Leeds Intelligencer (31/Mar/1855) – The Seed Hill Ghost

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


The Seed Hill Ghost

This mysterious affair has at last been partially explained. On Thursday night it was suggested by a gentleman that a number of them should go on a tour of inspection through the house, and, by applying their walking sticks to different articles of furniture and washing utensils, see whether it was possible to produce a sound at all corresponding with that produced by the “ghost.” Accordingly they went, and after a short time succeeded in gaining a clue to the affair. One gentleman having brought his stick to bear upon the washing machine, the result was most conclusive, and upon interrogating a little Irish girl of about 12 years of age, named Catherine Healey, who was employed as maid-of-all-work by Mr. Routledge, she confessed to being guilty and was forthwith taken into custody. What motive could have been prompted so young a girl to such an act, and by what means she has been able so long and so successfully to baffle the investigations of at least half the people of Huddersfield, is at present shrouded in mystery.

Huddersfield Chronicle (31/Mar/1855) – The Mysterious Rappings at Seed Hill Dyeworks

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


In our last impression we recorded the fact that sounds of a most mysterious character had been heard in the dwelling-house of Mr. Samuel Routledge, immediately adjoining the above works, for some days previously. We also stated that in consequence the premises had been visited by a number of “tolerably” respectable persons, at which accidental form of expression some of our respectable readers, and a few of Mr Routledge’s select visitors, took exception, for which we feel sorry, though we see no hopes of not this week again falling under somebody’s censure unless we could call all our readers around us in our sanctum, and submit our manuscript to their inspection, which would, we fear, only add to our embarrassment. Therefore, we must “rap” on alone by recording the fact that since last week, up to Thursday evening, the rappings continued, with intervals of varied suspense, from day to day, and have attracted hundreds of respectable, tolerably respectable, and anything but respectable people to the spot, but regardless of each of these the “rappings” continued, and ever and anon the clear, but peculiar and well-defined “rappings” were heard above the mimic imitations which were going on at the time by some curious experimenter, with his knobbed-stick, on the wainscoating of the passage. Many as were the imitations essayed in our presence, yet there was no mistaking the real “rapper” from his counterfeits. If not the “observed of all observers” the noise produced a total cessation of all imitations, as by general consent, so soon as it commenced, and it became obvious to us from many careful experiments, that the sounds produced in the majority of instances were much louder, and in all cases markedly different, from those which were essayed in imitation by a number of gentlemen who, from day today, evinced a laudable curiosity to unravel the mystery. Nor was Mr. Routledge less desirous to solve the matter, notwithstanding the many idle rumours set on foot to the contrary. He thoroughly cleared out all the gas and water pipes about the premises, and we believe that every drain either directly or remotely connected with the house has been opened, and thoroughly cleansed. None of these expedients, however, produced any change, and, to Mr. Routledge’s still greater surprise, on his return from Bradford market, on Thursday night, he found the commotion greater than ever, and was informed that not only had the ”rappings” increased in their intensity during his absence, but that during the evening a portion of the bedding and bed clothes had come down stairs, helter skelter, of its own accord, into the front passage ! This circumstance first roused suspicion in the mind of Mr. Routledge and his friends in reference to an Irish nurse girl in the house, named Catherine Hayley, not more than thirteen years of age, and she was closely interrogated, but denied all “rapping” propensities. During the evening a clairvoyante was again brought into the house, thrown into the mesmeric state, and performed some strange antics over and under the bed and among the bed clothes, put to no purpose. In the meantime Mr. Routledge sent the nurse-girl to bed, and the “rapping” ceased for the night. This was data to work upon, and accordingly Mr. Routledge and his friends commenced a series of experimental “rappings” on doors, panels, &c. in the apartments to which this said Irish nurse girl had chief access, but still the peculiar sound was not produced until they arrived at a washing machine in the kitchen, when “rap, rap” was made thereon, and lo, all declared that this was the precise sound which had scared their wits for now nearly ten days. This led to a closer inspection of the machine, the end of which showed a series of bruises and indentations, leaving but little doubt that here the “rapper” had carried on its work. Thus far satisfied Mr. Routledge retired for the night, and early the next morning he charged the nurse girl with having been the operator on the washing machine in question. For some time she stoutly denied the soft impeachment, but on Superintendent Thomas being sent for she first admitted that she had made part of the rappings with a stick on the said washing machine, and she subsequently confessed that the whole of these “rappings” had been made by her on it, and on a door in the best kitchen, on which latter she “rapped” with a small sandstone. She also admitted that on the previous night she seized a favourable moment, took off her clogs, ran upstairs, threw down the bed linen, returned and put on her clogs, and then gave the alarm to a gentlemen who had mounted guard in the front parlour ! This, and much more she revealed, showing an amount of deception and cunning in one so young, as has, for some ten days past, “struck dumb the timid and amazed the wise,” but which has clearly proved that she alone was the evil genius, for since her removal from the premises, yesterday morning, the “rappings” have ceased, Mr. Routledge’s residence has assumed its wonted privacy, and what was deemed as something supernatural by the many has proved to have been the mere device of one very ignorant, though very cunning little Irish girl. Verily, what great events from little causes spring ! We think it right to add that the girl has made a full confession of the modus operandi by which she has so successfully gulled the public, and has admitted that none other than herself was in any way privy to the deceptions she has so successfully, and with so much sang froid, carried on for several days. We need scarcely add, that Mr. Routledge has dispensed with her services, but we hear, with some surprise, that a few foolish people are attempting to make a “lioness” of her, which we feel certain sensible people will not countenance.

Halifax Courier (31/Mar/1855) – The Seed Hill Ghost

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


The Seed Hill Ghost.

The something which we last week denominated a ghost of percussion, is reported still to give indications that it has not “vanished at the crowing of the cock,” which proves that it has no kinship with those of olden time. It still continues its knockings. The oraculous have predicted that it will quit its vocation, if not this sublunary sphere, on the day following April Fool’s day, when, after the knock of a certain hammer, its mission will have ended, and the ghost will be laid.

The Secret of the Ghost Out.

On Friday morning the cause of the mysterious knocking at Seed Hill oozed out in the following manner :– On Thursday a servant girl of about 13 years of age, named Catherine Hayley, had pulled the bed clothes from the beds and thrown some of the pillows down the stairs, and then came down to another older servant, called Harriet Dyson, making a dolorous noise in order to frighten her. Mr. Routledge having returned home from the Bradford market was told of this new trick, and the next morning (Friday) he challenged Catherine with the whole imposture. She at first denied the charge, but Mr. R., persisting strongly in his surmise, she at length admitted that she had begun the knockings to frighten the other servant girl – Dyson. The way in which she produced the alarm was by beating the washing machine, which stands in the corner of the kitchen, with a crutch-like stick. The girl was taken into custody and examined by the police and other parties, but nothing has been elicited from her of being in collusion either with Mr. R. or any body else. No farther proceedings, that we know of, will be taken against her.

Halifax Courier (24/Mar/1855) – The Seed Hill Ghost

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


The Seed Hill Ghost.

The people of Huddersfield have been amused, surprised, and alarmed, as the case may be, these few days back, by the reported visits of a ghost, which secrets itself somewhere in the premises or mansion of Mr. Samuel Routledge, of Seed Hill. What questionable shape it may yet take, who can tell, but so far it has modestly kept out of sight, no one having seen its saucer eyes, if it have any, nor its horns or anything to make “night hideous,” beyond a noise. It is known, as yet, but as a ghost of percussion.

Leeds Times (24/Mar/1855) – The Seed Hill Ghost

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


The Seed-Hill Ghost.

During the whole of the past week the neighbourhood of Seed Hill, and in fact the whole of the “lower region” of the town of Huddersfield, has been in a state of extraordinary excitement owing to most alarming “noises” made in the house of Mr. Samuel Routledge, an extensive dyer, at Seed Hill. Mr. Routledge first called the attention of the police and the public to the matter last Saturday, declaring that the noises resembled the “striking of a door or a table-top with a stick or switcher with all one’s might;” that these noises were very frequent, and had frightened all his servants and even the cat from the house, and that he was thus left in awful solitude. The rumour spread rapidly, and every day since the house has been regularly besieged by crowds of people, all anxious to see and hear for themselves the marvellous doings of the ghost. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, several policemen were stationed inside the house. The ghost, however, was not to be intimidated either by the crowd or the police — “bang, switch, bang, switch, bang, switch,”—continued at intervals to echo through the corridors and rooms of the building. Impudent and cunning ghost! He is quite a ventriloquist; when you are seated in the dining-room, the sound appears to come from the front door ; and when you are at the front door, the sound appears to proceed from the dining room. A policeman was therefore placed at each of these places, determined to catch the ghost. “Bang, switch” echoes once more; each policeman rushes from his post to catch the fugitive ; they meet in the passage, and a terrific collision takes place, each knocking the other down, and in the melee the ghost escapes ! These watchings continued until Wednesday evening, when the police, fairly baffled, raised the siege, and left the ghost in undisputed possession of the fortress. The phenomenon remains a mystery, but the premises are advertised for sale by public auction on the 2nd of April, and rumour insinuates that the ghost is merely the result of some hidden galvanic wires, or some subterraneous steam pipes, and the ruse is to frighten purchasers, so that the house may be sold very cheap.

Leeds Intelligencer (24/Mar/1855) – A Ghost Story

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


A Ghost Story.

During the early part of the present week a good portion of the Huddersfield public have been running mad in their endeavours to discover the workings of a certain ghost, said to have located himself at the residence of Mr. Sam. Routledge, dyer, Seed Hill. On Sunday and Monday last several hundred people visited the place, and, strange to say, not a few returned deeply impressed with the reality of the story. How to capture the bane intruder has been a point which has drawn largely on the resources of the ingenious, aided by the light of official police experience, but up to the present time he continues his perambulations unchecked and undismayed. We record this much of this idle tale, as illustrating the great amount of superstition still prevalent in the popular mind.