The boy’s death, one Christmas Eve over a hundred years ago, continues to make its presence felt
Calderstones House, Calderstones Park, Liverpool.(Image: Morgan King/Liverpool ECHO)
The story of a young boy who lost his life one Christmas has long petrified visitors to Calderstones House – and staff reports suggest there could be a grain of truth to the tale.
The Georgian mansion in Calderstones Park has been the headquarters of shared reading charity The Reader since 2013. Like any old house, it is the setting for various ghostly yarns, but the best-known is the grisly tale of a Victorian child worker who lost his life in the coal cellar.
The boy, who was apparently crushed by a delivery of coal that fell on him in the cramped space, is rumoured to haunt the house and its grounds. A 21-year-old front of house manager, who preferred not to be named, experienced something she couldn’t explain.
Coal cellar where Victorian boy whose ghost is said to haunt Calderstones House was killed by falling coal. Calderstones Park, Liverpool.(Image: Morgan King/Liverpool ECHO)
She said: “A colleague and I went down to the room where the little boy is said to have died to pick up some stock for the bar.
“We were messing around and jokingly I said: ‘Little ghostie come out and show yourself’. Just afterwards I was in the staff kitchen when another colleague said: ‘You look really pale’. Literally a second later I projectile vomited.
“It was all very weird. I felt fine afterwards. I am a very scientific person and don’t normally believe in things like that. I like things to be scientifically proven.”
The coal cellar has been sealed off and is no longer regularly used by staff at the house.
Another member of the leadership team said: “We have heard stories from past security guards that they have seen sightings of the little boy and heard someone walking behind them along the corridor by our IT office when the building is closed. Spooky.”
Corridor where security staff reported being followed by a ghost, Calderstones House, Calderstones Park, Liverpool.(Image: Morgan King/Liverpool ECHO)
The ECHO spoke to another member of the front of house staff, who was happy to share his experiences with unexplained sounds in another building on the grounds.
Gabe Taylor, 23, from Aigburth, said: “[It happens] in the ice cream parlour, like early morning or late at night, when you’re opening or closing by yourself. Like a mezzanine kind of balcony thing.
“I’ve been there a few times and you can hear someone, or something, running back and forth above on the mezzanine. And then I’ve gone to check it out and there’s nothing there, there’s no pipes or anything [that could make the noise].”
Gabe said he was not a superstitious person, but the sounds have still left him afraid.
He added: “It’s a bit scary because you think someone’s up there and then you brace yourself to go upstairs and check if there’s anything, and then there’s nothing. I’ve never seen anything, but I’ve heard noises.”
Mezzanine floor at ice cream parlour where ghostly footsteps were heard. Calderstones House, Calderstones Park, Liverpool.(Image: Morgan King/Liverpool ECHO)
Jane Davis MBE, founder of The Reader, shared another story from early on in the charity’s stewardship of the house. She, however, does not pay the supernatural any mind.
Jane told the ECHO: “When [The Reader won the lease for Calderstones House in 2012], we started meeting people from the local community who had either had their weddings here in the 1950s or 60s, and one or two people who had worked here when it was Council offices. And so, then stories began to emerge of the ghosts.
“And I must say, I didn’t take much notice of them, but I do think it’s funny that that always happens. People start to see, or feel, something. So, one was a serving woman with white hair. I can’t really remember any more about her story apart from she was on the back stairs.”
Superstitious visitors may be relieved to hear there have as yet been no sightings of the little boy this festive season. Ghost or no ghost, there are plenty of reasons to visit Calderstones Park, thanks to the exciting schedule of events planned by The Reader.
Children exploring The Reader’s Christmas Story Trail at Calderstones Park, Liverpool. Photo: Ollie Gyte/TheReader(Image: Ollie Gyte/The Reader)
The Readers’ annual Christmas Story Trail has been extended and will run again this weekend from The Reader Bookshop. The trail, based on Manchester writer and illustrator Jarvis’ book Mr. Santa, is self-led and takes families on a festive adventure round the park lasting approximately 60 minutes.
The Reader described the trail, with bookable time slots from 10:30am until 2pm, as “perfect for curious three to seven-year-olds”. A Mini Christmas Trail will run this Friday for younger children.
Natalia Rojas, 39, from Canada, is the creative manager at The Reader’s Storybarn. Natalia told the ECHO: “From now until the 31st we are really, really emphasising all of our time at the Christmas Trail. We’re really pushing Mr. Santa.
“So we’ll have the trail going on, and, people will be able to purchase the book, and get a map and a pencil, and then on the 27th and 28th we have the trail on and drop-in at the Storybarn, which is an opportunity for families to just come and explore this space, and just enjoy at their own pace.”
Natalia Rojas, 39, from Canada, Calderstones House Storybarn creative manager. Calderstones Park, Liverpool.(Image: Morgan King/Liverpool ECHO)
Visitors without young children can enjoy a free Heritage Trail or Literature Trail or explore Plants and Trees Around the World at Calderstones. The bookshop also caters to readers of all ages.
Even more events and activities are lined up for January, with book clubs and monthly Sip & Stitch sessions due to start for the new year. A Burns Night ceilidh will be held at the mansion house on January 22, with revellers set to enjoy a hearty Scottish stew along with their ticket. Music will be provided by Liverpool ceilidh band The Saltcutters.
For more information about The Reader’s programme of events, or to book tickets for the Story Trail, visit their website here.