A report is current that a house at Coker-hill, Yeovil, is “haunted.” It is sated that at certain periods of the day strange noises are heard in the house, that during the “manifestations” the woman who resides there is rendered powerless. The Lord’s Prayer has, it is asserted, been written backwards underneath the woman’s bed to scare the “ghost,” and about midnight a noise, similar to that of a person when scrubbing, may be heard at the spot.
A man, living in Kiddle’s-lane, Yeovil, has spent several nights at the house, and asserts that he has seen strange apparitions. The “manifestations” are less frequent now than they were a few days since.
Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 24th June 1880.
A “Ghost” at Coker Hill.
The villagers of West Coker and East Chinnock have been in a state of great excitement owing to some extraordinary proceedings going on in a cottage on Coker Hill, and which have filled the credulous and superstitious – of whom there are a great many in the neighbourhood – with a vast amount of alarm. Having heard of the haunted house on Coker Hill, and being anxious to ascertain the real state of the facts for the benefit of your readers, I visited the district last week and made enquiries.
I found the villagers of West Coker and East Chinnock well posted up in the extraordinary phenomenon, which by many was believed in, and by others, it is fair to say, ridiculed and laughed at. Being directed, I went to the locus in quo, which is one of the last places one would suppose a “ghost” or an “evil spirit” would select for its habitation. When I arrived I saw that there had been considerable commotion – the gardens of both cottages having been sadly trampled on and damaged. The following are the facts connected with this extraordinary proceeding: –
The cottage in question is occupied by a man who earns a living by giving performances with a magic lantern. He makes professional tours, and is often away for three or four months together. His wife, a young woman, with two children, is left at home to look after the cottage. It seems that a fortnight ago last Friday she was taken in a fit, during which certain noises were heard in the house. This went on for several nights – the knocking performances commencing shortly after midnight, as in the orthodox fashion. The woman became somewhat alarmed at these singular visitations, she could not sleep, the children were frightened, and she sent for some of her relatives. They watched and waited, and shortly after twelve each night the woman was taken into a fit, when the knocking at once commenced – the noise on Tuesday week being heard by the neighbours. It resembled blows as if given on an empty box, but nothing could be seen in the room – nor could any of the inmates trace whence the sound proceeded. Sometimes it was under the bed, then it would be in one corner, and anon move to the opposite end of the room.
The relatives became alarmed, told the neighbours, and it was soon circulated that the woman was “overlooked.” Dr Edie, of West Coker, was called in, and he examined the woman. It is stated that when he held the woman’s hands the knocking ceased, but that immediately he let them go it re-commenced, but this is merely the gossip of the village. Towards the close of the week the knocking became louder, increasing every night, and on Sunday, the 13th June, so alarmed had the neighbourhood become that there were from 200 to 300 people in and out of the house. They waited for the “Ghost” until twelve o’clock, when they were rewarded by hearing a perfect cannonade inside. The noise could be distinctly heard in the roadway, and, as one of those present remarked to me, “You never saw people turn so pale in your life.”
Several went into the bedroom where the woman was lying, but the knocking continued, the “sprite” being most erratic in its movements – moving in all directions. I will give you the description of one who was present. He said – “When I got in the sound seemed to be immediately in front of me. I turned towards the window, and the knocking was then apparently in front of me. I could see nothing, but it resembled as if a carpenter was beating a box with a mallet. I turned completely round, and the knocking was again in front. You may depend, sir” – and my informant is a well-to-do, respectable, intelligent man – “that there is something in it, but what I cannot make out. I looked under the bed, examined the walls, and went outside to see if there was any communication, but found nothing. All this took place when several were in the room, and we looked rather ‘gallied,’ I can tell you, at each other. The woman, I am sure, had nothing to do with it. She was in bed, and it would be impossible for any one in the room to give such loud blows even if he were beating the bedstead or the flooring.” This knocking continued from twelve o’clock until after three o’clock on Monday morning.
On Monday one of the women relatives started early for Hardington, with the intention, it is alleged, of consulting some authority on witchcraft, and, strange to relate, she was followed by a magpie. It is somewhat singular that a magpie has never before been seen on the hill, and no one in the neighbourhood keeps a tame one. The bird flew after the woman to Hardington, and followed her back. Such an event was, of course, looked upon as an evil omen.
The woman supposed to be bewitched attended Hardington Club on Monday, joined, it is said, in the dancing, and enjoyed herself thoroughly. On her return home, and on retiring to rest, she was taken in a kind of fit at 12 o’clock, and the knocking resumed. About 200 people had then assembled, and the sounds were attested to by many who could not be mistaken.
On Tuesday the magpie was seen close to the cottage door, and water was thrown on it, but it persisted in remaining near. It followed the woman into the village of East Chinnock, where she went to make some purchases, and escorted her back.
Matters were beginning to look serious, and it is stated that an inhabitant of East Chinnock determined to rid the woman of her enemy – for it was taken for granted that she was “overlooked” by someone who had a spleen against her. Having armed himself with a piece of beeswax, he proceeded to the cottage, and went through certain performances in the midst of the family group. The wax was melted before the fire, certain incantations were performed, and the 68th Psalm was read, in which the following verse is found: – “As wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God,” which, it is stated, suggested the ceremony. The “High Priest” declared that the spell was broken, and that there would be no further disturbance.
On Tuesday night, however, the knocking again occurred, but not quite so violent. Rumour says that the “spirit” was seen. It was described as something black – similar in appearance to a cat – which crawled up the wall of the bedroom, ran along the ceiling, and then fell with a heavy thud on the floor, vanishing instantly. Another described it as a kind of ball, which ran round the room and then transformed itself into a fly!
It is alleged that the husband, who is now at Chester, has been suffering similarly. His whole magic lantern machinery came down suddenly as he was in the act of going through his performance, and he has been disturbed with loud knocking and other “supernatural” visitations. This is the purport of the letter sent to his wife.
The prevalent idea is that the woman has been “overlooked,” and no argument will convince people to the contrary. One respectable woman of East Chinnock has been spotted as the “author,” and the husband has actually appealed to the local policeman for protection. – West of England Express.
Bridport News, 25th June 1880.