Coupland Castle Haunted?
Mysterious sounds heard.
(Berwick Journal and North Northumberland News Special and Exclusive).
Few are the castles which have not their haunted chambers and ghost stories, and even in our own neighbourhood we haave several which have their traditional legends of these weird and mysterious visitants, one of these being Coupland Castle, near Wooler, where sounds of an apparitious character have of late been heard, and the cause of which up to present remains incomprehensible.
No doubt can arise in our minds when we say that Christmastide with its darksome days is the opportune time for the lurk of these uncanny visitors, and such has been experienced by the occupants of Coupland Castle at this period.
Coupland Castle, the seat and property of Ald. J. Weidner, stands on the north bank of the river Glen and was anciently possessed by a family to whom it gave the name “de Coupland,” who held it under the Muschampes, barons of Wooler. The castle afterwards came into the possession of the Wallaces, by one of whom, George Wallace, it was rebuilt in 1619. In one of the rooms called the “haunted chamber” is a stone bearing the inscription “Mary and William Wallace, 1619.” The last of the Wallace owners, Ralph Wallace, sold the castle and estate to Sir Chaloner Ogle, Kugt., after whose death it passed to the Ogles of Kirkley, one of whom, Nathaniel Ogle, Esq., sold it in 1806, to the late Matthew Culley, Esq., from whose successors it was purchased by the present owner. Its stately appearance is greatly enhanced by two ancient towers of original structure, dating back to the 12th century, and it was in this part of the building where quite recently these strange and weird noises have been heard by the occupants.
While quietness reigned throughout, and seated by the fireside, all were greatly alarmed by the sudden burst of demoniac noises resembling thunder in the vicinity of the haunted chamber, which continued for a period of fully 5 minutes, and on investigation being made as to the cause, the frantic circumstances were furthered by sounds of murmuring and moaning, as if someone was in distress, but this gradually died away, and again the castle was left in tranquility. After an elapse of an hour and a half from this wraith-like occurrence, the household prepared to retire for the evening, when they were again terror stricken by the emission of three distinct knocks, as if someone thumping on a door in the upper stories of the building. This was protracted by the same rumbling report, followed by a flapping sound, resembling people clapping their hands on their knees.
There was also great stampeding in the corridors which continued for half an hour when all was again left in quietness. At one o’clock this thunder-like noise was again repeated for a few minutes, but all inquiry into these strange and weird happenings have proved of no avail, and the matter still remains shrouded in mystery.
Illustrated Berwick Journal, 14th January 1926.
Residents in Glendale are reported to be greatly excited by the “Berwick Journal and North Northumberland News” report they read last week, of what are regarded as supernatural manifestations, and Alderman Weidner has already received several letters from people who claim to possess psychic powers, offering to “charm” or “exercise” the spirits.
Ald. Weidner is, however, declining all such offers, although he admitted that he might be favourably disposed to grant facilities for investigation to the representatives of some accredited society like the Psychical Research Society, should application be made to him. Ald. Weidner informed us that indisposition and the state of the roads had prevented him from spending Christmas at the Castle. The mysterious noises had been reported to him, however, and he could not account for them.
For a long time these weird sounds have been heard, but the recent manifestation was so marked that the maids of the establishment were reduced to a state of terror, and immediately communicated with Ald. Weidner. Ald. Weidner states that the ghost does not disturb him. “The ghost, I think, will not harm me or my family.” He admitted that strange noises have often been heard in the Castle. “Some time ago,” he says, “we were awakened between one and two o’clock in the morning by my son Edward, who said that he had heard a tremendous noise, and that on going to investigate he saw a luminous vapour near the haunted chamber. We made a search, but could find nothing unusual.”
Ald. Weidner, accompanied by Miss Weidner his daughter; Mr F. Weidner, an unmarried son; and one or two grandchildren, spent the week end at the castle. “I don’t think the ghost will be able to harm me or any members of my family,” stated Ald. Weidner on Saturday.
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Illustrated Berwick Journal, 21st January 1926.