Why are all the mirrors in the Eynesbury Estate covered? The ghost tour reveals all
Funny story about that small timber table at Eynesbury Estate—the one where you’re likely to be eating when you head on over for a tour—Samuel Staughton inherited Eynesbury Estate when his father passed away, and then when Samuel passed away in 1903, his body was prepared and placed in a coffin and laid to rest in the reception room of the Estate, right atop that very table.
The sight of Samuel’s body was too much for some and whiskey was on offer to calm their nerves, while the ladies were given lavender clippings to sniff while grieving over the cadaver
The story just gets better, and more eerie. Friends and family came from far and wide to pay their respects to the well-loved businessman. The curtains were drawn and clocks were stopped at the time of his death. All the mirrors in the house were covered to prevent Samuel’ spirit from being trapped in the glass. A hand tied boxwood wreath was hung on the front door so passer-bys knew that a death had occurred. The servants took it in turns watching over Samuel’s lifeless body for every minute until burial, just in case he was not dead, but only in a coma. Every day the maids would pile fresh flowers and candles, not to pay respect to Samuel but to mask unpleasant odours and gases that slowly built up in the room as the body slowly decomposed.
The sight of Samuel’s body was too much for some and whiskey was on offer to calm their nerves, while the ladies were given lavender clippings to sniff while grieving over the cadaver. After four days, Samuel’s body was carried out of the house feet first, in order to prevent him from looking back into the house and beckoning another member of the family to follow him….
Family photographs and portraits were turned face-down to prevent any of the close relatives and friends of the deceased from being possessed by Samuel’s spirit, perhaps not all the pictures were face down as the staff at the Estate believe Samuel is very much still present at Eynesbury….
Just makes you want to book that next tour doesn’t it?
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