Holnest. A Ghost Story.
A correspondent writes that there is a mystery as yet unexplained with regard to peculiar noises in an old cottage with four or five rooms on the ground floor, and an equal number upstairs. It had been occupied for upwards of 30 years by Mr. Codey (Mr. Drax’s land steward), who left about six months ago, and the cottage was then taken by Mrs. Mowlem, the present occupier.
For some time past these peculiar sounds have been heard, but nothing nearly as bad as during the last fortnight. The unusual sounds generally commence with a rapping noise at the windows, as if someone was knocking with their fist; at other times as if a bell were dashed against the windows, and afterwards distinctly rung. You may hear this in one room, and almost instantly in the next. Sometimes it appears to be produced from the outside, and then in another second a sound is heard on the inside resembling the knocking of doors. A rapping noise is heard on the floors close to one’s feet, and almost as if by lightning speed the noises are heard all over the house at one time. One correspondent continues: I have myself been on the outside, as well as inside, but could not see anything to account for the noise.
On Wednesday, the 30th ult., after a lot of people had been to hear these sounds, the occupants retired to bed soon after midnight, but had not been in bed more than a few minutes when a peculiar rustling noise was heard in one of the bedrooms. The shaking of all the beds was distinctly heard and felt by the inmates. The mistress of the house, thinking an apparition was in the room, summed up courage to speak out these words. “In the name of the Lord why troublest thous me or this house,” and an answer was heard “Follow me” (also heard by those in an adjoining room). With great presence of mind she opened her bedroom door, and on the landing saw the apparition, which again greeted her with the words, “Follow me.” Having candle in hand she followed it downstairs, through one room and passage, and then into the kitchen. The apparition walked around a table once, then half way around again (the mistress of the house standing at the doorway meanwhile), and then, fixing its eyes on the woman, distinctly said twice, “Under here you shall find money.” It then instantly vanished. The mistress of the house describes the apparition thus: It appears “like a man, having fair hair, whiskers, and beard, and wearing a beautiful white shirt.” The kitchen floor has been lifted, but nothing has been found. These are the facts (concludes our correspondent), as far as I can glean, and you may depend upon it that in this quiet, outlandish place, great stir and talk have been occasioned.
Western Chronicle, 15th October 1886.
Extraordinary Ghost Story.
At the village of Holnest, near Yeovil, a “ghost” is creating a scare among the inhabitants for many miles around. Mrs Mowlem, who has occupied the cottage she lives in for the past six months, has recently had her household disturbed at night by strange noises. Within the last fortnight, however, the noises have much increased.
The sounds commence with violent rattling of the windows, and then the walls begin to treble, the doors begin to bang, and rapping noises are heard all over the house at the same time. Scores of people have heard the noises nightly, and every effort has been made to discover the cause, but without effect. One night, after a lot of people had been to hear the sounds, the occupants of the house retired to bed soon after midnight, when all the bedsteads began to violently shake. The mistress of the house, thoroughly believing that an apparition was in the room, summoned up courage to speak out these words, “In the name of the Lord why troublest thou me or this house?” The whole of the inmates distinctly say that they heard a voice answer, “Follow me.” The mistress opened her bedroom door, and on the landing of the staircase saw an apparition which again greeted her with the words, “Follow me.”
With a candle in her hands she followed it downstairs and into the kitchen, where the apparition, fixing its gaze on the woman said, “Under this floor you shall find money.” It then instantly vanished. The woman describes the apparition as “like a man having fair hair, whiskers and beard, and wearing a beautiful white shirt.” The kitchen floor has since been taken up, but no money has been found. The visitors fairly believe it is a supernatural visitation, and say that it is impossible to be the outcome of practical joking. The house is visited by hundreds daily.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 15th October 1886.
Holnest. Another Ghost to be Laid.
This quiet little parish has, for the past fortnight, been in an upstir by the news that sundry unusual sounds were to be heard at a house situated at Higher Holnest, from eight p.m. to four a.m., which has given rise to the general statement “The house is haunted.” Upwards of 50 persons can testify to the fact that it must be some supernatural work. Each blow struck at the windows is hard enough (were it done by human hands) to smash the panes of glass. The rapping and knocking at the doors and in the bed-rooms are excessively loud, and can be distinctly heard some 30 yards distant. The ringing of a small bell is heard from all sides. The piano is suddenly heard to strike forth its notes, and the rumbling and rattling in the staircase are similar to a barrow-load of gravel being thrown down. The idea here, is that either some dark deed was committed some years ago, or else money is buried beneath the floor. However, operations have been commenced by the occupier to discover the cause of these unearthly disturbances, which it is hoped will be followed with success. The mystery is causing intense local excitement. – Correspondent.
Bridport News, 15th October 1886.
Holnest. The Ghost Story.
The house of Mrs Mowlem has been much “haunted” of late by large parties who arrive nightly from the surrounding towns and villages in search of the Holnest “ghost.” The result has been that that mystical being has ceased to appear, and the mysterious knockings and noises have also we believe been discontinued. Free access is allowed to the house by the inmates, who keep up fires late into the night for the convenience of visitors, and to these is related in great detail the appearance of and interview with the “ghost” when he pointed out to the mistress of the house the situation of the hidden treasure, in search of which the kitchen floor has been excavated to a depth of about nine feet, the same being now covered with planks. Visitors are also shown a 7lb. weight, a part of a pick stem, and other heavy missiles which the “ghost” has at different times hurled down the staircase at the front door. we hear that a clergyman has been to the house to investigate this strange affair, with what result we do not know. A quartet of young “sparks” who drove over from Sherborne on Sunday night, experienced an unpleasant proof that the “ghost” has not yet been effectually “laid.” They put their pony in the stable, leaving the trap, in which was a gallon jar of “Whittle’s best,” outside the house. After several hours spent in the house, vainly waiting for the appearnace of the “ghost,” the party adjourned to the trap with the intention of “liquoring up,” when to their surprise and chagrin they found that the “ghost” had forestalled them, and swallowed the whole of the contents of the jar, cork and all! It is almost needless to say that our young friends do not very much relish any reference to their experience of searching for the “Holnest ghost.”
To the Editor. Sir, – The very circumstantial and detailed account in your last week’s paper of the noises heard, and apparition seen, at Holnest is certainly startling in these matter-of-fact times, and seem to me deserving of further enquiry. If the whole thing is a hox, let it be exposed; and if true, let it be further probed. We often hear of strange noises being heard, but here is a distinct statement of an apparition seen, and heard to speak by more than one person, according to the account sent you.
Some few years ago, a scientific Society in London (the Physological Society I think) sent a person down into the country to examine and report on these apparently supernatural occurrences, and this would seem to be a case for their investigation. Meanwhile I should like to know, from someone at Holnest, if these strange noises were ever heard during the long period of 30 years that Mr Oodey is said to have lived in the house. Furthermore, who will vouch for the bona fides of Mr. Mowlem, the present tenant, and what has the rector or vicar of the parish to say to the matter? Further light is certainly wanted. – I am, your obedient servant, CURIO. Salisbury, 18 October, 1886.
Western Chronicle, 22nd October 1886.
Holnest. The Ghost.
Amongst the many amusing adventures which have taken place in connection with the now notorious ghost story, was one which happened a day or two since. A stalwart son of Vulcan and a Knight of the Plane, hailing from the neighbourhood of Ryme, paid a visit to the quarters of the ghost. After waiting a long time in vain for his appearance they left the house to consult as to the steps to be next taken, as they were going to settle his ghostship, if they could only catch him, when “Hark! what’s that?! said one of them, as an unearthly grunting sound greeted their ears. Again it came. “Oh, it’s the ghost.” Off they go, the sound following them so near. “Where can we go?” said they. “Up the tree.” So up they went, one in one tree, the other in another, the awful sound following from tree to tree. After some time they shouted an alarm, when rescue came, and down they descended from their lofty position, in much trembling, sadder and wiser, to find the cause of their fright was only a cow! They begged the people to say nothing about it.
Western Chronicle, 29th October 1886.
Guy Fawkes Demonstration. The Sherborne Bonfire Boys are famed for the success of their annual 5th of November demonstration, and that of Friday evening last was no exception to the general rule. […] the piece de resistance this year was “The capture of the Honest Ghost,” and this caused much amusement. The old lady, in her night-gown, and candle in hand, interviewing the ghost, with his Satanic Majesty grinning in the back-ground, were admirably represented, even the jar of “Whittle’s best” about which so much has been heard of late, not being omitted.
Western Chronicle, 12th November 1886.
The Holnest Ghost was conveyed round the town on a trolly, which also bore two poor creatures supposed to have been frightened by the apparition. A printed notice rpresented the ghost to be inquiring “Why troublest thou this place?” Western Chronicle 7th November 1890.
The Holnest Ghost. A correspondent writes:- Rumour says that the mysterious antics of the supposed ghost have very recently reached an unfortunate climax. A certain person interested came upon his (?) ghostship quite unexpectedly the sequel being that no more false alarms is to be made if a certain party “sings quiet.” Alas, poor ghost!
Western Gazette, 10th February 1888.