Weeton Cairn Boggart

In the 1876 book entitled ‘History of the Fylde of Lancashire’ by John Porter, reference is made to an extensive barrow or cairn near Weeton Lane Heads which was accidentally opened. This burial chamber had the reputation of being haunted by a boggart or hairy ghost.

M55 Motorway

The chamber and ghost are also briefly mentioned in ‘A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 7’ (1912). However, in ‘Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire for the year 1851’, which may be one of the earliest sources tale, the opening of the tomb and the farmer responsible being chased by the ghost is described. ‘Before I leave this village of Weeton, I must take you to a cairn not far from Weeton Lane Head, in a field called Moor Hey, on the side of the highway leading to Preston. I relate the strange tale of its discovery. The farmer was ploughing on the spot, when the horses took fright and fled from the field — would the fatty ground smell? — and the man in dismay ran after, being pursued by the demon of the Fylde — something in the shape of a calf. For years the cairn was untouched, but boulders being wanted for paving, it was attacked, when lo, many urns were found.’

The cairn was described as round and being of fire-burnt broken stones. It was in the vicinity of Stanley House Farm, on the south east side of Whitprick Moss and is now under the embankment for the M55 motorway and so presumably is the boggart that resembled a calf.