Back in the late 1980s, a book was published that shone a light on some of Nottinghamshire’s most haunted locations.
Amongst the stories featured in Haunted Nottinghamshire by Len Moakes was a rather chilling tale about an apparition spotted moving through walls at the historic Arnold Labour Club.
Moakes told his readers that Bonington House, birthplace of the celebrated artist, Richard Parkes-Bonington – and now Arnold Labour Party Club – appeared to harbour a ghost.
The author claimed a previous stewardess of the club had told him that shortly after taking up the post, she and her husband became aware that certain rooms on the second floor had, at times, a rather unpleasant atmosphere and would suddenly turn icy cold for no apparent reason.
In the domestic quarters, small articles such as keys would go missing and then turn up several days later. Inexplicable noises were heard in the small hours, which to pacify their
growing disquiet, they attributed to the age of the building.
However, in spite of this reasoning, their fear that they were not the only occupants of the building was confirmed in such a manner that caused the stewardess to have to undergo medical treatment for severe shock
Shortly before opening time one evening, the stewardess went to the bathroom and on opening the door she saw to a figure glide slowly into the room through the wall. It was attired in a broad brimmed hat and a long dark coat. This was all the detail she ascertained before fear got the upper hand. She fled downstairs.
Thoroughly shaken, the couple got in touch with the previous tenants who confirmed that they too had seen the figure on a number of occasions.
The events recorded in the book had supposedly happened many years ago before its publication and the committee at the time informed Moakes that whilst they had seen nothing of a ghostly nature, strange things still happen from time to time.
They told him beer taps in the cellar would suddenly switch off and on investigation, technical faults could not be found, lights had been discovered to be switched on in the mornings which were switched off the night before. Pranksters can be ruled out as the building has an efficient intruder alarm system, connected to the local police station.
The upper storeys of the building where the stewardess saw the figure which gave her such a fright, were seldom used at the time the book was published, apart from the rooms used by a local diving club. The committee said the modern extension at the rear of the building fulfilled the principal purpose of the club.
Moakes wrote that it was interesting to speculate on the reasons why the club would seem to be haunted.
He wrote: “There are no lurid tales of murder or suicide connected with the building. In the main such tales give rise to such a reputation. Could it be that, when the last revellers have gone home, and the building is secured for the night, the shade of Parkes-Bonington himself roams his birthplace? Was the building in years gone by the scene of crime and tragedy that has never been recorded?
He made an appeal to readers.
“The next time you pass by or visit the Arnold Labour Party Club, pause and reflect on this, and remember, it is not only one of the oldest buildings in Arnold, it is also the most enigmatic – and long may it remain so.”
