By Tom Duffy, Formby Times

TOWER Grange is the perfect paradox in that its beauty is matched only by the mystery that surrounds it.

The property is currently home to Maureen Griffiths, who lives there with her daughter Ruth, son-in-law Steve and grandson Jack. The grade II listed property seems to be the perfect family home, with exposed timber beams and a sweeping garden.

However, as Maureen pointed out: "In this house, nothing is as it seems."

Although Tower Grange is obviously a period property, perhaps it has just a little too much history. The house is mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was commissioned in 1085 by William the Conqueror.

And Maureen and Ruth provided records on the house which suggests it belonged to Whalley Abbey in the 13th Century. The Reverend Thomas Woolfale, who was the Vicar of Formby, used it is a grange in the 16th Century, and described it as "an ancient building, old and ruinous."

However, Tower Grange has another, more sinister thread to its history. A priest hole exists between it and the house next door, and the skeleton of a cleric was reputedly discovered in it. It is the ghost of this man which reportedly haunts the house, contributing to Tower Grange's dark side.

Today, Tower Grange is no more than a beautiful family home. However, its strangeness is profound, and even extends to the garden which sits behind the house. From this location the property seems to morph into another house completely, which is odd to say the least. Perhaps the final word should go to Maureen,who knows Tower Grange as well as anyone: "I call it the crooked house, because that is what it is."

Building's history

TOWER Grange is actually two houses. The original property is on the left of the drive, with a lounge on the ground floor and bedroom above it. In 1904, an architect named Atkinson began the extension which today forms the rest of the house. However, the work done was unusual to say the least.

The owner forbade the builders to use plumb levels, and insisted on eccentric features such as trap doors, secret passages and cupboards with windows. In parts it almost feels like a chocolate house, which is slowly starting to melt.

However, it seems that Mr Atkinson was not the only "character" to have lived in Tower Grange.

Local historians are sure that a Professor Garstang lived there around the turn of the last century. He apparently made exotic trips to Egypt, to take part in archeological digs, and filled the house with a bizarre array of finds and artefacts.

And this only added to the house's reputation in Formby, particularly among cleaning girls and tradesmen who visited the property.

Ghostly goings-on

WHEN Maureen moved into the house 20 years ago, a painting of the ghost was already on the wall.

Fortunately, this is the closest anyone in the family has come to meeting the metaphysical. However, a couple of years ago Maueen was visited by a "ghostbuster," complete with a machine that measured "something in the air."

Maureen said: "Apparently his machine recorded something odd in the atmosphere."

Although Maureen has not had a direct encounter with the ghostly cleric, she knows someone who has. Around 15 years ago she was disturbed late at night by her then neighbour, Mena, who lived in the house which shares the priest hole.

The woman was distraught, and claimed to have seen the ghost at the foot of her bed. Needless to say, when Maureen returned to the neighbouring property with Mena, the only people in the house were the two women.

Ruth also remembers that Mena's dog, called Berkley, loathed the house and spent most of its life seeking refuge in Tower Grange.

The painting of the ghostly presence at Tower Grange

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