The Screaming Skull
Wardley Hall, Worsley 1641
Screaming skull? More likely than you’d think if you were also hung, drawn, quartered and reduced to nothing in a vat of tar...
This tasty piece of folklore history rears its head (sorry) in Wardley Hall, Worsley way back in 1641. A majestic example of Tudor architecture, the Wardley Hall building originates back to an unfathomably long time ago, and has been home to many through the years (it’s one of the only places in the North West mentioned in the Domesday book).
The hall is currently residence for the Roman Catholic Bishops of Salford, but back in 1641 it became the home of a rather cursed, and mischievous human skull (that screams!). The rather talkative skull belonged to Edward Ambrose Barlow, or Father Barlow, and during his time alive was a Benedictine monk. The reason for his untimely death? Well, practicing and preaching the Catholic faith of course. He had endeavoured to preach in secret, but as the definition of preaching dictates, he was soon heard.
On Easter Sunday, 1641, Father Barlow was mobbed by rage-filled Protestants and dragged over the Lancaster. You don’t want to know what they did to him at Lancaster Castle... which is tough because I’m going to tell you anyway! If you’re eating, I’d recommend pausing. The angry mobsters had taken Father Barlow towards the worst fate.
After standing (a very short-lived) trial, and proudly asserting of his guilt, Father Barlow was strung up by the neck in front of a rather morbid audience but was cut down promptly before he was able to reach death. Whilst still breathing, Father Marlow was sliced into four and his flesh was boiled away in a large, bubbling pot of tar. His head was mounted outside of Lancaster Castle (presumedly as a warning to others). It is said that The Lord of Wardley Hall, Mr. Francis Downes, travelled over to Lancaster Castle and retrieved Father Marlow’s head (I imagine heist-style). The head returned to Wardley Hall secretly, and Francis managed to hide it behind a panel above the main staircase.
I’m sure, not that I’ve tested this hypothesis, that if this had been the skull of a man who died in his sleep, peacefully and surrounded by those he loved, then that would have ended our tale. But this was the skull of a man beaten, hung, sliced up and boiled... What did Francis expect?
So, of course, the skull was cursed. And, of course, it caused complete mayhem in Wardley Hall and all those unlucky enough to cross its path. Father Marlow’s screams of pain and anguish were heard throughout the corridors of Wardley Hall, which was strange to the inhabitants as only Francis knew Father Barlow was stashed in the manor.
It was in the 18th Century when Francis, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, found him. Totally grossed out, he discarded the head in the moat - job done. But Father Barlow’s job was far from done, that evening a horrendous storm descended upon the hall, the building was close to being flattened by the weather, and so Francis drained the moat and retrieved the skull.
Father Barlow became rather stubborn (I don’t blame him). Each time a resident of Wardley Hall tried to get rid of Father Barlow, by smashing, hammering, burying or burning, the skull would reappear outside the Hall. With each attempt to destroy Father Barlow, his screams only grew louder, echoing through the manor and tormenting residents.
Due to the haunting consequences of attempting to throw the skull away, Father Barlow’s head remains at Wardley Hall as a permanent feature (I don’t blame them) and is encased behind glass. Do you believe the ghostly shrieks and relentless returning of the skull to be part of Father Barlow’s curse? Let us know!
Sources
https://aboutmanchester.co.uk/manchesters-most-famous-urban-legends//
https://www.manchestersfinest.com/articles/haunted-manchester-the-screaming-skull-of-wardley-hall/
https://www.spookyisles.com/wardley-hall-screaming-skull/
