Is an Astley Abbotts cottage haunted?
The tune ‘December, it always happens in December’ is becoming convincing to the villagers of Astley Abbotts. They are, perhaps, beginning to wonder whether funny things happen every December. For many years, just before Christmas things have begun to happen in Conduit Cottage, now known as St. Mary’s Cottage, the home of the Robinsons. This year was no exception. The story is now going around the district about the “ghost” at the cottage, which was some years ago two cottages.
Investigations were made by our reporter, and Mrs Robinson wife of Mr Surtees Robinson, told the story. She said that just before Christmas, jugs, etc., were placed on a window ledge to check on the peculiar happenings alleged to take place in the house. Next morning the room was turned upside down. The jugs had been moved, a fruit bowl was just balancing on the edge of the table and crockery had been put on the floor. Doors and windows were loacked and no trace of entrance could be found. Another occasion a number of candles had been lit, but were extinguished in a short time by something which was not seen.
In a nearby barn a gravestone lies. The date of the death is ‘sometime in December’. Mrs Robinson wonders whether the gravestone has anything to do with the mystery happenings. The stone has been covered with a huge pile of ashes, as Mrs Robinson puts it, “to hold the spirit down,” if there are any connections.
It is understood that in a book written about Astley Abbotts (unfortunately no copies exist, as far as is known) states that each Christmas a spirit visits the cottage. Mrs Robinson challenges some “spiritualist” body or organisation to visit the house next Christmas.
Shrewsbury Chronicle, 13th January 1950.