HALLOWE’EN is almost upon us with Warrington once dubbed “The most ghost-infested town in England”.
It’s a popular night for children and families alike as they enjoy the tradition of trick or treating around the town’s streets often dressed in their ghostly costumes On Octobert 31st.
But Warrington itself has a rich – and varied – history with ghosts and tales of mysterious apparitions over the years, with the late Wally Barnes, writing several books based on Warrington being the “Most ghost-infested town in the country.”
He wrote three books titled “Ghost, mysteries and legends of Warrington” featuring characters like Dandy Dick Peabody!
Another well-known spooky tale is the mystery of the crawling man. This centres on The Black Horse Inn on Liverpool Road. Previously used as a stabling yard, it was run by a blacksmith called Giles Boston, who had four brothers and were Cromwell supporters.
During the Civil War in the late 1600s, battles took place around Warrington on Warrington Bridge and at Winwick, killing three of Mr Boston’s brothers.
When a group of royalist Cavaliers on the run forced their way into the pub and demanded its horses, a fight broke out. Giles Boston was run through in the chest with a sword by the leader of the Cavaliers and crawled for approximately 200 yards to raise the alarm, dying moments later.
He retaliated and drew his sword, killing two of the Cavaliers. Their leader then drew his pistol and shot him twice.
For hundreds of years, witnesses have claimed to have seen a ghost holding one hand to his chest outside the pub.
Back in 1912, Sankey Bridges gatekeeper Len Kay spotted an injured man crawling along the pavement of Liverpool Road. When the man drew level with Mr Kay, he vanished completely but he witnessed great pain and agony in his face.
Fifty-two years earlier, in 1860 a resident was awoken by loud knocking on their front door. They were confronted by a man who was in great pain and seemed to be asking for help. He vanished into thin air before the resident could rush to their help.
Well-known psychic Kevin McGrath helped move on five ghosts which bothered a woman living in Marsh House Lane. Back in 1996, Joan Davies was reduced to a nervous wreck after the ghosts of two young girls, a teenage boy and girl and another small girl, made her life a misery.
She explained how they ran around upstairs, thumped her in her back and breathed on her face.
Bewsey Old Hall near Gulliver’s World in Callands is reputedly haunted by a white lady, reputedly the ghost of Lady Isabella de Boteler who was abducted from the building and forced to marry against her will. And it gained a further ghostly reputation in the 1930s when it was the scene of a murder.
It was built in the 13th Century by William Fitz Almeric le Boteler and was home to the gentry of Warrington for many generations. Prior to the hall being built, it housed a monastic grange. The Jacobean building has distinctive chimneys and stone mullion windows. In the late 1980s, archeological excavations uncovered artefacts such as pottery, coins and a medieval leather shoe. A seal die carrying the impression of a rabbit dated back to the 14th Century.
A statue of the White Lady ghost was commissioned by Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation, and sited at Bewsey Old Hall Maze. The skirt curved round like a sail to form a pattern of holes, so it was possible to see through the ghost despite it being a solid sculpture. The statue was removed from the maze in 2007 and stored at a premises in Anderton, from where she was sadly stolen
If you are in the Cultural Quarter in Warrington, glance up at the old Springfield Street Post Office top floor building on the right-hand side. For many decades it was subject to much spooky speculation.
The rumours began after a woman thought she saw a figure waving to her. It could have been either a small old woman or a child. She wasn’t sure.
She reported the incident to the manager of the Post Office at the time but they said it was impossible anyone was up there as the area was locked.
Pubs are often the site of ghost stories or myths. The Ring O’Bells in Church Street was purported to have a ghost which haunted the old building, next to St Elphin’s Church. And the Barley Mow in the town centre has been the scene of ghost sightings, thought to be an older man and young boy killed in a road collision. On two occasions, staff members thought they’d seen either a colleague or an intruder – but there was no one there.
The former site of Winwick Hospital is also the subject of unexplained paranormal activity. A phantom nun is said to walk into what is now Hollins Park House in Winwick and take her seat, before mysteriously vanishing. Other reports have included the sounds of phantom children running and shouting as well as a ghostly apparition in white.
In May 1995, a motorist driving to Warrington from Knutsford along the A50, passed a man in the road who was attempting to flag him down. The figure had slicked back white hair and was wearing all black.
Passing the man, the driver decided to turn around and try to help the man. He was less than a mile away from him. To his horror, he realised the man was now just a few metres from his car. It would have been impossible for him to cover such a distance in such a short time. Panicking, the motorist drove off, spooked by what they’d witnessed.
One of the most popular places in Warrington for families, Walton Hall, was also subject to ghostly speculation. Built in 1836 for Gilbert Greenall and his wife, Lady Daresbury, her ghost is said to haunt the main staircase of the house, which is a popular site for events and weddings.
It is believed she died here and now her ghost is said to appear on the stairs and occasionally push unsuspecting visitors. A male ghost has also been spotted. The speculation led to Yvette Fielding’s Most Haunted programme being filmed at the hall during series 18.