A Ghost at Storrs Hall.
For more than a week past the occupiers of this old hall have been alarmed by having the windows broken, rapping at and opening the doors, but as yet they have been unable to discover the author of the mischief. Last week, when the farming man and maid were milking, persons came running out of the house greatly alarmed. Someone, they said, had been rapping at the door but when the door was opened no one could be seen. The man went into the house and stationed himself behind the door and the rapping was repeated, but still no one could be seen or heard. Subsequently windows were broken both in front and at the back of the house. Watch has been kept both outside and inside, but the offender has not been discovered.
Of course the neighbours are becoming very much alarmed, as an old man tells a story that he lived there fifty years ago, and at that time they were accustomed to hear unaccountable noises, and they thought the place was haunted.
It is somewhat remarkable that on Thursday the glazier was sent to repair the broken windows. He had no sooner repaired the window in front than it was again broken. At that time the owner, Mr Wragg, and others were in the house, but they failed to discover how it was done.
The police have the matter in hand and it is not unlikely they may find out something which will explain the mystery.
The hall has been occupied for some years by Mr J. Wragg. About two months ago he removed, and it is now occupied by Mr James Ibbotson.
Sheffield Independent, 5th January 1878.
The “Ghost” at Storrs Hall.
To the Editor: – Apropos of the above “mystery,” allow me to relate an almost parallel case which occurred quite lately, and in which I was personally concerned. It may serve to throw light upon some of these “inexplicable mysteries” from which even the best regniated families are not altogether free.
A few months ago some friends complained to me that they were much annoyed by a frequent ringing of the front door bell, and, as they suspected some of the Sunday school boys, I volunteered to find out the offenders. Accordingly, one night, about half-past seven o’clock, having heard that the bell was going incessantly, I went on duty, and took up a position across the road where I must see any one who went to the front door. Presently I heard the bell ring loudly, and rushing towards the door, found – nobody! I searched the garden and premises but with no success. Later on the same night I was within three yards of the front door – still on the watch – and the bell gave a tremendous peal; I was then certain it was not done from the outside!
A consultation followed, and I expressed my firm conviction that the servant girl (aged 15-16) was the offender. But she rigidly denied the impeachment, and so convinced was her mistress of the girl’s honesty that my theory was laughed to scorn. Nevertheless, I adhered to it with a dogged obstinacy, and determined to take the first opportunity of examining the kitchen by daylight in the absence of the servant. In the meantime the ringing went on night after night, and the inmates of the house (all ladies) were becoming exceedingly alarmed and nervous.
Various theories were suggested, viz., rats, invisible strings, and even the suspicion that it might be a phase of spiritualism! However, on examining the kitchen I found some whitewash on the end of the broom handle, and suspicious marks on the bell, together with sundry scratches on the wall, and I saw at once that the bell had been set in motion by means of the broom handle. My theory was now almost established in the minds of my unbelieving friends, and I asked them to notice whether the bell rang when the servant was out. They did so, and it never did. But as soon as this girl came home, the bell began again.
She was charged with it, shown the marks on the wall and broom handle, &c., but still denied all knowledge of it. And again my theory was in danger! Soon after this she left, and her successor, whose brother was this girl’s “sweetheart” let out the secret. The girl had carried on this ringing for the above time from within, occasionally aided by her “sweetheart” outside! And so completely was the deception carried out, that she would calmly walk to the front door, to “answer the bell,” after having rung it herself in the kitchen! On mentioning the fact to a medical friend, he told me that it was to be accounted for by “hysteria,” and that such behaviour was by no means uncommon with such girls, especially between the ages of 14 and 16.
Thus, a mystery which was rapidly becoming alarming, and the cause of much nervous fear, was cleared up, and proved to be the work of a foolish maid-servant. How far she was responsible for the folly, is a question for the mental physiologist.
I enclose my card, and remain, your obedient servant, J.A.G.
Sheffield Independent, 8th January, 1878.
The “Ghost” at Storrs Hall.
The Mystery Explained.
This old hall, at which, as recorded in our columns on Saturday, a ghost was alleged to have broken many of the windows, is situated in a secluded spot about a mile from Stannington. Stories have been told, and by credulous persons believed, that the hall was haunted many years ago, and the extraordinary occurrences we related on Saturday excited a large amount of curiosity. Yesterday the hall was visited by hundreds of people from Sheffield and the district round.
On Friday afternoon a number of squares of glass were again broken, after having been repaired. There were in the house at the time a policeman, Mrs Ibbotson, her sister, and the servant girl, Mr Ibbotson himself having gone to Sheffield. On Saturday morning Sergeant Hobson, of Hillsbro’ Police Station, went to inquire into the matter. Having carefully examined outside the premises, he was satisfied that the windows had not been broken by throwing at them from the outside. He then proceeded to examine inside the house, and from what he saw he was led to suspect the servant-girl. He questioned her, and she at first denied having any knowledge of the mischief. She then admitted she had broken one square with a can.
Being further question she at last, after being much pressed, acknowledged that she was the real “ghost,” and had broken all the windows with stones, and done all the rapping; she had also cut the clothes line and thrown the clothes into the road. When the farming man was watching behind the door she stepped out of the cow-house, where she was milking, and rapped at the door undiscovered.
So coolly and warily had she effected the mischief that even her mistress did not suspect her when Sergeant Hobson began his interrogations.
Mr Wragg, the owner of the Hall, who was in the house on Thursday when the windows were broken offered 10s. to anyone who could find out who did the damage. On Friday night, a number of men armed with stout sticks were watching outside the house, but they failed to detect the offender.
The fields all around the hall were perambulated, but all was involved in mystery until the acute Hillsbro’ sergeant appeared on the scene.
The girl’s name is Ann Charlesworth, aged 14 years, and her parents reside at Carr Head, near Deepcar. She cried bitterly after she had confessed, and promised she would not repeat the offence. Mrs Ibbotson was becoming so much afraid that she had decided not to remain in the house unless it was guarded by a policeman.
Sheffield Independent, 7th January 1878.
A Modern Ghost.
During the last few days the doings of a certain mysterious ghost have caused considerable alarm among the good people of Storrs, a hamlet on the borders of the Yorkshire and Derbyshire moors. About 50 years ago the hall, a romantic old place, had the reputation of being haunted, but by some means the ghost was laid, and, until Christmas week, nothing was heard of it.
Then mysterious rappings were heard, doors were thrown open, windows were broken, and strange noises were heard. The householders were terrified. Servants armed with hayforks and anything that came nearest issued forth immediately the knocks were heard, but they never discovered anything, and on no solitary occasion did the ghost condescend to show itself. Mrs Ibbetson threatened to leave the hall unless a guard of police were procured. The officers came, and on Saturday a sergeant succeeded in unravelling the mystery.
A servant girl, 14 years of age, was the ghostly visitor. She first frightened one of the farm-servants by rapping at the door of the barn in which he was milking, and the success of her trick encouraged her to proceed. So coolly and warily had she committed the mischief that no one suspected her, and she would very probably not have been discovered if she had not made a confession. – Daily Chronicle.
Nottinghamshire Guardian, 11th January 1878.
(reprinted word for word in a million papers)