Hauntings B
Bank Close House, Hasland Road
In the nineteenth century, Bank Close House was the private home of William Drabble, his family and servants. In September 1868, the family of Joseph Bright was paying a visit to the house and, as a result of an altercation, the Brights' coachman, George Kelk, was murdered.
The house is now used as a care home and the home’s Manager has heard her name being repeatedly called. A little girl has been seen upstairs by one of the cleaners.
References:
Brindle, 2011.
In the nineteenth century, Bank Close House was the private home of William Drabble, his family and servants. In September 1868, the family of Joseph Bright was paying a visit to the house and, as a result of an altercation, the Brights' coachman, George Kelk, was murdered.
The house is now used as a care home and the home’s Manager has heard her name being repeatedly called. A little girl has been seen upstairs by one of the cleaners.
References:
Brindle, 2011.
Barlborough Hall
The Hall today is used as Barlborough Hall School (the preparatory school for the nearby Mount St Mary’s College) and has long had the reputation from its students of being haunted. For 200 years, the ghost of a grey lady, occasionally reported to be blue, has been seen walking the halls and corridors of the building.
There is a story of a groom being killed on his way to be married at a nearby church. He was due to marry the daughter of the house, who, hearing of his death, rushed back to Barlborough Hall and then threw herself from the battlements: since then, she is said to be seen when there is a full moon, wandering the battlements in her wedding dress, looking for her lost bridegroom. The ghost has become known as the ‘grey bride’.
An upper room, known as the ‘ghost room’, was the scene of the killing of a priest who had been concealed by the owners. His bloodstains are reputed to have remained on the floor of the room for many decades and occasionally they come back.
Two gentlemen, on their way to work via the Hall’s grounds at about 5.30 a.m., were walking up a hillock near the lake when they saw a woman dressed in old-fashioned clothes, who just disappeared as she reached the top of the hillock.
Two large doors within the Hall continually open and close of their own accord.
A phantom coach and horses have also been seen there.
See 'Robin Hood's Marriage' for details of a traditional belief.
References:
Anthony, 1997; Pearson, 1984; Armitage, 2005, 2009.
The Hall today is used as Barlborough Hall School (the preparatory school for the nearby Mount St Mary’s College) and has long had the reputation from its students of being haunted. For 200 years, the ghost of a grey lady, occasionally reported to be blue, has been seen walking the halls and corridors of the building.
There is a story of a groom being killed on his way to be married at a nearby church. He was due to marry the daughter of the house, who, hearing of his death, rushed back to Barlborough Hall and then threw herself from the battlements: since then, she is said to be seen when there is a full moon, wandering the battlements in her wedding dress, looking for her lost bridegroom. The ghost has become known as the ‘grey bride’.
An upper room, known as the ‘ghost room’, was the scene of the killing of a priest who had been concealed by the owners. His bloodstains are reputed to have remained on the floor of the room for many decades and occasionally they come back.
Two gentlemen, on their way to work via the Hall’s grounds at about 5.30 a.m., were walking up a hillock near the lake when they saw a woman dressed in old-fashioned clothes, who just disappeared as she reached the top of the hillock.
Two large doors within the Hall continually open and close of their own accord.
A phantom coach and horses have also been seen there.
See 'Robin Hood's Marriage' for details of a traditional belief.
References:
Anthony, 1997; Pearson, 1984; Armitage, 2005, 2009.
Barlow
On various occasions since the 1950s a screaming woman holding a child haunted a private farm near Barlow. A former worker at the farm has also seen a phantom old man in a corner of a room and has experienced poltergeist activity.
References:
Paranormal Database, 2014b.
On various occasions since the 1950s a screaming woman holding a child haunted a private farm near Barlow. A former worker at the farm has also seen a phantom old man in a corner of a room and has experienced poltergeist activity.
References:
Paranormal Database, 2014b.
Barrow Hill Rectory
The haunting of the old rectory at Barrow Hill included lights being turned off and on, ghostly footsteps and doors being opened and closed.
A number of people have remarked on a frightening ambience in the bathroom, some experiencing a choking feeling. An eccentric lady, who dyed her hair bright green and dyed her poodle to match, lived there in the past. This lady had a fit and died in the bath. A green coloured mist has been seen near a spiral staircase in the building.
References:
Pearson, 1984, 1986; Brindle, 2011.
The haunting of the old rectory at Barrow Hill included lights being turned off and on, ghostly footsteps and doors being opened and closed.
A number of people have remarked on a frightening ambience in the bathroom, some experiencing a choking feeling. An eccentric lady, who dyed her hair bright green and dyed her poodle to match, lived there in the past. This lady had a fit and died in the bath. A green coloured mist has been seen near a spiral staircase in the building.
References:
Pearson, 1984, 1986; Brindle, 2011.
Beetwell Street, Chesterfield
Both Ron and Joan Webster lived with Mrs Webster’s parents in the initial stage of their marriage, in an old building on Beetwell Street. On several occasions they both saw an apparition of Mrs Webster’s deceased cousin Jack, wearing a wartime despatch rider’s uniform.
References:
Armitage, 2009b.
Belmont Nursery, Baslow Road, Holymoorside
Belmont Nursery used to stand near the junction of Holymoor Road and Baslow Road and is now demolished. The tower was reputed to be haunted and the nursery nurses were afraid to go up it. There is also a legend that a cannon was fired from the tower in the direction of Gladwins Mark.
An approach was made by ASSAP with a view to investigating the nursery but the owner denied that there were any phenomena.
Both Ron and Joan Webster lived with Mrs Webster’s parents in the initial stage of their marriage, in an old building on Beetwell Street. On several occasions they both saw an apparition of Mrs Webster’s deceased cousin Jack, wearing a wartime despatch rider’s uniform.
References:
Armitage, 2009b.
Belmont Nursery, Baslow Road, Holymoorside
Belmont Nursery used to stand near the junction of Holymoor Road and Baslow Road and is now demolished. The tower was reputed to be haunted and the nursery nurses were afraid to go up it. There is also a legend that a cannon was fired from the tower in the direction of Gladwins Mark.
An approach was made by ASSAP with a view to investigating the nursery but the owner denied that there were any phenomena.
Black Swan, Ashover
The ghosts of a laughing Cavalier and of a woman who disappears through a wall are reputed to haunt the upstairs rooms of the Black Swan pub. In a part of the building that used to be a butcher’s shop, the mooing of cows has been heard, despite the lack of cows in the surrounding area.
References:
Armitage, 2005, 2011; Brindle, 2011.
The ghosts of a laughing Cavalier and of a woman who disappears through a wall are reputed to haunt the upstairs rooms of the Black Swan pub. In a part of the building that used to be a butcher’s shop, the mooing of cows has been heard, despite the lack of cows in the surrounding area.
References:
Armitage, 2005, 2011; Brindle, 2011.
Blue Bell Inn, North Wingfield
A ghost known locally as the ‘Blue Lady’ makes fleeting appearances in the lounge of the Blue Bell Inn and the adjacent living accommodation (which means that the inn ought really to be known as the ‘Blue Belle’). The ghost appears from the midst of a blue haze but only appears during warm weather. Before she emerges, other paranormal incidents tend to occur, such as lights flickering, bottles and glasses vanishing and reappearing and, on one occasion in the mid-1980s, the landlord had a bottle of spirit snatched out of his hand and smashed.
From the 16th to the 19th centuries the building was owned by the Savage family and it is thought that the ghostly blue lady is the heiress of a Vernon who married John Savage.
The licensee in the mid-2000s has felt hands placed on her waist from behind.
References:
Pearson, 1986; Armitage, 2009a; Brindle, 2011.
A ghost known locally as the ‘Blue Lady’ makes fleeting appearances in the lounge of the Blue Bell Inn and the adjacent living accommodation (which means that the inn ought really to be known as the ‘Blue Belle’). The ghost appears from the midst of a blue haze but only appears during warm weather. Before she emerges, other paranormal incidents tend to occur, such as lights flickering, bottles and glasses vanishing and reappearing and, on one occasion in the mid-1980s, the landlord had a bottle of spirit snatched out of his hand and smashed.
From the 16th to the 19th centuries the building was owned by the Savage family and it is thought that the ghostly blue lady is the heiress of a Vernon who married John Savage.
The licensee in the mid-2000s has felt hands placed on her waist from behind.
References:
Pearson, 1986; Armitage, 2009a; Brindle, 2011.
Bolsover Castle
Regular sightings of ghosts are reported at Bolsover Castle.
In about 1836 two ladies staying at the castle had the fright of their lives when each thought that they had seen the ghost of a deceased person late at night on the Broad Walk – but what had they really seen? Eyre (2016) provides the answer.
A number of the reported phenomena have occurred in the ‘Little Castle’, or keep. For example, in the kitchens an apparition has been seen of a young woman carrying a bundle under her arm. The woman shoved the bundle into the ovens, in which red hot coals could be seen. The witness heard a baby screaming and it became clear that the baby was being burned to death.
A ‘grey lady’ is alleged to walk through an archway in the wall of the fountain garden, where people have also seen ‘ghostly knights’ and, every year, a ‘little boy’ wearing old style clothing.
Various images of characters from a bygone age have been seen and many strange noises are heard in the castle.
During the Second World War, an injured soldier staying at the castle heard a piano being played in the rooms below him, followed by the sound of footsteps coming upstairs towards his room. Knowing no-one else should have been there, he was sufficiently alarmed to drag himself out of bed despite his broken leg and opened the door – but there was no-one there.
Sightings continue to the present day, with the ghosts of soldiers having been seen during a Roman military re-enactment in the early 2000s.
References:
Jennings, 1880; Daniel, 1974; Pearson, 1984, 1986; Anthony, 1997; Armitage, 2005, 2009; Brindle, 2011; Eyre, 2016.
Regular sightings of ghosts are reported at Bolsover Castle.
In about 1836 two ladies staying at the castle had the fright of their lives when each thought that they had seen the ghost of a deceased person late at night on the Broad Walk – but what had they really seen? Eyre (2016) provides the answer.
A number of the reported phenomena have occurred in the ‘Little Castle’, or keep. For example, in the kitchens an apparition has been seen of a young woman carrying a bundle under her arm. The woman shoved the bundle into the ovens, in which red hot coals could be seen. The witness heard a baby screaming and it became clear that the baby was being burned to death.
A ‘grey lady’ is alleged to walk through an archway in the wall of the fountain garden, where people have also seen ‘ghostly knights’ and, every year, a ‘little boy’ wearing old style clothing.
Various images of characters from a bygone age have been seen and many strange noises are heard in the castle.
During the Second World War, an injured soldier staying at the castle heard a piano being played in the rooms below him, followed by the sound of footsteps coming upstairs towards his room. Knowing no-one else should have been there, he was sufficiently alarmed to drag himself out of bed despite his broken leg and opened the door – but there was no-one there.
Sightings continue to the present day, with the ghosts of soldiers having been seen during a Roman military re-enactment in the early 2000s.
References:
Jennings, 1880; Daniel, 1974; Pearson, 1984, 1986; Anthony, 1997; Armitage, 2005, 2009; Brindle, 2011; Eyre, 2016.
Bowshaw House, Farm and Lodge, Bowshaw, Dronfield
This farmhouse at Bowshaw was split into two properties in the 1940s, named Bowshaw House and Bowshaw Farm, as a result of the inheritors not being able to decide how to split the inherited property. To achieve this, a dividing wall was built across the kitchen. Between the 1970s and 1990s, strange phenomena were experienced on both sides of this wall. The families in both houses have found that certain small objects often disappear, e.g. bedroom slippers or sets of kitchen knives – sometimes they reappear.
There is a legend that on certain nights of the year, an apparition wearing a long, flowing dress, known as the White Lady of Bowshaw, used to walk across the lawn and up the portico steps into the entrance hall of Bowshaw House. This entrance dates back to the 1730s.
Members of the Layton family (owners of Bowshaw Farm) have experienced the apparition of a dark female figure and the sound and sight of the door handle turning rapidly, with the door jammed shut, both phenomena occurring in the end bedroom.
In addition, a ghost dog, often known as a ‘padfoot’, has been heard and felt several times at these premises. The dog has never actually been seen but, typically, its footsteps are heard and / or the experiencers feel the dog nudging them. This type of experience was reported by several occupants of the premises during the 1970s and 1980s.
References:
Linahan, 1996.
Boythorpe Crescent, Chesterfield
In 1977 Billy Hughes murdered three generations of a family at Pottery Cottage, Eastmoor, as part of his escape plan, after overpowering the two prison officers escorting him in a taxi, as a result of a previous crime. Eventually, the police shot him and this was the first time that Derbyshire Constabulary had shot anyone. Hughes lived at Boythorpe Crescent. An attempt was made to bury him at Boythorpe Cemetery but locals were too disgusted by his actions to want him buried in their midst and filled in the burial plot before his body could be buried there, resulting in him being cremated instead. Since his death, several families living at the house where he lived have moved out after feeling an oppressive atmosphere and hearing a deep voice coming from one of the bedrooms.
This farmhouse at Bowshaw was split into two properties in the 1940s, named Bowshaw House and Bowshaw Farm, as a result of the inheritors not being able to decide how to split the inherited property. To achieve this, a dividing wall was built across the kitchen. Between the 1970s and 1990s, strange phenomena were experienced on both sides of this wall. The families in both houses have found that certain small objects often disappear, e.g. bedroom slippers or sets of kitchen knives – sometimes they reappear.
There is a legend that on certain nights of the year, an apparition wearing a long, flowing dress, known as the White Lady of Bowshaw, used to walk across the lawn and up the portico steps into the entrance hall of Bowshaw House. This entrance dates back to the 1730s.
Members of the Layton family (owners of Bowshaw Farm) have experienced the apparition of a dark female figure and the sound and sight of the door handle turning rapidly, with the door jammed shut, both phenomena occurring in the end bedroom.
In addition, a ghost dog, often known as a ‘padfoot’, has been heard and felt several times at these premises. The dog has never actually been seen but, typically, its footsteps are heard and / or the experiencers feel the dog nudging them. This type of experience was reported by several occupants of the premises during the 1970s and 1980s.
References:
Linahan, 1996.
Boythorpe Crescent, Chesterfield
In 1977 Billy Hughes murdered three generations of a family at Pottery Cottage, Eastmoor, as part of his escape plan, after overpowering the two prison officers escorting him in a taxi, as a result of a previous crime. Eventually, the police shot him and this was the first time that Derbyshire Constabulary had shot anyone. Hughes lived at Boythorpe Crescent. An attempt was made to bury him at Boythorpe Cemetery but locals were too disgusted by his actions to want him buried in their midst and filled in the burial plot before his body could be buried there, resulting in him being cremated instead. Since his death, several families living at the house where he lived have moved out after feeling an oppressive atmosphere and hearing a deep voice coming from one of the bedrooms.
Brackenfield
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a belief arose amongst the local population that Mr Limb’s barn in the village of Brackenfield was haunted – but was it? The reference below provides the answer.
References:
Eyre, 2016.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a belief arose amongst the local population that Mr Limb’s barn in the village of Brackenfield was haunted – but was it? The reference below provides the answer.
References:
Eyre, 2016.
Bradbury Hall, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield
Bradbury Hall has now been demolished to make way for flats and shops but prior to that, it had variously been used as a night club, sports centre and private home, belonging to the Robinson family since 1928 and belonging to John Smith prior to that, at which time the building was called ‘Field House’ (not to be confused with the Field House that was part of the Robinson’s factory on Dock Walk).
On one occasion, a plumber was working in the attic, when he saw a woman dressed in white come into the room and proceed to walk through the wall. It is suggested that this might have been the ghost of Mary (one of John Smith’s daughters), who committed suicide at Field House when she discovered that her bridegroom-to-be was already married. In fact, a number of premature deaths are associated with these premises. There have also been reports of objects being thrown and glasses smashing.
In the main hall, the ghost of a cat which had died as a result of being accidentally locked in the room while the hall was closed for two weeks, has been seen on a number of occasions. One of these was in about 1966, when the caretaker was almost knocked over by a snarling black cat with glaring eyes, which jumped over the caretaker’s head, ran towards the wall and vanished.
The caretaker’s house also seemed to be haunted, as on various occasions, unexplained footsteps and pungent smells were experienced there. Also, a blue ball of light has floated from an upstairs room to the landing. Unexplained switching on and off of lights has also occurred.
References:
Pearson, 1984; Armitage, 2009a; Brindle, 2011.
Bramley Vale
In May 2020, what was reported as being a figure jumping over the wall of a house in Bramley Vale was captured by the house's CCTV. It appeared as a red mist. It may have been something so close to the camera lens that it was out of focus but it is not clear what it is. the image can be seen at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tkv3k96zhUZJ3E4MA.
Bradbury Hall has now been demolished to make way for flats and shops but prior to that, it had variously been used as a night club, sports centre and private home, belonging to the Robinson family since 1928 and belonging to John Smith prior to that, at which time the building was called ‘Field House’ (not to be confused with the Field House that was part of the Robinson’s factory on Dock Walk).
On one occasion, a plumber was working in the attic, when he saw a woman dressed in white come into the room and proceed to walk through the wall. It is suggested that this might have been the ghost of Mary (one of John Smith’s daughters), who committed suicide at Field House when she discovered that her bridegroom-to-be was already married. In fact, a number of premature deaths are associated with these premises. There have also been reports of objects being thrown and glasses smashing.
In the main hall, the ghost of a cat which had died as a result of being accidentally locked in the room while the hall was closed for two weeks, has been seen on a number of occasions. One of these was in about 1966, when the caretaker was almost knocked over by a snarling black cat with glaring eyes, which jumped over the caretaker’s head, ran towards the wall and vanished.
The caretaker’s house also seemed to be haunted, as on various occasions, unexplained footsteps and pungent smells were experienced there. Also, a blue ball of light has floated from an upstairs room to the landing. Unexplained switching on and off of lights has also occurred.
References:
Pearson, 1984; Armitage, 2009a; Brindle, 2011.
Bramley Vale
In May 2020, what was reported as being a figure jumping over the wall of a house in Bramley Vale was captured by the house's CCTV. It appeared as a red mist. It may have been something so close to the camera lens that it was out of focus but it is not clear what it is. the image can be seen at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tkv3k96zhUZJ3E4MA.
Brampton Brewery, West Bars Roundabout, Chesterfield
After Brampton Brewery ceased to be used as a brewery, it was used by various small businesses and also by Saint Margaret’s Christian Spiritualist Church. The building was demolished in 1984 and the replacement building has been used as a retail store by B&Q and, more recently, by Matalan.
In one of the rooms of the basement of the original building, but after it had ceased to be used as a brewery, the ghost of an old man in mac and cloth cap was seen or sensed (and the smell of cigarette smoke detected) by many people over the years. The ghost is alleged to be that of a former night watchman.
At the time the building was used as a clothing factory, heavy breathing was heard by a supervisor whilst the building was empty. There have also been unexplained footsteps, door knocks, opening and shutting of doors, the smell of cigar smoke and an invisible force preventing two members of staff for a whole minute from walking across a yard. The girls working in the Tower Block 40 feet above ground level were once terrified by the sight of ‘faces’ peering in at all the windows.
Once, when a security guard was investigating why the burglar alarm was sounding, he found that his guard dog, presumably sensing something untoward of a spiritual nature, absolutely refused to enter the premises.
References:
Pearson, 1984; Brindle, 2011.
After Brampton Brewery ceased to be used as a brewery, it was used by various small businesses and also by Saint Margaret’s Christian Spiritualist Church. The building was demolished in 1984 and the replacement building has been used as a retail store by B&Q and, more recently, by Matalan.
In one of the rooms of the basement of the original building, but after it had ceased to be used as a brewery, the ghost of an old man in mac and cloth cap was seen or sensed (and the smell of cigarette smoke detected) by many people over the years. The ghost is alleged to be that of a former night watchman.
At the time the building was used as a clothing factory, heavy breathing was heard by a supervisor whilst the building was empty. There have also been unexplained footsteps, door knocks, opening and shutting of doors, the smell of cigar smoke and an invisible force preventing two members of staff for a whole minute from walking across a yard. The girls working in the Tower Block 40 feet above ground level were once terrified by the sight of ‘faces’ peering in at all the windows.
Once, when a security guard was investigating why the burglar alarm was sounding, he found that his guard dog, presumably sensing something untoward of a spiritual nature, absolutely refused to enter the premises.
References:
Pearson, 1984; Brindle, 2011.
Brampton (Night-time visitor)
In the early 1980s, a young man who lived in Brampton retired to bed one night but before falling asleep, was aroused by a knocking on the front door. He discovered it was a male friend, who had been locked out of his own house after a night on the town. The householder let his friend sleep for the night on the settee and they both went off to sleep. In the early hours, the friend was woken by what he assumed was the householder, who said he was going to make up the fire. Later that morning, the friend asked him why he had got up so early to attend to the fire, only to be informed that he hadn’t got up in the night and there weren’t any open fires anyway. The friend then described the person as a man wearing a long night shirt, smoking a cigarette and carrying a candle.
References:
Pearson, 1986; Brindle, 2011.
In the early 1980s, a young man who lived in Brampton retired to bed one night but before falling asleep, was aroused by a knocking on the front door. He discovered it was a male friend, who had been locked out of his own house after a night on the town. The householder let his friend sleep for the night on the settee and they both went off to sleep. In the early hours, the friend was woken by what he assumed was the householder, who said he was going to make up the fire. Later that morning, the friend asked him why he had got up so early to attend to the fire, only to be informed that he hadn’t got up in the night and there weren’t any open fires anyway. The friend then described the person as a man wearing a long night shirt, smoking a cigarette and carrying a candle.
References:
Pearson, 1986; Brindle, 2011.
Brampton (Spirit of grandfather)
At one house, laughing was heard by both the children living there and by a visitor. Both the mother and the children detected the presence of a man via a smell of dirt and cigarettes and of a woman via a smell of perfume. Other phenomena included drawing pins being thrown against a radiator and something sitting on one of the beds.
After the grandfather, who had been nursed there, died, the grown-up granddaughter heard him coughing upstairs. Without thinking, she rushed upstairs and briefly saw the figure of her grandfather in bed. He thanked her and then disappeared.
References:
Brindle, 2011.
At one house, laughing was heard by both the children living there and by a visitor. Both the mother and the children detected the presence of a man via a smell of dirt and cigarettes and of a woman via a smell of perfume. Other phenomena included drawing pins being thrown against a radiator and something sitting on one of the beds.
After the grandfather, who had been nursed there, died, the grown-up granddaughter heard him coughing upstairs. Without thinking, she rushed upstairs and briefly saw the figure of her grandfather in bed. He thanked her and then disappeared.
References:
Brindle, 2011.
Brampton (Sensitive dog)
There was a house in Brampton where for a month the family dog refused to walk to the centre of one downstairs room. It was later discovered that a man had suddenly died about that time of year and had lain sprawled on the floor in the centre of that room until discovered.
References:
Brindle, 2011.
There was a house in Brampton where for a month the family dog refused to walk to the centre of one downstairs room. It was later discovered that a man had suddenly died about that time of year and had lain sprawled on the floor in the centre of that room until discovered.
References:
Brindle, 2011.
Brampton Ale House, Chatsworth Road, Brampton
In the early 1980s, a group of men who had been drinking one evening at the Brampton Ale House persuaded the landlord to play a game with a makeshift ouija board after closing time. During this séance, the table lifted off the floor and pressed two of the men against the wall. This incident seemed to trigger further phenomena by way of the frequent appearance to the landlord of a ghostly woman dressed in black, together with a black cat, wandering around the premises.
References:
Pearson, 1984.
In the early 1980s, a group of men who had been drinking one evening at the Brampton Ale House persuaded the landlord to play a game with a makeshift ouija board after closing time. During this séance, the table lifted off the floor and pressed two of the men against the wall. This incident seemed to trigger further phenomena by way of the frequent appearance to the landlord of a ghostly woman dressed in black, together with a black cat, wandering around the premises.
References:
Pearson, 1984.
Brimington (Poltergeist)
In the 1960s there was an old stone-built coach house on the A619 in Brimington but this was demolished and replaced in due course by a new house. Three years after being occupied, the owner of the replacement house had the chimney swept and from then on, until the 1980s, continual poltergeist phenomena took place.
The phenomena took many forms but included
- sooty hoof marks appearing on an archway, which kept reappearing when washed off
- utensils being moved in the kitchen
- the sensation of someone getting into bed with the lady of the house (even though the other members of the family were downstairs at the time)
- newly acquired glassware being smashed
- the constituent materials of a basket being separated into balls and then mysteriously being woven back into a basket again
- a white coating appearing on the carpets
- unexplained smoke
- the hot water supply becoming hot in the absence of any energy source
- doors repeatedly opening when locked
- the image of an old lady dressed in old-fashioned clothes on the garden path, which faded away (the description of which tallied with that of a former occupant of the coach
house).
The phenomena even followed the wife to work, with smoke appearing there, even though there was no fire.
Many of the occurrences have been witnessed by friends, relatives and neighbours as well as the resident family.
References:
Pearson, 1984; Brindle, 2011.
In the 1960s there was an old stone-built coach house on the A619 in Brimington but this was demolished and replaced in due course by a new house. Three years after being occupied, the owner of the replacement house had the chimney swept and from then on, until the 1980s, continual poltergeist phenomena took place.
The phenomena took many forms but included
- sooty hoof marks appearing on an archway, which kept reappearing when washed off
- utensils being moved in the kitchen
- the sensation of someone getting into bed with the lady of the house (even though the other members of the family were downstairs at the time)
- newly acquired glassware being smashed
- the constituent materials of a basket being separated into balls and then mysteriously being woven back into a basket again
- a white coating appearing on the carpets
- unexplained smoke
- the hot water supply becoming hot in the absence of any energy source
- doors repeatedly opening when locked
- the image of an old lady dressed in old-fashioned clothes on the garden path, which faded away (the description of which tallied with that of a former occupant of the coach
house).
The phenomena even followed the wife to work, with smoke appearing there, even though there was no fire.
Many of the occurrences have been witnessed by friends, relatives and neighbours as well as the resident family.
References:
Pearson, 1984; Brindle, 2011.
Brimington (Night-time phenomena)
A young couple bought a house in Brimington and whilst decorating the house, prior to moving in, items would go missing from the decorating equipment left overnight in the building. One night, when the man was sleeping in the house, he was woken at 3 a.m. by the sound of running water. Investigating, he found the bathroom taps had turned themselves on. Becoming unnerved, he went downstairs to leave the house and found a strange, dark shadow passing him on his way out. He didn’t sleep there again until the work was finished and he and his wife both started living there. After moving in, the man saw coats lifting themselves from hooks and being thrown on the floor. Various objects went missing.
References:
Pearson, 1984.
A young couple bought a house in Brimington and whilst decorating the house, prior to moving in, items would go missing from the decorating equipment left overnight in the building. One night, when the man was sleeping in the house, he was woken at 3 a.m. by the sound of running water. Investigating, he found the bathroom taps had turned themselves on. Becoming unnerved, he went downstairs to leave the house and found a strange, dark shadow passing him on his way out. He didn’t sleep there again until the work was finished and he and his wife both started living there. After moving in, the man saw coats lifting themselves from hooks and being thrown on the floor. Various objects went missing.
References:
Pearson, 1984.
Brimington Road, Chesterfield
At 3 o'clock one morning in June 2014 a motorist was driving along Brimington Road and, having just gone round the bend towards the railway station, saw an old man walking in the road, wearing dark clothing. He was carrying a big, blue reusable supermarket bag. Several other people claim to have seen this man in the area in the middle of the night. Owing to the strangeness of doing the shopping at that time of night, the motorist and others have wondered whether it was a ghost.
In some new build houses on Brimington Road, mild poltergeist activity has been experienced, including keys floating on the stairs.
References:
Chesterfield Forum, 2014
Brimington Road North, Whittington Moor
As Mark Redman and his brother Matthew were driving under the railway bridge on Brimington Road North, late one night in 1987, they both saw a figure with a smashed in, completely white face in the road. Mark narrowly missed the figure, which promptly disappeared.
References:
Bell, 2005.
At 3 o'clock one morning in June 2014 a motorist was driving along Brimington Road and, having just gone round the bend towards the railway station, saw an old man walking in the road, wearing dark clothing. He was carrying a big, blue reusable supermarket bag. Several other people claim to have seen this man in the area in the middle of the night. Owing to the strangeness of doing the shopping at that time of night, the motorist and others have wondered whether it was a ghost.
In some new build houses on Brimington Road, mild poltergeist activity has been experienced, including keys floating on the stairs.
References:
Chesterfield Forum, 2014
Brimington Road North, Whittington Moor
As Mark Redman and his brother Matthew were driving under the railway bridge on Brimington Road North, late one night in 1987, they both saw a figure with a smashed in, completely white face in the road. Mark narrowly missed the figure, which promptly disappeared.
References:
Bell, 2005.
