Vicar is called to haunted caravan.
By R.J. Simmons.
A mother and her 13-year-old son have been driven from their caravan by noises and vibrations that no-one can explain. Now she has called in the local vicar, the Rev. John Johnstone, in an attempt to solve the mystery.
I have twice spent an evening at the caravan near Cricklade, Wilts., to check on the strange noises. The first time, deep, almost rhythmical, vibrations began soon after the light went out. No one inside was responsible. A colleague checked that there was no one outside. The second time the vibrations were fainter and did not develop into the frenzied state of agitation of which I had been warned.
Near the caravan is a 200-year-old cottage that is being demolished. Local legend has it that it was once haunted. “I heard the stories and did not believe any of it, but now I am wondering if a spirit from the cottage has transferred itself to my caravan,” said the mother, who has asked that her name be kept secret.
One evening earlier this week, she said, there was a series of raps at her door. She called out and there was no reply. When the knocking came again she opened the door. There was no one there.
“At first I did not believe there could be a supernatural explanation. But with the help of the police I have explored every other possibility and now I am really terrified. I and my son have moved out to sleep in the caravan next door.”
Police from Cricklade have been present when the caravan rocked and vibrated. Neighbours have seen crockery tumble from shelves and heard the entire metal structure of the vehicle “hum and sing.”
Mr Johnstone has been vicar of Ashton Keynes since last September. Before that he was vicar in Bristol at St Barnabas, Knowle, and St Bartholomews, St Andrew’s. He said last night he would do what he could to help.
Western Daily Press, 8th February, 1963.
Ghost did not go with the caravan.
Western Daily Press Reporter.
The haunted caravan of Leigh, near Cirencester, was not sold as a bargain with a ghost thrown in, its previous owner said last night. Mrs G.L. Clark, of Bridge Farm, Glastonbury, said there were no sinister happenings while she owned the caravan. She kept it for only two months, but the three people who lived in it made no complaints. Strange things started to happen, she said, when the blue caravan was moved from Glastonbury to Cirencester. As it was towed through Wedmore one of the wheels wobbled badly. The screws holding it had worked dangerously loose. Said Mrs Clark’s father, Mr J.M. King: “It was perfectly all right when it left here.”
Since then wierd noises have plagued the mother and son now living in the two-berth caravan. They have been terrified by flying objects. A vicar failed to exorcise the “spirit” and now the mother has called in psychic research experts from London to try to stop the strange happenings.
She bought the caravan for £80 after answering a Western Daily Press advertisement. “It should have been more than £200” she claimed.
The man who sold the caravan to Mrs Clark was Mr R Clarke, of Madey Mills, Marton. It was his for four years, and the man who lived in it for most of that time never saw or heard anything. Mr Clarke said he bought the caravan originally from the Yeovil Caravan Company for about £150.
Western Daily Press, 13th February 1963.
Trippers flock to haunted caravan.
Western Daily Press Reporter.
The mother who left her haunted caravan to get some peace and quiet now has another problem – sightseers. “Last night there were seven cars here,” she said yesterday. “Would you please ask everyone to leave us in peace. We have enough troubles already,” she said.
Since the vicar tried in vain to exorcise the ghost at her caravan home at Leigh, near Cirencester, Glos., last weekend, ghost hunters have made her life a misery. “People have been wandering all over the place. They would not go until I threatened to get the police,” she said.
The mother, who has moved into a neighbouring caravan, is making a second appeal. She wants a new home for herself and her 13-year-old son. “Some kind person has offered us another site near here, but I will not be happy now until we have left this district behind us,” she said.
Western Daily Press, 15th February 1963.