The Fylde was an area of forests and bogs dating back to Roman times. We were known as the water dwellers. The Romans built a road which went through Preston, and then continued west to a port situated north of Fleetwood. The ancient parish of Bispham was recorded in the Doomsday Book. The first mention of Blackpool is found in the Register of Bispham Parish Church, in which is recorded in the Christianry on September 22nd of that year of a Child belonging to a Couple who reside on the Bank of the Black Pool the year was 1602. The people began to build cobble and clay huts near to the area of the "Pool". In the Bispham parish register, the names of " de Poole" and "de blackpoole" were mentioned, and the name of "Black Poole", was shortened to the present day name of ‘Blackpool’.
At the beginning of the 19th Century, Robert and Helen Cookson had lived at Layton Hawes Farm, an extensive property of 500 acres, which stood on the borders of the townships of Lytham and Marton. The land where the Cooksons once farmed is now the site of Blackpool airport, but the old farmhouse can still be seen on certain photographs taken of the air pageant, which was held there in 1909. The five Cookson sisters never married and they lived in Blackpool for many years. By 1851, Helen, Teresa and Margaret were living at No 1 Belle Vue Square, at the end of the Strand, in Blackpool. The sisters were instrumental in the very beginnings of the school, which was to become Layton Hill Convent, as all the family were very much into religion and education. This later became Layton Hill Grammar School, which was then merged with St Joseph’s College and then became St Mary’s RC High School, which is where the story begins. This building used to be a convent school where many nuns lived and prayed over the years. Today the road next to the school is called St Walburga’s as it was on the hill of the same name; this was not always the case. In 1901 the road was known as the ‘Lonely Lane’ which is not surprising really having seen this place in a thunderstorm it does look very haunted indeed. The chapel extension was built in 1910-1920 and has been added to over the years; most of the original orchard has been built over now. The building itself is dedicated to a Cornelia Augustine Connelly ( 1809 – 1879 ) she was known as a woman, wife, mother, foundress and educator, she was indeed instrumental in the setting up of convent education schools in England and the North West.
From 1989 to 1990 I was lucky enough to attend as a 6th former at this school and was delighted with the brief history I could find out and its paranormal legends. The strange thing is in my local library there are no records about the history of this school or building.
Stories and rumoursA white/grey lady has been seen in the grounds, I think she was possibly walking where the orchard used to be.
The original chapel had to have a cleansing.
A nun fell to her death from the 3rd floor, records are unsure if she was pushed or committed suicide.
Many babies are buried in the grounds that were mothered by the nuns, but never made it past infancy.
A nun is asleep in the 3rd floor dormitories and ‘dreams’ there is a fire, she goes to the location and tries to put it out. In the morning the remains of a nun are found but no evidence of a fire.
There are underground passages than run the length of the school. This story I can verify, as I was lucky enough to know the caretaker at the time. He let me explore underneath the school, which was fascinating to say the least. The only place I could not go was in the room of the Head teacher, it was occupied most of the time. Personally I believe there was a trap door that led to a church down the road, and it was used during both world wars.
My own Personal accountsWhen I would walk there and back to class through the chapel I always felt very uneasy, almost like I was being watched. I then found out what had allegedly in the chapel, needless to say I found a different route to class.
I was having a crafty smoke inside the school outside the art room, I had checked that there were no classes and no one in the room, the door was indeed locked. Imagine my utter horror as the door handle began to move, and then rattle. I just ran back up the stairs, white as a sheet. After a few minutes I decided to venture back down again, as there was one way to the room there and back. Again I was horrified to find that someone or something had written on the huge wooden door, ‘Leave this place’.
My final account I have saved for last. I was practising a play in the main hall with a few friends; in the hall was a huge statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. I was staring at the statue when the Virgin Mary slowly blinked her eyelids, once. Again I ran away, but did not want to tell my friends what I had witnessed. I did however ask a couple of them for stories about the school. A cleaner 4 years ago just left, why, she claimed that the statue moved of its own accord.
No doubt there are many more elements of the history of this place that even now I do not know. I just know I would like a chance to see if it is really haunted!
The first 2 are of Cornelia
http://www.visionmagazine.uk.com
Issue 13 of Vision (with Derek on the Cover) has an article that I have written. (As above)
Here is a link to a picture on the Vision website of one of my paranormal pictures
This work may not be copied or reproduces without the owners permission Juliette W Gregson 2006
This article was very kindly sent to me by the Webmaster of the Blackpool Ghosts website at www.blackpoolghosts.co.uk
