Sevenhampton.
Rural superstition: A haunted house.
If credence may be given to the reports which have recently emanated from Sevenhampton, public schools, penny libraries, and the like have not yet destroyed the belief in supernatural agencies. Within the last few weeks, it is said, the inmates of a small cottage situate in the village have been mystified by strange noises proceeding from the region of the mantel-piece. The sounds, it is further stated, consisted of hard rappings, which, mingled with other peculiar noises, attracted attention by their continued repetition.
No natural cause could be discovered for such mysterious effects, and, in course of time, the tenant published the affair to the neighborhood, and invited the co-operation of his neighbors in an investigation. As a consequence various persons have visited the cottage and on successive nights have heard the rappings, the author of which is popularly supposed to belong to the supernatural. If so, the rapper has shown a strange disregard for the general rule of spiritual manifestations, as the noises are heard in the daytime as well as in the night.
One account states that the rappings are repeated with redoubled energy when the name of a former tenant of the cottage, now deceased, is uttered; and this has been taken by the credulous as indicative of the existence of some treasure hidden in the cottage or its vicinity. The incident serves to illustrate the unenlightened ideas which are even now entertained about the spirit world. A comic side will doubtless appear to the story when the cause of the noises has been rationally explained.
North Wilts Herald, 16th January 1891.
If any credence may be given to the reports which come to hand from the neighbouring village of Sevenhampton, the dissemination of knowledge by means of public schools, penny newspapers, etc., has not been so rapid or complete as to destroy all belief in the supernatural. According to the tales, told in more or less definite language, a certain cottage in the village has been lately occupied by a new tenant, whose strange doings are spoken of in mysterious whispers. “He” – for the visitor is spoken of in the masculine gender – does not appear to have been on commercial purposes intent, as he never advertised his coming; and he manifested a retiring disposition in neglecting to ask permission to occupy the premises.
He is not credited with having cumbered the building with furniture or children, and, as far as can be learnt, no charge can be brought against him for dilapidating tendancies. The accounts furnished of the stranger do not as yet deal with the domain of the visual, for it is said that “he” has only betrayed his existence by sundry tappings and other undefined noises.
Popular belief has, it is stated, credited the “tapper” with supernatural powers and habits; but it is a matter of doubt whether the investigations which are said to be proceeding will confirm this belief.
Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette, 17th January 1891.
A house was reported to be haunted at Sevenhampton. It has been discovered that the “haunting” consisted of a clock which emitted strange noises, on account of something being wrong with the works.
Devizes and Wilts Advertiser, 29th January 1891.
The “Haunted House.”
The haunted house scare has been dispelled by the discovery that the peculiar sounds which attracted notice were caused by a clock. The clock was kept on the mantelpiece, and the noises ceased as soon as the clock was taken away. The noises were due to some irregularity in the mechanism, and were doubtless intensified and reverberated by the chimney. Other cases of supposed supernatural visitations and noises would doubtless prove, as in this instance, entirely devoid of any but natural features if properly investigated.
Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle, 31st January 1891.