A ‘Haunted’ Cottage May Be Exorcised.
From our Derby Correspondent.
For more than a quarter of a century “ghosts” are said to have haunted a lonely cottage in the Derbyshire village of Longnor. But now they may be exorcised by the Vicar of Longnor, the Rev. Harold Finnemore. The vicar has been called in by the present occupier of the cottage. Yesterday Mr Finnemore said: “I am indeed making inquiries. It is a matter of exorcism. The ceremony is rarely carried out nowadays, as there is no authorised form of service, and there is difficulty in finding the traditional prayer.” He added: “There is one prayer, however, dating back to 1549, that can be adapted for use in the exorcism of a house, which I could perform. Exorcism of a person can be carried out only by a bishop. I cannot say any more than that, or I will be breaking a professional confidence.”
Strange noises have been heard on the stairs of the cottage, there have been explosions in the fireplace and a cat has been heard to scream.
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 15th April 1961.
There may be a poltergeist in your house.
… The poltergeist knocks where he likes, but seems to prefer cottages and small houses. A typical visitation was in a country cottage at Longnor, Staffs, last December and early this year. Crackling, ripping, and “explosive” noises were heard, and the occupant, a 51-year-old ex-farmer, described noises like “someone rolling a giant barrel up and down the stairs, and rumbling in the chimney.” He was pitched bodily out of bed – and gripped by powerful, unseen hands in the kitchen. He saw calendars and pictures ripped off a wall and chairs move across the floor on their own. The manifestations died away after a religious service of exorcism.
Manchester Evening News, 5th July 1961.