He was born in Crewe during 1863 and died in Salford hospital on March 8th 1933. As a young man, he worked as a carpenter.
He first noticed his talent for photographing spirits when he and a friend of his, were taking photo's of eachother. One of the photo's that Hope had taken, showed an extra person behind his friend. It was claimed that it was his friends dead sister.
Soon after this, a group of six people formed The Crewe Circle of Spirit Photographers. William was in charge and it was for the purpose of taking spirit photo's.
At first, they worked in secret, in fear of being suspected of witchcraft. But when Archbishop Thomas Colley joined the group. They made their work public.
By 1922, William Hope had moved to London and had established himself as a propessional medium. It was at this time that The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) became interested in him and his photo's. They sent a young Harry Price to investigate William Hope. Harry Price of course, was to later become famous as one of Britain's leading paranormal investigators.
During Prices investigations, he claimed to find evidence of fraud in Hope's work. He claimed that Hope messed with the photos plates. But many people didnt believe him and supported William Hope. One of the biggest supporter of William Hope and The Crewe Circle was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Throughout William Hope's career, he had his supporters and disbelievers. When he died. he left behind the biggest mystery. Was he a fraud or were his photos true.
The building in Crewe where William Hope took his photos is long gone and is now replaced by Argos. People who work here have reported hearing footsteps, thuds, voices and other noices coming from upstairs when that part of the building is empty.
This is a photo taken by William Hope in 1919. It claims to show Mr and Mrs Gibson and their deceased son.
This is William Hope and a friend, taken in 1922.
This is the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Supernormal Pictures includung Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
