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This story doesn't put the archaeologist, or local historians involved, in a good light I'm afraid.
The hysteria surrounding the United Utilities press release has filterted through 'ghosthunter' Entwistle to Roger Frost who has it that this could be Malkin Tower because there are certain herbs growing in the area!
The truth is much more mundane. This is Lower farm on the former Robinson's Upperhouse estate in Wheatley Booth. In 1902 the building was demolished by Mr Newton, acting for the Nelson Water Authority, to a level of 2m and the ruin was then filled with earth.
The fact that the skeleton of a cat was found in the wall of a room that had 'been sealed off' provided the crux of the sensationalistic story carried in the media. In fact, the placing of cats in the fabric of buildings of this period was a common practice and no more important to the householders of the time than was the recent practice of donkey-stoning the front door step. lso, the type of brick used to fill in the doorway of the 'sealed' room are 19th century and there are many reasons why dwellings such as this were divided - from splitting hereditary property to dividing a property into multi-occupation.
The building, then, would have been erected in the later 17th century and occupied until the end of the 19th century. The date of the building means that it could not possibly have been Malkin Tower - furthermore, one cat does not a Witches' Coven make!!
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