Three girls go on the trail of ghosts.
A young South Shields housewife has been surprised to hear that her house was “haunted” 20 years ago. Three grammar school girls are going to call on Mrs Victoria Downs and her husband Joseph in Pollard Street, South Shields, to ask about mysterious footsteps and noises which were heard in the house many years ago. Lynda Wardle, Sylvia Watson and Ann Ward, all aged 15, are touring the town looking for ghosts and will compile a book about their experiences. Their interest started when Lynda, of Colman Avenue, Tyne Dock, read a library book on witchcraft.
Mrs Downs will not be able to help them. She has had no trouble with ghosts whatsoever. She said: “I am afraid there are no ghosts here now. I do not believe in them. The fact that the house is supposed to have been haunted years ago does not bother me at all.”
Mr Dennis Dutton, a 31-year-old plumber, of Lawe Road, lived in the Pollard Street house 20 years ago. He said: “Nobody stays in that house very long. When we lived there funny things used to happen, like doors being mysteriously unlocked during the night when we knew for sure that nobody had been near them. Footsteps used to be heard on the stairs, but when we looked no one was there.”
Mr Dutton admitted putting the girls on to the Pollard Street “ghost trail,” but he said: “I hope Mrs Downs does not mind me telling the girls about the house. I do not believe in ghosts either, so I am sure the thought will not bother her.”
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 31st March 1965.