Snowdrops and the Supernatural: A Bloom Steeped in Folklore and Fear A crisp chill lingers in the air as I walk through the quiet churchyard, the ground firm with frost beneath my feet. Among the weathered gravestones, snowdrops emerge, their delicate white petals standing in contrast to the dark, damp earth. They weave through the cracks of ancient stone, small yet resilient, a sign that winter is beginning to loosen its grip. The stillness of the graveyard, combined with the gentle presence of these early blooms, creates a peaceful atmosphere. In the cold, surrounded by history and nature, there is a quiet sense of reflection—life continuing in the midst of remembrance. Snowdrops were likely introduced to the UK by Norman monks, with the first recorded cultivation in England dating back to the 16th century. In 1597, they were mentioned in Gerard’s Great Herbal , where they were referred to as "Timely Flowers Bulbous Violets." Traditionally, snowdrops were planted in churchyards for Candlemas Day (February 2) and cultivated in abbeys for their medicinal properties. Its Latin name is Galanthus nivalis. Galanthus means milk white flowers and the nivalis element translates as snowy according to the great botanist, Linnaeus in 1753. The Victorians planted snowdrops extensively in graveyards, churchyards, and cemeteries, leading to their association with death and earning them the nickname Death’s Flower. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, a dark superstition surrounded these delicate blooms. It was believed that finding a snowdrop inside the home was a bad omen, signifying impending doom. Bringing the flower indoors from outside was thought to bring misfortune, with many fearing it foretold an imminent death in the household. They were described by Margaret Baker in the 1903 ‘Encyclopedia of Superstitions, Folklore and the Occult of the World’ as: ‘So much like a corpse in a shroud that in some counties, the people will not have it in the house, lest they bring in death.‘ The most unlucky snowdrop was that with a single bloom on its stem. Other folk traditions were described in a 1913 folklore handbook which claims that if a snowdrop was brought indoors it will make the cows milk watery and affect the colour of the butter. Even as late as 1969 in ‘The Folklore of Plants’ it was stated that having a snowdrop indoors could affect the number of eggs that a sitting chicken might hatch. Some other additional Symbolisms of Snowdrops Hope – Snowdrops represent hope for brighter days and new opportunities ahead. Rebirth – They symbolize resilience, overcoming challenges, and embracing life's transformations. Purity – Their delicate white petals signify innocence, spirituality, and compassion. New Beginnings – As one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring, snowdrops herald fresh starts and renewal. Religious Associations Christianity – Snowdrops are linked to the Candlemas festival, marking the presentation of Jesus at the temple. Paganism – They are associated with Imbolc, a festival celebrating the transition from winter to spring. So next time you find yourself in a churchyard on a cold February day, take a moment to notice the delicate white blooms peeking through the frost—beautiful yet solemn, a quiet reminder of life, death, and the whispers of those who came before. A s you stand among the stones of the past, smile—because even in the stillness, even in the cold, life always finds a way to return. P. Wallace Photos - © Somerset Photography at Holcombe Old Church - February 14th 2025

The Poltergeist of Meadow Rise - Shepton Mallet Ghosts don’t just haunt grand old mansions with creaky floorboards—they can appear in modern homes too. Take a house at Meadow Rise in Shepton Mallet, built in the late 1980s, where a poltergeist allegedly drove out two families. In the mid-1990s, a woman fled after witnessing something terrifying: her seven-year-old daughter being lifted from her bed by an unseen force and then dropped back down. The child later described seeing three figures dressed in black. Unable to stay, the family swapped homes with another in Frome, but the new occupants lasted only two months before leaving in fear. Their time there was marked by disturbing events, including the discovery of mutilated rabbits. Another tenant also left in a hurry with her three children after her daughters endured relentless torment in their bedroom—pushed from their beds and even having scissors hurled at them. In the kitchen, she stood frozen as plates mysteriously slid off the rack, crashing to the floor one by one. A local historian later pointed out that the house was partially built over an old graveyard. Even more chilling, during World War II, an American serviceman had either fallen—or jumped—to his death from a building once standing on the same site. Thoughts - Looking on the old maps, the one from 1888 shows a few buildings on the area of the current estate. An old silk mill and gas works, it is also adjacent to the cemetery as stated by the historian, but the maps do show a boundary to the edge of the cemetery and it doesn't appear to go as far as the houses. Has anyone else ever heard of these tales? does anyone still have any activity on this estate? It would be really interesting to find out. Source - Bristol Post Artwork - PJW Artworks British Newspaper Archives 1996

A Message from Old Orchid This eerie tale was recorded in Haunted Churches (1939) by Elliott O’Donnell, the renowned Bristol-born collector of ghost stories. Mrs. Harrison, a resident of Weston-super-Mare, followed her usual Sunday morning routine by attending church. Just as the service was about to begin, a verger approached her with an urgent message: she was needed at home immediately. Alarmed, she rushed back, only to find that everything was perfectly fine. Assuming the message had been some sort of mistake or cruel joke, she grew frustrated and was preparing to return to the church to confront the verger when a telegram arrived. It was from her sister in Bath, their mother had fallen gravely ill, and she was urged to come at once. Without hesitation, Mrs. Harrison boarded a train to Bath and arrived just in time to be by her mother’s bedside for a few precious moments before she passed away. Had she remained in church, she would have missed her mother’s final words. Back in Weston, Mrs. Harrison sought out the verger and demanded to know who had sent the message. “It was a gentleman,” the verger explained. “A complete stranger to me. He approached me at the main entrance, looked me straight in the eye, and said, ‘Please tell Mrs. Harrison she is needed at home immediately. It’s urgent.’” When she asked for the man’s name, the verger hesitated before replying, “He told me to say only this—‘Old Orchid.’” Mrs. Harrison then asked for a description of the man. As the verger spoke, chills ran down her spine. He had described, in exact detail, her own grandfather—who had passed away in Bath two years prior. A man who had loved orchids, always wearing one in his buttonhole. A man known to all who loved him as Old Orchid. Source - Bristol Live Image - Stockcake #ghoststories #paranormal #ghosts #premonitions

Curfew Inn, Cleveland Place West, Bath History - The Curfew Inn at 11 Cleveland Place West, Bath dates from around the 1820’s. It was designed by Henry Edmund Goodridge, who’s other work include the Grade II listed Cleveland Bridge in Bath and the folly now known as Beckford’s Tower though originally named Lansdown Tower. Originally three houses, the building was a bookshop, becoming a wine merchants in 1837 and eventually changing to a public house named the Curfew Inn around 1960. Hauntings - Strange experiences reported in 2009 led to an article in The Sun by Tim Spanton (dated 27th September 2010) in which he states ‘A poltergeist at the Curfew Inn was said to have interfered with beer taps in February and to have tried to play a pool shot. Thoughts - Its interesting that the building is in the centre of an area with a lots of Roman activity and discoveries.. The activity could possibly be a faulty beer tap, were the taps actually witnessed moving by themselves? could it be a drop or gain in pressure somehow from the beer lines. The pool table not being level could account for the balls rolling by themselves... Has anyone else ever heard of any other witnesses or stories in this place?  #hauntedbath #bathghoststories #paranormal #bathparanormal #SpookyStories #ghostsinbath #bathghosts #hauntedpubs

The Haunting of High Littleton In August 1889, the quiet Somerset village of High Littleton was gripped by excitement and fear over reports of a ghost haunting a cottage beside the Wesleyan Chapel. For several nights, around 11 pm strange noises echoed from the bedroom—described by one witness as resembling the crackling of small fireworks. Chairs toppled over on their own, the fireplace fender mysteriously shifted, and eerie tapping sounds echoed from the walls. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, members of the chapel and others gathered in the darkened room. After a tense wait, a few of them, resting their hands on a chair, suddenly felt it jolt violently. The strange rappings and unexplained sounds continued. Word of the haunting spread, and by the next evening, a crowd of nearly 200 people had gathered outside. Inside the cottage, the homeowner and a few companions devised a rather creative plan. One villager, thinking practically, stretched a pig-catching net across the fireplace—reasoning that if the ghost was using the chimney as its entrance, it would be easily trapped. But that night, the spectre was silent. No ghostly disturbances, no flying furniture—nothing. Disappointed, the villagers eventually dispersed. Or perhaps there never was a ghost at all. Maybe the prankster responsible for the disturbances took one look at the pig net and decided it wasn’t worth the risk of getting caught… Does anyone know of any other ghost stories for High Littleton? Source - Bristol Live News Article - Bristol Mercury 21st August 1889 Image - The Victorian Web

Duel at Dawn: The Ghostly Legend of Bathampton’s George Inn History - The George Inn sits on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Mill Lane, Bathampton, opposite St. Nicholas Church. There is some debate as to when exactly the inn was built. Some sections seem to have been established as early as the 12th century, when it was part of a monastery for the Prior of Bath. Though according to English Heritage, the current building is built from ‘coursed rubble with a Cotswold stone slate roof’ and dates from the mid to late 17th century, while the west gable is dated 1815. It was used for inquests, the Coroners Inquest of local murder victim Elsie Adeline Luke took place here in 1893. Hauntings - The George Inn is said to be haunted by the ghost of Viscount John Baptiste Du Barre, a foreign noble, who died in the last legal duel fought in Britain. A decadent man who held lavish parties, he was also fond of gambling. Following a quarrel over a game of cards, a challenge was thrown down and he and his opponent met on Claverton Down at dawn on 18th November 1778. Additional details- The Vicomte du Barre came to Bath in the summer of 1778 with his wife and sister, and a Captain Rice, an Irish Jacobite whose grandfather had served in the French army. They took a lease on 8 Royal Crescent, and arranged lavish card parties in the house, hoping to profit from the gambling mania that gripped the city at that time. But one night they quarrelled over the sharing of £600 that they had won from a Colonel Champion, who lived at 29 Royal Crescent. Rice threw down his glove, the challenge was accepted, and both men hastily appointed seconds and at one o’clock in the morning, a -coach was procured from the Three Tuns, in Stall Street and they made their way to Claverton Down. A contemporary account describes the combat as follows : — “Each armed with two pistols and a sword. The ground being marked out by the seconds, the Viscount du Barre’ fired first, and lodged a ball in Count Rice’s thigh, which penetrated as far as the bone. Count Rice fired his pistol, and wounded the Viscount in the breast He went back two or three steps, then came forward again, and both, at the same time, presented their pistols to each other, the pistols flashed together in the pan, though only one was discharged. Then they threw away their pistols, and took to their swords ; when Count Rice had advanced within a few yards of the Viscount, he saw him fall, and heard him cry out, ‘ Je vous demande ma vie,’ to which Count Rice answered, ‘Je vous la donne ; ‘ but in a few seconds the Viscount fell back and expired. Count Rice was brought with difficulty to Bath, being dangerously wounded, though now he is in a fair way of recovery. The coroner’s inquest sat on the Viscount’s body last Saturday, and after a mature examination of the witnesses and the Viscount’s servants, brought in their verdict Manslaughter.” The Viscount’s body was left exposed the whole day on the Down, and was subsequently buried in Bathampton Churchyard. His tombstone with an inscription that reads: ‘Here rest the remains of Jean Baptiste du Barre. Obiit 18th November, 1778’. Count Rice recovered, was tried at Taunton for murder, and acquitted. He died in Spain in 1809. At that part of the Down where the Yeomanry were formerly reviewed, a bank slopes towards the wall. It was on the other side of this wall, and a few yards from the gate, that the duel took place, where a stone slab marks the spot. The ivory hilt of the sword once belonging to Count Rice is now attached to the city seal in the Town Clerk’s office.’ Robert Edward Myhill Peach ‘Historic houses in Bath, and their associations’ (Volume 2) (1883) Thoughts - Could the 'spirit' at the pub be a case of mistaken identity? As from historical accounts, the Viscount died at the site of the duel, and there seems to be no link to the pub other than maybe that was were his body was taken for the inquest? Some accounts say a spirit resembles the Viscount, but so far I have found no images of him at all, not even paintings... Could the ghost/s at the pub be attributed to another person more entangled in the pubs history, I would love to find out more about the hauntings there and history. If anyone has anything they can add, please email me at - somersetparanormal@yahoo.com Photos - News article from April 1779 on Captain Rice's trial. The Viscounts Burial Record - Bath Burial Records #hauntedpubs #pubghosts #haunted #hauntings #paranormal #paranormalactivity #bathampton #thegeorgepub #duel #bathduels #clavertondownduel #spirits #supernatural #somersethaunting #somersetpubs

Grown men trained to deal with hardened criminals were left quaking in their boots at the thought of a female haunt at Shepton Mallet Prison in the 1960s The female figure, known as the white lady was thought to have been beheaded at the prison in 1680 for murdering her boyfriend Others believe that the spirit is the girl, shortly to have been married, who was found dead in her cell the morning of her execution, having died of a broken heart, and wearing her wedding dress. Reports became rife of unaccountable banging sounds and heavy breathing noises along with an overriding feeling of a chilling presence in the night duty room. It was taken so seriously to the extent that the Governor of the Prison spent a night in the haunted room and sent a full report to the Home Office. He said " I was unable to find any satisfactory explanation for the happenings" One officer refused to enter the night duty room after a horrific experience where he had the sensation of being paralysed in his neck for the whole of the night. One 1960s warder said "I would not spend another night in the duty room for £1000 The extent of the belief is apparent in the way it affected the whole population of the staff, a senior warden at the Prison said " We are all scared and nobody has come up with an explanation" Shepton Mallet Journal 18th July 1996 British Newspaper Archives.

Calling all seekers of the eerie and chroniclers of the unknown... Do you have a chilling tale to tell? A local haunt, an unexplainable encounter, or a ghostly story whispered through generations? I am seeking guest writers to share their most spine-tingling paranormal experiences or hauntingly familiar legends. Your story could be featured on my Facebook pages and this blog, bringing your account to a captivated audience of fellow believers and curious minds. Full credit will be given, or you may choose to remain cloaked in mystery, anonymous like the spectre's you describe. Remember, these tales will live in the public domain, so consider what details you dare reveal. Keeping locations shrouded in secrecy is perfectly acceptable if that’s your wish. If you’re intrigued, simply send me an email... if you dare. somersetparanormal@yahoo.com Thank you .. Artwork - PJW Artworks Photo - Somerset Photography

A selection of local ghost stories rewritten as short poems, just a fun diversion, whilst experimenting with Chat GPT (AI)