The Drummer of Tedworth

In 1661, a house in Tedworth (now Tidworth), Wiltshire, became the center of one of England’s earliest well-documented poltergeist cases. John Mompesson, a local magistrate, had confiscated a drum from a vagrant and soon found his household plagued by mysterious drumming, moving objects, and other disturbances that continued for two years.

The Origin

William Drury was a vagrant who earned money as a traveling drummer. When he passed through Tedworth in March 1661, Mompesson had him arrested for using forged papers. The local bailiff released Drury but confiscated his drum, which eventually ended up in Mompesson’s possession.

Shortly after the drum arrived at Mompesson’s house, the disturbances began.

The Phenomena

The most distinctive feature was drumming—the sound of a drum beating throughout the house, particularly at night. The sounds matched military drumbeats and occurred with no visible source.

Beyond the drumming, the household experienced classic poltergeist phenomena. Objects moved. Furniture was displaced. The children’s beds were shaken while they slept. Scratching sounds came from walls and floors. The children reported seeing floating objects and strange lights.

Investigation

The case attracted significant attention. Joseph Glanvill, a chaplain to King Charles II and member of the Royal Society, investigated the disturbances. His account, published in “Saducismus Triumphatus” (1681), provided detailed documentation.

Glanvill witnessed phenomena firsthand, including drumming and object movement. He concluded the events were supernatural, possibly the work of a witch or demon.

King Charles II sent a commission to investigate. They visited during a quiet period and witnessed nothing, which skeptics later cited as evidence against the haunting.

Suspicion of Drury

Many suspected William Drury of causing the disturbances through witchcraft. When Drury was later imprisoned for theft, the phenomena at Mompesson’s house reportedly ceased. Drury allegedly boasted of having “plagued” the magistrate.

However, Drury was never tried for witchcraft, and direct evidence linking him to the events was lacking.

Assessment

The Drummer of Tedworth is significant as one of the earliest English poltergeist cases to receive serious investigation. Glanvill’s documentation set a precedent for future paranormal research.

Whether Drury used witchcraft to revenge himself on Mompesson, whether genuine poltergeist activity occurred independently, or whether the events were exaggerated or fabricated remains uncertain. The case established patterns—the triggering incident, the focus on a household, the drumming and knockings—that would recur in poltergeist accounts for centuries.