The Foxhole Children

A sunny spring day in 1956. A 17 year old Heanor miner, keen on motorcycling, went off for a ride to Codnor Castle, and then rode down across the fields below the castle. Around half a mile north-east of the castle, down the hill towards the Erewash, lies Foxhole Plantation. Between the castle and the wood is now an opencast site which is finally in the process of being restored after the extraction of minerals. On the edge of the wood is a small pond - nothing special, it has no known name, but it has been there for as long as maps can show - a slightly eerie place, even today, and even in the summer sunshine. The young man stopped his bike, deciding to have a cigarette. As he leant against a tree, he saw two young children come out from by the pond - they stared at him, then walked off along a path away from him. Not a spot of mud on their shoes or clothes, and yet they had come from a part of the pond which was water-logged and deep with mud. The children were two girls. The eldest, who walked in front, was 7 or 8 years old, and had blonde hair. The younger one, aged about 6, had brown hair. They were dressed in what he described as 1940's clothing. He followed, and called after them to see if they were alright, but there was no reply.

Walking in complete silence, to the edge of the wood, they then climbed over a stile out of the wood, heading across the fields towards Kennels Farm. By now, the youth was himself caked in mud, but still the children were spotless. At this point, as he moved to follow them further, the youngest turned and said, "You can't come!". The children continued across the field and then, without warning, vanished.

Related Links for Sightings and Children: Almshouses | Denbigh Castle | Magpie house | Norfolk | Parish Church of St Mary’s | Railway Track | Watermill Theatre |