In one of Broadwater Cottages, lived Ady Webb, who locals called a Witch. Many thought Webb had a power over wild animals and even possibly, that she shapeshifted as these creatures.  

It was in November in 1892, that a local newspaper reported that a group of men, including Frederick Simmonds, who spoke to the newspaper, were out, hunting badgers. The party consisted of 4 beaters, and Old Hewins. They also took Toby, a dog who had great skills in hunting down badgers. They all went to Pinnock Woods for the hunt. A Badger was caught but it was said to have been possessed of a miraculous power as he was able to bound away from Toby the dog. As the Badger did this, it let out 3 of the most horrendous and unearthly yells. The group of men felt terrified by these sounds and Toby, just dropped to the ground, and slunk back, in fear, to his owners’ side.

The group decided to cut their activity short but as they made their way back home, Old Hewins and the beaters, were convinced the badger was somehow possessed and that the woods were haunted. Old Hewins went on to talk about Webb the Witch, or Old Ady, as she was also known. They had passed the ruins of the cottage where she had lived. Old Hewins told the story of how another group of men were out hunting hares with their hunting dogs. The dogs caught sight of a hare and chased it, snapping at the hare’s limbs. As the dogs came closer to catching the hare, they were right by Ady’s cottage, as though the hare knew where to go. The hare was then seen to jump at the open window and went through it and the dogs followed. The men then looked into the window. They saw that Ady was there, hunched over a fire, with blood coming from her limbs. The men, disturbed by what they had seen, quickly left the cottage.  

Old Hewins went on to talk further about Old Ady’s magical powers. He said that a man, carrying out hay field duties in a field next to Old Ady’s cottage, had been asked by the witch for a drink. He had refused her in a very rude way. So when it came time for loading up the hay, it kept slipping off faster than they could put it onto the trailer. The boss heard of this happening and when the man who had refused old Ady a drink told his boss this, he said they were to give her anything she asked for as when they did, they had good fortune but when they didn’t, nothing went right. So, in future, they were to remember this so that their work wouldn’t be interrupted by magical means.  

Old Hewins then went on to say he felt the badger had been possessed by the ghost of old Ady, still using her supernatural powers from beyond the grave.