Strange and Bizarre Ghost Stories from Newcastle

Strange and Bizarre Ghost Stories from Newcastle - A LOVELY Ghost Story

William Nicholas

England 1807 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1854 - Inspector or Nuisances Hunters Hill - 1847
https://artsearch.nga.gov.au/

I am a very lonely ghost hunter - forced to sit on my couch, due to COVID 19 Lock down, and take the only walk I can back deep into my researched archives on tales of ghost and strange happenings in and around Newcastle in it's early history.

Even though I rather be outside chasing the mysteries - I cannot, and neither should you!

So let me entertain you, for just a minute, with another story, this time from Morpeth back in 1885.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate
July 1885

LOVELY GHOST STORY

It is not often we (Morpeth Times) have to record the visit of the long departed, but a gentleman, whose veracity is unimpeachable, informs us that he saw a face last Wednesday night, in the pale waning moonlight, that gave such a shock to his nervous system as to render him quite melancholy for days after.

The vicinity in which the ghost was seen was at the foot of James Street, from which a fine view of the cemetery is obtained.

The gentleman states that he was suffering from neuralgia and as he could not sleep he took a quiet walk.

Presently he saw a phantom.

He describes it as 'habilitated' in white - like the Roman toga.
The face was pallid, and an icy chill ran through him as the ghost approached.
It is needless to say our friend beat a hasty retreat in the direction of Swan Street.

This was all that happened.

Without wasting further space, we might suggest to the reciter of this tall ghost story that it might have been the INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES, or an alderman looking for his cow.

This explanation was quite sufficient, as he at once saw a connection with this incident and has fully recovered from his fright.

***********

Now you may ask...
What was an Inspector of Nuisances and what in the hell did he actually do?

So here is your answer:
An Inspector of Nuisances was employed by the the parish to inspect for offensive conditions (known as nuisances) that were in breach of the law, i.e, bad sanitary conditions, smells, privies, gutters, refuse heaps etc., They also distributed disinfectant to ensure houses with small pox were disinfected.

See you tomorrow!!

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