tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post4047750172885480168..comments2023-10-20T11:17:47.246-04:00Comments on Two Nerdy History Girls: The Cursed Silk Shoes of an Unhappy Ghost, c. 1715Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-8738995044671056742018-08-12T14:11:19.478-04:002018-08-12T14:11:19.478-04:00The house was altered by Edwin Lutyens turning the...The house was altered by Edwin Lutyens turning the original octagonal building into a butterfly plan playing on the name of 'Papillon'. During the building works the shoes were removed from the hall and it is reported that a number of accidents occurred and Lutyens had to employ workmen from outside the district as no locals would work there. <br /><br />The hall was occupied by various military units during WWII including units of the US 82nd Airborne before D-day. Despite being ordered not to interfere with the shoes which at that time kept behind a locked grill above the fireplace in the hall. The shoes were stolen twice on both occasions the serviceman who took the shoes was killed and the shoes were returned.<br /><br />The house was demolished in the 1950s as a result of wartime neglect and no-one willing to take it on. It is the only major Lutyens commission to have been demolished. It is not generally regarded as being his best work. When it was demolished it was only taken down to floor level, so the base of the walls is only covered by a thin layer of soil and grass. Apart from the outbuildings some of the garden walls and paths also remain.<br /><br />The most detailed account is 'The History of the Mysterious Papillon Hall' by Colonel Pen Lloyd published in 1977. This was the basis for the entry in 'Leicestershire Ghosts and Legends' by David Bell, Countryside Books. 1992.<br /><br />Some years back I did ask the curator at Leicestershire Museum Service where the shoes are stored and he told me that they are stored so that they do not have to moved to access other items.<br /><br />In passing one of the residents of the Hall in the 1930s was a supporter of General Franco and had gate piers at the Hall painted in red and yellow stripes to show his support.Stephen Barkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-21608185368355423652018-08-06T21:22:53.652-04:002018-08-06T21:22:53.652-04:00Did you notice the shoes have different heels? Is ...Did you notice the shoes have different heels? Is this unusual? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844161925681846727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-84535489565439466212018-08-01T09:50:40.598-04:002018-08-01T09:50:40.598-04:00Fascinating. Nothing like a good ghost story. A pi...Fascinating. Nothing like a good ghost story. A pity that the house was pulled down, though.Cynthia Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550592770287010816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-65126600482011880682018-07-31T21:02:38.250-04:002018-07-31T21:02:38.250-04:00It's an interesting story--and thank you for p...It's an interesting story--and thank you for pointing out how lacking in historical support it is--but I'd be curious as to what the (few?) documented facts are. As it is, this sounds like one of the more luridly embellished Victorian "histories."Lucynoreply@blogger.com