Spiritual Manifestations.
Abbot’s Bromley and its neighbourhood, especially the “Hurst,” has done something during the last two weeks to render itself notorious as the scene of what the believers in such things call unearthly manifestations.
A farmer on the Hurst appears to have fancied himself the victim of some evil influences, and with his wife and the whole of the family have done their utmost to convince their credulous neighbours, that themselves and all about them – horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and even the cheese and cheese-kettle are bewitched; the animals making strange noises, the cheese breaking up, and the kettle playing all sorts of tricks with the dairymaid, who, besides these pranks on the part of the kettle, received blows at intervals from an unseen hand.
The “verdant” portion of the inhabitants of the district really believe in the “bewitching.” Doctors and divines have in vain explained to them and the parties most interested that all would, no doubt, be naturally accounted for by-and-bye. A local penny contemporary records the visit of a man skilled in the magic art, who is said to be trying his hand at “laying the ghost.” Certain it is that a great amount of excitement has been caused, which in this enlightened age is much to be regretted, and which we hope will soon be allayed.
Staffordshire Advertiser, 10th May 1856.