50 years ago.
Hist! A ghost!
Who could imagine anything weird or ghostly in a glaring red-brick building? No, for the original “ghost,” if indeed the imagination could carry one so far, one must turn to such places with which old Warwick abounds – ancient houses, and the still more ancient subterranean passages which intersect the town. But the scene of the occurrence we are about to relate happened above ground.
The summer’s sun had set the other night, but the inhabitants of a certain old-world street in this ancient borough, not very far from the venerable Castle itself, were not asleep. Something unusual had happened, it was very evident; and an excited throng of men and boys, the majority of the latter armed with sticks, had congregated outside a certain house. The balmy breeze of evening had borne upon its wings a rumour that a ghost, a being from the unseen world, had made its descent upon the neighbourhood, and had taken up its abode in a house in the street.
It is stated that soon after retiring to rest on the night in question the occupiers of the house mentioned heard a strange, uncanny noise, somewhat resembling the striking of a mallet against a chisel, immediately underneath their bed.
This was far too much for human forbearance. A neighbour, who had also heard the sounds, was communicated with, but nothing of an unusual character could be discovered, and the concourse of honest folk, who had been gathered near by a vague but ghostly report, were compelled to separate and depart to their own homes. Since then, however, the children living in the neighbourhood have taken up the cry, and the words, “A ghost, a ghost!” are often heard in their midst.
It seems rather a pity to take the romance off such a ghostly tale, but the strange noises have since been fully accounted for. It appears that some generous-hearted man, living near, was turning the mangle to save his wife the trouble. – July 19, 1890.
Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 19th July 1940.