It’s been raining every day for 10 months – claim.
Vicar called to a home that leaks.
By John Ripley.
It’s been raining in every day for the past 10 months for the Garner family. But no one can explain the strange phenomenon at their home in Foxholes Close, Milnrow. Council workmen, relatives and friends in the building trade have all inspected the ceilings, loft and roof of the bungalow. But no one can find the cause of the problem.
The Rev. Michael Jones, Vicar of All Saints’ Church, Hamer, blessed the house in an attempt to drive out any evil influence. But the family says that after he had left, the water came back worse than ever. Now they are desperate to move. Vera and Jim Garner, their daughter Jeanette and grand-daughter Alison have lived in the prefabricated bungalow for 13 years.
Beds, furniture, carpets and wallpaper have all been damaged. Thirteen-year-old Alison is now staying with a friend. Only one bedroom in the house is usable – Mrs Garner and daughter Jeanette are sharing it while Mr Garner sleeps on the living room floor.
Mrs Garner said: “The water comes at least once a day, without warning, and has hit every room in the house at one time or another. It started in the back bedroom. Huge drops of water were gathering on the ceiling and it was pouring in like rain. We’ve told the council, but it doesn’t seem to happen when they send people to inspect it – then as soon as they have gone it reappears. We thought it might be a poltergeist – that was why we got the vicar to come and bless the house. He was here over half an hour, saying prayers in each room and splashing holy water around. He said he hoped it had gone and would never come back. But since then it’s been even worse. I feel like I’m at the end of my tether. I don’t want to leave my home but I don’t feel like I’ve got any choice.”
Assistant Housing Director, Mr Brian Courtney said extensive checks had been done. He said: “Nobody has been able to find any source of a leak. Obviously if we found one we would repair it straight away. The tenants are adamant that there is a problem, but as we can’t find one we can’t solve it. The only alternative we can offer them is a transfer. I believe they have been given a list of areas where we might be able to rehouse them and we are waiting to see if they are interested.”
The vicar said: “I hope Mr and Mrs Garner will be able to see that there are forces for good at work. They seem to feel very much that they are being troubled by something in the house.”
Rochdale Observer, 2nd August 1995.
(photograph caption also calls the road ‘Foxholes Court’.)