A Local Haunting

[poliphilo]

Carl's daughter and her husband are tenants of a haunted house. You name it, they've got it- sounds, apparitions, poltergeist phenomena.  Carl says he'd take it all with a pinch of salt if his son-in-law weren't a thorough-going sceptic- and the most unlikely person to be either imaging things- or making them up.

It's a new house- a rented property- and the last tenants left in a hurry.  From the beginning N and M heard noises- but all houses creak and settle and one soon gets used to it- but then...

M was in the house alone. His nephew- who is staying with them- was out for the night and M decided to sleep in the nephew's room because it has a TV. He woke in the night to hear someone enter the room and walk to the side of the bed.  He opened his eyes and saw a blurry  figure against the curtains. He assumed it was the nephew- come home unexpectedly- and thought no more about it.

Only, of course, next day he was still alone in the house- and when he rang his nephew to check, the lad said he'd been out all night.

There were other happenings. A glass flew off a work top, Carl's wife felt icy breath on her neck.

And then one evening M and N were in the lounge, watching TV, when the baby suddenly started screaming. They ran upstairs-  to find the cot had been moved clear across the room and the child's lip was bleeding.

So now they're moving. Luckily- if that's the right word- the landlord has already voided the lease by not fixing the central heating when he said he was going to- and N and M are free to go without forfeit.

A day or so after the incident with the cot, Carl went up to the baby's room and told the haunter to stop bothering his family or they'd have him to deal with. Carl is good with ghosts- They tend to seek him out- and he's been told more than once he needs to train as a medium. He says he felt the temperature rise and the jittery atmosphere lift.

All we know about the history of the house is that it stands on what was formerly the site of an old cotton mill.

Comments

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I love stories like this, though I've never had a direct experience with a ghost so I remain a skeptic. But I WILL say that the thought of ghosts doesn't bother me until I get the think of one standing by the bed as I sleep. That would freak me right out.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I used to be terrified of ghosts when I was a kid- not that I've ever seen one- but I've educated myself out of it. Ghosts can be annoying and mischievous but it's very rare- almost unknown- for one to cause a living person serious injury.

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

The building that I work has a couple of ghosts, one a shadowy figure that lurks in the ladies toilet (how vulnerable would you feel if that appeared when you were sitting on the pan??)and another a first world war soldier that's been seen by a couple of people on night shift - it apparently materialises into view a bit like the transporter effect in the original Star Trek series.

I haven't seen any evidence of these though - some people seem to be more susceptible to these sort of things than others, and alas I'm not one of them.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've always been fascinated by the supernatural butI've never had a full on ghostly encounter. I think you're right. Some people have the "gift" and some don't. It's probably genetic.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

When a spirit becomes violent with a baby is when it's time to leave it to its own devices and go elsewhere. I'm glad they can get out of the lease.

And when things like that happen to sceptics is when I start to believe. People like Carl have a special ability to connect.

I'd be out of there already if it were me. Yes, I'm apprehensive.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It takes a lot of energy to drag a cot across the room.

Ailz suggests that the ghost is still living in the ghost of the old mill. It came across the baby in among the ghostly machinery- and removed it out of harm's way. Well, it's a possibility.

[le-oef.livejournal.com]

wow, yikes! neat. thanks for sharing.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

My pleasure.

[shullie.livejournal.com]

there is an old man not harmful,just wanders a round the palce... a young girl about 7 or 8, michevious. hearsounds of running with her. and a rather - well fels like a old woman, not happy not nice... but that just the vibes I pick up from your post... a pic would be good if you have one.

xxx

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Three of them, eh? Presumably it's the old woman who's messing about with the cot.

I've never been to the house and I don't have a picture- but Carl reads this blog and may be able to provide us with one.

Are you reading this, Carl?

[carl9whalley.livejournal.com]

Yes ive read it thank you. I will put photo's on soon. Iv'e even got 1 with orbs on.Watch this space !!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Excellent. If you send me the photos I'll post them.

[shullie.livejournal.com]

I'll loook forward to see in... it's been a while since I could just pick things up from vibrations..and it's something I would like to work more with.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There have been problems- as detailed in my latest post. Someone doesn't want that picture to be viewed. I could persist, but I'm honestly a little afraid of having my computer crash or my LJ be wiped....

[chochiyo-sama.livejournal.com]

I would have a word or two for a ghost that would hurt my baby.

Then I would kick its ectoplasmic ass.

I have seen ghosts. They have never done anything to me. it's a little unnerving, but I don't think i was ever terrified.

The one that threw the stuff off my dressers freaked me out a little and made me more cautious about what I said about them. heh heh.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's very rare for ghosts to cause anyone any serious physical harm. It's as if there were rules in place to stop them. I suspect the baby banged her lip while the cot was being dragged and that the ghost didn't directly intend to hurt her.

I think Carl took the right line. Show them you're not afraid and they wilt.

[(Anonymous)]

When we lived in a rented apartment about 3 years ago we had some strange happenings that freaked us out. One time we got home and a glass that had been on the table lay smashed on the floor (the window was not open and this was about 3 stories up). Another time we woke up in the morning to find 2 chopsticks placed in the middle of the floor in the kitchen. That was really worrying, as it must have happened whilst we were in the bedroom asleep. I think there was something else to do with the Christmas tree also. I set up a camera pointing at the front door to record when triggered by motion, but caught nothing. I also had it linked to a monitor in our bedroom so I could keep an eye on it from bed. I got the lock changed on the front door in the end and nothing further happened. I'm guessing it was former tenants.. any thoughts?
Tom F

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Those are just the sort of things ghosts do. They particularly like to smash glasses. I don't really know why- maximum effect for minimum effort, I suppose.

The thing to remember is that ghosts aren't really in the least bit dangerous. It's extraordinarily rare for them to cause any physical hurt.

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Never had any run-ins or experiences with ghosties. Did have the experience where we were doing a rehearsal for a play I had written and it was the morning of the performance. Up in the control/lighting area, the lights flashed on and off and there was nobody there at all!

The play was about Yeats, so we put it down to him :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ghosts have an affinity for electricity. Presumably because it's pure energy, just as they (probably) are.

I like the idea of old W.B. screwing about with your lighting.

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Yeah, esp as he had a row with the wife about how to light paraffin lamps.

He was one of those Great Geniuses who had a practical wife to do stuff like that for him.

Christ, we women are such fools.

[(Anonymous)]

After your father passed on, didn't the burglar alarm inexplicably start as he was being taken out of the house? And wasn't there something similar to do with Joan?
Tom F

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There have been several incidents with my father- including an utterly inexplicable flood in my mother's kitchen the first time Ailz and I went down to visit after the funeral. It's my belief he's still around, benignly keeping an eye on his family- and occasionally getting up to innocent mischief.

With Joan it was an alarm clock that went off- for no apparent reason- when we gathered at her house after the funeral.

[(Anonymous)]

Ah yes, I thought it was an alarm clock. So given that you believe in ghosts, do you think that everyone can or does become a ghost, or is it some kind of state that certain people get stuck in? And if it's the former are you looking forward to spooking some people :)?
Tom F

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think anyone can become a ghost, but I don't think many do. When you die the normal thing is to whizz off to the afterlife. Ghosts are people who- for one reason or another- fear of judgement, mental confusion, unfinished business- stay behind. There are also spirits who shuttle between the dimensions- dropping in on life every so often to see how things are going on.

[goddlefrood.livejournal.com]

http://www.paranormaldatabase.com/hotspots/manchester.php

You may find something about this there. It might hold some interest anyway.

Tardily yours

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That's an interesting site.

Our house isn't on the list. I'd didn't really expect it to be. Most hauntings go unreported.

[goddlefrood.livejournal.com]

True, that most hauntings go unreported. A friend and I, when at primary school, saw the ghost of a woman carrying an old-fashioned lamp. That's not at the Paranormal Database either. We never spoke to each other again after that and went to separate secondary schools.

I wouldn't believe in ghosts, but for that sighting.

Not the world's biggest cynic, am I, although I can't be far behind whoever it is.

All the best