Liverpool’s Haunted House
Grim stories of strange visitations
The old hall near the Botanic Gardens on the Edge-lane estate is being demolished, and so one of the last remaining historical relics of Liverpool disappears. At different times of its history the hall has been occupied by several families of local note, but age has woven round it a web of mystery. As in the case with most old buildings it was said to be haunted, and certainly the building had all the architectural characteristics which would recommend it as a habitation for a ghost, in the form of secret chambers and subterrancean passages.
The hall was for many years occupied by a Mr John de Nash, who acted as caretaker of the mansion for the Corporation of Liverpool, and it was during his tenancy that there was a remarkably strange visitation. The family were in bed asleep, when suddenly clear, defined and regular came the sounds of chopping wood, and the heavy thud of the axe upon the log; the short, incisive cut of the splinter, or the cracking noise of the splitting stick.
At first the sounds seemed to come from the kitchen, but later they appeared to travel into the hall and up the staircase, ceasing just outside the bedroom door of Mr de Nash. He was a man of courage, and jumping out of bed he lit a candle and, revolver in hand, proceeded to search the house. It was futile, however, nothing being found.
On another occasion shortly after midnight there came to the sleepers the sound of a person heavily booted, ascending the stairs. Again the sounds were unmistakable. In great terror the dog ran whining and yelping to the door of the room occupied by Mr de Nash, and lay there trembling in every lib. But not a sign of the heavily-booted person was to be seen. Such noises as these, strange and weird, often broke the silence of the night, and roused the sleeping household.
Liverpool Echo, 16th April 1913.