The Secret of Horner's Court | A Ghost Story by Allen Upward | A Bitesized Audio Production
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- Опубликовано: 17 сен 2021
- Jack Hargreaves and Alwyne Sargent return for another adventure investigating a fine house and estate in the north of England which has remained unsold for ten years. Can Miss Sargent's clairvoyant powers uncover the dark secret which lies behind the property's dubious reputation...?
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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/ bitesizedaudio
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There is not a great deal of reliable biographical information available about George Allen Upward (1863-1926). Born of Welsh parentage, he studied law at the Royal University of Ireland in Dublin in the early 1880s. He became a vocal supporter of nationalist causes including Irish Home Rule, composing poetry and journalism for the cause. He attempted to start a political career but was defeated in his attempts to stand for parliament in the Labour interest. Upward was the author of a number of popular but now-forgotten novels, including 'A Crown of Straw' (1896) and 'A Bride's Madness' (1897), and although highly prolific, indeed bestselling, in his day, his work has now fallen into comparative obscurity. (Incidentally he was a cousin of the rather better remembered novelist Edward Upward, 1903-2009.) Allen Upward died of a gunshot wound in November 1926 at the age of 63, apparently self-inflicted, although the exact circumstances are unclear and there has been some speculation as to whether it was suicide or accident, or if any third parties were involved.
Between December 1905 and April 1906, Upward published a series of five short stories in 'The Royal Magazine' under the banner title "The Ghost Hunters", rather grandiosely described as "A New Series of exciting Ghost Stories. They are entirely Different in Conception from Anything of the Kind that has ever been Published before." In fact they are not so very different from many of the ghost stories which were popular in the Edwardian era, but they are of interest inasmuch as they depict a male and female ghost-hunting duo in the shape of the narrator Jack Hargreaves, an estate agent who has ended up specialising in selling haunted houses (making a profit by laying the spirits to rest), and his "lady secretary" Miss Alwyne Sargent, who is a clairvoyant and "sensitive". Hargreaves and Sargent were thus an early example of the Edwardian vogue for "occult detectives", which reached its peak a few years later with the stories of Hope Hodgson's Carnacki and Algernon Blackwood's John Silence. However, although a couple of the individual stories have occasionally appeared in ghost story anthologies in the 20th century this series as a whole never appeared in book form, and the stories have been rather forgotten.
'The Secret of Horner's Court' is the third story in the sequence, and originally appeared in 'The Royal Magazine' in February 1906. Each story is stand-alone, but for those who prefer to listen from the beginning of the series the preceding episodes can be heard here:
The Green House, Wallington: • The Green House, Walli...
The Tapping on the Wainscot: • The Tapping on the Wai...
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2021. 
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I’ll buy it ! Haunted won’t deter me , but substantial down payment and credit report will.
Quite so!
@@BitesizedAudio Your channel is most excellent.
Might really be something to ghost with untold stories.
I watched a missing persons case where a 3 year old seen a ghost , the parents told authorities and they found the body in the spot they where camping , it’s all documented and proven facts on record.
The ghost don’t leave till their body is put to proper rest. Odd
In addition to being entertaining - if I save your stories for nighttime - they give me extra incentive to get out of work and get home.
I can hardly wait.
Love the picture of the house and stagnant pool. Reminds me of the Fall of the House of Usher and really sets the mood. Thanks.
A painting by Atkinson Grimshaw.😁
@Rosie McNaughton You're most welcome. As Jacqueline has said, it's a detail from 'The Old Grange at Sunset' by John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-93). Many of his works are great illustrations for spooky stories, and this one in particular perfectly evoked for me the image I had in my head of Horner's Court.
Tales that forgo the crudités of descriptive gore but unsettle the reader/listener by provoking the imagination are sadly a rarity. Thank you for the gift of nostalgic eloquence.
You're most welcome! Thanks for listening and taking the time to comment
Appreciate your time,stories and giving us pleasure 🌸🌸
I get so excited when I see a Notification from your channel! Not that I need an excuse to listen to your stories..... In fact I often help me at night when I can’t sleep, I like the sound of your voice and sometimes I like to fall asleep to it! It’s your dulcet tones and me being very tired late at night, so don’t get the wrong idea and think that your voice puts me to sleep- it does not! I love it when there is a Clairvoyant in a story! This has made my day!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I'm so glad! Thanks Maria
@@BitesizedAudio You were bound to catch on, Simon. Hope it's all going well, and things are on the up. Hope the Audible project came to fruition. When things pick up here, we'll get another coffee!
Great to hear the third one of these - I wondered what their next case would be.
Three down, two to go... Thanks for listening, and taking the time to comment
@@BitesizedAudio yay!! There are more to come 🥳
I was wondering the same… hoping they would continue to solve these mysteries, and release the poor ghosts from their nightly torments!
I love the Allen Upward stories!
Glad to know that, thank you Cyndi! A couple more left to come...
Another great story, my hat is off to you for reading it so well.
Appreciated, thank you
Gaunt looking manor, very descriptive. Foreshadowing the death of the neglected and sickly child. It's strange the manor reflected the undeserved death of this child and yet the mother felt nothing. At least she got her commupance in the end.
By the way I would like to praise you on The fact that you give background information and especially accurate information about the age in which these stories came from! This is why I love this channel so much! It is definitely up there in my top five RUclips channels and you have no idea how much I love RUclips in fact I don’t bother with the television anymore, so much negativity and I’m bloody sick of hearing about Covid and before that Brexit et cetera et cetera! Thanks again for doing an amazing job!
🕊💛🕊
likewise,dear..not even the very expensive cable!! if one can b sure YT will retain this level,then better save my 12.000...
Always a good day when you have a new story! Such a pleasure!
Kind of you to say so, thanks Gina
Excellent oration!
Thank you Eliza!
This is a great story! I hope you are feeling somewhat better, Simon, following the sad death of your dog Ruby.
Appreciated, thanks GradKat. Glad you enjoyed the story
Welcome back, Simon! Looking forward to once again being entertained by your brilliant voice and a wonderful story!
💝
Nice to have you back too Rachel, and under a new guise I think? Thanks so much for your support.
Bitesized Audio Classics 👍❣️
Good story, and read wonderfully!
Thanks David
Always so glad to see a new upload! Thanks so much!
I feel so sorry for the wee boy and for the lady housekeeper that knew the truth 😔😱.
Admire your ability to have great diction, narrative skills and the accents.
Good wishes.
Thank you Janet. Best wishes to you too
Another absolutely marvellous story read in your inimitable style Simon, hope you are bearing up ok, very best wishes from down under🇦🇺🌸
Thank you, much appreciated. Best wishes to you too
Great reading- the best. We are taken back in time by the narrator. Thank you.
Thank you Justin, glad to know you enjoy them. Best wishes
The selection of artwork, author photos, as well as the narrator are excellent for all of these stories. Thank you for making these brilliant but largely forgotten stories available the general public.
You're most welcome Kathy. I appreciate your kind comments, thank you
An absolute treat, as always. Hope you are feeling in a better place following recent events. *HUGS* ❤
Thanks Bob, much appreciated
@@BitesizedAudio BTW the anthology should be published imminently and our friend J. R.'s latest can be found at ruclips.net/video/DEGJkbJkDMI/видео.html ❤
What a lovely surprise when I got off work to see a new story from you Simon. Wasn't expecting you back so soon. Hope you're doing alright. 😊
Thanks Shannon
Unfortunely I missed much of the July & August stories (which OTOH will be a delight to here, I am absolutely certain of it) and only returned now so that I also lost track of what was going on with you. Love the story (I am ashamed to say I wasn't even familiar with the author). Sending you all kinds of best wishes. Thank you so much. Brilliant reading as per expected ofc.
How lovely to hear from you HerrCrankzy, I thought I'd missed seeing your comments over the last few months. I hope you enjoy catching up on the recent uploads since you last visited, including some more M. R. James (Mr Humphreys, which I recall is a favourite of yours), Loveday Brooke and Max Carrados, plus some other stories by Mr Upward (glad to know you enjoyed this one). Do check out the membership tab in the next week or so for my previews of the stories I've got in the pipeline for the autumn.... I trust you're keeping well, all best wishes
He's good, isn't he!
'The Secret of Horner's Court' is the third episode in the "Ghost Hunters" series, which appeared in 'The Royal Magazine' between December 1905 and April 1906. Each story is stand-alone, but for those who prefer to listen from the beginning of the sequence the preceding episodes can be heard here:
1. The Green House, Wallington: ruclips.net/video/ClxptW0Ee8I/видео.html
2. The Tapping on the Wainscot: ruclips.net/video/lcEPK4Ypmjg/видео.html
Thank you Simon! While I really enjoy all your performances, this run of stories are among my favorites! So happy to see a 3rd, if there are more that will be even better 😊 Hope all is well on your side of the pond.
I love these.
I really hope you will read the fourth and fifth stories. I love this Hargreaves - Sargent series!
@@Kur10usity Hear hear!
This list was exactly what I was looking for. Love this series and this character! Thanks so very much for the work- you truly bring it to life. 🙏🖤
What a perfect way to start a weekend morning. A wonderful adaptation of a lost supernatural classic and a cup of Earl Grey.
Wonderful story , Thanks
You're welcome. Thanks for your support Dale
Another hit for six! Thank u so much, Simon!
I love to listen to the story's you read & you read them so well 🌲🐿️🐕thank-you so much , Simon 📚JW
Phew, that was suspenseful & turned out a bit less heinously than I expected so very entertaining as a result. & my goodness, Mr Upward, who is in love with his secretary??
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes indeed, it seems something may be stirring there... Stay tuned for the next episodes!
Mr. Upward is fast becoming a fave author of mine. Of course his stories are brought to life (so to speak..considering said subject matter) in such a perfectly delightful way by the uber talented Mr. Stanhope. Bravo X 2!
Glad to know you enjoyed it, thanks Jacee K!
Finally was able to listen & get its meaning ... a good story ... TY *Mr. Simon Stanhope*
very sorry to hear about your loved dog. i just lost my 17 y.o. kitty who was very comforting and part of me. many do not understand one has lost part of your family of your spirit. it’s makes so much sense that often ancient burials are discovered with a dog, cat, or horse alongside.
thank you for your readings. always give me a sense of calmness for some reason - even if it’s a scary one. there is caring for the good guys and the bad guys get what they deserve by your inflections. everything comes right :)
be safe and have a great day to both of you 🌷🌿🌼🌱
Thank you Alexa, and condolences on your own loss too. They are indeed very much part of the family
Really enjoyed this tale, just shows that money for some is more important than the life of a child, so glad the uncaring supposed mother ended up in abject poverty serves her right, perfect narration as ever thank you
Welcome back!! Thank you so much for this. X
Thanks Annette! Best wishes, I hope you're well
@@BitesizedAudio all the better for hearing your voice on a sleepless night. Hope you are all ‘coping’ x
I am not new to the channel nor o the pleasure of listening your voice reading many a favourite tale of mine and many of an intriguing introduction to an author I didn't know, So this is to say thank you for many (all, in my case since aside from Ghost Stories I am a devout reader of Conan Doyle and G.K.Chesterton). With this particular story I just wanted to say, "Well done". I also wanted to say I relate to (completely understand would be at best an assumption, at worst an intrusion) recent difficult times but that would truly churlish of mine to mention). To your particular reading / interpretation of this particularly story: amazing, brilliant, awesome. Look forward to more spooky stories and your immense talent.
Thank you so much for your very generous comments. Yes, I'd rank Conan Doyle and Chesterton amongst my favourite authors too... although I'm aware that these famous names have crowded out some of their great contemporaries who have become unjustly forgotten, so I very much enjoy covering a wide range of different authors, stories and styles on the channel. Glad to know you enjoy them
I have a hearing condition that has rendered me bed bound on numerous occasions. I just wanted to say thank you for your eloquent and professional audio readings Simon. Absolutely faultless and by far the best narrator I have heard.
Thank you so much. Best wishes to you
Saturday night's sorted, thanks.
Glad to help! Thanks whousay
Thank you for another great reading! Cheers from Argentina
Thank you hugely for this video. Your narration is amazing. Bless you abundantly. 👍
Love... Thank You...!
So glad to have you back; an excellent narration as always, and all of our best wishes and prayers are with you.
Thank you kindly!
This is the best voice for telling ghost story’s l have ever heard keep telling them you are tbt best .it has given me a lot of pleasure being in my own thank you godbless .
That's very nice of you to say, thank you Eileen!
As always a big big thank you RNK
Simon, as always, you are a treasure. Thank you for another wonderful story. As sad end to the young lad in it, but a fitting end for the Stokes's.
Thank You.
Just in time for bedtime! Always excited when there is a new story from Bite-sized Audio Classics! 😍
Thank you!
You're very welcome! Thanks for your support Felene, much appreciated
Another enjoyable experience 👏👏
Thank you for an enjoyable story.
Thank you again.
A very satisfying story
And he who reads it
such a wonderful voice 🙂
These are such fun stories, although I felt the psychic secretary was given short shrift in the one. I thought a romance might be growing between her and her employer! Splendid reading, thank you.
Thank you! Yes, I tend to agree re the secretary... I don't want to give spoilers, but there's certainly a narrative arc going through these stories. Only a couple more to go in the series, I hope to get around to them very soon!
Another good one for Sunday morning with my coffee.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for this latest episode, it made my day. Sending you the best wishes 💐
Thanks Andrea. Best wishes to you too
Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas! 🌲😊
This story was so sad, poor little boy 😞
Thanks
Good one really liked the story
Great job, as always, with the different accents!
Another corker, thank-you xx
You're welcome as ever, thanks Lynda
This felt quite different to the previous story with these characters, it was less playful. It was an interesting tale in its own way though.
Thanks William. Yes, there's a through-line with these (although each stands alone) which is interesting to observe separately from the story. I hope to do the next episode in October, all being well
If anyone can help: 😭
I read a short-story many years ago and I wanted to read it again because it fascinated me, but I can't find it. I have googled all sorts of variations to the plot and still...
As far as I remember, the narrator speaks in first person, and tells of his friend who had found a magical door one night. The friend had gone thru the door into a room and had had the most amazing night with these other people in that house. But he couldn't find that door again and roamed the streets for days and nights. One day the friend is found dead, he had fallen into a pit in a construction site, for he had opened a door he shouldn't have that led to this hole. The narrator ponders that maybe the friend did find that magical door again, and despite being dead, is in fact with those people in that magical room. 🚪
The door was painted a distinct colour, I think it was yellow. I also think the title of the story was something like "The Yellow Door", written by a male author. But I could be totally wrong in any of the above details, surely I am, because otherwise I would have found the damned story by now!
That sounds rather like 'The Door in the Wall' by H. G. Wells ... it's a long time since I read it, and I'm not sure about all the details off the top of my head, but it rings quite a few bells, especially about the friend who falls into a construction site. The door in that story was green I think. Could that be it?
@@BitesizedAudio OMG I read your QUICK reply and just read a summary of this title you suggest and it might be it!
I will find the complete story and read.
I am surprised though that the first time the friend entered the door he was still a child.
And I don't remember the garden, I was under the impression it was a dinner with different people that conversed about the most enlightened topics. (But I could be mistaking that for another tale about a man who spends the night at a haunted house but never finds any ghosts, rather he meets up with the other guests at the house and has a lovely evening, only to find out the next morning there were no guests there at all. I am sure you know whatever this other story is too!)
Thank you!
(I wonder however how I didn't come across this title in my searches??)
👍👍👍👍👍🎬I'll relisten when I'm not so tried
Listening from the ukwales❤
What happened to the subscribe and bell icon notification button? RUclips has changed their format. Sorry. Excellent job as always.
Hmm, they always seem to be tinkering with it... Although I'm seeing it as usual at my end, I think where it appears varies across different browsers and apps/devices
That poor boy. 😞