Cauldknockles Farm Ghost
Cauldknockles Farmhouse in Tanfield, County Durham, was once home to a rather restless spirit. Farmer Stephen Hollin, who met a grisly end at the hands of his two nephews, was said to haunt the farm. His ghost, dressed in a brown suit and hat, was blamed for a spate of poltergeist activity that broke out after one of the nephews confessed to the crime. But Hollin's phantom wasn't all malevolent; some farmhands claimed he lent a helping hand, assisting with chores like milking cows and carrying heavy buckets of meat.
The story of Stephen Hollin's murder and subsequent haunting dates back to before the twentieth century. It's said that Hollin was murdered by his nephews, who also burnt and hid his body. The farm was plagued by strange occurrences, and Hollin's ghost was eventually blamed for the death of a serving boy, found murdered with a plough blade. An exorcism was performed at the farm in an attempt to put an end to the disturbances. Although the farmhouse is no longer standing, the legend of Stephen Hollin's ghost lives on.
The haunting is believed to have occurred before the twentieth century, with the farmhouse since being demolished.
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