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Upfold Witch
‘There’s something wrong in Upfold that ought to be put right.’
Who first cast Celia Wainwright in the role of Witch of Upfold, that little village in the Sussex Weald? And how and why did she disappear one night in 1953? What was the connection between her and young Julian Farnham, and why, on the day after she disappeared, did her husband suddenly leave their home at Mulberry Cottage never to return? What, in fact, is the mystery of Mulberry Cottage? Why did it remain empty for nearly ten years? And the rumours—those whispers of witchcraft and murder—are they all true?
Who first cast Celia Wainwright in the role of Witch of Upfold, that little village in the Sussex Weald? And how and why did she disappear one night in 1953? What was the connection between her and young Julian Farnham, and why, on the day after she disappeared, did her husband suddenly leave their home at Mulberry Cottage never to return? What, in fact, is the mystery of Mulberry Cottage? Why did it remain empty for nearly ten years? And the rumours—those whispers of witchcraft and murder—are they all true?
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1964
39 people want to read
About the author
Josephine Bell
86 books17 followersJosephine Bell (the pseudonym of Doris Bell Collier Ball) was born into a medical family, the daughter of a surgeon, in Manchester in 1897.
She attended Godolphin School from 1910 to 1916 and then she trained at Newnham College, Cambridge until 1919. On completing her studies she was assigned to University College Hospital in London where she became M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. in 1922 and M.B. B.S. in 1924. She married Dr. Norman Dyer Ball in 1923 and the couple had a son and three daughters.
From 1927 until 1935 the couple practised medicine together in Greenwich and London before her husband retired in 1934 and she carried on the practice on her own until her retirement in 1954.
Her husband died in 1936 and she moved to Guildford, Surrey and she became a member of the management committee of St. Luke's Hospital from 1954 to 1962.
She began writing detective fiction in 1936 using the pen name Josephine Bell and her first published novel in the genre was 'Murder in Hospital' (1937).
Perhaps not surprisingly many of her works had a medical background and the first one introduced one of her enduring characters, Dr David Wintringham who worked at Research Hospital in London as a junior assistant physician. He was to feature in 18 of her novels, ending with 'A Well Known Face' (1960).
Overall she wrote more than 60 books, 45 of them in the detective fiction genre where, as well as medical backgrounds, she used such as archaeology in 'Bones in the Barrow' (1953), music in 'The Summer School Mystery' (1950) and even a wildlife sanctuary as background in 'Death on the Reserve' (1966).
She also wrote on drug addicition and criminology and penned a great number of short stories. In addition she was involved in the foundation of the Crime Writers' Association in 1953, an organisation in which she served as chair person in the 1959–60 season.
She died in 1987.
Gerry Wolstenholme
June 2010
She attended Godolphin School from 1910 to 1916 and then she trained at Newnham College, Cambridge until 1919. On completing her studies she was assigned to University College Hospital in London where she became M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. in 1922 and M.B. B.S. in 1924. She married Dr. Norman Dyer Ball in 1923 and the couple had a son and three daughters.
From 1927 until 1935 the couple practised medicine together in Greenwich and London before her husband retired in 1934 and she carried on the practice on her own until her retirement in 1954.
Her husband died in 1936 and she moved to Guildford, Surrey and she became a member of the management committee of St. Luke's Hospital from 1954 to 1962.
She began writing detective fiction in 1936 using the pen name Josephine Bell and her first published novel in the genre was 'Murder in Hospital' (1937).
Perhaps not surprisingly many of her works had a medical background and the first one introduced one of her enduring characters, Dr David Wintringham who worked at Research Hospital in London as a junior assistant physician. He was to feature in 18 of her novels, ending with 'A Well Known Face' (1960).
Overall she wrote more than 60 books, 45 of them in the detective fiction genre where, as well as medical backgrounds, she used such as archaeology in 'Bones in the Barrow' (1953), music in 'The Summer School Mystery' (1950) and even a wildlife sanctuary as background in 'Death on the Reserve' (1966).
She also wrote on drug addicition and criminology and penned a great number of short stories. In addition she was involved in the foundation of the Crime Writers' Association in 1953, an organisation in which she served as chair person in the 1959–60 season.
She died in 1987.
Gerry Wolstenholme
June 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 18, 2010
Retired Dr. Frost and his wife move into charming Mulberry Cottage in the quaint village of Upfold. The villagers are delightful, and delighted to see the Frosts take over the virtually abandoned cottage. But when Dr. Frost starts asking questions about the wife of the last owner, a lovely, dangerous woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, the climate changes. There are some things the village doesn't share with strangers.
April 10, 2013
Henry Frost and his wife buy Mulberry Cottage in the village of Upfold when he retires from practice as a GP. The cottage has been empty for about ten years and for sale for most of that time for reasons which gradually become clear. Celia Wainwright – a young woman married to a much older man – disappeared from the cottage one night and was never seen again. But the reader knows from the first few pages that Celia is dead so it is no surprise when Henry Frost digs up a skeleton in his overgrown garden.
The tension gradually builds up as people tell the Frosts bits of the story and they have to try and work out which is true and which is a total fiction. No one seems to really uncover exactly what happened and the whole situation becomes more and more sinister as villagers become evasive. I found this story quite hair raising because of the sheer malevolence displayed by many of the characters and because of the mob mentality into which many of the villagers seemed to have fallen. What is most disturbing for the Frosts is the atmosphere of evil which seems to prevail and the way Celia Wainwright is referred to as a witch on very little evidence.
This is as much horror story as a murder mystery and it is very well written. I found it totally compelling reading and would recommend it to anyone who likes murder mysteries without graphic violence or bad language. The characters re all too believable and the plot is well constructed. It will keep most readers guessing until close to the end of the book.
The tension gradually builds up as people tell the Frosts bits of the story and they have to try and work out which is true and which is a total fiction. No one seems to really uncover exactly what happened and the whole situation becomes more and more sinister as villagers become evasive. I found this story quite hair raising because of the sheer malevolence displayed by many of the characters and because of the mob mentality into which many of the villagers seemed to have fallen. What is most disturbing for the Frosts is the atmosphere of evil which seems to prevail and the way Celia Wainwright is referred to as a witch on very little evidence.
This is as much horror story as a murder mystery and it is very well written. I found it totally compelling reading and would recommend it to anyone who likes murder mysteries without graphic violence or bad language. The characters re all too believable and the plot is well constructed. It will keep most readers guessing until close to the end of the book.
December 23, 2017
It well written but I must say most of the characters weren't that likable and this shows the worst sides of a small village a town. For no particular reason other than a woman was particularly beautiful and a newcomer she was hated. She wasn't even a person who lorded it over others that she was beautiful or been in places that they hadn't.
In fact, as she was described, she was a born loser. Her mother failed her, her "husband" failed her, and even her lover failed her in not trying to do for her when she died. Even years later they were casting aspersions on her when they could no longer realistically get away with the idea that she was a witch. Everything they ascribed to her about causing the death of a young man who fell madly in love with her and then failed at his classes was the one with mental problems, not her, though those who were more sympathetic than the ones actively hurting her thought so (and they, including the Vicar,) did little to try to combat the bad treatment around town. A boy who drowns because he was throwing stones at her and she spoke to him to stop him then retreats enough into a lake and drowns and won't even take the stick she offers to help bring him in was because he was too scared of her.
The worst, in my mind, is that her lover and the father of her child, says that she was capable of anything when she dies in her sleep next to him. This was not her fault. What he did following by bringing her back to her own house because he was afraid of the scandal is cowardly and understandable why he never pushed when her body just disappeared. He thought if he pursued something he would be accused of a crime. But to say mean things about her is just small-minded and nasty like the rest of the village. Even years later when they find out she was a victim of malicious treatment and was murdered they still were blaming her in ways.
When I read the book these things annoyed me a bit but the more I thought about it the more it annoyed me. People can be just mean-spirited nasty creatures. I don't like people as a group many times and this just reminds me why because I have encountered this before. At least it is realistic.
In fact, as she was described, she was a born loser. Her mother failed her, her "husband" failed her, and even her lover failed her in not trying to do for her when she died. Even years later they were casting aspersions on her when they could no longer realistically get away with the idea that she was a witch. Everything they ascribed to her about causing the death of a young man who fell madly in love with her and then failed at his classes was the one with mental problems, not her, though those who were more sympathetic than the ones actively hurting her thought so (and they, including the Vicar,) did little to try to combat the bad treatment around town. A boy who drowns because he was throwing stones at her and she spoke to him to stop him then retreats enough into a lake and drowns and won't even take the stick she offers to help bring him in was because he was too scared of her.
The worst, in my mind, is that her lover and the father of her child, says that she was capable of anything when she dies in her sleep next to him. This was not her fault. What he did following by bringing her back to her own house because he was afraid of the scandal is cowardly and understandable why he never pushed when her body just disappeared. He thought if he pursued something he would be accused of a crime. But to say mean things about her is just small-minded and nasty like the rest of the village. Even years later when they find out she was a victim of malicious treatment and was murdered they still were blaming her in ways.
When I read the book these things annoyed me a bit but the more I thought about it the more it annoyed me. People can be just mean-spirited nasty creatures. I don't like people as a group many times and this just reminds me why because I have encountered this before. At least it is realistic.
August 18, 2021
Not my usual fare, but having recently read a nonfiction account of postwar witch hysteria in Germany, this featherweight English mystery seemed like a good dessert. It wasn't bad, but several elements -- the author's frequent vp switches mid-scene and an ongoing diatribe against the NHS -- didn't help the story. As a picture of small town superstition and bigotry, it's adequate. I do wonder if the German cases inspired Ms. Bell or if there are similar cases from the UK.
December 17, 2013
Slow paced mystery about a young woman who was murdered and buried under the hen house.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews