Excitement of a most remarkable character prevailed at Hebden Bridge fifty years ago in connection with certain mysterious knockings which were said to have been heard at a well-known residence, both by day and night.
“These noises,” the ‘Advertiser’ account says, “commenced about Good Friday, and have been continued more or less ever since. Various attempts have been made to ascertain the cause, but up to the time of writing the affair is still veiled in mystery, though it was hoped that by taking up some portion of the flooring of one of the rooms, there would be an end to the varied conjectures naturally arising from such unpleasant circumstances.
The knockings are said to be as heavy as if a person was striking with a hammer, and are chiefly confined to two sleeping apartments.
Those persons who delight in the spiritual and marvellous are giving forth their conjectures with the profusion worthy of such imaginative minds: but we shall forbear to recapitulate the many strange tales which have come to our ears, and to relate which would most certainly prove the fact that ignorance and superstition have yet a strong hold on the minds of many, and that, too, of some who profess to have received a liberal education, and who pride themselves on being considered more intelligent than their neighbours.
However, we shall leave the subject for the present, in hopes that either science or human ingenuity will be able to make such discoveries as to set the matter effectually at rest.”
Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter, 7th May 1909.
Extracts from our files for 1859.
“Excitement of a most remarkable character has prevailed in the neighbourhood of Hebden Bridge for several days,” says our issue of May 28th; “and such has been the curiosity excited that hundreds of people flocked round Mayroyd House to see if they could approximate so near as to come within the sound of mysterious knockings which are said to be heard in the mansion both day and night… Various attempts have been made to ascertain the cause, but up to the time of writing the affair is still veiled in mystery.” The writer goes on to suggest that the noises may have been caused by vermin under the floors.
Todmorden and District News, 1st June 1934.