In the remote Orkney Islands, a small family and their servant were subjected to a relentless barrage of unexplained hammering sounds at John Spence's house in Stronsay. The strange occurrences began in April 1791 and continued to escalate over several months, with the nocturnal disturbances growing louder and more intense. As if the hammering wasn't enough, the family was also tormented by distressed moans that seemed to emanate from nowhere. It was as if some mischievous entity had taken up residence in their home, determined to make its presence known.

This poltergeist activity took place during a relatively quiet period in the history of the Orkney Islands, which had been inhabited since the Mesolithic era. The family, led by carpenter John Spence, had been experiencing these bizarre events for months before they finally took action. In an attempt to put an end to the haunting, John invoked the Holy Trinity and commanded the entity to speak. Following this, the sounds ceased and never returned. The fact that multiple witnesses, including the family and their servant, heard the strange noises lends credibility to the account, which remains a fascinating example of poltergeist activity in the British Isles.