‘Ghostly’ visits at West Stanley.
Strange story of a “Woman in Black.”
Wall-rappings.
Tenants frightened by midnight noises.
Strange stories of uncanny rappings, midnight footsteps on the stairs, and the ghostly visitation of a woman in black with a child in her arms are being told by people living in some of the new Council houses in Newburn Road, West Stanley. Among the phenomena alleged to have been seen and heard by some of the residents are: Midnight rappings on the walls; Cupboard opened by unseen hands; Sod of grass thrown in a bedroom; Mysterious footsteps; and Locked doors opening.
The houses are situated on what was formerly the site of an old farm, which was demolished when the site passed into the hands of the Council. One of the tenants, it is stated, was so frightened by the mysterious noises that she left her house a week ago and is now living in another part of Stanley. Several of the tenants associate the ghostly noises with the death a few years ago of a man named Fitch, who was killed in the Beamish Mary Pit which is in the immediate vicinity. Up to the time of his untimely death Fitch was living in one of the farm cottages which stood on the site. Other tenants think there must be some solution to the mysterious noises. It is probable that if these weird noises continue a spiritualist will be consulted with a view to solving the mystery.
When an “Evening Chronicle” representative visited Newburn Road this afternoon he was told by Mrs Thompson, one of the tenants, that her daughter Blanch, had been so affected by the weird occurrences that she had been forced to leave Newburn Road and live with some relatives at Spennymoor. Mrs Thompson said that since her return last week she has been compelled to keep a light burning in her bedroom at nights because as soon as the room became darkened the mysterious noises and rappings began, and she is affected by an ‘unseen presence’.
On Friday evening Mrs Thompson was hanging some curtains in the front room which overlooks the main road, when she felt as though someone was in the room, but the door was locked, and she could see no one. “There were queer rappings on the walls,” she added, “and as if someone was walking across the landing, and for some time I was unable to hang the curtains.”The statement made by Mrs Thompson was borne out by other tenants, one of whom said that only last week a cupboard in her house seemed to open, yet, on looking, she found it was shut again. Her husband took a poker, and as he was going upstairs he heard footsteps coming down, and was aware of “something” passing him on the stairs. At the same time the front door opened and shut,though on investigation it was found to be locked.
Another tenant said that her dog which was kept in a kennel in the back yard, whined and howled for a long time the other night. She went out to see what was the matter, and tried to coax the animal into the house, but he would not move from the back of his kennel.
Mr Thompson, the husband of Mrs Thompson, told an “Evening Chronicle” representative when interviewed at his work this afternoon, that during the past week a woman had appeared before him in his bedroom in each case after a series of mysterious rappings. Last night, he added, she appeared dressed in black and was carrying a child clothed in white in her arms. Mr Thompson added that he had not mentioned this experience to his wife. One day this week, he said, a sod of grass was found in the front bedroom, though the windows and doors were closed, and it had not been placed there by anyone in his house.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 28th August 1929.
It says ‘West Stanley’ but the road with this name is in the east of Stanley.