coach-a-bower

A phantom coach drawn by headless horses, the appearance of which is said to be an omen of death.

A coach drawn by four headless horses, and driven by a headless coachman, appeared on Christmas Eve, at midnight, near Bury St. Adams. It came from the parish of Great Bartan, across the fields, regardless of fences, and proceeded to a deep hole called "Phillis's Hole" near "the two-mile spinney," in the parish of Rongham, and there find a resting place.

At Acton, Suffolk, on certain occasions the park gates were wont to fly open at midnight "withouten hands," and a carriage drawn by four spectral horses, and accompanied by headless grooms and outriders, proceeded with great speed from the park to a spot called "the nursery corner." The "Corner," tradition says, is were a very bloody engagement took place in Roman times.

Coaches drawn by headless horses are also found at Caister Castle and Blicklin Hall. Another coach appears at Langley Hall, near Durham, drawn by black and fiery steeds.

References

Sources

  • Notes and Queries, 1st Series, Vol. 4, 1852. London: Bell & Daldy, pp. 365, 196.
  • Henderson, W. (1879). Notes on the folk-lore of the northern countries of England and the borders. Covent Garden: W. Satchell, Peyton and Co., p. 326.
  • Wright, J. (1898). The English dialect dictionary. Vol. 1. London: H. Frowde.