Cold Ashton
One winter afternoon in the 1930s, the painter Olive Snell set out for Cold Ashton to visit a friend living there. She had been advised to set out early, as it would be hard to find the way in the dark, but the walk took longer than she expected, darkness came on, and she did lose her way. Eventually her road led past a large house with wrought-iron gates and ornamental stone pineapples on the gateposts, and she decided to ask her way there. The door was answered by a very helpful servant, who gave her clear directions; in thanks, she tipped him half a crown. But when she told her friend about this, the friend was puzzled, for the only house answering to the description had been empty for some time. Next day, Olive Snell and her friend set off by car to look for the house; they found it, but it was all locked up and empty, and there was a half-crown lying on the front door step.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Haunted England : The Penguin Book of Ghosts – Written by Jennifer Westwood and Jacqueline Simpson –
Copyright © Jennifer Westwood and Jacqueline Simpson 2005, 2008