This old mansion of Calgarth, on the banks of Lake Windermere, is built
much in the style of Levens and Sizergh. Some of the rooms have been
elegantly finished; but, having been a long time in the possession of
farmers, who occupy but a part of it, it is much gone out of repair, and
has, on the whole, a melancholy appearance. This circumstance, in
concurrence with the superstitious notions which have ever been common
in country places, and the particular mentioned hereafter, have probably
given rise to a report, which has long prevailed, that the house is
haunted. And many are the stories of frightful visions and mischievous
deeds which the goblins of the place are said to have performed, to
terrify and distress the harmless neighbourhood. These fables are not
yet entirely disbelieved. Spectres still are seen, and there are two
human skulls, which have lain in the window of a large room as long as
can be remembered, whose history and reputed properties are too singular
not to contribute something to this story of "the haunted house," and to
let them be passed over in this route.
It has been a popular tale in these parts of immemorial standing, that
these skulls formerly belonged to two poor old people, who were unjustly
executed for a robbery; to perpetuate their innocence, some ghost
brought them there; and that they are, for that end, indestructible, and
in effect, "immoveable." For, it is said, to what place soever they were
taken, or however used, they were still presently seen again in their
old dormitory, the window. As the report goes, they have been buried,
burned, powdered, and dispersed in the winds, and upon the lake, several
times, to no purpose as to their removal and destruction: so far, says
common fame. Certain it is these human remains still exist, and it would
be thought an impeachment of the taste and curiosity of the nymphs and
swains of the neighbouring villages, if they could not say they had once
seen the skulls of Calgarth.
As a more rational account of the matter (though still lame and
unsatisfactory), it is told by some, that there formerly lived in the
house a famous doctress, who had two skeletons by her, for the usual
purposes of her profession; and the skulls happening to meet with better
preservation than the rest of the bones, they were accidentally honoured
with this singular notice. But, be their origin what it may, their
legend is too whimsical and improbable to deserve being recorded,
otherwise than as an instance of the never-failing credulity of
ignorance and superstition.