West End Extra - Letters: Ghostly secret is buried in the past

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 20 April 2007

Ghostly secret is buried in the past

• YOUR article about possible human remains under Bow Street courtyard could explain why so many “things” have been seen inside the court – some impossible to define as male or female (Dark Secrets lurk beneath the court, April 6).
During my 25 years at Bow Street Police Station I heard of several unexplained sightings.
One happened when a corridor was being painted and a decorator was using the toilet. He thought he heard a door open and when he came out he found a lady standing outside. He started to apologise – but she disappeared.
Such incidents at the court might be explained by bodies buried there, but I don’t think it is likely as the floor under the police station and court areas is much lower than where a body would usually have been put.
It would be interesting to discover what went on prior to the court and police station being built, as they were originally in a building next door, where the General Post Office now stands.
What was once on the site of the present building is interesting as much has happened since the mid-1800s.
It was in 1835 that Bow Street was linked with the Strand via Wellington Street.
The original police station and court were built in 1832 at the GPO site.
Covent Garden Opera House was built in 1856 and Floral Hall in 1860 and the present building housing the police station and court was built and designed by Sir John Taylor in 1880.
Research should be done to look into the history of the buildings before changes take place and the site is developed.
I and many other ex-police officers who used to work in both the court and police station, would support an examination of the past.
COLIN BURGESS
Kenley, Surrey

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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