HAUNTED WIRRAL:

IThe Wirral peninsula offers lots, beautiful views, places of interest, walks, history and is also very lively when connected with the paranormal, many researchers of history and the likes, often have a number of tales related to them by the peninsula's residents, both old and new, investigations concerning both hauntings and UFO's are always on-going, here are a collection of these tales.

Bebington is a village steeped in history; the home of Lord Mayer, who built his hall,

and one of the countries first free libraries, and public parks; The world renowned

Port Sunlight and Lord Leverhulmes soap factory, just over the rail tracks; St Andrews Church; And the many stories of the monks.

St Andrews Church is built on a site of a former Saxon church. The present building dates back to Norman times, and is a fine example of church buildings from that period. It was originally used as a training site for novices of the priesthood. the young monks used to travel between here and St Johns in Chester, to study for their futures in this profession.

There have been reported many sightings in and around the church and its grounds, and all of the witnesses descriptions have been nearly exactly the same, every time.

Many people have told of seeing ghostly apparitions of the monks leaving the

churchyard and walking towards the old collegiate house, a short distance away in

Kirket lane. In all cases the descriptions have been that of a tall hooded figure gliding

approximately 15 inches from the ground. It is interesting to find that the ground has

dropped about this much, since the monks walked here.

One lady, from the churches congregation, was one day kneeling and praying in the side chapel, just off the main building, something began to make her shudder, she looked up and saw two rows of grey hooded figures, sitting on both sides of the choir stalls, exactly where the monks used to sit when a service was being held.

There has also been three other sightings of monks in the area, of Bebington, In a lane just outside the church, a grey shadowy, hooded monk, has been seen walking towards the church, and disappearing into, what used to be a tunnel, which ends at the church.

A report that I have recently received was related to me, by a local Bebington chemist, while walking home at dusk, one fine summers day, she was approached by a tall grey hooded figure, she did not notice properly at first, but when she did, there were a lot of spoiled groceries, and some fast feet to say the least, this occurrence was at the aptly named Monks Way.

The final Bebington monk, was witnessed by a paperboy, one early morning at day break, he had just begun his paper round, the air had a thin mist hovering just above the ground, perfect conditions for a sighting or what? His eyes had not started to work properly, so when he saw a 6 foot plus monk, his mind did not register until he got home, so who did he wake up, at that wonderfully early hour. The site if this monk, Abbots Grange, a small council estate, built upon the grounds of the Abbot of St Werburgh in Chester’s Wirral Home.

If nothing else then, some wonderful Monkesque road names can be found in Bebington. one fact that we can gleam from this tale of the Bebington Monks.

One of the most picturesque spots on the Wirral peninsula is also renowned for its frequent ghostly sightings.

The ghosts of Dibbinsdale bridge in Bromborough are believed to be witnessed often. A nun whilst walking from Birkenhead priory to St Werburghs in Chester, asked for a nights bed in the manor house near to the bridge, she was never seen again. It is said that the lord of the manor seized her and starved her to death. The reasons are as murky as the mists of time, some say it was because the nun would not let him have his way with her, others say it is for what she was.

There are two descriptions of the ghost, one a headless white form, the other wearing a rusty coloured dress and swinging a small lantern, witnesses claim she glides two feet from the ground and moves down the hill towards the bridge. Numerous people have seen this apparition, some in fact have drove right through her, causing them no end of panic. These two reports could actually mean that there are two apparitions, haunting the Dibbinsdale area

A recent report from Dibbinsdale is also very interesting, An old man dressed in an old tweed like jacket and cloth cap, has been seen riding along on his old fashioned push bike, the witness in this case noticed the gentleman was easily cycling his bicycle up the hill, quite a feat for anybody, with the incline of the hill, but when they checked their rear-view mirror, the old man was nowhere to be seen.

If you have any stories, or if you have noticed something strange here at Dibbinsdale, contact us, we can then add this to our data banks, and try to find out more about the phantoms of Dibbinsdale bridge.....

Built in 1593, Leasowe castle was originally the summer home of the fifth lord of Derby. During the civil war, it passed into the hands of cromwellian supporters. It became very neglected, and became known as Mockbegger Hall, by the locals, and travelling soldiers. Since these days, Leasowe Hall has belonged to numerous well to do families. At one point it became a Convalescence home for railwaymen. Now though it is one of the Wirral’s best known hotels and eateries.

For a number of years now, the hotel has been visited, quite regularly, by two unpaying guests, from one of the bedrooms, patrons are often to be found, running down the hallways, at a late hour. The ghosts of a gentleman and a young boy, appear together scaring the occupiers half to death.

History tells us that many years ago, there began a family feud, which ended in a man and his son to be locked up in a room in the castle. Rather than allow his son to suffer there imprisonment, he killed him and then committed suicide. The phantom pair have been witnessed by many, but reports have lessened over the last few years, so have the father and son made up with their relatives?

Not far away from the castle, is the tale of the Leasowe mermaid, She was often seen at midnight in the moonlight and at full tide, sitting on some boulders near to the shore, combing her hair and singing as only mermaids can.

The mermaid was both beautiful and irresistible, as one young man came to find out, John Robinson found her sitting on Black Rock near Liverpool, as he sailed by in his boat. Disregarding all his mother had told him, he fell pray to her charms, he invited her on board his vessel, where there talked for a long while. She dived back into the deaths of the water. She then gave him her ring as a keepsake. Five days later, John Robinson died of a broken heart. This story told of Black rock being near Liverpool, it is actually just off Leasowe, as found in Speeds 1610 map of Cheshire, pinpoints it, correctly lying just off Leasowe’s shoreline.

It is said that many others have been swept away to their doom, after hearing the mermaids beautiful tune. But doe’s she still sing today....?