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Post by Hartswood on Mar 21, 2005 22:31:07 GMT
Does anyone remember the name of the woman (in spirit) that is meant to lead you around the graveyard here?
On a recent visit we seemed to think it was a Catherine Poulter, whose grave is quite prominent. Or is it Mrs Blunden?
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Post by Spooky on Mar 21, 2005 22:32:53 GMT
Mrs. Blunden was the wife of a local malt merchant in the 17th century. She was described as a fat, gross woman with a fondness for drinking and it was this fondness for the demon drink that eventually led to her down fall. The families maid lived in Wote Street with the Blundens and was always busy tending to the needs of Mrs. Blunden.
One evening in July 1674, Mrs. Blunden felt ill, her husband was away in London on business, so she asked the maid to pour her some wine to ease her pain. Unfortunately the overworked maid poured out poppywater by mistake. Mrs. Blunden drank it down and within minutes fell into a deep coma. Due to lack of medical knowledge at the time it was mistakenly believed that she had died.
A messenger was dispatched by horseback to relay the news to Mr. Blunden in London. Members of the family, however, decided that the "dead" Mrs. Blundens body might begin to smell in the hot summer night, so they buried her in the Holy Ghost Chapel in Basingstoke. In the morning, some children playing amongst the grave stones heard strange tapping noises coming from Mrs. Blundens grave, and ran to fetch someone to explain the noise. after some delay workmen gathered to listen to the tapping and eventually permission was given to dig up the grave. The delay was too long and when the coffin was opened she was dead, she had made an attempt to escape but the ordeal had killed her.
Although Mr. Blunden forgave the maid for her mistake, neighbours continued to blame her. She eventually lost her mind and died a tragic death.
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Post by Hartswood on Mar 21, 2005 22:46:56 GMT
Raven has captured some strange lights on a recent visit above the grave/tomb under the yew trees. They almost look like glow worms....but it's too early in the year I think for them.........
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Post by Spooky on Mar 21, 2005 22:48:58 GMT
Do you get them in this country?
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Post by Spooky on Mar 21, 2005 22:50:42 GMT
Near the center of Basingstoke is the Holy Ghost church, final resting place of a Knight's Templar returned from the crusades. Apparently some time ago they were "redecorating" the cemetery and found him buried deep in the ground. He's been cleaned him up a little and placed in a special area in the graveyard. Believe it or not his final resting spot is right in the middle of 5 yew trees. Those readers who have more than a passing interest in the search for the lost cup of Christ will no doubt now be salivating over the fact that it too may yet be found in Basingstoke.
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Post by Hartswood on Mar 21, 2005 22:51:09 GMT
Yep - you do. Only I think in the summer though. So can't be them  |
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Post by Spooky on Mar 21, 2005 22:53:16 GMT
Never seen one, I thought it was an American/foreign thing.
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Post by raven on Mar 21, 2005 22:57:46 GMT
think I must try to find out more about glow worms but strange that i saw nothing when taking the pics..
also was very much greeted by catherine on entering the grounds this evening.. I felt very welcomed and felt her presence especially near to her grave.. maybe she is not the one who leads people around but she is certainly a presence there and very proud of the grounds..
Also want to find out more about this knight templar.. aaron seeing a man with hands behind head and knees drawn up on the tree has interested me...
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Post by Hartswood on Mar 21, 2005 22:59:12 GMT
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Post by Hartswood on Mar 21, 2005 23:04:23 GMT
By the way Spooky - glad you're spelling yew trees right these days  ..... ewe trees  |
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Post by raven on Mar 21, 2005 23:05:55 GMT
hey teresa that should have been ' all yew need to know'
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Post by Hartswood on Mar 21, 2005 23:07:26 GMT
Ha! Now I could go back and change it.............but I won't! ;D
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Post by Spooky on Mar 21, 2005 23:12:20 GMT
Wasnt my spelling, I went back to a previous version of the website and copied pasted and that was copied from the net yonks ago so not my fault. |
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Post by raven on Mar 21, 2005 23:13:32 GMT
absolutely do not blame ewe  |
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Post by Spooky on Mar 21, 2005 23:13:38 GMT
Maybe she is the guardian, supposedly the first body buried is supposed to keep watch over the rest.
Thats the folklore any how.
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