Things that go bump in the night.
House is haunted says woman living in fear.
By Adrian Troughton.
Six months ago, Irene Dudley scoffed at the mere suggestion of the supernatural. But now she lives in constant fear of a mysterious presence which she claims has possessed her council house in Dawtrie Street, Airedale. Back in October, the local vicar, the Rev. Philip Sweeting, and a priest, Father Eric Cheetham, performed a ceremony at the house. But Mrs Dudley said: “It has failed to ward off the spirit. At first it seemed to have banished the presence, but a fortnight ago things started disappearing again and the strange noises returned.”
From outside, 52 Dawtrie Street looks exactly like every other semi-detached house in the street and two years ago Mrs Dudley was delighted to move in with her three -year-old daughter Danielle. But last autumn, the arrival of the dark nights heralded the beginning of nights of terror at number 52. “Initially things just started to go missing, only to suddenly reappear in the strangest of places,” said Mrs Dudley. “On one occasion, the centre out of my record player turned up in a jar on top of the wardrobe in my bedroom. I put this down to my own absent-mindedness at first, but when the low groaning noises started, I became very frightened.”
Suffering from sleepless nights, high blood pressure and bad nerves, Mrs Dudley asked her friend, Christine Bourne, who lives in nearby Derwent Drive, to spend the night with her at the house. “In the morning, Irene could not find her lipstick anywhere and we both stood horrified as it rolled towards us across the carpet,” said Christine. “I stayed many nights after that and I also heard the moaning noises coming from upstairs. We checked on Danielle, but she was fast asleep.”
At her wits end, Mrs Dudley sought the help of the local vicar, the Rev Philip Sweeting, of the Parish Church of the Holy Cross. “Mr Sweeting was very understanding and came round to the house and blessed it. This made me feel better, but the disturbances immediately became worse,” said Mrs Dudley. “I thought I was in danger of going mad, but when I returned to see Mr Sweeting he agreed to take further action. A week or so later, he returned with three women and a priest called Father Cheetham. Christine and myself watched as they attended to each room individually. It took about 45 minutes.”
But Mrs Dudley says the spirit has returned. “Strange lights revolve on my bedroom floor and I have seen a strange figure standing in one of the doorways upstairs. It is terrifying for me and the baby.”
Mrs Janet McTernan, of Crewe Road, Airedale, who spent two Christmases at 52 Dawtrie Street, experienced similar occurrences and could not wait to move out. “One Christmas, I saw a shadowy figure upstairs and witnessed strange lights in the front bedroom,” said Mrs McTernan. “Some of our silverware was mysteriously moved around the house and after a point it just got to be too much to live with.”
Both Father Cheetham and Mr Sweeting confirmed that they visited the house and performed a service. The Bishop of Pontefract, the Rt Rev Richard Hare, issued a statement on behalf of the church saying that the service would have taken the form of a prayer for the blessing and cleansing of the house and prayer for the protection and peace of mind of the people who live there. “It would be a mistake to think that the church would act as a kind of ecclesiastical cleansing department ready to provide alternative magic – without any commitment on the part of those who sought it – such as was sometimes wanted,” he added.
Wakefield District Council’s assistant chief housing officer, Mr Maurice Lobley, said he was unaware of the house having any history of supernatural disturbances, but that Mrs Dudley was on the housing waiting list.
“My nerves are shattered and my health is getting worse daily,” said Mrs Dudley. “Before I set foot in this house, I did not believe in ghosts but now I am absolutely petrified and cannot get to sleep at night. All I want now is to get out of this place and never return.”
Irene Dudley and her three-year-old daughter Danielle prepare for another night in the house she says is possessed.
Pontefract and Castleford Express, 26th March 1987.