Haunted House at Lynn.
An Animated Bedstead.
The declaration that a house in Windsor Terrace, King’s Lynn, is under the disturbing influences of a visitor from the invisible world has provided the town with a small sensation. Attracted by the statements that the house had shown signs of being haunted large crowds of curious-minded folk gathered in the vicinity of the troubled habitation on Monday night, and again last night, but as could only have been expected, their vigil produced nothing of an exciting nature. The sensational manifestation has been reserved for those persons who have paid a visit to one of the bedrooms in the house, and a story of strange happenings is given.
It appears that a few days ago a Norwich family moved to Lynn and took occupation of the house in question. Their furniture followed, and the first night they slept in the house seems to have been a very unpleasant one, for during the night the occupants of the bed rushed terrified from the room, averring that a ghostly visitor had laid hold of the bedstead and given it a good shaking. Since then watch parties have been organised, and they declared that if they never believed in ghosts before they believe in them now. One individual, it is stated, was pitched neck and crop out of the room, and the bedstead has repeatedly given evidences of unearthly animation. Strange noises have also been heard, and altogether the room is credited with containing all the elements of a haunted chamber.
At all events the family have been genuinely alarmed, and have not dared to pass the night in the house since some of its members were so rudely disturbed, and a kind neighbour has provided them with sleeping accommodation. They have taken another house, but intend to leave the animated bedstead behind. In the meantime it has been determined to continue the midnight watches in the hope of “laying the ghost.”
Eastern Daily Press, 28th May 1902.
After the Lynn Ghost.
Crowds of Midnight Watchers.
The “Spirit” Missing
Now that it has become generally known in King’s Lynn that a house in Windsor Terrace is credited with having received nightly visits from the world of spirits, excitement is widespread, and all sorts of tales of a creepy nature are being discussed in all seriousness. A crowd of 300 or 400 persons gathered round the house on Tuesday night, and did not disperse until three o’clock on Wednesday morning. Apart from the incidents usually to be found in a crowd brought together under such circumstances there was little to satisfy the curiosity that had been aroused, but it appears that the attention of such a large number of people to the house had the effect of soothing the troubled feelings of the ghostly visitor, which failed to reveal itself to the party who had been invited to watch for its appearance. The party on this occasion consisted of fellow workmen of the occupier of the house, and they felt rather disappointed that the strange noises and the violent rockign of the bedstead were denied them.
This appears to be the first occasion since its original visitation that the ghost had failed to keep its nightly appointment, and this is attributed to the fact that the people outside made so much noise and were so persistent in their attempts to peer into the haunted house that nothing could be heard inside.
On Wednesday the occupier of the house in a conversation with our representative persisted in affirming that the details of the strange occurrences which appeared in yesterday’s Daily Press were perfectly true. He asserts that he has seen the bed shake and heard sounds like the rushing of the wind, and this, he says, is confirmed by several gentlemen who have visited the haunted room at night. He has not actually seen the ghost, but his son, a lad of about eighteen, on being questioned on the point, declares that in the first instance the bed in which he slept with two brothers shook violently, and the visitor from the other world revealed itself to them in a shadowy form which he cannot describe, but he positively asserts that he saw two large eyes staring at him.
In his alarm he rushed out of the room, and would only return with his father and mother. They induced him to get into bed again, and stood in the room with a light, when an apparition approached the woman, and she threw herself upon the bed terrified, and the husband, who did not feel the “strange presence” but saw the bed rock and heard the rushing sound, could not pacify her.
This is the story as told by the man and his son, who state that with the exception of Tuesday night, the strange performance has been repeated each night since at about a quarter or half-past eleven. To confirm or disprove the accuracy of the statements that have been made a party of local pressmen had arranged to spend last night in the haunted chamber, but on Wednesday afternoon the occupier, who still holds the key, and is giving up possession on Saturday, considered it advisable to withdraw his permission for the present in consequence of the great crowds that have assembled in the vicinity of the house. He thinks it best to keep the house shut up for a night or two so that the general interest in the affair may abate sufficiently to prevent large crowds assembling.
Eastern Daily Press, 29th May 1902.
A Haunted House at King’s Lynn.
“Invisible Hands and Fiery Eyes.”
The customary quiet of King’s Lynn has been rudely disturbed by some extraordinary stories of a haunted house at Windsor-terrace, occupied by a family who recently came from Norwich. Some years ago a demented girl was confined in one of the bedrooms of the house in question, and it is said that in this bedroom a man once died from terrible injuries.
For the past five years, at any rate, there was nothing unusual noticed in the room, while the house was occupied by a Great Eastern Railway guard and his family; but since the Norwich family arrived it is reported that there have been weird and wonderful manifestations.
Members of the family who have been interviewed describe how the bed was violently dragged about by invisible hands, while at the same time as an awful rushing wind came up the staircase. A youth stated that he was flung out of the bed on to the floor, and though he saw no form he discerned an awful pair of big fiery eyes.
The whole family refuse to sleep in the house at night, and are accommodated at a neighbour’s. Huge crowds nightly assemble, and parties of inquirers, who have spent nights in the bedroom, testify to strange manifestations.
Bournemouth Daily Echo, 29th May 1902.
The King’s Lynn Ghost.
The reputed “ghost” of Windsor Terrace, King’s Lynn, has now been left in solitary occupation of the house which throughout the week has gained considerable notoriety and attention from the declaration that it had suddenly become “haunted.” Interest in the mystery has flagged somewhat, and the nightly demonstrations of credulous persons outside the house have ceased, thanks to the combined agencies of the rain and members of the police force.
The truth or otherwise of the assertion that the house was genuinely haunted has led to discussions which have been as animated as the bedstead was declared to have been, but the occupier strongly resents the insinuation that he “raised the ghost” from ulterior motives.
Eastern Daily Press, 2nd June 1902.
A Haunted Bedroom.
Some sensation has been created at Lynn by reports of ghostly manifestations at a house in the town. New tenants have recently taken the place, and on the first night of their occupancy a ghostly visitor, it is stated, shook on one of the beds. A watch party was organised, and again the bed was shaken, strange noises being heard. The tenants have taken another house, and have declared their intention of leaving the animated bedstead behind them.
Cornishman, 5th June 1902.
Lynn Ghost Captured.
The mystery of the haunted house in Windsor Terrace, King’s Lynn, has been solved, and the ghost- or rather one of them – has been captured. On paying a visit to the empty house, strange noises were again heard, and, upon a close investigation, it was found that this ghost had come down the chimney, and was fluttering about the room in its attempts to escape – possibly to pay a visit to some other abode. Like all angels of bad repute, the ghost was dark in colour, and was possessed of a strong pair of wings. After a desperate struggle the all-disturbing visitor was captured and placed in the hands of an ornithologist, who pronounced it to be a fine young starling – evidently one of a nest subsequently found in the chimney. It must have been a very strong imagination to have moved the bedstead in the manner described by those who were so frightened by the visitor.
Eastern Daily Press, 7th June 1902.
“Haunted House” mystery solved.
The haunted house mystery at King’s Lynn, which caused considerable sensation locally, has now been solved. Ghostly noises in the house caused the inmates to flee in alarm. Neighbours visiting the empty house heard a strange flapping, which has now been satisfactorily explained by the capture of a fine starling which had built its nest up a chimney in the house.
Coventry Evening Telegraph, 7th June 1902.