06-13-2025, 05:04 PM
One of the UK’s strangest alleged paranormal events: The Dodleston Messages, also known as The Dodleston Time-Slip Case. It’s a bizarre mix of poltergeist activity, ghostly footprints, and... wait for it... computer messages from the 1500s. Yeah, let that sink in ..
Here’s the whole story laid out, with all known details and the weird twists it took over time:
Dodleston, Cheshire (1984–1986)
The case centers around a guy named Ken Webster, a teacher living in a cottage in the small village of Dodleston with his girlfriend Debbie and friend Nic. The property? An old 18th-century cottage, reportedly built over an even older structure.
At first, it was your standard haunted house starter pack:
- Six-toed footprints mysteriously appeared on the walls and ceiling.
- Cold spots, objects being moved or stacked.
- A weird presence in the room.
So far, so creepy—but things escalated quickly.
The Computer Messages Begin:
Ken brought home a BBC Micro computer (early '80s British PC, think text interface and floppy disks) for school work. No internet, no modem—completely offline.
Then suddenly, text files began appearing on the computer, written in strange, archaic English. The messages claimed to be from a man named "Lukas Wainewright" (or later, Thomas Harden)—a 16th-century man living on the same land, claiming to be communicating across time.
First message (approx. Sept 1984):
Quote:"True are the nightmares of a person that fears. Safe are the bodies of the silent world..."
It was signed “L.W.” and written in a form of Tudor English, which at first Webster thought was gibberish until it was analyzed by experts and found to be an authentic approximation of 1500s dialect.
Over the next few years, more than 500 messages appeared on the computer, most from “Thomas Harden,” who eventually claimed he was from 1541 and believed Ken and his friends were “spirits” or "leems" haunting his house.
Messages in chronological order:
Thomas Harden (“L.W.”) → Ken WebsterSept 1984:
Quote:True are the nightmares of a person that fears.
Safe are the bodies of the silent world.
Turn pretty flower, turn towards the sun,
for you shall grow and sow.
But the flower reaches too high and
withers in the burning light...
– L.W.
Thomas Harden → Ken Early 1985:
Quote:I write on behalf of many. What strange words thou speak,
although I must confess that I hath also been ill schooled.
Sometimes me thinks alterations are somewhat barful,
for they break many sleepeth.
Thy friend is not a leem as thou art,
for thy circle is unbroken in my world.
2109 → Ken & Thomas:
Quote:There is another person that you can communicate with.
We suggest you do this. He will help you with a more clearer
understanding of yourselves and others.
We will continue to monitor your activity and progress.
There is no conspiracy. We did not make you write the book.
Your dreams are not completely your own.
They are shared.
Shared with us.
With him.
Thomas Harden → Ken Mid 1985:
Quote:I am afeared the King's men shall come and take me,
for they say sorcery doth pass between the candle and the box of keys.
Yet I see thee not with devil's mark nor horned visage,
so I ask myself, what man is this who speaketh from the ether?
2109 → Ken Late 1986 (Closing Message):
Quote:Ken. We will speak no more. Your path is your own.
We have watched, and now we go.
What you do with the knowledge is yours alone.
End of communication.
– 2109
Who Was "Thomas Harden"?
This mysterious figure claimed to be a former student at Brasenose College, Oxford, living in Dodleston in a house that had been taken from him by the church. He was well-educated and described his time in detail—crops, daily routines, religious tensions of Tudor England.
The messages from him were long, poetic, and emotional.
He often expressed fear about being accused of witchcraft due to the mysterious communications, which would have been a death sentence in 1541.
Then things got really weird.
Enter “2109” – The Future Entity
In early 1985, another intelligence began leaving messages—calling itself “2109”, supposedly from the year 2109. It claimed to be monitoring the interaction and warned Ken against manipulating the situation. It even said they were part of a larger experiment involving time communication.
“There is another person that you can communicate with. We suggest you do this. He will help you with a more clearer understanding of yourselves and others…”
2109 often appeared cryptic, sometimes threatening, and occasionally philosophical.
It claimed:
Humanity would discover time manipulation.
This communication was part of a “circle” or experiment with great implications for humanity.
Ken, Thomas, and 2109 were linked in ways they couldn't fully understand.
It would respond directly to things said in the room or messages left by Ken, despite the computer being offline and unplugged at times.
The Book: "The Vertical Plane" (1989)
Ken Webster eventually compiled the story into a book:
“The Vertical Plane”, published in 1989 (out of print for decades, but recently reissued).
It includes transcriptions of the messages and his interpretations, plus the whole timeline of events. A few excerpts were verified by historical linguists as being difficult to fake due to the obscure Tudor English.
Still, many dismissed it as a clever hoax—or performance art.
Attempts at Verification:
Oxford University couldn't find a Thomas Harden in their records, but record-keeping in 1541 wasn't exactly flawless.
Linguists noted that some of the archaic English would be very hard to fake without deep knowledge—some words even predated Webster’s possible access to academic sources.
Paranormal researchers tried to replicate or monitor the activity, but the phenomena would vanish when others were present.
Theories:
So what are we dealing with here? A few popular ideas:
Time-Slip / Temporal Communication Experiment
The case involves real-time communication through a phenomenon akin to a “fold” in time, monitored by 2109.
Poltergeist or Spirit Entity
Classic haunting + channeling via tech. "Thomas" is actually a ghost manipulating the BBC Micro.
Extraterrestrial Influence
Some fringe researchers think 2109 represents alien or non-human intelligence observing us.
Elaborate Hoax
Critics say Webster (or someone close) wrote the messages as a long-running performance or prank.
Tulpas / Thoughtform Manifestation
Some believe the messages were manifested unconsciously by the occupants due to a form of focused psychic energy.
Message from 2109:
Quote:“There is no conspiracy. We did not make you write the book. You were not influenced. It was necessary. Your dreams are not completely your own. They are shared. Shared with us. With him.”
TL;DR:
Old house in Dodleston gets haunted.
Messages start appearing on a BBC Micro from a 16th-century man.
Later messages from an entity claiming to be from the year 2109.
Over 500 messages total. No internet involved.
The whole thing is documented in “The Vertical Plane” by Ken Webster. PDF here
Still unexplained to this day.
Thoughts?
![[Image: qa.png]](https://cypherage.com/images/ficons/qa.png)
