The Whitkirk Ghost

As mentioned last week, the Temple Newsam district of Leeds seems just now to be “fair wick” with ghosts. And to-day I propose to put in a word for the spook of Whitkirk Vicarage – one of the rivals of the phantom dog of Colton which I described the other day.

The Whitkirk ghost is shy and retiring. It is never seen but frequently heard. Its haunts are the corridors of the Vicarage, where at frequent intervals heavy footsteps are heard. They sound like those of a man walking on stone flags, but, mysteriously enough, all the halls are covered with carpets. The most recent performance was given a few months ago.

The Vicarage is an ideal place for any spectre. The building consists of a Georgian house built on to part of an old farmhouse which dates back to about 1680. The spectre would be an asset to the home of any clergyman. The Vicar (the Rev. W. Warburton) tells me that when there is a lull in conversation at a whist drive or sewing party he is always able to keep the ladies interested by a few sly references to the ghost behind the wall.

Mr. Warburton and two of his friends experienced another strange manifestation some years ago. This took the form of a dog which moved mysteriously across his garden and disappeared. There is sufficient evidence in this to establish a good claim for a potential ghost, but the full facts would make a long story and must be reserved for some other occasion.