Dunge Valley Hidden Gardens

©1500

"Believe what you will.................."

Dunge Farm House goes back to the 15th Century. The word Dunge comes from the Anglo-Saxon for "of the Valley District" but some people believe it was shortened from "Dungeon". There are stories about Monk's holes, dungeons and tunnels......want to read on?

1976

When we purchased the house and 5 acres of woodland in December 1976, the house had stood empty for two years. We met people who told us various tales about the property.....

1749

The plaque on the front of the house has a large 'S' on it, said to be that of the Sheriff. It also has 1749 on it. Jumble these numbers up and you get 1947; the year David was born. When we saw this we felt it was significant and he should buy the house.

©1749

In around 1749 Bonny Prince Charles (1720-1788) was out and about and there was a secret tunnel dug from the Dunge for him to escape across the valley up to what is now known as Charles Head Farm on the opposite hill side. An old farmer, now deceased, claimed he used to play in the tunnel which emerged near the front door. When we dug out a run and a pit for the septic tank at the bottom of the car park we found the remains of this tunnel caved in. On the other side of the wall is the opening which goes back three or four yards but is again fallen in. Some say this used to be the larder keeping food fresh and cool, but does the tunnel still contain mysteries or even skeletons?

Pre 1976

There is a square stone in the centre of the woodland which supposedly marks the entrance to the tunnel from above. We have never found anything more than the stone itself.

©1960

The previous farmer's wife used to look after foster children until proper homes were found for them. Sometimes she would have up to 12 children in the house at one time. One night, investigating a noise she claimed she saw legs dangling from a loft opening in the end bedroom. Looking towards the beds all the children seemed to be in their places and fast asleep. Looking back towards the hole there were no legs and the trap door was in place.

©1989

Our second dog, 'Sabre' was only an eight week old puppy when I was settling him to sleep in his basket in the Stone Room at the opposite side of the room to the staircase. My children were about 7 and 9 years old and had similar voices. Everyone else was in bed, it was late, between 11.00pm and 12.00 midnight. I distinctly heard a child's voice call out 'Mu-um' from the top of the stairs. Presuming it was one of the children I immediately went up the stairs. No-one was there. Both children were fast asleep in their own bed's in their own rooms. Their respective doors tightly closed. I couldn't be mistaken and the sound just wouldn't have come through the doors like that if they had shouted out in their sleep.

©1980-1996

My best friend would never baby-sit for me when the children were young as the house always gave her the creeps. She said it was 'haunted'.

©1995

Our brave teenage children were well spooked out when, with friend they decided to camp up the wood one Summer night. They were soon back at the house and tucked up in proper beds. "It was only the owls", I would say but they knew better...........
This was prior to the 'Blair Witch Project', I may add.

©2000

I received a free clown puppet along with a "Damart" order some years back. It sits on the corner of my dressing table. I used to wind it up and it played a tune. For a long time it had been thoroughly wound down but ............ some nights, at about 11 o'clock it plays ....... just a few notes. There's nothing in the room to disturb it, it's not nudged or blown on. It is as if it has a mind of it's own ........

2005

In the autumn, my husband, on one of his walkabouts in the garden, looked up at the front of the house. At my bedroom window he could see a woman. For a heart-stopping moment he recognised it to be my mother. It wasn't me as I was outside too. Two strange facts were that she died on 8th August 1998 and had never visited the house once in all the time from the day we initially saw the house to the day she died.

2006

My friend and I were in the kitchen one day and both of us suddenly remarked on a strong smell of fish oil. We looked around for an explanation but could find none. Two weeks later I definitely could smell lavender. We do grow it outside but the clump hardly scents the air. This was very powerful. Both smells/scents were in the kitchen near to where there used to be a Monk's hole; an escape from the house.

2009

My daughter who had recently moved back home has felt many a cold draft in the kitchen near the sink which is again where there used to be the Monk's hole; but there hasn't been a breath of wind outside.....

Now

"...............................do you wish you could scream louder?"

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