In 1981 a couple and their dog camped out in the ruins. They were awakened in the early hours by a sudden drop in temperature and the feeling that 'something' was prowling outside the tent. Even the dog was affected. It growled, and when it was sent outside to investigate ran off. It is the art of finding water, minerals, buried treasure and general information by non-physical means and it can be tried by anyone.
Many dowsers use indicators, usually a forked twig, a pair of bent coat hangers or a pendulum.
The indicator will twitch or change direction when the dowser is close to what he is seeking. Two nuns visiting the ruins by day experienced a sudden temperature drop near the sacristy and sensed a 'distinct presence' which conveyed hostility to them. Netley Abbey is on the east side of Southampton Water. Follow the signs for Netley from Southampton. Consult Ordnance Survey map 196.