M.J. Wayland's Blog, page 9

A Fight with a Ghost

In ghost history there are many mentions of encounters of ghosts which results in violence, the most famous case is that of novelist Captain Frederick Marryat who while staying at Raynham Hall decided to ‘ghost hunt’. While walking along an upstairs hallway he encountered the Hall’s infamous Brown Lady, she was carrying a lantern and glided past them through a door. Marryat noticed she was grinning at him so he leapt out and fired a pistol at her sending the bullet straight through her head, lodging in a wall. There have been many questions about Marryat’s claims, but none so on the following, equally perplexing is the following story of James Durham, a Darlington night watchman’s encounter with fight with a ghost. James Durham gave a witness statement to Rev Harry Kendal, a Congregational Minister in the late 19th century, at Darlington. The statement said that James Durham was a night-watchman at the Old Darlington and Stockton Station, dated 9th December, 1890:- “I was a night-watchman at the old Darlington and Stockton Railway Station, at the town of Darlington, a few yards from the first station that ever existed. I was there 15 years. I used to go on duty […]

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Middletons’ Bucklebury Manor

With reports of Kate Middleton’s family moving to a new home – Bucklebury Manor in Berkshire, there have also been misconceptions that the home was haunted, when in fact the Middletons will be moving next to one of the most haunted houses in Berkshire. In May earlier this year many of the tabloid newspapers were full of stories of future queen Kate Middleton’s parents moving to a new £4 million pound mansion in Berkshire. A Georgian building and Grade II listed, this slightly modern looking home sits next to Bucklebury House, once known as Bucklebury Old Manor. Originally the Bucklebury Estate (and village) was owned by Reading Abbey however like many monasteries by 1538 the estate was confiscated and sold to John Winchcombe, the son of a wealthy woollen merchant, Jack O’Newbury. The original abbey building (on the site of Bucklebury House) was restructured by John and became the family seat of the Winchcombe family. Bucklebury Old Manor Our interest in Bucklebury Old Manor begins when the Winchcombes ran out of male heirs and the estate passed to Lady Frances Winchcombe who married Henry St.John, Lord Bolingbroke, Secretary of State to Queen Anne. Lady Frances was regarded as one of […]

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Henry Sutton shoots a ghost

While researching Victorian ghost hunters, I don’t mean the toffs behind the Society of Psychical Research or the Ghost Club, but the common person’s approach to ghosts. Aside from violence on a mass scale there are also references to innocent people being attacked or in a few cases killed by policemen and soldiers believing them to be ghosts. In June 1899, Henry Sutton was one such example. While on sentry duty at Forton Barracks, Gosport he discharged four rounds at Lance Corporal Davis wounding him in the head and thigh. How Davis survived is reported at the time as “miraculous” and one does wonder how he was able to survive during their primitive medical times. Sutton was brought to the Winchester Assizes and was charged with shooting “with intent to murder”. In his defence it was claimed “that there had been a ghost scare at Gosport, and that the accused having listened to several tales of the “chilling shocker” he had become unnerved with the result that he expended several bullets on someone who was very much not a phantom.” The judge and jury obviously believed his story and Sutton walked free. To quote the Midland Daily Telegraph, “possibly “ghosts” […]

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Wizards of Weston Park

Shooting the breeze..I recently visited Sheffield’s Weston Park Museum’s latest exhibition ‘Magic Tricks’, although no doubt compiled to coincide with the six weeks holidays, the exhibits explored fairy tales, magic and folklore. Sadly it all was a bit haphazard, with 75% of the room featuring fictional tales and artwork, and the other fifteen on illusionary magic. It seemed strange wandering past the lost artwork of JM Barrie while hearing the screeches of Sooty’s companion echoing through the room. There were a number of nice pieces of ephemera from the days of Edwardian magic and also the aforementioned JM Barrie, most of which was lost on my four year old. I think this exhibition really highlights the issue with museums at the moment, one half trying to appease the kids, the other something for the adults. There is a balance and this needs to be undertaken with a keen eye on the content and interactivity with visitors of all ages. Rather than watching the countless clips of televised magic or looking at toy figures from the Lords of the Rings selection, we both dressed up as wizards and took to throwing wooden toys in to a large cauldron to make spells.

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All Saint’s Bristol – A Very English ghost story

While promoting my book “50 Real Ghost Stories” I have been interviewed by many regional radio stations, one of which was BBC Bristol. Before my interview, I discussed the hauntings of Bristol with the producer and he mentioned the Vicarage haunting – something that I had not heard about. Needless to say that within the hour I was scouring references and discovered a fantastic record of the hauntings. The hauntings began in early April 1846 and took place at the Vicarage house of All Saint’s Bristol. Based on the references and descriptions, I am lead to believe the church in question is the ancient All Saint’s church on Corn Street and dates from the 1200s. “The present occupiers Mr and Mrs Jones, the sextons of the church and one or two lodgers, have said that a strange visitor has made his appearance, causing such terror by his nightly calls, that all three have determined on quitting the premises, if indeed they have not already carried their resolution into effect” Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette of May 7th 1846. So what could scare the Jones and their lodgers? Surely the Jones with their duties so close to the invisible world should be […]

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All Saint’s Bristol – A very English ghost story

While promoting my book “50 Real Ghost Stories” I have been interviewed by many regional radio stations, one of which was BBC Bristol. Before my interview I discussed the hauntings of Bristol with the producer and he mentioned the Vicarage haunting – something that I had not heard about. Needless to say that within the hour I was scouring references and discovered a fantastic record of the hauntings. The hauntings began in early April 1846 and took place at the Vicarage house of All Saint’s Bristol. Based on the references and descriptions, I am lead to believe the church in question is the ancient All Saint’s church on Corn Street and dates from the 1200s. “The present occupiers Mr and Mrs Jones, the sextons of the church and one or two lodgers, have said that a strange visitor has made his appearance, causing such terror by his nightly calls, that all three have determined on quitting the premises, if indeed they have not already carried their resolution into effect” claimed the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette of May 7th 1846. So what could scare the Jones and their lodgers? Surely the Jones with their duties so close to the invisible world […]

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Brinklow Hill

With its tales of hauntings, UFO activity and alleged satanic murder, Brinklow Hill, Leicestershire is one of the mysterious sites in Britain. In 2003 I discovered after meeting a number of occult studies researchers that over the years my studies into Earth Mysteries have often related (un-beknowing to me) to the researches and publications of historical researchers and psychic questers Andrew Collins and Graham Phillips. I began to explore their publications and research documents and cross checked them with my researches over the period of 1991 – 1994 to see how they compare. My first article deals with the mysterious Brinklow Tump (also known as Brinklow Hill). The History The Warwickshire town of Brinklow has a notable topographical feature – an imposing grassy mound known locally as the Tump. Built on a natural rise, and offering a striking view of the surrounding countryside, the hill and its nearby earthworks represent one of the best preserved motte-and-bailey castle sites in the country. However, the name of Brinklow itself suggests a much older settled community, or at least a site that was important to people long before the Norman Conquest. The name is thought to originate from two Old English elements: the […]

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Saracen’s Head Mystery?

The South Lincolnshire village of Saracen’s Head has one of the most unusual names in the UK. Its name supplies images of a village named during the Crusades as celebration of the victories expected in distance lands. The name also holds different connotations when used in conjunction with the Knights Templars. The Templars were believed to be worshippers of a mysterious head, depending on which researcher you believe, it could be the head of John the Baptist or a head to represent the ancient god, Baphomet. In the village are two pubs called the Saracens Head, one of the pubs is said to date back to the Crusades, although positive proof has yet to be found. Interestingly, to the north west of the village Roman embankments and a possible camp can be found, possibly proving inhabitancy for over two thousand years. With its links to the crusades I was obviously attracted to the village for its links to the crusades and sought to find any archeological links to the Templars. I have been unsuccessful to find any links at the moment, but I found a possible clue to the village’s name. Using the excellent online service Old Maps (old-maps.co.uk) I […]

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The Haughton Castle Ghost

Haughton Castle sits on the banks of the North Tyne and is a well-known area for fine trout fishing. The castle overbears the neighbouring village of Barrasford and is an impressive building. The castle, similar in design to the fourteenth century tower built at Chillingham, is inhabited and parts of the castle are have been modernised but who is the Haughton Castle Ghost? The following ghost story occurs during the previously mentioned time when the Border Reivers or Mosstroopers would attack English land, quite legally and then return to their tribes in Scotland. Sir John de Widderington, at that time was the Lord of Haughton Castle and known for being a good and gallant person who fought for peace during the Border battles. During Sir John’s rule at Haughton, the King appointed weak-willed Lord Dacre of Gilsland as Lord Warden of the Marches. The task of the warden was to ensure peace on the Borders and deal with troublemaker tribes such as the Armstrongs and Kerrs, as well as the Scots from the North. It was only a matter of time before Dacre began to accept bribes, ignoring the troubles and causing the law to collapse. Dacre, to make matters […]

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The Ghost Bus of Kensington

This article forms a part of the ‘Year One’ project, reviewing and researching prominent paranormal cases from the perspective of the first year. Find out more here Twenty years ago, I researched and wrote about one of the most incredible, and highly unbelievable ghost stories I had ever read. I first discovered the story in ‘The Mummy of Birchen Bower and other Ghost Stories’ by Harry Ludlam which I received for Christmas 1986 (!) and on page 263 is Harry’s version of events including his interview of a local mechanic in the area. The Ghost Bus of Kensington Story The Ghost Bus of Kensington or Ladbroke Grove in some versions relates to 1930s London and in particular the North Kensington area of London. Often the story is expanded to include nearby Ladbroke Grove as well – and this is a very important aspect to remember. In the 1930s, the Junction of St Mark’s Road and Cambridge Gardens in that area had long been considered a dangerous corner – it was “blind” from both roads and had been the scene of numerous accidents. The decision of the local authority to straighten out the bend was partially influenced by the testimony of late-night […]

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