Knock, knock, and bits of coal.
Castleford mystery. Strange thuds in house puzzle experts.
From our own correspondent, Castleford, Thursday.
Castleford’s chief topic of discussion at the moment is a “mystery house,” where strange noises are heard. The house is in Aketon Road, and is occupied by a Mrs Wilkinson. Some weeks ago she and other people who live there began to hear noises in the walls and ceilings of the dining room and pantry. Little notice was taken of them at the time, but the sounds became more frequent, and when the owners of the property were told they ordered an investigation.
It was thought that either the effects of subsidence through colliery working, or some defect in the hot water system, might be the cause, but skilled tradesmen have made very thorough investigations without being able to fathom the mystery. They have also heard weird sounds, which are described as being like dull thuds.
The noises are heard chiefly in the morning, and are louder when the radio is used. Those who have visited the house and were sceptical at first now readily admit that it is not altogether a case of imagination running wild.
One part of the story sounds rather far-fetched, but, none the less, it is substantiated by several people. It is declared that if anyone asks for one knock to be given, one is immediately heard, and if two or more are demanded they are forthcoming.
But that is not all. Visitors to the house have been surprised to find small pieces of partly-burned coal falling on or near them, when they have been in rooms in which there has been no fire for some time. It is also said (although this is accepted with reserve by some of the people who are convinced about the genuineness of the noises) that some pieces of coal, when picked up, have been warm.
It is the most mysterious story that Castleford has provided for a long time.
Yorkshire Evening Post, 8th October 1936.
Weird Noises from Nowhere.
Weird noises have been heard for some weeks in a house in Aketon road, Castleford, occupied by Mrs Wilkinson. The sounds, which are described as being like dull thuds, were first heard some weeks ago, but little notice was taken of them until they became more insistent.
The owners of the property were then informed and they caused investigations to be made by skilled tradespeople, who have ruled out suggestions that the noises may have been caused by subsidence owing to colliery workings or some defect in the hot water system.
The noises are chiefly heard in the hours of daylight, and more especially when the wireless is turned on.
A peculiar feature is that if a person asks for the sound to be given once, twice or more times, the sound is immediately heard in the walls or ceiling as many times as was requested.
More mysterious still is that small pieces of partly-burnt coal have fallen on, or near to, people in the house, even when they have been in rooms in which there has been no fire for some time, it is asserted.
Responsible men in various professions readily admit having heard the noises, and the mysterious happenings are causing no little interest in the district.
Sheffield Independent, 9th October 1936.