Chapter 4

In early December 1900, a policeman cycled up the long drive to Buckthorney  and on being received at the door by Ansell, Odham MacGuinness’ butler, asked to see the Master of the house on a matter of some delicacy. There had been reports of strange noises at night in the woods surrounding Buckthorney, of hammerings and bangings, as well as chanting and eerie laughter. Concerned neighbours naturally believed Odham MacGuinness to be responsible, and the local constabulary were duly notified. On this occasion however the constable seemed satisfied all was in order and left with no action being taken. This did little to ease the minds of Brockley locals, who were going to become even more concerned the following week with the arrival of two strange  men...

                                      d

On friday 13th two heavily laden men got off the train at Honor Oak and asked to be driven to Buckthorney. Later in The Brockley Bugger the driver would describe  to those keen for news that the men were ‘most unusual and sullen’. One, obviously the senior of the pair referred to the other as ‘Enting’. This piece of news was greeted by  a murmur of excitement around the bar. Enting was a very uncommon name, almost unheard of. But it had been heard at Bow Street magistrates court the previous summer when  Enting Morrow, founder member of a religious sect named The Golden Bough,was facing prosecution for acts of indecency with miners committed whilst the sect were on holiday in Wales. Morrow and The Golden Bough were both acquitted when several key witness for the prosecution fell ill and were unable to give evidence against the pagan group. Many questions still remained  unanswered about the group, which had been keeping a conspicuously low profile since it’s leaders courtroom appearance.

Questions were also being asked in The Brockley Bugger; If this was indeed Enting Morrow, what was he doing staying at Buckthorney? And just who was his other, more venerable companion?