Haunted Old Crow Cottage, in Willersley, Herefordshire

[Mick]

I have just read this fascinating article, have a read it's a little spooky.

 

 

Inside the haunted cottage with tragic past which has been left to rot with more than 300 years of valuables...clothes, pictures, clocks all left untouched

Last owner of Old Crow Cottage, in Willersley, Herefordshire, was tragically killed last year

David Edward Penny, 72, died in a car crash on the road outside the house in October, 2013

Locals claim to have seen lights flickering inside the cottage, leading to rumours that the cottage is haunted

The Grade II-listed cottage was built in the 17th century and had been a village pub

 

The haunting signs of lives once lived still echo from every room in this long-abandoned ramshackle ruin.

Old Crow Cottage, a Grade II listed building, now stands eerily abandoned since 2009 - the clothes, pictures and other remnants from former inhabitants are untouched and lying under a thick layer of dust.

New photographs from inside the dilapidated cottage, in Willersley, Herefordshire, reveal the eerie atmosphere within the building which would once have been a family home.

 

Over the last few years, locals have even reported to have seen lights flickering inside the cottage, leading to rumours that the cottage might be haunted.

The last occupant was killed in a car crash on the road outside the home.

Urban explorer Dan Circa ventured inside after reading about its history online.

Dan, 28, from Manchester says: 'The cottage has been in the same family for many years and it looks like each generation has filled the house with their possessions.'

Read More: HERE

[twowheelsgood]

I've loved that place for 40 years, without knowing anything about it, and loved watching it slowly decay. Tragic that its owner had to die in those circumstances and I really hope that some Daily Mail reader doesn't get the idea of robbing it of all its fantastic artefacts. I sincerely hope that it isn't 'done up' in a way which robs it of its character - something that will be very hard to do.

[dippyhippy]

Very poignant pictures - lives, once lived, now lost.

 

My mother in law lives nearby, and stories have circulated about this place locally for ages. 

Whenever we drive by, there is usually a cat still sat in the downstairs window.....very sad.

 

I would hope that someone, somewhere, can give this property the TLC, it is in such desperate need of, before it crumbles away completely.

[Colin James]

What an interesting story, sort of reminds me about the flat that they found in Paris undisturbed for 70 years recently found. 

[silent bull]

I love history and do wonder sometimes when I pass old houses who lived there, when was it built !!

Thanks to those photos it shows how hard it must of been before busses, cars even tv! !

I did live up until recently in a house which was in the same family for over 100years and next door to the same family for even more (I'm now back living in Hereford now),

They're both Georgian houses and I've always wanted to find out the history of them, what's the best way of doing it??

[Denise Lloyd]

In the HT today this lovely haunted crumbly old house is on the market.  It's up for auction guide price £120k to £150k.  Open day Sat 9.9.14.  For those budding house renovators looking for more than one challenge!  Correct spelling Olde Crowe Willersley 

[Denise Lloyd]

I don't know what happened there.  However the Old Crowe Willersley is up for auction.  Guide price £120k to £150k.  Open day Sat 9th August 2014.

An opportunity for those budding renovators wanting a challenge or two!!

 

http://www.mccartneys.co.uk/pdf.php?vars=propertypdf-sales-mccrps-HAY140171-1407325243

 

Hope the link works I do not always succeed with links

[twowheelsgood]

Wow - in the particulars is a link to a site where someone has put together a fantastic history of this property and the occupiers. It's here -

 

http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/specials/index.htm

[Denise Lloyd]

Decidedly more interesting than Leader Johnson's letter in the HT  

[dippyhippy]

Absolutely fascinating! A real insight into this house,it's occupants and history.

 

I'm glad I wasn't the only one to spot the cat in the window! Thanks for posting the link, Two Wheels. Will you be putting in a cheeky bid I wonder....???

[Denise Lloyd]

Could come very unstuck on a cheeky bid!!

[megilleland]

An amazing research into this old property and its previous occupiers. Working for Royal Mail I used to deliver mail to this property on the Winforton delivery, after taking the mail from Hereford to Kington sorting office first thing in the morning. I always wondered that if I had to knock the front door the roof would collapse! I also remember the cats sunning themselves in the front window. This picture was taken on 10th March 2007.

 

 

I would pass Mr Penny on his bicycle, immaculately turned out with cycle clips pedaling towards Eardisley, where he would visit the Strand, opposite the Tram Inn, for a drink and watch the horse racing. He even had battery lights on his bike and must have cycled back home sometimes in the dark. His death was very tragic for someone still so active for his age. When delivering his mail I would pull across the main road to outside his cottage and then return to the opposite of the road. This was always a tricky manoeuvre, as the cottage was on a blind bend with fast traffic travelling towards the road junction with the A4111.

 

There is a reference to The Wharf House in the Parish of Eardisley. There are two properties called The Wharf/Cottage and Wharf Bungalow next to the tennis courts in Eardisley. I believe they would have been named in connection with an early narrow gauge horse tramway, that linked limestone quarries at Burlinjob in Radnorshire to Eardisley in Herefordshire.

[Jonny]

120k - 150k, someones having a laugh! Its a liability not an asset.

[megilleland]

John Ball has uploaded a revised version of his Tumbledown Cottage webpage

 

The first two thirds of the article are unchanged, but from the subheading "Great Grandfather Penny" onwards, the article is considerably expanded. Much new material has been added. 

[dippyhippy]

Thanks for the update on the update!

 

Great to see your "cats in the window" photo, and memories of the house now included - it really is a fascinating history.

[dippyhippy]

I see that there is to be an open day at this property on Saturday.....1.00 - 3.00.

 

So Two Wheels, you may get the chance to go and have a look around!

[Tristan Booth]

It appears that the cottage was sold, but Mr. Ball has not yet updated his website with any new information.  I am particularly concerned about what happened to the contents, since the photos on the realtor's website showed empty rooms.  I hope the contents were saved for the new owner and not thrown away.  Does anyone have any new information on this?

[dippyhippy]

Hi Tristan!

 

Welcome to Hereford Voice!

 

I drove past the cottage this morning - McCartneys "Property for Auction" board was still outside, I actually wondered if it was still for sale. Nothing appears to have changed from the outside. As you say, I also thought the property details from the estate agents showed that a lot of the inside had been cleared already.

 

Have you spoken to the agents?If they arranged for the property to be cleared, they should know what has happened to the contents.

[Colin James]

It appears that the cottage was sold, but Mr. Ball has not yet updated his website with any new information.  I am particularly concerned about what happened to the contents, since the photos on the realtor's website showed empty rooms.  I hope the contents were saved for the new owner and not thrown away.  Does anyone have any new information on this?

 

Welcome to HV Tristan, please let us know what you find out but it would be a terrible shame if the contents have been thrown away.

[Denise Lloyd]

Lovely article on this magical house in the Hereford Times this week page 26.  

[Tristan Booth]

In reply to Denise Lloyd, I've looked through the Hereford Times online and can find nothing.  Is this only in print?  Should anyone have a digital version of this, I would love to see it.

[Denise Lloyd]

Sadly I have binned my copy of the HT otherwise I would have somehow got a copy to you.  All I can suggest is that you phone or e mail Hereford Times office on Monday I am sure they will help you. Well it would after all be good customer relations!

[Tristan Booth]

"phone or e mail Hereford Times office on Monday I am sure they will help you. Well it would after all be good customer relations!"

 

Ordinarily, I'm sure it would be but, sadly, I'm in the U.S. so I'm not the most loyal customer to look after.

[Denise Lloyd]

Tristan Oh I will phone them tomorrow and see what I can do but there again you could still email

[megilleland]

Planning application with drawings in for total renovation of cottage. Not sure how much of the original will be utilised, but at least the building and its history will be saved for posterity.

[ragwert]

The cottage sold for £160,000.
Picture of cottage taken end of March

 

[ragwert]

The cottage sold for £160,000.
Picture of cottage taken end of March

 

[ragwert]

Picture on estate agents website showing the cottage cleared out.



http://www.mccartneys.co.uk/4-bedroom-property-for-sale-in-Herefordshire-HR3-mccrps-HAY140171-1410255443

[ragwert]

Went past today.A wall is being built around back & side & planning notices are on fence.

[ragwert]

Went past old crows cottage this morning and took a few pics.