Bamford & Norden Dec-Jan 2020

From The Archives
THE GOBLIN BUILDERS
This is an old tale told by Roby in his
‘Traditions’ about the building of the
Parish Church. It seems that towards the
end of the reign of William the Conqueror
they decided to build a church in what was
then Recedham on the banks of the river
near to where Newgate is now. Timbers
and large stones were gathered there and
stakes driven into the ground to mark the
spot. During one night however, all the
stones, wood and tools were mysteriously
taken up to the top of the hillside overlooking
the town centre although no-one
saw it happening. Next day everything
was brought back down by the workmen
only for it all to be removed again to the
top of the hill next night. Gamel, Lord of
Recedham thought that the workmen were
playing tricks so ordered the materials
back to Newgate. The following night
everything was removed again to the top
of the hill. Advice was sought from the
church authorities and they pronounced
that the church should be built above the
town where the ‘goblin builders’ wanted it
to be. And it’s still there now!
GHOSTS AROUND THE BAUM
The story goes that St Mary’s churchyard
near to the Co-op Museum is a prime site
for ghostly apparitions. Not only has a
ghostly figure of a man been reported in
the churchyard floating gently a few inches
GHOSTS OF ROCHDALE
It has become a tradition at Christmas time to tell ghost stories.
Here are a few concerning our town.
above the ground, but it was also the place
where the Baum Rabbit was seen on many
occasions. Recorded as early as 1876, this
was the spectre of a vicious bunny ‘with
fur as white as snow and eyes as red as
blood’ which used to come out at night and
terrify the children. Many a parent kept
his child in check by saying ‘Don’t go to
the back of Yorkshire Street because the
Baum Rabbit will get you!’ You might even
get a glimpse of it in this video captured
brilliantly by Brownkhao at https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=1P8muPJijR0
THE RAKE CAVALIER
Kathleen Eyre in her book of Lancashire
Legends writes about a soldier, presumably
from the English Civil War who haunts
properties near to Hollingworth Lake. It is
alleged (although not proven) that Oliver
Cromwell stayed in a small house near
to The Rake Inn – thereafter sometimes
known as Oliver’s Cottage (a cottage
where Old Noll, a supposed witch, also
stayed) – and where a Cavalier, no doubt
chasing Cromwell, followed him. It is not
known what happened to the Cavalier,
perhaps he was killed by the Roundheads
but the ghost of a grinning soldier
dressed in support of the King remained –
sometimes drunk – roaming the
surrounding lanes and The Rake Inn itself,
moving silently upon the landing, laughing
to himself.
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