Bedpost Ghost.
Atherton “Spirit” that Knocks and Taps.
Atherton has been in a state of excitement during the week as the result of a weird story of strange happenings in a house in Crabtree Lane occupied by Mr. Joseph Peacock, a retired miner and ex-service man and his family.
The occupants state that in the front bed-rooms of the house mysterious knockings and tappings on the bedstead were heard during the early part of this week. The noises have continued up to the early hours of the morning. Stones and pebbles have descended (apparently from nowhere) on to one of the beds. As a result of these happenings the children have become terrified, and have refused to sleep upstairs. One of the beds was therefore removed downstairs, but the noises continued, and a pillow was whisked from under the occupant’s head.
Crowds of people have assembled outside the house nightly, and excitement is at fever heat. The local police are of opinion that the story is either a product of imagination or that the Peacock family are the victims of a prank. Whatever it is the activities of “ghost” have been suspended during the latter part of the week. Mrs Sutton, a well known Spiritualist medium, together with a colleague, have stayed in the house endeavouring to get into touch with the “spirit,” but have been unsuccessful.
Manchester Evening News, 15th July 1921.
Cottage Ghost.
Mysterious Missiles and Flying Pillows.
The latest “Poltergeist” or Cock-and-Bull-lane ghost story comes from Atherton, in Lancashire. It tells how a family of nine – father, mother, and seven children – have been considerably alarmed this week by mysterious happenings at their cottage. Bricks and stones have been flung with great violence across the room, some striking the children. Crowds of people gathered outside the house until a late hour on Wednesday, and two local policemen stayed until 4.30 a.m.
Missiles have been exhibited by Mr. Peacock (the head of the family). The children refused to sleep upstairs; but when they slept downstairs pillows flew from under their heads and an apron was flung across the room, dropping at a constable’s feet.
Daily Herald, 15th July 1921.
A Stone-Throwing Ghost.
The rackety ghost, or “Poltergeist,” which manifested its presence in a cottage in Atherton, Warwickshire, at the beginning of the weeks by throwing bricks about is still active, and excitement in the locality is at a high pitch (states the London “Daily Express.”)
The cottage in Crabtree Lane is occupied by Mr Joseph Peacock, a retired miner and ex-Service man, and his wife and family. Mrs Peacock, during an interview on Friday, showed me missiles comprising bricks, small stones, and pebbles which have been flung on the bed. “I first heard a knocking on the bedstead,” she said, “and then the stones began to fall.”
A local medium has been called in but, so far, has failed to establish communication. An inspector and sergeant of the local constabulary spent a night in the cottage in an effort to solve the mystery, but left more mystified than ever. All that happened was that an apron was shot across the room apparently from nowhere, and dropped at the sergeant’s feet.
Belfast Telegraph, 16th July 1921.
Haunted House
Pillow flies from under heads of sleepers
Weird happenings are reported in connection with a haunted house at Atherton, Lancashire. Every night, it is stated, tappings are heard from 11 until 4 o’clock in the morning. A pillow flew from under the heads of children as they lay sleeping.
An apron hanging from a hook vanished over the bed and fell near the foot of a police-sergeant sitting outside the bedroom door.
Crowds have gathered daily outside the house, and the services of the police have been requisitioned to regulate the exceptional traffic. A spiritualistic medium has prayed in the house for a cessation of the visitations which continue.
Birmingham Daily Gazette, 18th July 1921
“Ghost” Goes
Cottage dwellers troubled no longer by mischievous “spirit”
The rackety ghost, or “Poltergeist,” whose manifestations in a cottage in Atherton, Warwickshire, at the beginning of last week created much excitement, seems to have become affected by the heat wave.
At all events, it has ceased to pester Mr Joseph Peacock, the tenant, a retired miner and ex-sergeant, and his wife and family.
The cottage has been standing 150 years, and a long time ago a mine shaft was sunk a few yards away.
The opinion now expressed is that the weird happenings may be the result of sudden subsidence.
Mrs Peacock, however, who has had an apron blown from her and suddenly wafted across the room, and the children, who have had their pillows drawn away from under their heads, do not incline to such a prosaic explanation.
Every effort has been made to discover the source of the trouble, but without success, although even the walls have been stripped.
Two mediums who visited the cottage came away without establishing a communication with the errant spirit, and the local police are inclined to think that a practical joker is responsible.
Dundee Evening Telegraph, 18th July 1921
Is it Lancashire or Warwickshire! Crabtree Lane, Atherton is now part of Greater Manchester – so likely the one in Lancashire.