Hallowen folklore, as told in early 1930s 'Everything Within'

Some ‘Halloween spells’ from an early 1930s volume of ‘Newnes Everything Within’

“To eat an apple on All Hallow’s Eve, seated alone before a mirror, by the light of a candle, is a very old spell, by means of which a girl seeks to see her future husband.

      The sweetheart, if she is to marry, comes behind her back and looks into the glass over her shoulder. She must go on eating until the apple is all consumed, and on no account turn her head until after the shade has faded away and she has blown out the candle.

To throw the spool. This requires courage. A girl opens the door or gate leading into the garden, and while keeping the end of the thread inher own hand, she must throw the spool into the garden, winding the end of the thread around he wedding finger until she sees her spectral lover with the bobbin in his hand. No words are to pass between them. No one must know about this spell being tried either before or after it has been accomplished.

“What will my man be like ? “ Go to the wood-pile  on 31^st October and pull out the first stick that comes handy. If it is smooth, he will be young. If straight and even, he will be kind and gentle ; if knotty, he will be cantankerous. But if it is bent and withered, he will be a bad-tempered old man.

To answer any question. Run a new silk thread through a gold ring and hold it ove a tumbler of water. Ask one question that can be answered by a direct “ Yes “ or “ No “. Hold the ends of the thread steadily as you ask, then notice how many times the ring strikes against the glass. If once, the answer is “ No “. If twice, “ Doubtful “. If three times, the answer is “ Yes “.”

Lymehurst Landing

Photos of landing, with traces of second phase wall-paper imprint in green (dark brown paint modern):

Lymehurst Hall

A few photos of decor within the hall (dark brown paint modern):

Lymhurst Lounge

Having had the opportunity to take a look at most of the walls in the 'Lounge', there's nothing that's really exciting, but I'll record what I've found, which may be of use to someone - there are a few imprints & stains that give an idea of furniture placement, and some of the fittings have left a trace.

The chimneybreast reveals the imprint of triangular shaped early light fittings (the visible brass light fittings are later additions). The position of some fature (perhaps a picture?) can just about be seen at the the left, by a dust / wear mark:

In the centre of the chimneybreast, above the top of the original light oak fire surround, are marks showing the position of an object - it may be conjectured, perhaps related to a clock (measurements to follow):

The original copper plated light switches have been reinstalled at some point: the ceramic fitting can here be seen with modern wiring:

The position of probable furniture may be indicated here by marks on the wall. The presence of holes shows the position of probable shelving (or panelling) - the filling appears to be a mixture of older and modern material, so although it's not possible to be certain of the phase of this feature, it may be conjectured that it's an earlier feature, which has been consolidated during a later phase of decoration:

It appears here that a surface once rested here, upon which a heated feature (lamp, or possibly electrical feature, such as a radio) has left a patch of burning on the wall: