- Incorporating specific links to the Wikipedia encyclopedia -

Computer/File Ref: S/HF/HIN/01.

Title: “Rogue squire returned to haunt his wife…” - Originally published in The Leicester Mercury newspaper, May 23^rd., 1995. Local historian Greg Drozdz, a director of Hinckley and District Museum Ltd., tells of the spooky experience that could be waiting near Hinckley railway station.

The Railway Station, Hinckley, Leicestershire.

A GLANCE at the Ordinance Survey map for Hinckley and District reveals some interesting local features. At the side of the railway, close by, there is the site of a manorial earthwork. There was a time when the outlines of a wall and moat could still be seen in the field. This dwelling was once known as Oaston Grange, and was owned and inhabited by the Stafford family. One of the Squire Staffords, so the tradition says, was known as Lord Hop. He was hated by the local people because he had robbed them of their lands. One day returning from London, along the Watling Street, with his wife, the horses of his carriage took fright, the carriage overturned and Lord Hop was mortally injured. As he lay dying, he charged his wife that she should restore the lands to the local people. She promised that she would. However, as soon as she had returned to Oaston Grange, she reneged on the agreement that she had made with her husband. Unearthly - She is reported to have said: “If my husband was rogue enough to keep them while he lived, I am rogue enough to keep them while he is dead.” However, she did not encounter peaceful possession of the Grange and surrounding lands. For at the midnight hour, there was heard around the Grange, the unearthly rattle of strange wheels, the trampling of hooves and the cry of the restless spirit. The ghostly carriage of the squire, drawn by four headless horses, with his moaning spirit would circle all the fields in the area. So fearful were the local people that they urged the lady to have the spirit exorcised. The local minister was called and, with due rite, the ghostly apparition was drawn into a corked bottle and thrown into the Harrow Brook. The ghostly haunting was thought to have been dealt with forever, but someone found the bottle, uncorked it and released the ghostly squire to haunt us still.

Wikimapia: Hinckley Railway Station - Hinckley.

<< Homepage | Main Index