The Tedworth Drummer: England’s First Famous Poltergeist

The Tedworth Drummer case, occurring between 1661 and 1663, is one of the earliest well-documented poltergeist cases in English history. A Wiltshire household was tormented by phantom drumming, moving objects, and physical attacks after a magistrate confiscated the drum of a vagrant musician. The case attracted the attention of the Royal Society and sparked debates about the supernatural that continue to this day.

The Origin

In March 1661, John Mompesson, a magistrate of Tedworth (modern Tidworth) in Wiltshire, encountered William Drury, an itinerant drummer who was begging with a forged pass. Mompesson confiscated Drury’s drum and had him detained. Drury was eventually released but left without his drum.

The drum was sent to Mompesson’s house, where it was stored. Within weeks, strange phenomena began. They would continue for nearly two years, making the Tedworth Drummer one of the first poltergeist cases to attract widespread attention.

The Phenomena

The disturbances began with sounds of drumming—phantom beats that seemed to come from the confiscated drum and then from various locations throughout the house. The drumming occurred mainly at night and could be heard by everyone present.

The phenomena expanded beyond sound. Objects moved on their own. Servants were struck by invisible hands. Children were lifted from their beds. The household was terrorized by forces that could not be seen or stopped.

Mompesson’s children suffered particularly. They were pinched, scratched, and had their bedclothes yanked away. A sulphurous smell accompanied some incidents. Voices were heard, though they spoke little that was coherent.

Investigation

News of the haunting spread throughout England. Visitors came to witness the phenomena. Many heard the drumming and saw objects move. The case became a topic of discussion in educated circles.

Joseph Glanvill, a clergyman and member of the Royal Society, visited Tedworth and conducted an investigation. He documented his observations in “Saducismus Triumphatus,” a collection of supernatural accounts published in 1681. His detailed account remains the primary source for the case.

Glanvill heard the drumming himself and witnessed other phenomena. He was convinced that supernatural forces were at work and used the case to argue against those who denied the existence of spirits and witchcraft.

William Drury’s Connection

William Drury became the primary suspect for causing the disturbances—not through physical trickery, but through witchcraft. While imprisoned on other charges, Drury allegedly boasted that he had sent the disturbances upon Mompesson for taking his drum.

Drury was tried for witchcraft. He was convicted and sentenced to transportation, though he apparently escaped. The phenomena at Tedworth eventually ceased, though whether his imprisonment or transport was the cause remained unclear.

The Debate

The Tedworth Drummer case became a battleground in the intellectual debates of the era. Believers in witchcraft and spirits cited it as evidence of supernatural forces. Skeptics dismissed it as fraud or delusion.

King Charles II sent investigators who reportedly found nothing unusual during their visit—though supporters noted that poltergeist activity often ceases in the presence of skeptical observers. The king concluded the case was probably a hoax.

John Webster, a critic of witch-beliefs, published a response to Glanvill suggesting that the phenomena were tricks by servants or Mompesson’s children. The debate established patterns that would be repeated in poltergeist cases for centuries.

The Drum

The fate of the actual drum is unknown. Some accounts suggest it was eventually returned to Drury or destroyed. If it still exists, it has never been identified.

The drum became a powerful symbol. It represented how an object could become a focus for supernatural forces, how injustice (the confiscation) could provoke supernatural revenge, and how the material and spiritual worlds might interact.

Legacy

The Tedworth Drummer established the poltergeist as a recognized category of supernatural event in English culture. The case was referenced in subsequent paranormal accounts and became a touchstone for discussions of spirits and haunting.

Glanvill’s detailed documentation set a standard for investigating such cases. His willingness to record observations systematically, while also acknowledging uncertainty, influenced how later researchers would approach paranormal investigation.

Whether the Tedworth phenomena were genuine supernatural events, an elaborate fraud, or something else entirely, the case remains significant as the first major English poltergeist case to be documented and debated on a national scale.