- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 9
I'm currently researching a local ghost story concerning the pink lady of Bell Mansion, in Scarborough. A Brief outline of the tale states that in 1804 a young lady, Miss Bell, daughter of a York confectioner who was staying in Scarborough at the time, was murdered by a soldier, her body being thrown over the cliffs. The accused was given an alibi and escaped justice. On his deathbed he confessed his crime. The ghost of the young lady now haunts the house her family were staying in the red dress she was wearing at the time of her death.
I have a lot of facts about the crime itself (The name of the young lady is wrong in all retellings of this tale, along with most of the facts.) but the thing I'm interested in is the origins of the ghost story. The earliest reference I have for the story in it's present form is in Jack Hallam's 1976 book 'Ghosts of the North', I have also a reference to her ghost from 1813, but in an awful poem and located at the place of her death rather than the house (several miles away).
If anyone has any earlier references (than the 1976 one), or further information, I'd be interested to hear them.
Jim
I have a lot of facts about the crime itself (The name of the young lady is wrong in all retellings of this tale, along with most of the facts.) but the thing I'm interested in is the origins of the ghost story. The earliest reference I have for the story in it's present form is in Jack Hallam's 1976 book 'Ghosts of the North', I have also a reference to her ghost from 1813, but in an awful poem and located at the place of her death rather than the house (several miles away).
If anyone has any earlier references (than the 1976 one), or further information, I'd be interested to hear them.
Jim