The Woman in Black.
I know you can't see me.
But i'm standing right beside you.
The Woman in Black is a haunting case of numerous
sightings of an apparition that couldn’t be explained at
the time of these happenings and
are still shrouded in mystery to this day.
This documentary seeks to shed some light on the
strange paranormal events that happened in a family
home in England over 100 years ago, and the shady
events that may have led to its notoriety.
Cheltenham is a town in an area of southwest England
that has more than its fair share of dark ghost stories to
tell, with a history spanning more than a thousand years.
The town really exploded into life in the 18th Century
when the rich and politically elite were attracted to
enjoy its fashionable spa.
Much building followed in its characteristic and
attractive Regency style, including a planned
extension named Pitteville.
The case of the Woman in Black begins in one of these
expensive dwellings, which was home to Henry Swinhoe
in 1890, at the corner of Pitville Circus Road and
All Saints Road. Sightings of a female spirit occurred
throughout the last decade of the 18th Century.
The haunting was experienced by numerous people,
independently over this time and also attracted the
attention of a local ghost research group.
The first wife of Henry Swinhoe died in 1866 and he
remarried a lady named Imogen. For unknown reasons
(perhaps distrust or strong feelings for his former wife),
he hid his former wife’s jewellery
from his new wife in safe.
Imogen left Henry just before he passed away in 1876.
She herself died two years later and it is speculated that
she is the ‘Woman in Black’ who returned to haunt the
house. Perhaps she felt scorn and rejection that she
wasn’t valued, that Henry hadn’t considered
her worthy of the jewellery.
From then on the history of the house is ill fated.
The next occupier to lease the house died just six
months after first moving in.
It then, perhaps as a result of its nascent infamy,
lay vacant for a few years.
In 1882 Frederick Despard,
moving in from another part of Cheltenham,
occupied the house along with his
many and variously aged children.
It is at this time that sightings increased, mostly
witnessed by Despard’s teenage daughter Rosina.
The apparition was described as a tall woman,
dressed in black and who always covered
part of her face with a handkerchief.
This obviously hindered the identification of the spectre,
but does seem to suggest a great sadness,
perhaps mourning for some loss or unresolved problem.
The ghost manifested itself such that it
would move down the stairs of the house,
pausing in the living room,
before passing along the hall to the garden
– where she disappeared.
Rosina paid attention to the ghost’s actions and
behaviour and noticed that, although it never
interacted with anyone when it appeared,
it seemed visibility solid and avoided furniture.
She, and others members of the family,
also witnessed unexplainable noises
in the deep of night.
It is worth considering at this point
the validity of these claims,
for apparitions are often believed
to be a recording of a past
that wouldn’t impinge on the position of later furniture
and, for that matter, it is unclear how access
was gained to these different rooms of the house,
whether by opening doors or merely gliding
through them as if they were simply not there.
Do you think this could mean there
is more to this ghost mystery than meets the eye?
Perhaps this was a convenient way for Frederick
to cover up an affair with another lady.
Tell us (in comments) if you think
this may have been an elaborate story
to keep infidelity a secret.
Nevertheless, most of the house’s occupants are said
to have seen the woman in black at various times,
including the household dogs which either cowered or
howled in response to their apparent
sensitivity to her presence.
Such events even prompted the house to be investigated
by Frederic Myers of the Society for Psychical Research,
but attempts to obtain photographic
evidence proved futile.
The haunting declined in frequency from 1887,
before ceasing altogether.
The Despards eventually moved
out of the property in 1893.
A boys school occupied the building from 1898
and sightings of the apparition occurred once more.
Intriguingly, on this occasion, it was witnessed in
daylight moving in the garden along a path.
This brings to light to further questions about the
credibility of the witnesses or their ability to recall
accurately what they saw.
Despite the fact that these different occupants
saw the woman in black,
the apparition appeared in different places.
To Rosina Despard she was seen in the house before
disappearing at the threshold of the garden,
but at the boys school she was seen in the garden itself.
Do you think there is a link here?
Or do you think that this could be an example
of boys telling tales,
having known about the house’s dark past.
Tell us in comments what you think about this
and the credibility of Rosina’s sightings.
It does seem mysterious that the apparition could be
seen so many times only within the house
when the Despards occupied the house,
but not within the garden
until new occupiers were present.
Could this even be the same ghost?
Was it too convenient a story
that her face could not be seen?
The boys school eventually closed
before the building was converted into residential use
once more as apartments.
What seems strange is that there have been no
more sightings of the woman in black.
Could witnesses merely have chosen not to talk
or perhaps the stay of occupants was too short to
make sense of any unusual happenings.
Do you think the woman in black was trying to tell
the Despards something linked to her sadness
or the hidden jewellery?
Maybe you believe this was a fantastical story
invented by a teenager seeking attention
and to stand out in a large family.
Or was it an elaborate hoax to cover up an affair?
Discuss this in the comment section
and let us know what you think.
Whoever the woman in black was is as mysterious
as why she would have been haunting the house,
which is why this case continues to endure
and may never be solved,
whether you believe the witnesses or not.