Haworth, in picturesque Brontë country of West Yorkshire, is a hive of child ghosts. ADAM SARGANT, from Haunted Haworth looks at the sad stories behind these tragic hauntings
In the heart of West Yorkshire, England, lies the picturesque village of Haworth, known for its cobbled streets, charming architecture, and its association with the literary Brontë family.
However, beyond the romantic facade, Haworth harbours a chilling secret that has captivated locals and visitors alike for generations – the tales of child ghosts that are said to haunt the village.
Historical Origins of Haworth’s Child Ghosts
The origins of these ghostly apparitions are deeply rooted in history. Haworth’s history is intertwined with the Industrial Revolution, which brought about stark socio-economic inequalities and difficult living conditions.
Child labour was rampant during this period, with young children toiling in the textile mills under harsh circumstances. It is believed that some of these unfortunate souls met untimely and tragic ends, leading to the lingering presence of their spirits.
Medical science was in its infancy, and treatment often had unforeseen circumstances. One such sad case involved John William Place, who, at the age of 11, complained to his father of stomach pains.
Having been prescribed a powder, a concoction for the treatment of worms, he went to bed. Very shortly after he screamed out for his father, begging for him to rub his limbs.
The lad was stiff, complaining of pins and needles, and then he went into spasm. A doctor had been called and described to the inquest how the boy’s back was arched and he was bent almost double, resting on his head and heels. The young boy died in great agony.
One can only imagine that the poor lad entered the afterlife both terrified and confused.
On top of all of this, every resident of Haworth faced the risk of death by disease. Men, women and children, rich and poor people, all lived with the daily presence of diseases such as cholera. During the time that the Brontës lived here, out of every ten children who survived childbirth, four would die before they reached the age of six!
In considering these historical threads, we begin to unravel not just the matter-of-fact coexistence with mortality embraced by every Haworth resident, but also the heightened frequency of paranormal encounters that both locals and visitors have shared.
Hushed Whispers and Playful Giggles
One woman has spoken of living in a self contained flat above what was at the time The Weaver’s Restaurant, from 2001 to 2007. When she and her husband moved in, she reports that the husband was a complete sceptic. Her husband was the head chef at the restaurant, and when he came home after a shift, he reports witnessing a young child as he past the bedroom door, jumping up and down on the bed.
He says she was about 7 or 8, with long brown hair and dressed in a Victorian style nightgown. The couple would hear the hushed whispers and giggles of children at play coming from the corner of the room.
The restaurant’s spectral children had a habit of mischievousness, it seems. Items would be moved from the kitchen and found elsewhere throughout the flat. In the kitchen, there was a bin with a flip top lid, which would open and close of its own accord. The wife described how, after settling their children to sleep, she would have relaxed in the living room when she heard a child’s voice calling “Mum!”. But when she went to the children’s room to investigate, all the children were fast asleep.
A Playful Presence
Another mischievous spirit is said to occupy the Fleece Inn on Main Street. The landlady there can tell of poltergeist activity, bottles and glasses flying off shelves, light bulbs flickering on and off (while others on the circuit remain untouched). She assures me that the spirit is playful, believing it to be that of a young boy, and that if told firmly to behave himself, these manifestations cease!
The Old Hall Inn, a pub at the bottom of Main Street, is the source of accounts of a young girl in a yellow crinoline dress said to be seen on the staircase. On one particular occasion she was said to befriend the young daughter of some guests staying in the accommodation above the pub.
When the parents asked the landlords if the young girl that their child had talked about and made friends with was their daughter, they were terrified to discover that there was no young girl, neither belonging to the landlords nor otherwise staying at the pub.
Members of the local social club, Parkside, recently claimed to have seen a girl, aged about five or six, in a coat and hat. Others working in the building alone have heard footsteps upstairs sounding just like a child running. While earlier descriptions of the young girl suggested a Victorian origin, later suggestions included the idea that it might be the apparition of a young girl who arrived as an evacuee in the 1940s.
Amidst this village steeped in history and Brontë mystique, lies such a spectral tapestry that weaves together the echoes of a haunting past. These tales of child ghosts, their lives intertwined with the unforgiving shadows of history, have left an indelible mark on this picturesque landscape. These spectral whispers are the remnants of a time when innocence was cut short by the cruel hands of industry and disease.
The presence of these ethereal visitors, mischievous and mournful, serves as a poignant reminder of the village’s complex past. As the cobbled streets and charming architecture continue to draw in visitors, it’s a testament to the power of history that even beyond the grave, the stories of Haworth’s young residents persist, a haunting testament to the fragility of life and the resilience of memory.
Have you seen a ghost in Haworth? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below!
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ADAM SARGANT is a storyteller and a student of folklore who hosts the Haunted Haworth ghost tours (https://hauntedhaworth.co.uk). Given the opportunity, he will happily bore you for hours about the relationship between ghost stories and social history. An offcumden* since 2000, he lives in Haworth with his wife, without whom nothing would be possible, and a small but wise cockapoo called Bear. You can haunt him on most social media under @hauntedhaworth *Offcmden is a Yorkshire dialect word for an incomer)
