LOOKING BACK
The intelligent poltergeist
by Roger Guttridge
On January 11, 1895, the Western Gazette published a story about strange goings-on in a Dorset village. The paper described ‘considerable excitement’ at Durweston ‘in consequence of the supposition that one of its cottages is haunted’. The cottage was one of a semidetached, white-walled pair that stand high on the hill above Durweston. They have been a familiar landmark for 170 years and can be seen to this day from the A350 and the trailway between Blandford and Stourpaine. The events that caused the stir began on December 13, 1894, when widow Mrs Best heard knocking and scratching sounds in various parts of her cottage. The strange noises recurred several times over the next few days, gradually increasing in volume until next-door neighbour Mr Newman could also hear them. Bizarre occurrence The village blacksmith said the sounds were ‘as heavy as sledgehammer blows’. Mrs Best, aged about 60, had recently taken in two orphaned sisters from the workhouse, Annie, aged 12 or 13, and Gertie Cleave, who was four. Annie was in poor health. A doctor described her as ‘of a markedly consumptive tendency’ and ‘hysterical’. As December wore on, even more bizarre occurrences took place. Small stones flew through the windows, breaking the glass, then returned of their own volition through the clean, round holes they had made. On December 18, Annie saw an old boot fly from the garden and strike the back door, leaving a muddy mark. Gamekeeper Mr Newman saw beads strike the window while a ‘quantity of little shells’ and two thimbles travelled horizontally 5ft off the ground.
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‘They came very slowly and when said the incredulous gamekeeper. they hit me I could hardly feel Other witnesses included them,’ said Mr Durweston’s Newman. ‘The rector, the Rev W “Small stones thimbles struck flew through the M Anderson, and my hat.’ schoolmaster, Mr windows, breaking Sheppard. Other moving the glass, then objects included a Following the two slate-pencil and a returned of their men’s arrival, hasp. Mrs Best put the own volition After the old girls to bed in Mr through the clean, Newman’s house boot returned, Mrs Best threw round holes they and lay down it outside and beside them. had made” Mr Newman put Loud rappings were his foot on it and heard on the walls commanded: ‘I defy anything to in different parts of the room, move this boot.’ along with occasional scratching ‘Just as I stepped off, it rose up sounds. behind me and knocked my hat Despite checks to ensure no-one off; there was no-one behind me,’ was playing tricks, the ‘loud and
get in touch with Roger: roger.guttridge@btinternet.com
