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| suzard Researcher Quote | Reply | | The Dene posted on: 11/30/2005 11:15:22 AM R&H 22 Feb 1935 Demolition "In order to make way for a road widening scheme which is being undertaken bu HUDC, the house formerly occupied by William and Mary Howitt and known as The Dene is being demolished. It stands on the dangerous corner below the Crown Hotel and to the interests associated with its former occupants is added an "interesting find". A tunnel adjacent to the house has been revealed, which has the appearance of having been a cold storage room. Also inside the house has been discovered a well which is eighteen feet deep and which supplied the householders with drinking water. From these two finds a rumour arose that a hoard of gold had been unearthed. Enquiry reveals that there is no truth in this romantic rumour." |
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Jennypeg
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The Dene
replied on: 3/17/2006 1:31:45 PM 10th May 1923 Heanor Observer Runaway Horse at Heanor, on Saturday a serious accident befell a horse belonging Messrs D and V Hallam of Marlpool, It appears that a horse attached to a dray, was drawing a load of timber in the direction of Heanor, and when near the corner of Mundy St the pin of the shaft broke, letting down the shafts. These caught the horse’s heels, and the animal bolted and ran into the iron railings in front of “The Dene” at the top of Mansfield Road. The stonework and rails were damaged and the horse was seriously injured, Dr Cockburn, of Eastwood, being called in. |
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sherry
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The Dene
replied on: 7/13/2006 11:06:34 AM I was interested to read a ghost story connected to the dene in the ripley and heanor several weeks ago. During 1940 my mother and her family moved into a house opposite the dene. The address at the time was known as 25 church street, later changing to 23. My mother was 9 years old and the youngest of 11 siblings. She had her own bedroom and a few weeks after moving in she woke to find a man staring down at her in bed. He was wore a big hat and either a long coat or cloak and promptly vanished as she screamed. Needless to say she spent the rest of the night sleeping inbetween her parents! The family tried to convince her she had been dreaming but she saw him again a few weeks later and she insisted he was dressed like the man on the quaker oats box. Although she didn't see him again other family members did or had strange experiences in the house. The strangest happended to her sister and sister inlaw whilst she was at school and they were looking after the house whilst other family members were away. Lou and Maisy had cleaned the downstairs of the house and then went for a walk into town. As they locked the door behind them their nextdoor neighbour was cleaning her doorstep. On their return they were shocked to find a heavy bag of potatoes had been taken out of the kitchen and put underneath the middle of a long dining table in the next room. Also coats which had been hung neatly on hooks in the hall were now scattered in heaps making a circle around the dining table. Their fist thoughts were that somehow someone had got in and played a trick on them. They went to ask the neighbour, mrs Western if anyone had been whilst they were out. Nobody had, and she had been outside all the time they were gone. There were no other signs that someone had been in. This unnerved them and they didn't know what to think. They put everything back in its place and decided to go back up town for chips for when my mum returned from school. On their return exactly the same thing had happened again. They were really frightened now and when my mum returned Lou was in such a state she told her about it and said the house must be haunted. This terrified my mum, who cried and told Lou to stop talking about it. When it was time for mum to go back to afternoon school, she went out the back door and Lou and Maisy went upstairs to start cleaning again. Mum had forgotten her book so ran back but couldn't open the door so she started banging on it. Lou and Maisy opened the window above the door and were hysterical when they found out that my mum couldn't get back in as they had not locked the door. Eventually they had to come down and let her in for the book as my mum was probably more frightened of her teacher than the ghost! This never happened again iand it was only last year when we were looking itno the history of quakers that we found out that during meetings they would stand in a circle. We concluded that the coats being left in a circle pattern and the potatoes in the centre must have been symbolistic of their meetings. Although we have not been able to find out if quakers lived at the house it does seem likely with the howitt family living just across the road and there once being a quaker movement in the town. Hope I haven't bored you! |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
The Dene
replied on: 7/13/2006 5:02:01 PM Sherry No way have your bored us - it is a fascinating story. The Friends Meeting House was at the top of Hands Road, where the Pentecostal Church now is. So, with that and the Dene, there was certainly plenty of Quaker activity in the area. I hope you are happy for us to use the item you have posted in a future article, whether on the internet or in print. Please let me know if you're not. Pleased to see that my article in the R&H has prompted some additional memories! Regards Robert |
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sherry
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The Dene
replied on: 7/14/2006 7:30:49 AM Thanks for your reply. My mum will be thrilled for you to use the story where ever you like. I have a few more stories about the house but don't have time to tell them just now. I will get back to you later. Sherry. |
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sherry
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The Dene
replied on: 8/26/2006 1:55:18 PM Still regarding 23 Church St Heanor which once stood opposite The Dene . After the war my aunt Nance who lived at the house was up early waiting for her husband Morris to come back for his shift at the pit. All other family members were asleep in bed and it was still dark outside. Nance sat with her brother's dog for company. She felt safe with him. His name was Laddie and he was a huge white Alsation who was scared of nothing and nobody. Though he guarded the whole family and house he was known as a one man dog who did not liked to be fussed with. He filled the atmosphere with a quiet air of dominance and would let people know if he was displeased with a low deepthroated growl. As Nance sat waiting in the quiet Laddie suddenly reared up, his nose pointing in the direction of the parlour door. Puzzled Nance opened it and found nobody there but Laddie continued into the parlour towards the door which opened out onto the main road. He was growling now, teeth barred and edging closer to the door with the hackles up on his back. Thinking there was a prowler, Nance stood behind the door and staying there yanked it open for Laddie to take care of whoever was there. The length of his body leapt forward,then, to Nance's horror she saw him slowly back inside. His tail was down between his legs and he was whimpering in fear. This had never been known before. Though Nance heard nothing from outside nor saw a shadow, she stayed exactly where she was behind the door until her husband came back a short while later. Her husband Morris also saw a ghost in the house. He had gone to the toilet in the middle of the night and it was situated in a tiny room just past a curve on the staircase. As you looked out from the room you were able to see another staircase leading to the attic room. (I remember this myself as a child) Morris was looking out and said he felt his hair stand on end on seeing the shilouette of a man hanging from the rafters. We don't know if this was the quaker ghost my mother saw or another. I can remember these stories being relayed between my parents and aunts and uncles at get togethers when I was very young and they are still a talking point even now. After my mother and her siblings left home my Grandad lived alone in the house until he died there in 1967. I remember a man with the surname of Morris moved in afterwards with his son Steven. Steven went to Aldercar school in the same year as me. I didn't know him well but I do remember telling him my grandad once lived in his house and it was haunted and he replied that it was haunted by an old man, though he didn't elaborate. I did wonder if this 'old man' was my granded! He was 89 when he died. If by any small chance anyone reads this and they or someone they know lived at this house before 1940 or after 1967 I would love to hear from them. Sherry. |
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Jennypeg
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
The Dene
replied on: 11/28/2006 12:14:52 PM 7th Feb 1935 Heanor Observer A Howitt Memorial It was decided the Coun’s Brown, C.B. Wood, J.W. Kew, T. Horsley and Wright form a committee, along with the Surveyor, to consider the erection at Heanor Cemetery of a Lych Gate to commemorate the name of “Howitt” the material to be taken mainly from “The Dene” the old home of the Howitt's, now in course of demolition. |
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Jennypeg
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The Dene
replied on: 2/10/2007 11:42:56 AM 15th March 1879 Ripley Advertiser, death of Mr Francis T. Howitt remarkable coincidence, on Monday week, the death of the above named gentleman (brother of the late William Howitt the celebrated writer who also died at Rome precisely the same day and hour as the above) took place at his residence at Heanor, at the advanced age of 82 years. The late Mr Francis Howitt was widely known and respected. He resided at the house upon which his brother founded his verses entitled “The old house at home” which are so highly valued and appreciated, especially by persons in this neighbourhood. His burial took place on Friday, at half-past eleven o’clock at the friends burial ground Heanor. |
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sherry
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The Dene
replied on: 2/11/2007 12:18:16 PM Does anyone know when The Dene was actually built? |
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suegill
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The Dene
replied on: 2/11/2007 12:44:40 PM There's a nice picture of the Dene in the Society's book Around Old Heanor on page 32, but it doesn't say when it was built. Sue |
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tempus275
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The Dene
replied on: 2/18/2007 8:02:15 PM I've got a copy of a map of Heanor from 1792 and the dene is on that.. |
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sherry
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The Dene
replied on: 2/19/2007 4:09:04 PM thank you for your replies. It seems to be a mystery as to when The Dene was built. I am interested in this as I think my grandads neighbouring house must have been built at the same time. I went to the Matlock offices last year and couldn't find anything, but as I am new to research of this kind it was rather mind boggling. |
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WesleyLees
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The Dene
replied on: 7/21/2008 3:01:22 PM The Dene was located near where the Pentecostal Church now stands. I was recently talking to my mother about the Pentecostal Church being sold, as she attended there for many years. Out of the blue she said "but that place is haunted you know. There are spirits there". She went on to tell me about an evening where she saw "a spirit" about the size of a breadloaf moving from one building to the other. She also said the "Elders" held a special prayer meeting to exercise the spirit from the building. This was all before I read the above postings about supernatural goings on. All a bit spooky. |
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sherry
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 7/23/2008 5:07:35 PM by sherry |
The Dene
replied on: 7/23/2008 4:55:52 PM Thank you so much for that information Wesley. Especially as your mum's description is like many spirit sightings I have heard and read about. It does make you think there is something in it all. Maybe the sighting is even connected in some way to the one at my grandads which was over the road. Have you read the other strange sighting I put on here several months back concerning Hands road opposite the swimming baths. It was witnessed by my brother and his mate in 1970s. This other story is under miscelleneous headed Haunted houses in Heanor. I will tell mum about this ! |
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