Muttering Yokel of Olde Rock
Olde Rock House in Barton on Irwell seems like an unassuming place but it holds a secret. A royalist, fleeing from his Cromwellian pursuers, once disguised himself as a farmer and walked about the area muttering 'Now thus, now thus', until the roundheads had passed. Locals believe that his shade still re-enacts his escape, reliving that anxious time when his life depended on staying hidden. It's a strange and intriguing tale that has become part of the house's folklore.
The English Civil War was a time of great turmoil and the story of this royalist sympathiser is a testament to the fear and deception that characterised that era. Disguising oneself as a farmer was a clever ruse but it also shows the desperation of those who were on the wrong side of the conflict. The fact that his ghostly form continues to re-enact this charade suggests a lingering sense of unease or unfinished business. While there's no record of a specific date or time for these sightings, the persistence of the legend indicates that it's a story that has resonated with locals for generations.
English Civil War era
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Martha's Poltergeist Haunting
Finishers Arms Public House, Bolton
At the Finishers Arms Public House in Bolton, a rather mischievous presence is said to reside. Locals have long whispered about Martha, a mill worker whose body was allegedly found in a nearby lake - now a car park - after she'd been drinking at the pub. It's said she likes to make her presence known through poltergeist activity, moving glasses and creating unexplained footsteps. Some have even claimed to have seen her apparition, dressed in a flowing white gown.
Ghostly Toilet Visitor
Farrars Arms Public House, Grasscroft
Farrars Arms Public House in Grasscroft is home to a rather unusual ghost. A male spirit is said to haunt the women's bathroom, which is a bit of an oddity. The upper part of the building is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a maid who died on site. It's not clear what connection, if any, the male ghost has to the maid or the rest of the building, but his presence is certainly felt by those who've encountered him.
Phantom Publican Robert Adams
Engineers' Arms Public House, Nelson
The Engineers' Arms Public House in Nelson, Lancashire, has a long history of paranormal activity centred around the ghost of Robert Adams, its former landlord. After Adams passed away, his spirit reportedly returned to the pub, where he would be seen drinking behind the bar through a window. The new landlord, eager to investigate these strange occurrences, would often turn up to find the ghost, only for it to vanish upstairs, creating a great deal of noise in the process. This eerie manifestation has left many to wonder about the connection between Adams and his former establishment.
Phantom Lady of Preston
Spindlemakers Arms Public House, Preston
The Spindlemakers Arms Public House in Preston was once home to a phantom woman, reportedly the daughter of a former landlord. This ghostly apparition was said to appear in the 1980s, long after the scandal that led to her untimely demise had faded into memory. They say she was involved in a sensationalist scandal, but details of her story remain shrouded in mystery. The pub itself has a rich history, but it's the lady in white that really draws people in. Sadly, as of 2017, the Spindlemakers Arms was no longer open to the public, but that hasn't stopped people talking about the phantom lady who used to roam its halls.
Helpful Horse Boggart
Hackensall Hall, Fleetwood
Hackensall Hall in Fleetwood is home to a most unusual ghostly inhabitant - a boggart that took the form of a horse. This helpful entity was known to plough fields and work around the farm in return for a warm place to spend the night. It's a curious tale that has been passed down through the years, leaving many to wonder about the nature of this supernatural creature.
Ghostly Apparitions at Marine Hall
Marine Hall, Fleetwood
Marine Hall in Fleetwood has a reputation for being haunted by a former caretaker known as Old Bill. Anne Shipway, the waterfront co-ordinator at the hall, reported seeing a middle-aged man in a white shirt walking through a wall. This sighting was widely reported in the local press. It's said that Bill now walks around the site, possibly reliving his old routine.