The Child That Laughed

From: Caroline Ainley (ainley@globalnet.co.uk)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Gloucesteshire, England
Source: Form Submission

This story goes back to about 1978. We live in London and had decided to have a long weekend away in the country. As we had left it to the last minute it was difficult to get accomodation but finally we managed to find a hotel. It was written up in the guides as a manor house with large gardens situated in the Cotswolds - a stone brick building circa late 17th century.

We arrived and found that as the hotel was full that night they had kindly given us the suite. This was situated in the east wing and comprised a large drawing room which separated the bedroom from the bathroom. We had dinner in the hotel and returned to our room. We watched TV until11.30pm and went to bed.

I know that the following events are true and I put hand on heart to this. I slept deeply but something woke me - there was a child laughing in the room. We had no children of our own at that time so there was no reason for me to feel that I should wake to a child. I was dragged from this deep sleep by this laughter and was instantly awake. It was by my husbands side of the bed and as I heard it the hairs on my neck really did rise. Sheer terror. It was a fun laugh but one that had no place in this life.

The room was quite dark but I heard a rustling noise across the room as though someone had left to move into the drawing room. I shook my husband - he woke up. Told him what had happened. "Okay, Okay". Drink of water needed. Went out of the bedroom, shaking, with him to see next to the main door a small figure which appeared to float above the floor of the room. Needless to say I did not get too much sleep that night. I did not mention this to the girl on the desk as we checked out. After all I thought you really could not tell them I thought they had a ghost!

However there is this: several months later a friend of ours who was and still is a photographer showed us pictures of the Cotswolds. This hotel had asked him to produce postcards. I rattled off my story. He went very quiet and then told us that the hotel had been originally the home of a family who supported King Charles 1 during the Civil War - 1640-45. The Roundheads who opposed the king had attacked and set fire to the house. In the East Wing the little daughter aged 4 had died upstairs in the inferno. I rest my case.