Harvey More, a 23-year-old former electrician from the West Midlands, has turned his lifelong curiosity about the afterlife into a full-time paranormal investigation career. He claims he can smell ghosts and has documented numerous unexplained phenomena at haunted locations across the UK.
From Electrician to Ghost Hunter
More's journey began during lockdown when he fell into a ghost-related TikTok hole. But his first spiritual experience occurred long before, in his parents' home, where he repeatedly saw a mysterious figure on the upstairs landing. 'When I went upstairs onto the upstairs landing, I would see a man dressed all in black, walking from one bedroom door to another. It happened a few times, and I could hear unexplained footsteps outside my bedroom,' he said.
His parents later revealed that vicars had once lived at the address, suggesting the figure might be their spirit. That realization sparked a belief that has defined his life: 'I thought, there is definitely another world out there that we don't know about. That experience was just crazy. From there I have believed there is something out there, that there's an afterlife.'
Smelling Ghosts and Hearing Voices
During investigations, More says he has experienced smells that appear from nowhere. 'I have seen apparitions, from white mists to black figures in the corner of the eye. But when you look, they vanish. And I've experienced random smells and scents coming up out of nowhere,' he explained.
He also hears sounds on his recordings that weren't audible at the time. 'You often hear taps and bangs that you didn't hear at the time. You might hear a lady humming or a droning sound. Once I heard a girl laughing when none of the team heard it. But when I edited I picked it up again. It is amazing the things you pick up.'
Investigating a 17th Century Burial Ground
One location that draws him back is a former 17th century burial ground, now a public park. There, he used a paranormal voice box and picked up words like 'crime', 'justice', 'water', and 'pipes'. Research revealed that Richard Jesson, buried there, was a well-known attorney and a founder of South Staffs Waters, a water company. 'I couldn't believe it. I always go to a location with an empty head with no background. Any information I get I then go back and research it. Nearly every time it links to historical records,' More said.
At Jesson's grave, the temperature dropped significantly and the team detected a strong, musky scent like incense, despite no one being nearby.
Frightening Encounters at Cannock Chase
His most frightening experience occurred at Cannock Chase, a Staffordshire beauty spot known for ghost stories. 'I saw a light in the corner of my eye. And I saw my car unlocked itself. That frightened me. I thought, it's messing with the car. If it wants your attention it can go to your property. Thankfully the battery hadn't gone flat. It was completely dark and we contemplated abandoning the investigation and going home. That will stay with me for the rest of my life because it was so bizarre.'
Comfort in the Paranormal
Despite the unsettling moments, More finds peace in his work. 'Paranormal investigation brings me so much peace. It's not all scary and spooky. I have been able to contact spirits who have left a legacy. Being able to connect with roots of where I am from is comforting,' he said. He hosts the Unexplained Mysteries Paranormal podcast and continues to investigate, always with an open mind.
