MYSTERY OF A SKELETON.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2008, 1 October 1906, Page 7

MYSTERY OF A SKELETON.

» 4. ' GHOSTLY FOOTSTEPS IN. AN OLD , MANOR HOUSE. * ' Picturesquely situated on the hanks [ of the wide, flowing River Nidd, in the quaint little town of Knaresborough, in Yorkshire, is one of the most ancient domestic edifices in England. It is a curious building, composed of many gables, and is half timbered, the oldest parts of the structure dating back to the year 12.-56. Rich and beautiful though the oaken panels and carved mantlepieces are in the various rooms, yet another j interest attaches to this old-.vorld j dwelling at the present time —a wierd I uncanny linking of tin; present to the past. For a mystery surrounds it ! ! During some necessary repairs and ! excavations, the skeleton and skull of a woman were laid bare, where ! they had evidently long lay buried. at the bottom of the stairs. Since the alterations, noises have often 1 been heard during the hours of night stealthy footsteps have passed along the passage outside the Blue Room, in which the occupier and his wife j formerly slept. A door with a spring arrangement conceals a hiding-place j in the wall of this chamber, where, ! in troublous days, the priests could j secrete themselves. It is alleged that the door of this , room unaccountably ojkmis during the night ; am! that it is past all efl'erts to keep it closed. It has been locked and a chair placed against it ; but, in spite of all precautions, the following morning it has still been found open. Though the owner no longer sleeps in this Blue Room, the ; steps are. it is said, still audible, j and in addition to these, one night 1 there was a bump at another door j sufficiently loud to arouse the ordin- j ary sleeper. Though none of the household ap- j pear to be at all nervous, and do not believe in fcfee visitations of i ghosts from the unseen, it is remark- : able that after a long residence in t the quaint old dwelling, there seems , to be no tangible clue whereby the < mystery can be solved. ! <