Hauntings

The poltergeist of 23 High Street, Wisbech

Also known as: The Continental Shoe Repairs ghost

23 High Street, Wisbech (now Simply Sweet Bakery and Coffee Shop)

1960s

The account comes from a contribution to the High Street Wisbech heritage project, based on a 1960s newspaper clipping. The shop at 23 High Street was then Continental Shoe Repairs and is now a bakery and coffee shop. The people named are the manager Bill Hyam, employee Margaret Roper and Patrick Lee.

The disturbances included footsteps on unused rear stairs and in upper rooms, a wireless that kept switching itself on and off, and lights that were found on in the morning after staff had turned them off the night before, in one case with the light unplugged. The most dramatic incident was Hyam's report that a drill was torn out of his hands. When flour was sprinkled on the top floor, staff found five bare right footprints leading from a window to a fireplace, with parallel scratch marks, which suggested a small woman or a child. Two right-foot stockings were later found in the chimney.

The disturbances reportedly grew stronger at full moon. Patrick Lee refused to use the stairs. Hyam consulted the local assistant curate and is quoted as saying he had never believed in poltergeists but was now convinced the shop had one.

The account itself notes that the activity began when a young worker joined the shop and stopped after he left. That pattern, activity centred on a particular young person, is the usual one in poltergeist reports, and it leaves open ordinary explanations including pranks. It is a single newspaper-derived report.

The building is now a bakery and coffee shop.
Evidence
Single witness account
Access
Open ground
Location
52.665, 0.159 (Sited to the building or field)

Sources: High Street Wisbech, "A ghost on Wisbech High Street..?" [other]

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