HAUNTED SOUTH CHESHIRE

MUCH APPRECIATION TO CONGLETON CHRONICLE FOR THE USE OF SOME OF THE DATA INCLUDED IN THIS PAGE.

CONGLETON:

LADY WARBURTON WALK:

One of Congleton's most famous spooks is "Lady Warburton's ghost," who has been seen roaming along a footpath called Lady Warburton Walk.

In the 1960s a house that had been built in 1704 was demolished to make way for the estate at Daisy Bank, between Giantswood Lane and Rood Hill.

At first it was known as Warburton Hall, later becoming Hulme Walfield House, before changing again to Lower Daisy Bank. It overlooked the valley of the River Dane and secret passages are supposed to have led from the cellars and underneath the garden wall.

In 1813 Lady Warburton moved to the house when her husband Sir Peter died. Her own death in 1837 is surrounded by mystery. Some say that she killed herself after an unhappy love affair, while others believe she fell on to the cobbled courtyard from an upstairs window.

The other tale is that she was murdered by her trusted servant, who slammed the sash window down on her head as she leaned out to say goodbye to one of her male friends.

During the last war many people reported seeing her ghost roaming the corridors of the house, while more recently she has been sighted in the mists of the Dane Valley.

THE LION AND BELL:

Many of the public houses in Congleton are said to be haunted by an assortment of ghosts and ghouls.

Unexplained figures have been sighted patrolling the upper rooms and landing of the Lion and Bell in Mill Street, while another two ghosts have been seen by customers and staff in the bar area as well.

One of the spooks is a small, apron-wearing old lady with her hair worn in a bun and the other is a man with a disembodied head.

It is not known who the mysterious figures are, but one rumour is that many years ago a former licensee hanged himself in the coachyard. Years ago there was also an undertakers' business in the yard behind the pub where the extension now stands, which might also explain the figures.

QUEENS HEAD:

Customers at the bar of the Queen's Head in Park Lane, Hightown, have reported seeing a ghost on several occasions. One customer said that at 10a.m. they sensed somebody standing behind them and when they turned they were confronted by a black figure that has now affectionately been named "Emmie."

BEARTOWN TAP:

Ghostly occurrences have also been reported at the Beartown Tap, Willow Street, where the lights have been seen to flick on and off for no apparent reason.

EGERTON ARMS, ASTBURY:

Some people will not go upstairs in the Egerton Arms at Astbury.

One cleaner even felt something pass through her while working in the building. One suggested reason for this paranormal activity is that many years ago there was a murder in the building next door.

THE PLOUGH INN, EATON:

The plough in at Eaton, near Congleton, has had haunting reports for quite some years. The sound of what has been described as a rustling skirt has been witnessed going down the stairs and along a passage. As of yet this occurrence is unexplained and the cause unknown. The rustling though continues.

SALAMANCA, SMALLWOOD

A ghost was sensed within the building until the 1990s. A mysterious figure was seen passing through the bar before heading out via the back passage.

When the door was closed people would hear knocking, but when it was opened no one was there.

On one occasion an individual was almost knocked over by an unidentifiable force. Since then, a window has been inserted in the door and there have been no sightings.

SWETTENHAM ARMS:

A spectral nun is said to roam the grounds and rectory at the Swettenham Arms. Previous owners were told that the site used to be a nunnery and that there was an underground passage between the pub and the church.

BIDDULPH

Running by the Castle Inn in Mossley is a tributary of the Dane. It used to be called "Dyse Bwg" or "Ghost River". It runs from Ghost Hill Farm to Bugs Lane, now renamed Halls Road, in Biddulph. A lwoman wearing white or grey is said to haunt the river bank at night where the stream runs near to Biddulph Church.

HOLMES CHAPEL:

HOLMES CHAPEL MILL, HOLMES CHAPEL ROAD

This is also reputed to have its own ghost. One man came down from upstairs chalk-white and vowed never to go up there again.

VALE MILL:

A fustian cutter is said to have cut her throat with a knife and has reportedly been seen haunting the millpond ever since.

OLDE RED LION:

The ghost of a phantom brown lady haunted a once sealed room in the pub, though there have not been any reported sightings as of late.

OTHER LOCAL LOCATIONS:

LITTLE MORETON HALL:

Back in 1997 the "Chronicle newspaper" reported that a young visitor got more than she bargained for on a visit to Little Moreton Hall, where she claimed to have seen a "greasy" ghost in the upper porch room off the Long Gallery.

The 13-years-old girl went into the room ahead of the group she was with and came out a couple of minutes later looking "extremely upset." She said that she had been touching a fireplace when she saw a man's face looking disapprovingly at her through cracks in the fireplace.

She said he had green eyes, dark, thick eyebrows and greasy skin, with large pores.

One of the tour guides was amazed to hear the story, as in 1995 two young boys said they had seen a person in the upper porch dressed in Tudor clothes. On that occasion, when the guide entered the room to check, nobody was there.

THE BRIDESTONES:

A ghostly sighting close to the Bridestones, the ancient burial site between Congleton and Rushton Spencer. A dark shadowy figure, can anybody shed light upon this sighting?

A recent report in the Congleton chronicle rom a local lady reported witnessing, with her partner, a druidic figure dressed in white at the site, the UPIA are now taking steps to look at the site and its history in depth and would like to involve the public in our research. If you have any information regarding this site, its folklore, legends or paranormal activity, please contact the UPIA.