It took 17 months, but I knew that a blog would eventually burst the coffin and find the light.
We moved back to Chelmsford six months ago. Our house sits at the edge of a relatively unknown side of town, so it was important that I found new walking routes. Getting out each afternoon stops me climbing the walls. Stops me looking at various-sized screens and keeps me fit.
I soon found a good march, out across the River Chelmer and several fields to a farm track known as Grace’s Walk. This is a very straight mile and a quarter, with a plain stone bridge over a stream halfway along.
At the end, there are various routes up to Danbury, one of the highest points in Essex, with a choice of six pubs to take rest and refreshment.
On the way to one, several months back, I discovered a building smack bang in the middle of nowhere, going by the name of Little Baddow History Centre. Very nondescript, utterly quiet, and offering my tired legs a seat by an old graveyard. Absolutely perfect for closing the eyes and meditating, as no humans seem to use the place.
I paid my third visit on Wednesday 13 November. A cold afternoon, with the autumn darkness descending too quickly on the local country lanes. The meditation wasn’t quite as good as hoped. Too many noises in the trees.
Walking back, at around 5 p.m., the near-full moon was spectacular, brilliantly lighting my way back down Grace’s Walk in the post-dusk. It warranted a picture, so I stopped a few hundred yards past the bridge. Pointed the phone camera back down the track and upwards. Took the picture below and was about to take a second when I noticed that the camera screen was showing something that seemed to be wobbling in the middle of the track, about 80 yards away. I looked up from the phone but couldn’t see much. My spectacles might have lost sharpness over the past year.
Because I didn’t have a high-vis jacket, it was a little scary to think somebody might be riding a bike towards me in the dark, or perhaps running. Grace’s Walk hosts plenty of mountain bikes and joggers. My phone battery was very low, so I didn’t want to use the flashlight. I walked on, but kept turning around so that I could step aside if somebody came past. Reaching the road where Grace’s Walk ends, I waited for at least 5 minutes to let whoever might have been behind me pass. Nobody came.
Back home I looked hard at the phone picture. WTF is that mid-track? Enlarge the pic and what do you see? Damned if I know for sure. There was no water on the track for the moon to bounce off, due to weeks of dry weather.
Like a good 21st century drone, I turned to Google. I tried the word combination of ‘ghost Grace’s Walk Chelmsford’. And quickly found that a Dame Alice Grace had drowned herself at the bridge over one hundred years ago, to escape an unhappy marriage, and was reputed to haunt the track, where her phantom is said to ride a horse. The bridge, where I have sat and dangled my legs, is frequented by ghost hunters, FFS.
I remembered that I had read all of this, at speed, a few months back, but had paid little heed.
Son Rory and daughter Lauren said that they now want to walk down there with me one night. I have not been back alone. I’m waiting until spring is here and the days are lengthening.
The Biscuit Factory 
welcome back you have been missed. Ghosts of Essex what a toic
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Thanks Ed. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the blogs. Have you ever seen a ghost? And how are you doing generally?
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welcome back you have been missed. Ghosts of Essex what a toic
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Oh I have missed you.
Energy is a powerful thing Kev. I think you picked that up. There was deffo something there.
It reminds me of a time when was walking home from a pub, one warm summers night. It was late, very late, and my now ex husband wanted to take a short cut down a little lane. Even now the hairs go up on the back of my neck at the thought of it. Something was down there Kev, something evil. I felt it.
We argued because I would not go down there, and all the way home I felt we were being followed. I have never felt so glad to get indoors.
Moisy
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Trusting your 5 senses and all of the accompanying instincts is no bad thing Moisy. If it was a ghost – and lets face it, we’ll never know – then I have finally lost my spook virginity, at the grand old age of 67. My wife at age 16 saw the ghost of her grandmother, freshly deceased. She said it was very peaceful. Our cats seem to know when a room contains more than human life, it’s fascinating to watch their beam of attention.
Hope you are keeping well and enjoying Irish life x
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Hi Kev I am so glad you came back and what a topic and a story about this mysterious haunting, I love how you set the scene with the wind, bridge and graveyard it really drew me in. I am now waiting for the next chapter when you go back with your kids to see if you can catch a glimpse of the ghost. Spooky story, I loved it! take care, Athena AKA CC
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Athena….that’s a lovely name. Athena and the Bear sounds like a film title!
I have zero desire to walk alone down that track in anything but bright daylight. I don’t feel that any good would come of seeing something liminal when I am alone and a long way from the nearest house. It’s not so much that I am scared, but more the case that I value all the stability in my life.
Maybe I’ll head down there with the kids. We’ll see
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I don’t know how I’ve come this far without letting you know that my friend. I think it was just I was paranoid about privacy for a long time on here but now I’m ok with using my first name a bit with people I trust like you. The Polish Bear and I still going strong and having a happy life. The story you told gave me a little shiver on my neck because it was so creepy! If you ever go back write a Part 2 for sure. I hope you are going well my friend, big hugs
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Nice to have you back, old friend, and with a fascinating post.
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The joy of writing has flooded my brain again Mark. I’m not quite sure why I stopped. Dad’s care and death took its toll, for sure. There was a long period when the notion of blogging simply faded away. I’m going to write a few more now, and soon.
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Hi, Kev. So glad to “see” you again and drink in your beautiful writing!
But your story gave me goosebumps. Eeeeek. I’m glad I wasn’t there. That is FREAKY
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My view on other dimensions has always been fairly open Stace. I’ve no problem on receiving a prompt from the other side, but not very keen to be out alone in the dark when it happens.
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Yeah, exactly. That’s what I should have said. I’m glad I wasn’t there in the dark alone when it happened! lol ‘Cause I’ve had a few VERY strange things happen, but one was in the light of day and I wasn’t alone, so…yeah. 🙂
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Do you have another blog Stace, aside from Laughter Over Tears?
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Nope. I’m barely writing in the one I have now (since I was laid off) lol.
Why do you ask? 🙂
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Because your writing always features an unusual angle. I wondered if there was more of it to discover somewhere else. Are you still seeking work or adjusting to what is hopefully a more relaxed mode of life?
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Why thank you, sir! I appreciate that. There is no more to be discovered, though, lol. I think I’m too lazy. As for work, I’m not lazy there yet. Freelancing is an endless nonstop hustle, so I barely have time to do anything else. But–cup half full–at least there’s work available.
You “sound” good, Kev. I hope you’re feeling a little better than you were several months ago. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Well, it’s a ridiculously crowded house with our daughter and granddaughter and son and 4 cats! ..and my wife and I have been given a thorough beating by flu in the last fortnight…..but yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about the present and future. 🙂 🙂
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I heard about your version of Full House over there! Those cats need to get jobs and get out of the house! lol Apart from privacy and space concerns, it sounds like a lot of love too. Although I know even that isn’t enough sometimes for the human psyche. Glad you weathered the flu. Glad you’re feeling good. What more is there? (aside from winning the lotto–which you guys even sort of did that recently! lol) 🙂 🙂
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You got me thinking now about cat jobs…..
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So many, Kev!
Master of Sleep coach. Expert mouse catcher. Milk quality taster. Slow stretch instructor. Professional food critic. Snarky attitude coach. Outwitting dogs mentor.
And millions more! Mostly surrounding sleeping and annoyed tail twitching. lol
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In refinding your blog, I have found treasure! Keep writing, keep stolling through the UK please.
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Thanks for your kind comments Jo. I’m far less of an internet dweller since my father died. Not sure if the two things are connected? I’ll blog every now and again in future but find that I’m inclined to spend much of the day outdoors after looking at computer screens for work most mornings. Hope you are keeping well and thriving!
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