Tags
Berkshire, Bisham Abbey, Black Wolf Books, Catherine Cavendish, Elizabeth Hoby, ghosts, haunted Berkshire, Loving ady Lazuli, Shaw House, Shehanne Moore, the Chandos Bride
Dark Doings in Deepest Berkshire – with Shehanne Moore
Catherine Cavendish….. ‘My guest today is historical author Shehanne Moore. I love her books, which combine adventure with feisty characters, humour and a flavour of the Gothic: ‘
“As God is my witness, this property shall ne’er be inherited by two direct successors, for its sons will be hounded by misfortune.”
By Shehanne Moore.
As God is mine I must say I was heartily glad to read the following….
‘Berkshire is a place of mystery, myth and legend. The county abounds with strange tales of ghostly phantoms, ferocious creatures,
kings & knights, witchcraft, treasure and more.’
Why was I glad?
Because it’s never easy coming to the wonderfully chilling blog of Gothic horror writer, Catherine Cavendish. Certainly NOT when you write romance, even when it’s slightly Gothic romance. Thank you so very much Cat for inviting me. despite this.
Not only is my recently re-released book Loving Lady Lazuli set in Berkshire where the heroine has gone to ground – phew- there was a ton of tales to choose from.
I am glad to hear it. I thought you sort of chewed tails to bits, cut them right down the middle… So it said online anyway–I mean about Berkshire of course– which was why I was initially drawn to the ‘most haunted’ Shaw House but the most interesting thing there I could find was the true story of how the Duke of Chandos took as his wife, a beautiful chambermaid who was being sold off by her husband in an inn yard with a halter round her neck. (Something you hamsters dudes should try for size.)
Not just shades of Thomas Hardy’s, The Hamster…00OPS… Mayor of Casterbridge but proof that the business of dukes marrying what might be construed as women a universe below their social status….as happens in Lazuli and Splendor and indeed in a hell of a lot of historical romance… is not as daft as all that.
Moving on though, through covens of witches and headless men, I came to the story of Bisham Abbey…I guess apposite again as Barwych Hall in the book is based on Mount Grace Priory in Yorkshire. However, the Bisham monks were so furious at Henry VIII for ‘dissolving them,’
they cursed the ancient building.
And indeed…as in another follow through from the book, sort of anyway…the sons of Bisham’s many different owners didn’t just fall down dead, they were beheaded, they died young, they were killed in world wars—and, as in the case of young William Hoby, they had some help from their mama. In this case, the widowed Lady Elizabeth who had such high standards of education, she not only beat young William to bits and locked him in the Tower Room to do his lessons all over again, she quite forgot, despite being so brilliant herself, that she’d done it, clearing off to Windsor for several days of dancing and banqueting. A very merry widow to all accounts. After all, weren’t there servants for tiresome things like children after all? Hamsters too……
At least Lady Elizabeth thought so, so she was really quite astonished on returning home to find that everyone thought William was with her….
I think we all know what’s coming next.
But did William exist at all? There’s documented evidence for Anne, the Chandos’ chambermaid bride. But William?
Well, firstly the fact that there’s no genealogical evidence to show he did exist, doesn’t always mean a thing. Not all records survive. And the Hobys had other estates where his birth could have been recorded.
“Proof” of William’s existence is sort of provided by the discovery in 1840, during renovations, of copy books containing blots on every page, corrections
by the ‘wicked lady‘ herself and the name, William Hoby. Alas, I say ‘sort of’ because these copy books sort of then disappeared. Maybe Lady Hoby stole them…? A bit like my jewel thieves in the book.
However 1840 was the point where the son first became known as William. Till then he’d just been a nameless son, like you get these nameless, headless hamsters….oops, horsemen. Lady Hoby did indeed have a son…Francis…who died young in unknown circumstances, at the time she had remarried and her surname was then Russell.
You pays your money you takes your chances, I’d say on truth and legend mixing to become one…or the other.
Whether or not Lady Hoby caused her son’s death as said, the Abbey is known to be one of the most haunted houses in Britain, certainly the most haunted in Berkshire and that haunting is done by her apparently grief-stricken self, dressed in black lace and white, washing her hands a la Lady Macbeth.
She tears curtains, throws things. But mostly she just sobs and leaves lights up in the Tower Room.. a bit like Silv in the purple hat there. Some people think she causes the mists that wreath the Abbey and until 1936 she especially liked to come out for coronations.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little venture to the darker side and won’t be afraid to visit the Abbey…
Talking ghosts… here’s the blurb for Loving Lady Lazuli.
A woman not even the ghost of Sapphire can haunt. A man who knows exactly who she is.
Only one man in England can identify her. Unfortunately he’s living next door.
Ten years ago sixteen year old Sapphire, the greatest jewel thief England has ever known, ruined Lord Devorlane Hawley’s life by planting a stolen necklace on him. Now she’s dead and buried, all Cassidy Armstrong wants is the chance to prove she was never that girl.
But her new neighbor is hell-bent on revenge and his word can bring her down. So when he asks her to be his mistress, or leave the county with a price on her head, Sapphire, who hates being owned, must decide…
What’s left for a woman with nowhere else to go, but to stay exactly where she is?
And hope, that when it comes to neighbors Devorlane Hawley won’t prove to be the one from hell.
And here’s a snippet from the bit where a past ‘ghost’, Gil, turns up unexpectedly and proceeds to ‘haunt’ the supposedly dead and buried, Cassidy— further than she’s just been haunted this evening already.
Hastily she tugged a shawl round her shoulders—the first thing to take care of was the fact she faced him half naked, with her undergarments on the floor. Silk ones.
“So? What do you want?”
Apart from staring at her drawers and corset? Well, he was welcome. It was all he was going to get to do with them–whatever else happened here, whatever he’d said. Maybe she wasn’t going to be able to dominate this situation with them on the floor, as much as she’d like, maybe her options were as numerous as one-legged chickens, gathering the garments up would show she knew it.
“Nice that.” He dragged his gaze from her corset. “What did you just say?”
“What do you want?”
“Hmm.” He screwed up his face, stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat pocket, looked at the ceiling. “Well now, to quote Hamlet, by that fellow, what’s his name again, William Shakespeare and all that, that is the question. Whether it’s to suffer the there them slings of outrageous fortune, or, you know, take up arms and all them things what you take up, and do what you can, to actually end this protracted situation what you is in. Or is it, the them there stings of outrageous fortune? You know, I can’t remember. But, see, what I am hoping is that I ain’t going to have to end them. Thinking how awful that would be for certain for those concerned, see? You get a big soddin’ arrow sticking in your—”
“Jesus, Cass.”
“Evenin’ Rube.” He sniffed loudly. “Hope it’s a good ‘un.”
“It soddin’ was till yer soddin’ showed yer soddin’ ugly face.”
“Hmm.” He strolled around the copper tub, sniffing the stone cold suds. “Personally I think ugly sodding face is what you might call a better arrangement of the words. See, it has what you might call, a more them there poetic ring to it.”
“The only soddin’ thing I’d like to ring is—”
“Hmm. Well … Sure you ain’t alone there. Still, not to put too fine a point on it, not just you here, Rube, to bid a good and wondrous-to-behold, evening to. Pearl, Sapphire, jewels of the Orient. Here, don’t you think this is just like them olden days what we did have together, them happy times in … what was the name of that place again … Lanthorne Street?”
Black Wolf Books. – Kara imprint
Headless hamsters! Oh my!!! Great background information. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to visit the haunted abbey. Eeee!
Ooh…you could have lived in our last house Leslie. You had to be brace there. Truly xxxxxx
When I was a kid we lived in a slightly haunted house. The previous owner had died there—overdosed in an apparent suicide and her body was found in the bathtub. My parents thought that they’d kept my brothers and me from knowing about it, but it was a small town and someone told me. I had the most horrific dreams in that house. Nightmares about vampires and ghouls abounded.
Oh we had a def presence. Threw things, knocked on doors. paced, Sounds bonkers but it all happened. I can name you umpteen visitors it terrified. xxx
This is sooo funny! No haunted places for me either – send the hamsters in and I’ll read all about it later 🙂
Lol… I was just saying to Leslie there, you’d have not liked our last house then. You have no idea what we put up with there. If only I had had the dudes then, they might have sorted it.
Yet another book to add to the list! And I finished The Writer and the Rake today. It was fab and now I’m moving on to the Mr.’s book! oxoxoxo
Pam xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and ooooooooooooooooooooo and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx galore. I remember you read the previous version of Lazuli. I made some adjustments mainly to Gil’s character and also to Devorlane’s unraveling as he fights his opium addiction, cos I wasn’t rushing to make a deadline. x
Haha – oh what we can create when we are by rushing!! Congrats. When I finish the Mr.’s book, I think you two should do a guest post on my blog. 😘❤️♥️😜
That would be wonderful Pam. Thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fiendishly delightful
Ha ha… They are your little fiends after all. And they are gearing up for a visit from their number one enemy, poor Cat and also who has shot right in behind her, knocking poor Noelle Clark out the way, lovely Jean. I hope it won’t be mayhem….
The Abbey sounds very tempting, as does the extract from Loving Lady Lazuli. Nice writing.
I understand the Abbey is top of a haunted list and truly when I started looking at spookies for Cat, there were lots but most seemed to be pubs and inns making claims shall we say, with nothing to back them up, whereas the Abbey had much more. Thank you so much for the comment. Gil was one of the secondaries I rewrote for the re-release, having more time, making him softer–sounding — but much more dangerous. So thank you. Very much appreciated. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wow, now I want to visit the Abbey but not a night, no, no, unless the Dudes come with me? xxx
Lol…. I guess they would be good protection. They’d soon set about that Hoby woman… x
Yep, they’d send her packing toot suite, (right spelling?). xxx
After the day…the day that started when the new sofa arrived at 6 30 AM instead of 10 and took back breaking hours to put up … I will spell it anyway xxxxx
quite a recommendation…ha!
Lolxxxxx
I think that the Bisham Abbey is a right place to read about in October.
These days I have been immersed in reading the Grace O’Malley book. Love it. Is it your husband’s first novel? I remember reading his poetry.
PS the subtle hint about the halter… is it a threat??… xxxxxxx
Lol..it is indeed. You have to show these little dudes who is boss. Not that it makes any difference. I am just getting the scene set for Cat and Jean coming by with spooky posts for Halloween. I just showed the MR. your comment and he is so touched. He says thank you And I say it too. He was trying to capture that era here. And yes it is his first book. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It is a wonderful book. I have problems with reading these days, but I read small portions every day 🙂 You two are so talented xxxxxx
I’m so glad you like it Inese. I only have time to read small portions these days myself, with everything else going on. YOU are also way too kind. I told him all about you yesterday and how beautiful your photographs are xxxxx
Thank you for gracing my blog, Shey. I now wonder just what the hammies have in store for me. I shall pack my Cloak of Invisibility just in case…
I am thinking so maybe Cat. I am unsure about this dear friends bit…. xxx
dissolved – in acid!! lol Those hamsters of yours – and you cut off their tails!! I love a ghostly tale which I suppose your hamsters might not get the humour of that!! and this is the time of year for spooky reading. Must read Lazuli! btw do you go to Calton hill for the Samhain fires? I have been reading about the Beltane Society. hugs to you!
Ah..that would be Edinburgh but I do of course fly on my broomstick. Seriously for many years when we lived across in Fife I used do a huge ghostly bash for the local children. Now I live a quiet life…. scaring the little dudes and such. I am afraid the dudes misbehaved here today. They are getting ready for their Halloween guests who they don’t want to have. I had to scare them a little. Cybele you are so sweet to want to read Lazuli… she’s a bit gothic I must say in terfs of story line. . A pity we can’t raise a glass to Samhain together. That would be the best xxx
I was big on ghostly bashes too – some friends used to do a haunted house exhibit as well!! One of these days I’ll be back in Scotland!! Ill let you know!
YES!!! x
Totally fab… loved reading about all the haunted houses in Berkshire… I am a sucker for gory old folk tales at the best of times and Loved the extract…. Happy Halloween! Px
I loikes a good ghost story Oih does. And thank you Paul. That’s a revamped extract with Gil. I decided to make him more …sort of affable but anything but anything but as opposed to outright menacing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ooooh, sounds so spooky. And of course, spooktacular! I’m a bit of a scaredy cat so I’m hiding behind the dudes. Lol 🙂 xoxxx
Dir Diby, don’t listn to Shey tellin you that is the scarist place t’be
The dudes
xxxxx
I was listening to a song, within which the words, ‘Hamster’s turn on frequently’ reminded me to check in at your blog. As ever, a fine read. Best wishes for success all round.
Mike, you are an absolute diamond gent you know x
You are always a fabulous fund of stories, Shey! The Abbey sure sounds scary, but not as scary as your old house. I loved Splendor and just finished Mr’s book last night. It had me laughing out loud on a train, getting weird looks from fellow passengers. Brilliant. xx
Lol… My old house was murder actually. I see that now. I can’t wait for your book. getting very near. I will tell the Mr re his book. he will be thrilled. Truly. And I am glad you loved Mz Splendor. Getting there, getting there on getting the next re relase out, then the last then Destiny will be joining them xxx
Nice review by Catherine Cavendish! I’ll head to her blog and like it there.
Congratulations Shehanne!
Aw xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Resa, you are a gem xxx
Beautiful xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hope you are doing good, I have nominated you for real and neat blog https://positivesideofcoin.wordpress.com/2018/10/27/real-neat-blog-award/
That is so KIND of you. I gratefully accept . I have never had a real and neat I think, x
🙏💕
xxxxxx
With every read from Shey, I am more and more drawn in too these dark, brilliant histories both factual and fictual…fictionual…fictionish…you know what I mean. Fascinating land, Berkshire. God-willing I can visit it someday! Lovely post from lovely ladies–and hamstahs 😉 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My darling….the dudes are but preparing for your good self… Oh yes. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh my! 🙂 xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi smexy how are You? Been long
SWAMPNIL! Where yah been? I am forging on, forging on, after quite a year/ How are YOU?
Well said
Thank you so much. Have al lovely day xxxxxxx
Congratulations dear! great share! Have a beautiful and Lovely day and night! Cheers☕☕
Ravindra xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thank you. Glad you enjoyed. Hoping for a nice Saturday. Hoping you have one too x
Pleasure is all mine! Will definitely grab one ! Keep blogging and keep inspiring dear! You too have a fabulous weekend, cheers ☕☕☕
My goodness, I will keep blogging and hopefully inspiring. Writing too. Thank you. Thank you so much for this lovely comment. I had a great weekend. Just came in from dancing —Scottish dancing in the freezing cold in our town’s city square, Christmas light switch on with students and visitors from all over the world. A small crowd who braved that bit when the main crowds had gone home. It was amazing. Again, thank you and I hope you had a great weekend xxxxxxxxxxxxx
—Bonjour—mon Amie—–Ami Shehanne
Le Bonheur
C’est une goutte de pluie
Comme une fleur sous la pluie
Le bonheur c’est une chanson
Que l’on fredonne de mille façon
Le bonheur ” C’est tout simplement ” L’ Amitié ”
Je te souhaite une journée ou soirée et de belles choses à venir
————-bisous–BERNARD
Bernard, merci Le meilleur pour vous et les vôtres.