totally perplexing, Judy. I did think it must be a rug, then a light that was angled, as the shadow in the last cap did seem to match the man's body shape, but when I checked the others, it didn't bear out. If we all keep thinking, maybe someone will come up with something clever!

Oh how interesting! My initial thoughts are that it's not anything paranormal, simpy because it seems a rather illogical manifestation. Though of course who am I to judge what is expected from the spirit world!

I note that it appears slightly raised from the floor as if it's a solid object. And I can see that the man himself is casting a shadow onto it. To all intents and purposes it looks like some sort of mat. I shall watch this thread with interest!

I'm truly sorry to be a pain, but I will never see this as any other object but a mat (the rounded kind) I've played around with it and can even see the material it's made of, and have some enhancements. I see it as one of those welcome mats/rugs without the welcome letters on it, but it is DEFINITELY a mat/rug, check out the enhancements for yourselves...

And the mystery goes on!

LOL, Gwinni!

I agree with you Patty. Seeing the enhancements, they do look textured as a mat would, and in the last cap you can even see a lump where it hasn't been laid down flat. I wonder whether someone took it to sit on during the investigation. I know I wouldn't want to spend all night sitting on a cold floor! I know that Homer stated that nobody had a rug, but perhaps he was unaware of it. We also have to bear in mind the fact that the investigators are only human and once they realised that there was this fuss being made over it, they might not have wanted to disappoint by coming clean!

I have to agree with Ruby & Patty. Even without the enhancements I could clearly see that this was some form of a mat or rug. The way that the edge curls and creates its own shadow shows that it is a solid object. I wish that it were something more.

The one thing I can say for sure is it is NOT a mat or a rug. You must find another explanation. Here are a few very recent caps I made of a family in the Star Chamber. I'm sure this family wasn't carrying a rug, yet you can see some very dark shadows under their feet.

Sorry, but that is a rug/mat that they move around I'm thinking to perserve the floor...I've blown them up and I can even see the fabric...I'm not going to see it as anything else but a rug...sorry!

After seeing Judy's latest caps I've changed my mind ... I'm allowed I'm a woman!

No I don't believe it is a rug or a mat. I also don't believe it's anything paranormal. They are shadows, pure and simple!

The consistent factor in all those caps is that the person in question is bathed in bright white light from directly above. Obviously this is going to cast a very dark shadow, and also you can see from the peoples body shapes and clothing that they do match the shadow on the floor. This is particularly evident in the cap where the woman is bending over next to the bed. In the shadow you can see her head, the hem of her jacket sticking out at the bottom, and her left elbow protuding.

In the first two caps where the shadows are oval in shape, it's because the light is directly above the mens heads and so the shadow is being formed by the shape of their shoulders. You can even see a slight indentation in one of them where the mans arms are folded in front of his chest.

Ruby, great point, I can see where you came to that conclusion. Nice!

The woman may be a shadow one, but the first three, I don't think so... Sorry, but just seeing the way it drapes over like material, in the case of the THIRD one...just look at the right where there is a loop of the material, it's clear to me anyway! That is clearly a rug...look at the far right, where the loop of the material is, as if it was scrunched/bunched up or something and not completely flat out where my enhancement is, right of the man's shoe...and you'll see what I mean!

EDITED TO PUT IN CROP...(red arrow shows what I mean)

That was what made me think it was a rug at first Patty, but I now believe that what appears to be raised material is just an illusion caused by the light and shade.

Take a look at how the top half of the man is 'whited out' by the bright light above him ... that is going to cause one hell of a shadow to anything obscured lower down.