EDGE LANE HALL

Haunted house, grim stories of strange visitations

The old hall near the Botanic Garden's on the Edge Lane estate is being demolished, and so one of the last remaining historical relics of Liverpool disappears. At different times in its history the hall has been occupied by several families of local note, but age has woven around it a web of mystery. As was the case with most old buildings it was said to be haunted and certainly the building had all the architectural characteristics which would recommend it as a habitation for a ghost, in the form of secret chambers and passages.

The hall was for many years occupied by Mr John de NASH who acted as caretaker of the mansion for the Corporation of Liverpool. It was during his tenancy that there was a remarkable strange visitation. The family were asleep in bed, when suddenly clear, defined and regular came the sounds of chopping wood, the heavy thud of the axe upon the log, the short incisive cut of the splinter, the cracking noise of the splitting stick. At first the sounds seemed to come from the kitchen, but, later they appeared to travel into the hall and up the staircase, ceasing just outside the bedroom door of Mr de NASH. He was a man of courage, and jumping out of bed he lit a candle and revolver in hand proceeded to search the house. It was futile, nothing was found.

On another occasion shortly after midnight there came to the sleepers the sound of a person heavily booted, ascending the stairs. Again the sounds were unmistakeable. In great terror the dog ran whining and yelping to the door of the room occupied by Mr and Mrs NASH, and lay there trembling in every limb. But not a sign of the heavily booted person could be seen. Such noises as these often broke the silence of the night and roused the sleeping house hold.

Liverpool Mercury, Saturday, April 19th, 1913

HAUNTED !

HISTORIC LIVERPOOL HOUSE

Demolition of Edge Lane Hall

Operations have begun for the demolition of Edge Lane Hall in order to make way for the International Exhibition directs the attention to the impending disappearance of one of Liverpool's most interesting land marks.

It was inevitable that Edge Lane Hall should come down as the exhibition buildings went up, for at the moment it is incongruously out of place, just as for many years past it has, standing alone, presented a somewhat unsightly appearance.

Nevertheless, the hall is of considerable antiquarian interest.

The pity of it is that so little is known of its history.

No information is available as to when it was built, although it is safe to speculate that its date of origin goes back more than 100yrs.

It has been in the occupancy of several prominent Liverpool families, of which best known in recent days, has been that of the name ARKLES.

"At the back of the house facing Edge Lane, writes a local antiquarian "the picturesque mullioned windows and low old time Norman-looking, deep-set porch, with its great iron clad lamp bracket overhead, and its broad inner benches gives to the buildings a homely, though somewhat gloomy, appearance, and speak to us eloquently of the time when comfort and solidity were the first consideration of our forefathers."

A notable feature of the immense solidity of the building, its walls are fit to withstand a siege, being 2ft 6ins in thickness.

It is not generally known that Edge Lane Hall has more than once been regarded as haunted. One of the caretakers of the hall used to report all sorts of strange noises heard at night time, the origins of which could have been traced.

They may be partially explained now by a discovery, which has been made since the demolition work was taken in hand. In the yard the workmen have unearthed what seemed to be an old well, but its depth is so great that its use as a well is open to question. More remarkable still, it has been discovered part of the way down, 100ft below the surface, an opening which gives entrance to a subterranean passage, extending a considerable distance.

Up to the present, complete mystery attaches to the why or wherefore of this passage. It is interesting to learn, however, that the contractor in charge of the demolition is on the lookout for anything which will throw light on the early history of the hall, and, amongst other things, is trying to locate the foundation stone, in hope it will reveal the date the hall was built.

So far the foundations have not been reached- indeed it is suggested they lay at a depth of over 200ft.

It may be added that two quaint memorials of the hall "the front door knocker, the great smoke-jack and spit from the kitchen" have been transferred to the Corporation Museum

1881 CENSUS

104 Edge Lane (Edge Lane Hall)

West Derby, Lancashire,

Benjamin ARKLE, M, 62, Liverpool, Lancashire, England Head Banker

Mary A. ARKLE, M, 51, Liverpool, Lancashire, England Wife

James B. ARKLE, U, 24, Son,Occ: Cotton Broker, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

John W. ARKLE, U, 23 , M, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Son, Occ: General Broker

Ellen C. ARKLE, U, 21, Liverpool, Lancashire, Engl, Daur

Benjamin ARKLE, U, 20, West Derby, Lancashire, England, Son, Occ: Articled Clerk To Solicitor

Charles J. ARKLE, U,19, West Derby, Lancashire, England, Son Occ: Medical Student

Edith M. ARKLE, U, 17, West Derby, Lancashire, England, Daur

Evelyn A. ARKLE, U, 5, West Derby, Lancashire, England, Daur

Sarah DOKE, U, 47, Liverpool, Lancashire, England ,Sister In Law Occ: Annuitant

Location

Copyright 2002 / To date

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