Ghosties and ghoulies and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night… they’re all grist to the mill as far as Lighthouse Stage Door Assistant Joe Diaper is concerned.
For Joe is about to step out on a new walking tour of Poole called Spectre & Host’s Tours Of The Unexplained. Set to begin in October, in good time for Halloween, the first season will run into November with an option to extend through the winter.
It’s a performative walk ‘n’ talk tour around the old town and Poole Quay looking at the many supernatural, paranormal and unexplained events associated with the area.
“There are well-known ones like the murder of Agnes Beard – a maid who was killed at Scaplen’s Court in Elizabethan times and continues to haunt the courtyard – as well as few lesser known stories,” he says.
“For instance, did you know there’s a forgotten alley called St Clement’s Lane? It’s between the Quay and the back of the King Charles pub and Hotel du Vin where the deal was done by the lord of the manor Sir William Longspee to sell the fishing village of La Pole in order to raise the money to take part in a Crusade.”
This became known as the Longspee Charter of 1248 and lead directly to the founding of Poole as a town in its own right.
“It’s said that these discussions can still be heard in the area and that when a new mayor is made in Poole, Longspee’s ghost appears in order to check all is being properly run.”
Joe’s tour will last for 90 minutes and represents a chance for the Drama graduate to get back in touch with his roots as a performer, having played the Conductor on board Swanage Railway’s Polar Express last Christmas.
“I love all things supernatural and I love storytelling, so Spectre & Host’s Tours Of The Unexplained seems to be the perfect way to spend the darker evenings. I’ll have to see if perhaps there’s a sequel in telling the stories of the Lighthouse ghosts!”
Tickets are on sale now on Eventbrite.
(NC)