A Weston Rhyn Haunting

Whilst exploring the British Newspaper archives, I stumbled across the following account from August 1929. What fascinates me most about the article is the matter-of-fact tone in which it was written, without sensationalism or melodrama- which seems to amplify the sense of isolation and dread associated with paranormal experiences. Though only a small article, it clearly demonstrated the impact this encounter had on all those involved. It was by all accounts a lifechanging event.  The event in question takes place in one of Shropshire’s quiet corners – Weston Rhyn and definitely demonstrates just how frightening an unexpected face to face with a ghost can truly be.

Now, this isn’t the only ghost to be found in Weston Rhyn, for there are several recorded, including one very tragic story. The roads into the village are haunted by a restless unnamed young soldier. Sadly, it is not known who the man was in life, for history has claimed that secret- however it is established that he was a young man from the village, who had served in the army during World War 1. Whilst serving on the Western front, he had experienced a gas attack, which gravely wounded him, burning his lungs and leaving him with great difficulty breathing. Understandably, after this attack he was deemed unfit for service, and sent home to recuperate (after having medical attention). Like so many young men, ill equipped for the horrors of war, he found his return hard to adjust to mentally, and still suffered with difficulty breathing. Alas, a mere two months later, he succumbed to his injuries.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the end of the poor man’s suffering- for he has not been able to rest easy. He haunts the roads into the village and the village itself, a tragic- lost soul. He can be heard and seen gasping for air and walking slowly as if with some unknown purpose. He isn’t a frequent apparition but when he is seen he is still in uniform and has terribly unhappy eyes. He is accompanied by a deep feeling of melancholy and an overwhelming sense of darkness. I find everything about this story incredibly sad, and often wonder how many other villages are haunted by similar spectres, men who were swallowed by the unstoppable tides of war.

Let us return now to our original ghost, as reported by ‘The Brisbane Telegraph’ on the 14^th of August 1929, for I believe this story is definitely worthy of retelling. It is a story of fear and the unexpected- with a woman being terrorised by what is referred to as a ‘midsummer ghost’. However, it is also a story of loyalty, bravery and just how wonderful dogs are- for the hero of our tale is a little rough haired terrier, but we will get to that shortly.

The woman (who is only referred to as Mrs Price) had only moved to Weston Rhyn just days before with her husband Edward Price. They were originally from Whittington but had took the plunge and rented a cottage near an old watermill, which was by all accounts a lovely little spot. We are provided with a description of Edward, who was a ‘young and enterprising farm worker, who wished to improve his position’. The move to Weston Rhyn had been spurred on by a desire to better himself, creating a small holding next to the watermill, with both livestock and crops. This would allow them to live comfortably. One can imagine they were excited for their new life, in their own personal Arcady by the water. Though this was soon to change.

On the day of the encounter, Mrs Price had risen early- just before sunrise in fact. She’d intended to put her house in order, so she wandered downstairs, mind filled with the businesses of the day. She began by lighting the fire, which was taking some time to get started. Suddenly, the dog gave a savage growl, uncharacteristic for the usually gentle thing and began barking loudly. Mrs Price quickly turned around, to be greeted by the great ghost of a tall man in a slouched hat, who was grinning at her, with a wide, toothy, almost inhuman grin. Understandably, she let out a bloodcurdling scream, and fled upstairs to rouse her husband. The little rough haired terrier trailed behind her, and although he was shaking with fear, he walked backwards up the stairs, barking and ‘facing the foe’ who had slowly turned to follow. The little fellow did his best to scare the spectral intruder away, barking and growling with bared teeth.

When his owner was safely upstairs with her husband, the poor dog collapsed, as did Mrs Price, not long after telling her husband about the stranger downstairs.

Edward left his wife unconscious wife upstairs, hoping to catch the intruder in the act, perhaps he’d broke in to steal from them, having off with their possessions. However, having descended the stairs, he was greeted by an empty room. The door was locked, and the windows were as secure as they’d been the day previously when he’d shut them. The house was eerily quiet, their belongings were untouched, and there was no evidence of anyone lurking around.

However, the news didn’t settle his wife, for the image of the grinning man in the hat was burned into her mind, haunting her.  She was justifiably terrified and refused to spend any longer in the property, packing a small bag and leaving. Our brave little terrier eventually came round from passing out but was so traumatised by the events that he had to be carried down the stairs. He too refused to re-enter the home.

Mrs Price left for Whittington, and at the time of the newspaper report, was receiving care from her doctor, as it was said she was ‘seriously ill’. One can only assume that following her encounter her mental health took a turn for the worst. She was however accompanied by her champion- the brave little terrier, who proved a loving companion, as he refused to leave her side.

As for Edward- he too returned to Whittington, and rented another cottage, probably keen to forget the whole saga. I hope he was able to use his enterprising nature to improve his situation- just as he’d planned to in Weston Rhyn.

The Newspaper ends with a note from a local Miller- who lived nearby. He states rather plainly that he’d never seen any ghosts, hatted or otherwise in the whole area, and that he didn’t believe in such nonsense. Rather, he believed the cottage was perfectly habitable and wouldn’t be took in by such rubbish. I can’t help but be reminded of that unnamed lady Charlotte Burne spoke to, who announced with perfect Shropshire wisdom that she -

‘Dunna believe there’s owt in it, (Ghosts) as the dead come back, and if they bin to t’other place, they woudna be let to’

Perhaps showing that rejection of ghost stories was as common as accepting them.

Of course, there are a myriad of explanations for Mrs Price’s encounter with the phantom. Perhaps she’d already been struggling with poor mental health, and the slouched hatted man was a product of that (though it doesn’t explain the dogs reaction), or perhaps the house really had been haunted.

 What this account does is perfectly convey the terror such experiences can inspire, and also the impact they can have on people’s lives. In this case two people uprooted their lives, to escape the events of that morning. It demonstrates how isolating and terrifying it can be to bear witness to the paranormal. One can only imagine the difficult conversations the couple endured after the event, the fear, uncertainly and doubt Mrs Price had to go through. The impact of this encounter is clear- she was under the care of the doctor at the time of the newspaper being written, which to me cements that at least to Mrs Price, this was a very real event.

However, There is one silver lining, and that is that this story highlights the enduring loyalty and bravery of Dogs. I think this gives us yet another reason to love them.