Welford and Wickham School
Scary Halloween Room
We like Halloween as long as we aren't left all alone!
Real Ghost Stories
We have our very own haunted house right here in Wickham. The Five Bells is a 400-year-old country Inn which boasts a female ghost, dressed in white, that guests have spotted sitting in the fireplace. The owners of the Inn - David and Carol Borner say they have never seen her but have certainly felt an eerie presence in the bar.One of their regulars came across some old archive material which documents the discovery in 1838 of 16 skeletons in the yard of the Five Bells. They were believed to have been murdered by highwaymen!.
For many years stories have circulated around the village about the sighting of an old horse and carriage which would leave Welford Park House and follow an old road which used to go up through the park.
Perhaps some of these stories can be attributed to the proximity of the Half-Way Inn near Kintbury which is only 4 or 5 miles from Wickham. The Half-Way Inn (half way between London and Bristol) is famous for being the haunt of such famous highwaymen as Dick Turpin whose ghost has been seen wandering down in the cellars.
There is also the story of a warlock or wizard (known as "Cunning Men") listed the Village tenants list for 1838 in the nearby village of Boxford. His name was John Palmer and before being evicted by the Squire he lived near the church at Welford. It is said that the clangour of the church bells would annoy him so he would use his powers to stop them ringing. One of his greatest gifts was that of being able to find any lost property and the villagers would often go to him for help in this matter; two old ladies in particular being recorded in Newbury’s archives as having regained their lost articles through the Cunning Palmer.
Stay safe this year with our easy to follow instructions.
Visit our scary Halloween ACROSTIC room - Dracula keep out!
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