Vinchelez Manor said to be haunted.
Bells ringing and uncanny rapping.
(Special to “Jersey Times.”)
That an old manor-house should be haunted is, in our matter-of-fact days, considered as only historical romance. Though superstition dies hard and sceptics abound, nevertheless when opportunities occur the reputedly haunted mansion, grange, manor, or whatever the description be, is always sure to be carefully inspected and the alleged occurrences closely investigated. Many tales of revenants are told in the country, and more or less hypothetical adventures are spoken of with bated breath and the resultant conventional shivers are duly shivered and faces duly blanched by the courteous listeners.
But this is no ordinary ghost tale which we have to relate. Vinchelez Manor, St Ouen, has, as far as we know, been occupied by peaceful Jersey people for generations, and we are not aware that any deed or misdeed of any of their predecessors calls for any particular demonstration on the part of any departed disconsolate one. However, the fact remains that the present occupants have for the last week been terrorised. From 9 o’clock in the evening till 2 in the morning all the bells in the Manor, anticipating Whitsuntide, start a competition – even the big bell joins in, and their tintinabulation (apologies to Edgar Allan Poe) disturbs the well-deserved rest of the household and their neighbours.
Now sceptics, as we have said before, abound here as in every other civilised country, and a number – about 15 – of the relatives, friends and neighbours recently laid wait for the supposed campanologist. They mustered and in solemn conclave, awaited the dread summons with a sort of “Hear it not, Duncan, it is a knell which summons thee to” &c, feeling about them. They heard it right enough, and they heard the rapping at the door. This was the opportunity and the bold 15 valiantly demanded “Who did it?” and other quetions of that sort.
But the joker did not appreciate these stern and quasi-magisterial demands, so he promptly went off to another part of the building and merrily jingled all the bells he could conveniently get hold of there. Our valiant seekers in psychical matters were nonplussed and sedately, quietly, and ruminatingly went off to bed. This was too much for them, the practical joker must be caught; besides it disturbed the equanimity of everyone in the manor.
Again a fresh number of semi-sceptics paid a visit, with the same result – wherever they heard the knocking, rapping, and ringing of bells, and they put the usual query, just as promptly as before went the noise to the other end and vice versa.
It was felt that human curiosity was being imposed upon, so the St. Ouen’s police are to be placed in command, and the due capture of the rapping joker is hoped for. Of course, students of Psychical Research are at liberty to explore and investigate!
Jersey Independent and Daily Telegraph, 27th April 1907.
The Vinchelez Manor Ghost!
As we mention on page 6, considerable excitement prevails in the neighbourhood of Vinchelez Manor. The rappings and bell-ringing continue though every precaution has been taken to discover the cause. Last evening quite a hundred persons assembled around the Manor in the hope of catching the supposed ghost or practical joker.
A line of black cotton was affixed around that portion of the building where the rapping and ringing is prevalent, so that it was impossible for anyone to get near without detection. This did no good, for the rapping went on merrily, just as usual, and though a door was opened as soon as the rapping commenced against it no one was reealed.
One of our representatives interviewed Mr P.J. Le Feuvre, Constable of St Ouen, on Thursday, who stated he was present on Wednesday, and the whole affair is mystifying if not supernatural. The unfortunate part is that this has been going on for a week, and, naturally enough, the occupants of the Manor are much disturbed and annoyed. The mystery is causing general comment.
Jersey Independent and Daily Telegraph, 27th April 1907.