Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Ghost of Tom Fool
I've always been entertained by the idea that I could be a descendant of the court jester who gave us the word tomfoolery. Tom Skelton was known as Tom Fool in 16th century northern England.
Now I have read in New Scientist that he supposedly has a ghost, haunting the Tapestry Room of Muncaster Castle in Cumbria. One scientist believes the ghostly sightings have arisen from complex weak magnetic fields in the room, involving the iron mesh supporting a mattress.
I've never been anywhere haunted (to my knowledge) but I'll make a point of checking out this room, and the oil painting of Tom, next time I am in England...
...actually, after seeing the painting, and hearing of his mean-spiritedness, I'm not sure I want to be connected with him:
Labels: tom skelton, tomfoolery
