Liverpool Hauntings

[researchwriter]

Hi all,
I'm currently working on a book for Tempus Publishing about Liverpool's ghosts and hauntings (not in any way connected to Tom Slemen's work).

I'd love to hear from anyone who has any ghostly accounts of their own to share or some haunted places they'd like to recommend for inclusion.

I'm aiming to make the book as factual as possible, including as much of the documented history of the buildings/areas/people as I can find and interviewing witnesses personally if possible.

Obviously, I can't give too much away about what I'm working on but, if you're interested in seeing a sample of my work, you can read my article about The Childe Of Hale on the Fortean Times website HERE

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers.

[smb1971]

researchwriter: I'm aiming to make the book as factual as possible...

Not likely. Yours is the realm of fantasy (great for scaring small children, but little else). And what exactly are 'ghosts' supposed to be anyway -- lost souls?

If that is so, why always do ghosts appear fully clothed, not nude? I mean, clothing is soulless, so where do 'ghosts' get their 'ghost apparel' from? Please also explain 'ghost mechanics' to me (ghost car/aircraft sightings, etc). Does a 'ghost car' require 'ghost petrol', and is it nontaxable?

[researchwriter]

stephenb said:

researchwriter: I'm aiming to make the book as factual as possible...

Not likely. Yours is the realm of fantasy (great for scaring small children, but little else). And what exactly are 'ghosts' supposed to be anyway -- lost souls?

If that is so, why always do ghosts appear fully clothed, not nude? I mean, clothing is soulless, so where do 'ghosts' get their 'ghost apparel' from? Please also explain 'ghost mechanics' to me (ghost car/aircraft sightings, etc). Does a 'ghost car' require 'ghost petrol', and is it nontaxable?

I have no idea what ghosts are or even if they exist but I'm interested in chronicling people's experiences, often of things that they themselves cannot explain. Ghosts are very much a part of our folklore is a part of our history and identity. I think it's important to preserve these things and I think it's of interest to all of us to look into and acknowledge the unexplained, even if all we are doing is admitting that there are some things we don't understand. maybe we can understand them in future? Seems a lot healthier than just dismissing it all as nonsense.

[june]

I don't know if it is of any use to you but my mum used to work in the Black Bull as a cleaner in the 60's and they had a resident ghost that they used to call Charlie. The story that i remember is that he lived there and was jilted. He never got over it and killed himself. I don't know how true it is, I just remember my mum coming home one day white as a sheet because while cleaning the stairs she felt a gust of wind rush past her. When she looked up she saw the seat at the top of the stairs depress like someone sat on it. When I was 16 I worked there for a while and one of the waitressed lived in the attic room with her son. She was terrified because things used to fly across the room. sorry not to be of more help. we can all do without the skeptics of this world. It's fine if they don't believe but no need to preach to those of us that do!

[researchwriter]

Thank you very much for that June, very interesting.

[johnkw]

Hi, Researchwriter:

Don't forget the ghost of Speke Hall!

I recollect visiting there decades ago and being shown one of the bedrooms which was reputedly 'haunted' (by a Catholic priest, I think) Apparently, the family that owned it way back were Catholics and, when Catholic priests were forbidden in England on pain of death, they had made a 'hidey-hole' to conceal any of the few itinerant priests that might visit them. I'm not sure of the full story, but I'm sure it's tragic! I do remember being told that few if any people who put the story to the test succeeded in spending a full night in that room without either bolting from it or becoming terrified under the covers!

All the best,

Johnkw

[johnkw]

Hi, Researchwriter:

Don't forget the ghost of Speke Hall!

I recollect visiting there decades ago and being shown one of the bedrooms which was reputedly 'haunted' (by a Catholic priest, I think) Apparently, the family that owned it way back were Catholics and, when Catholic priests were forbidden in England on pain of death, they had made a 'hidey-hole' to conceal any of the few itinerant priests that might visit them. I'm not sure of the full story, but I'm sure it's tragic! I do remember being told that few if any people who put the story to the test succeeded in spending a full night in that room without either bolting from it or becoming terrified under the covers!

All the best,

Johnkw

[researchwriter]

John,

Yes, Speke Hall with it's Priest Holes is in there, don't you worry.

johnkw said:

Hi, Researchwriter:

Don't forget the ghost of Speke Hall!

I recollect visiting there decades ago and being shown one of the bedrooms which was reputedly 'haunted' (by a Catholic priest, I think) Apparently, the family that owned it way back were Catholics and, when Catholic priests were forbidden in England on pain of death, they had made a 'hidey-hole' to conceal any of the few itinerant priests that might visit them. I'm not sure of the full story, but I'm sure it's tragic! I do remember being told that few if any people who put the story to the test succeeded in spending a full night in that room without either bolting from it or becoming terrified under the covers!

All the best,

Johnkw

[researchwriter]

We are now taking pre-orders for the the special edition of 800 Years of Haunted Liverpool (limited to 26 lettered and 24 numbered copies) featuring an exclusive bookplate by artist Mo Ali, signed by myself.

Also included is a special bonus article “The Underground Empire of Joseph Williamson” in the form of a handmade booklet signed by myself and its illustrator Leah Moore.

Each volume costs £9.99 (plus postage and packing) and will ship in early July.

Click on the banner at the top of this post or follow THIS LINK to reserve your copy now.

Cheers.

[researchwriter]

Well, my Liverpool launch went very well and my publishers are already asking me about tweaks for a 2nd edition despite the fact that the book only officially went on sale on Monday! Can't be bad, right?

You can read all the official info about the book at www.thehistorypress.co.uk or you can visit my Blog at www.HauntedLiverpool.Blogspot.com.