Post by Joanna on Nov 14, 2013 2:51:02 GMT -5
Epworth ghost is reexamined in new book
The case for North Lincolnshire’s most famous ghost, The Epworth Rectory Poltergeist, is investigated in a new book, A Natural History of Ghosts by Roger Clarke.
Roger believes the story of the Epworth Rectory ghost is one of the most famous Christmas ghost stories of the 18th century.
The family of John Wesley, founder of Methodism, lived at Epworth Rectory during the 1700 and 1800s and began to hear strange knocks, footsteps and groans coming from unoccupied parts of the rectory in the weeks leading up to Christmas in 1716.
The Wesley family began to hear what they took to be the sounds of the Epworth Rectory poltergeist, which they nicknamed Old Jeffrey, shortly after taking on new servants in November 1716.
An intake of new servants, who were not used to a house and its layout, were customary at that time of year and is something Roger believes led to the first reports of Christmas ghosts.
He says: “The Epworth Rectory ghost is undoubtedly one of the most famous 18th century Christmas ghost stories in British history, largely because of John Wesley’s insistence that his family make a record of every time they came into contact with the poltergeist.”
The Epworth Rectory ghost is one of the key hauntings of the last 500 years examined in Roger’s book, which was published by Penguin Publishing and is available now, priced £9.99 ($16.02).
Source: Doncaster Free Press, November 12, 2013.