Foxlydiate - Redditch, Worcestershire
Foxlydiate is in the district of Webheath in Redditch, Worcestershire. The name originates from the swing gate that would have been used by local fox hunters since the early part of the early medieval period. In the 18th century, a pub called The Fox and Goose stood on the Bromsgrove turnpike road and on the opposite side of the road was a mansion that was built in 1840 by Richard Hemming, the owner of a local needle factory, who's wife, Sarah bought 3 houses on the site in 1781. In April 1939, the publican of the Fox And Goose changed his license to a new site that was to be erected adjoining Foxlydiate House, the previous mansion that belonged to the Hemming family, now known as the Foxlydiate.
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The old Fox and Goose was demolished that same year and from 2021 the same has happened to the historic Foxlydiate House to make way for new housing even though the people in the area objected to the plans. I wonder what will happen to the Hemming’s family graves that are located at the back of the house, now in a small wooded area?
Whilst researching for this episode I found an interesting newspaper article from the Alcester Chronicle on the 2nd of May, 1891:
‘William Petford was charged with being drunk on Tuesday, while in charge of 2 horses. P.C. Mail stated the he saw the defendant, who was very drunk, near the Fox And Goose, Foxylidiate. He was so drunk that he was “like the have been under the horse’s hoofs several times”. Defendant asked the Bench to be “light as they could be with him". He was fined 5 shillings and 6 shillings costs.’
‘William Petford was charged with being drunk on Tuesday, while in charge of 2 horses. P.C. Mail stated the he saw the defendant, who was very drunk, near the Fox And Goose, Foxylidiate. He was so drunk that he was “like the have been under the horse’s hoofs several times”. Defendant asked the Bench to be “light as they could be with him". He was fined 5 shillings and 6 shillings costs.’
The following story was found in a book titled Worcestershire Ghosts and Hauntings by Redditch author, Anne Bradford:
It was Christmas Eve, and the vicar and curate of Studley were both standing in for the vicar of Tardebigge. The verger of Tardebigge died and one of them would have to conduct the funeral on Boxing Day , this meant that whoever held the service would miss the Boxing Day hunt. In a fit of rage, the vicar murdered the curate. He put the body in the hearse and horse and buried the curate in the grave that was meant for the verger. As he travelled across Redditch, passing through, Crabbs Cross, Headless Cross and Webheath, he was spotted by a local poacher named Bill Attewood, who was found later with his head caught in a mantrap. Local legend tells of a phantom hearse without a driver that appears on Christmas Eve when the moon is full and whoever witnesses it will die within 12 months.
It was Christmas Eve, and the vicar and curate of Studley were both standing in for the vicar of Tardebigge. The verger of Tardebigge died and one of them would have to conduct the funeral on Boxing Day , this meant that whoever held the service would miss the Boxing Day hunt. In a fit of rage, the vicar murdered the curate. He put the body in the hearse and horse and buried the curate in the grave that was meant for the verger. As he travelled across Redditch, passing through, Crabbs Cross, Headless Cross and Webheath, he was spotted by a local poacher named Bill Attewood, who was found later with his head caught in a mantrap. Local legend tells of a phantom hearse without a driver that appears on Christmas Eve when the moon is full and whoever witnesses it will die within 12 months.
Near Webheath church on Foxlydiate Lane, there used to stand two semi-detached cottages. On the 10th of May in 1902, a violent, heavy drinker named Samuel Middleton returned home to one of the cottages after a two week drinking binge. His wife, Hannah grew vegetables as a second income and he knew that she’d just sold the last of the potato crop and wanted the money for more alcohol. Hannah refused to give him the money and things became heated. The neighbour, a widow named Mrs Hassel heard them arguing but she didn’t think much about it as it happened so regular. The shouting progressively got louder with Hannah Middleton screaming before it went silent. Mrs Hassel fell asleep for a while until she was woken up by the smell of smoke which was filling her room. Both cottages were on fire and the landlord of the Fox And Goose, Herbert Chambers, called for the Redditch Fire Brigade while neighbours rushed in to save whatever valuables they could. There was no sign of the Middleton’s. After the fire had been completely put out, the body of Hannah Middleton was found in the kitchen. She was fully dressed which indicated that she hadn't gone to bed and her head and limbs had been almost completely burnt away from the intense fire. They discovered that the fire had been started in the kitchen as they’d found hay in the room that had been taken from a nearby pigsty. Samuel Middleton was found walking towards Droitwich. When asked where he was going he replied, “Anywhere, I’ve killed my wife and they’ll soon catch me.”
After the police caught up with Samuel, he admitted that he’d battered Hannah with a poker and machete during an argument. After he realised she was dead, he set fire to the cottage in order to try and cover up the murder. He was found guilty of murder at Worcester Assizes and hanged on the 15th of July 1902.
A local story tells that towards the end of the 20th Century, a maid from nearby Hewell Grange in Tardebigge, now a prison, was having an affair with someone at The Fox and Goose. When the maids husband found out, he stabbed her to death. Many people have since witnesses ‘The white lady of Foxlydiate’ who has been reported walking from Hewell Grange to the Foxlydiate Pub.
In the 1980s, a teenage girl was out walking late on a cold, dark winter’s evening with her friends. As they walked along the path that runs next to the Foxlydiate Pub she noticed a woman in the distance. As the woman approached, the girl realised that the woman was floating about 2 foot above the path. She pointed it out to her friends who could all see the woman. They described her as wearing a long white dress with long dark hair with her arms stretched out in front of her. The teenagers ran home.
One night in the 1990s, a family visited the Foxlydiate for a meal. Their 6 year old daughter needed to use the toilet so walked alone down the corridor towards the toilet area when the figure of a woman suddenly walked out in front of her. The little girl wet herself and ran back to her parents. When questioned, she described her as wearing a long white dress and had long black hair.
People who have worked at the pub say that there's a resident ghost who they call Tom, he’s believed to be the ghost of an old coachman from the time when the Hemming family owned the property.
A barmaid who worked at the pub during the 1990's experienced many strange happenings in her time working there. Her first experience was as she was getting ready to open up the bar one day when a glass beer tankard flew off one of the shelves and smashed over the other side of the bar, no one else was around to witness it. She was working one evening when she had to walk down the corridor that leads to the toilet and kitchen area. As she approached the toilet door a woman walked out of the kitchen door and walked towards her, disappearing as she got closer, she described her as wearing a long white dress with long dark hair. She entered the kitchen door to tell the chef what she'd seen and the chef was stood in the far corner of the room looking shocked, they’d seen the woman too.
The following story comes from a local Salsa instructor who has a background in psychology.
Because of my career in The World of Psychology I usually have an explanation for "The Unexplained" etc. I usually find most "strange goings on" have a logical reason, before and after this experience I have never seen a ghost but I am left baffled by my experience at New Salsa's Halloween Party at The Foxlydiate Arms on Saturday 31.10.09
During the party, three contestants were to be selected that had the best Halloween outfits, one would win some super prizes.
One contestant was an obvious choice , she was dressed as a corpse bride , wearing what I can only describe as "theatrical make up". The other contestants were A Dracula from Redditch & An Edward Scissor Hands from Kidderminster. When it came to inviting the contestants forward, Dracula & Edward came forward , but there was no sign of The Corpse Bride. time was filled in by playing tunes for everyone to freestyle while a search was launched for the third contestant.
Having finally found her . the contest began. The winner was to be decided by way of audience applause. I was certain that The Corpse Bride would win , she had by far the most spookiest outfit. The audience were invited to "make some noise " for The Corpse Bride - the result was low level applause & laughter. When applause was invited for Edward Scissor Hands , The roof nearly came off - Dracula medium applause. The same procedure followed, even less applause for The Corpse Bride, while everyone went nuts for Edward . The M.C. apologised to The Corpse Bride explaining that there were many people from Kidderminster in attendance & they clearly cheered for their mate.
I remember the M.C. saying to The Corpse Bride, "If it was up to him you would be the winner ."
Now here is where things got strange, after the party as I am helping collecting and clearing everything up, New Salsa members came up the host to say goodbye, great party etc. some said, "Why did you do that joke twice ?" He said "What joke?", "The Corpse Bride one", apparently they claimed that there was no one standing next to him & that there were only two contestants.
However some of the audience did see The Corpse Bride during the contest and during the evening.
It seemed to be split 50/50 some said, "we saw her" some saying that, "there was no one there!".
Because of the large crowd that came, everyone had to purchase a ticket beforehand, there was a register on the door for everyone to sign in. After the party, every ticket could easily be allocated to every member that attended, except one, The Corpse Bride. Her name was not signed in on the register and I met every party attendee at New Salsa's dance classes in the weeks & months that followed the party ... except one The Corpse Bride.
During the party, three contestants were to be selected that had the best Halloween outfits, one would win some super prizes.
One contestant was an obvious choice , she was dressed as a corpse bride , wearing what I can only describe as "theatrical make up". The other contestants were A Dracula from Redditch & An Edward Scissor Hands from Kidderminster. When it came to inviting the contestants forward, Dracula & Edward came forward , but there was no sign of The Corpse Bride. time was filled in by playing tunes for everyone to freestyle while a search was launched for the third contestant.
Having finally found her . the contest began. The winner was to be decided by way of audience applause. I was certain that The Corpse Bride would win , she had by far the most spookiest outfit. The audience were invited to "make some noise " for The Corpse Bride - the result was low level applause & laughter. When applause was invited for Edward Scissor Hands , The roof nearly came off - Dracula medium applause. The same procedure followed, even less applause for The Corpse Bride, while everyone went nuts for Edward . The M.C. apologised to The Corpse Bride explaining that there were many people from Kidderminster in attendance & they clearly cheered for their mate.
I remember the M.C. saying to The Corpse Bride, "If it was up to him you would be the winner ."
Now here is where things got strange, after the party as I am helping collecting and clearing everything up, New Salsa members came up the host to say goodbye, great party etc. some said, "Why did you do that joke twice ?" He said "What joke?", "The Corpse Bride one", apparently they claimed that there was no one standing next to him & that there were only two contestants.
However some of the audience did see The Corpse Bride during the contest and during the evening.
It seemed to be split 50/50 some said, "we saw her" some saying that, "there was no one there!".
Because of the large crowd that came, everyone had to purchase a ticket beforehand, there was a register on the door for everyone to sign in. After the party, every ticket could easily be allocated to every member that attended, except one, The Corpse Bride. Her name was not signed in on the register and I met every party attendee at New Salsa's dance classes in the weeks & months that followed the party ... except one The Corpse Bride.