Upton St Leonard’s WI: Ghostly Tales with Mike James

AN EERIE setting of a dimly lit room and 10 glowing candles on the table was an atmospheric introduction by Mike James of his talk on ‘Ghostly Tales in Gloucestershire’ and Cotswolds; a subject not known about by many of us.

Mike gives walking tours of Cheltenham and Prestbury naming the latter as the second most haunted town in the country, Pluckly in Kent being the first.

In 1715 when the ‘springs’ were discovered in Cheltenham, hence the name Cheltenham Spa, people flocked to take the waters, Prestbury high street was on the coaching road north and south, where roads crossed and people travelled.

Strips of land known as the Burgage Plot backed onto the highway and Sudeley, Bath and Cirencester were named as significant places to his tales.

Fred Archer a well known local jockey standing at 5’10” in height, very tall for his horse riding, being depressed, shot himself at 29 years old and it’s been known that ladies walking along have seen his figure dressed in his bright silks.

The ‘Black Abbot’ or monk crosses the church yard at Prestbury on certain feast days; Halloween and Christmas being two of them, being seen by a lady with a dog.

The priests settlement had a moat overlooking the hunting park where the Bishop of Hereford hunted, they were also linked to Llanthony Priory.

Prestbury’s most haunted pub is the Plough, in 1623 it changed from bank to pub and experiences of doors opening and closing, bottles moving, furniture moving without explanation, also a figure with a beard and Tweed jacket has been seen sitting on the sofa.

Who is it?

In the Civil War, 1649, Prince Rupert led the Royalists against the Roundheads and the sound of galloping hooves with headless horsemen have been heard, suddenly stopping in Mill Street.

Ghostly tales certainly, there were more but I was writing in candlelight I will let the readers use their imaginations of any abnormal ghostly happenings in Prestbury and the Cotswolds.

A warm round of applause followed with a vote of thanks from Pat Kidgell.

Business was brief as President Diane Thomas gave out birthday cards and notices, many in the GFWI news.

February 22, 10 ladies met at the Air Balloon pub for an excellent meal in good company, next meal Thursday, March 23, ‘Barge’ at Gloucester Quays.

Wednesday, March 22, GFWI ACM at Cheltenham Town Hall, guest speakers Lady Bathurst and Dr Lucy Worsley, TV historian - I can say it was a brilliant day.

Our ‘Fashion Show’ on Friday, April 21, clothes from M/O Stroud, please support.

Three Counties Show, June 16-18, at Malvern, volunteers needed.

Our evenings end with a raffle and ‘happy confusion’.

We meet again on Monday, April 3, 7.30pm in Upton St Leonard’s Village Hall.

Speaker, Callum Campbell on Maggie’s Centre.

Trade table colour, pink.

All ladies very welcome.