THE GHOSTLY CHILD OF MEETING HOUSE LANE

I occasionally tell this tale when on the Ghost Walk of the Lanes. It was first documented briefly by John Rackham in his excellent and meticulously researched book, ‘Brighton Ghosts, Hove Hauntings’.

Bears and Friends was a shop that once occupied premises in Meeting House Lane, specialising in teddy bears. The premises date way back to the 17th century. There is evidence that it was originally a butchers shop. The building has also been, amongst other things, a bank, printers, greengrocers and, prior to 1993, an antiques gallery. It was during this time that paranormal manifestations were seen at the premises. One witness, Judy Saunders, claimed the apparition was that of a grey-haired man wearing, dark knee-length topcoat and trousers of a mixed grey and brown weave who she saw drift across the gallery.

Other people claimed to see this distinguished looking entity on several occasions, including Mrs Ray Hart. She was only able to get a partial glimpse of the spectre but her description of clothing was similar to what had been seen by Judy Saunders. Other staff members spoke of extreme drops in temperature about the place. One Marion Webb who, while talking with a customer, suddenly felt an unseen force take hold of her arm and push it behind her back.

In 1997, a customer visiting The Museum of Childhood, which, at that time, occupied the lower floor, witnessed a scruffy, unkempt child, of around two years of age, sitting on the lower steps of the stairs. The woman was so moved at the sight of this poor, bedraggled-looking infant that she approached her, and was about to speak, when the child simply vanished.

A small child, fitting a similar appearance, was also seen in 2009 by a local man who claimed to have had a number of paranormal experiences in his lifetime; none of which had disturbed him. Whilst walking past the rear entrance of the Friends’ Meeting House, he briefly noted a small child sitting on the doorstep. The child was of similar age to the one seen by the woman at the Museum of Childhood. Glancing back the man was astonished to see that the child had gone. His double-take had been so swift it would not have afforded the child time enough to scamper off.

No one has suggested to me who the ghostly child might be. Furthermore, I have not heard of any further sightings. However, the Quaker gardens, at the front of the Friends’ Meeting House, were originally a burial ground where the bodies of 54 adults and 34 children were placed in unmarked graves.