Back to the original question - this is from our Halloween edition of the paper. The walk takes you round Chiswick, but the article does mention some of the borough's other ghosts.Walking through Chiswick as the sky turns an inky black, there is a sudden drop in temperature and your breath freezes in front of your face - just a cold winter’s night or the arrival of a unearthly visitor? You hear the sound of footsteps softly crunching in the fallen leaves - an urban fox searching for food or a spirit returned from beyond the grave?Fortunately the footsteps accompanying me on my tour of Chiswick’s supernatural delights are those of Hounslow Heritage guide Brian Pett. Brian is chair of the group and one of the accredited volunteers who give guided walks around the borough, explaining areas of historical interest. This particular walk is entitled "Chiswick - Ghosts and Bodies" and seems gruesomely fitting for the Halloween weekend.Chiswick’s chilling tales start with an explanation of the area’s connection to the Whitechapel murders, as carried out by the infamous Jack the Ripper. Brian said: "On Dec 31, 1888, a male’s body was pulled onto the Chiswick river banks. It had been in the water for some time, weighted down by large rocks in the man’s coat pockets." The dead man was Montague Druitt, an ex-Cambridge barrister and one of the top suspects for the killing and mutilation of several prostitutes in the city. An inquest into Druitt’s death was held on Wednesday, January 2, 1889, before Dr Thomas Diplock at the Lamp Tap, Chiswick. Despite carrying a return train ticket in his pocket, it was concluded that Druitt committed suicide 'whilst of unsound mind.’The theory that Druitt was the Ripper is mainly hinged on the fact that his family believed he was carrying out the horrific murders. He was also of similar description to eye witness accounts of the fiend and the attacks stopped at the same time as his death.However, it is possible that Druitt’s death was a cover up for a scandal of more royal persuasion. Inspector Macnaughten claimed to have more information on his suspect than he wanted others to know, information which he claims he destroyed to avoid uproar. One theory is that Druitt was a regular visitor to Wilson’s Chummery, an all male brothel, along with the heir to the throne, Prince Albert, thus leading some amateur detectives to believe Druitt was the ripper and his identity was kept secret to avoid highlighting the prince’s pastimes. My ghoulish guide then explains some of the secrets of Chiswick’s main burial ground for many centuries - St Nicholas’ churchyard. "Many walkers ask me about the empty tomb," says Brian. The tomb in question belongs to Ugo Fosclo, the Italian poet who died in 1827. He had called for the unification of Italy and was consequently forced to die in exile in Chiswick. Brian explained the lack of body in the tomb: "In 1871 Garibaldi came over and found the body and he was dug up and taken back to Florence as a hero." He now has a fitting tribute over his very final resting place in the church of Santa Croce.When the church was rebuilt in the 1880s the vicar and Henry Smith, of Fuller Smith and Turner, found a crypt with the bodies of two women inside, along with a short coffin. It is believed that they were the daughters of Oliver Cromwell and although the coffin was not opened it is thought Cromwell was inside it. Its lack of length was put down to stories that his original grave had been dug up and the body beheaded by Royalists. Brian explained: "The crypt was sold off and the daughters now walk the church yard because the family resting place were disturbed."Another interesting body was found near the river; an excavation close to Regency Quays revealed the skeleton of a 35 - 40-year-old Saxon male, nicknames Oswin. Brain said: "There were no artefacts and it does not appear to be a burial ground. We think he was just left rotting at the side of the road by his family, he may have been a plague victim."Walking through the streets of Chiswick reveals some eerie stories too. Boston House, which stands on Church Square (argued to be the smallest square in London) was home to a chilling murder. In 1740 Lord Boston found a letter from his wife which revealed her affair with Lord Fairfax. In a fury he murdered her, but she put up such a ferocious fight that her blood was left splattered across the print room walls. He carried the body down the tunnel which the servants used to take away the ‘night-soil’ and threw it into the river. However, it was washed back onto the banks two days later and he secretly buried it in the grounds of the house. Years later workers for the Cherry Blossom Polish company resided in the house and they reported seeing a terrified woman outside in the square and a pale face appearing in the windows.A ghost called Percy is said to haunt the Old Burlington, formerly the Burlington Arms pub, on Church Street. It was built before 1500 and was an inn at the time of Elizabeth I. Percy has been seen floating along corridors in a wide brimmed hat and billowing cloak. He is thought to haunt the building along with a young girl in a high waist dress and bonnet. "I was giving the talk to two women and one suddenly said the girl appears at your bedside," says Brian. "I asked her how she knew that and she told me that she used to live there and had seen her herself."Following the route we reach Walpole House, on Chiswick Mall, where the mistress of Charles II, Barbara Villiers spent the last two years of her life. Brian told how her spirit still haunts the site: "Once a beautiful woman, reports say she had become old, ugly and dropsied. The tap of her heels on the stairs and the sounds of her sighs can be heard as she laments the loss of her beauty."Despite regularly treading these streets on his tour of Chiswick’s haunted sights, Brian has yet to see a ghost. The walk takes 90 minutes and departs from St Nicholas’ Church. Schedules of the walks offered by Hounslow Heritage can be found at www.hounslow-heritage.org.uk.Unfortunately the guides give fewer walks over the winter months so this Halloween you will have to chance Chiswick’s chilling sites alone….if you dare!OTHER GHOSTS IN THE AREA· Runway One at Heathrow airport is said to be haunted by one of 21 passengers that died in 1948 when a DC3 aircraft crashed and caught fire.· A beautiful lady in a white gown has been seen at Osterley Park House· Chiswick House sometimes has a strong odour of food in the north wing which is where the old kitchens used to be 100 years ago. It is believed by some that this is the cause of a mad cook who worked in the building.· All Saints churchyard is supposed to be haunted by a young boy.· Hounslow is haunted by several highwaymen. In the Bell Inn the ghost of a highwayman smashes barrels of beer and turns on taps; another highway man in a long dark cloak loiters in the cellar of the Hussars public house and Dick Turpin is believed to haunt Hounslow Heath.ENDS
Sally Henfield ● 7443d