Haunted House in Cheddar

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, some strange things happen. This story is true and still being researched.I was recently chatting to a local businessman about genealogy and the history of Bridgwater, the conversation turned to the house he and his family are renting in Cheddar and the strange goings on. The businessman, we'll call him Tom, explained to me that his granddaughter has some 'special' friends in the house. My first thought was imaginary friends but when he began to tell me how these 'friend's interact and communicate with his granddaughter I began to realise there was more to this story.

Toms granddaughter is four years old and is too young to make these things up, she tells her grandparents that 'Neath' (as in Keith) plays with her and is her friend. The first thing that came into my head is, a child of four might not be able to pronounce the name correctly, and also may not be able to communicate exactly what she means. No matter, we'll continue with the story.

The family have experienced objects going missing for weeks then suddenly reappearing, such as the story of a coat being removed from a wardrobe and then reappearing six weeks later. The strange smells such as BO (body odour) and the very strong smell of beer. Doors opening and closing by themselves and objects moving with people in the same room but nowhere near them.

There was one instance when the family were in the kitchen and one of the daughters began clapping to some music and when she stopped, clapping was heard upstairs although no-one was up there, the whole family witnessed this.

Toms children has a photo of 'Neath' hugging the grandchild, although I haven't yet seen it, others have said they have seen it and there is a very distinct figure of a 'Victorian' girl with her arms wrapped around the grandchild who is cuddling 'Neath' back. Another photo showed a mans head coming out of the wall but this photo quickly disappeared of the mobile that took it, the photo was forwarded to another member of the family but the file was empty.

Tom talks about two Jack Russell's that he had who would react when something strange was about to or did happen. For instance when someone comes in, goes upstairs and closes the door, on investigation, no-one is there. Or the knocking on the door (enclosed in a court-yard) to find again, no-one there, yet the dogs sit there wagging their tails in anticipation.

The description of 'Neath' in the photo suggests she may be Victorian as she is wearing a ankle calf length pinafore that flows out from the breast.

My research to-date has taken me back to 1841 through the census. I am currently looking at all the families that lived there and their children that were born and died whilst living in the house.

If you hear me scream, you'll know I've found 'Neath'

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