A Victoria County History Ghost Story

The Victoria County History is a distinguished series of chronicles for the old shires of England, weighty volumes in venerable bindings. Professor Catherine Clark, the Director of the series, recently posted on their website a 'VCH Ghost Story', which begins: 'This curious and disconcerting letter was found recently in the archive of the Victoria County History of England (addressed to then-General Editor, William Page) and is published here for the first time.' 

There follows an excellent yarn in the Jamesian antiquarian tradition. Like an earlier notable Jamesian tale, 'The Face in the Fresco' by Arnold Smith (London Mercury 104, June 1928; and in The Second Mercury Story Book, 1931), the story involves a now incomplete medieval doom painting, to which are added in the VCH story enigmatic Latin inscriptions and a veritable slough of despond. The tale also has a poignant resonance for the date of its setting, 1914.

In an end-note, Professor Clarke explains: 'The piece above is a homage to both M.R. James and the early history of the VCH', marking the 125th anniversary of the VCH series and the 120th anniversary of M.R. James' Ghost Stories of An Antiquary. 

Readers are invited to celebrate these too: 'Are you inspired to write your own VCH ghost story? We’d love to see your stories, of any length, and to share them (with your permission). There might be a prize for the best . . . We invite you to email them to Catherine Clarke, VCH Director, or share on social media with #VCHGhostStory.'

(Mark Valentine)