London Polt October 21, 2015
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
We are in London in 1847, in a religious family.
The whole of the neighbourhood of Black Lion Lane, Bayswater is ringing with the extraordinary occurrences that have recently happened in the house of Mr. Williams in the Moscow Road, and which bear a strong resemblance to the celebrated Stockwell ghost affair in 1772. The house is inhabited by Mr. and Mrs. Williams, a grownup son and daughter, and a little girl between ten and eleven years of age.
Any seasoned polt watchers should immediately expect anyone young and female.
On the first day, the family, who are remarkable for their piety, were startled all at once, by a mysterious movement among the things in the sitting-room and kitchen, and other parts of the house. One time, without any visible agency, one of the jugs came off the hook over the dresser, and was broken, then followed another, and next day another. A china teapot, with the tea just made in it, and placed on the mantelpiece was whisked off on to the floor, and was smashed. A pewter one which had been substituted immediately after, did the same, and when put on the table, was seen to hop about as if bewitched, and was actually held down while tea was made for Mr. Williams’ breakfast before leaving for his place of business. When for a time all had been quiet, there came off from place on the wall, a picture heavy gilt frame, and fell to floor without being broken.
The dancing of objects seems to be a key theme in this haunting
All was now amazement and terror, for the old people are very superstitious, and, ascribing it to supernatural agency, the other pictures were removed and stowed away on the floor. But the spirit of locomotion was not to arrested. Jugs and plates continued at intervals to quit their posts, and skip off their hooks and shelves into the middle of the room as though they were inspired by the magic flute; and at supper, when the little girl’s mug was filled with beer [!!!], the mug slided off the table on to the floor. Three times was replenished and replaced, and three times moved off again. It would be tedious to relate the fantastic tricks which have been played by household articles of every kind. An Egyptian vase jumped off the table suddenly when no soul was near, and was smashed to pieces. The tea kettle popped off the fire into the grate. Mr. Williams had filled the teapot, which fell off the chimney piece. Candlesticks, after dancing on the table, flew off, and ornaments from the shelves, and bonnets and cap-boxes are flung about in the oddest manner imaginable. A looking-glass hopped off the dressing-table, followed by combs and brushes and several bottles, and a great pincushion has been remarkably conspicuous for its incessant jigs from one part to another.
Who was guilty?
The little girl, who is Spaniard, and under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, is supposed by their friends to be the cause of all, however extraordinary it may seem of one of her age; but up to the present time it continues a mystery, and the modus operandi is invisible. Perth Adv, 8 Apr 1847, 4
Any subsequent reports on the ghost of Bayswater? Drbeachcombing At yahoo DOT com
