The Sleeping Girl of Turville: The True Story of a Girl Who fell asleep for Nine Years..
95
A Ninteenth Century Mystery.
On may 15, 1859, a child was born, She was the tenth child from a family of twelve. Her name was Ellen Sadler. there was nothing particularly remarkable about her, or any of the other children. Until Thursday, march 29, 1871, Ellen went to bed as usual. And did'nt wake up.
And just like a sleeping beauty, she didn't wake for nearly ten years.
The story starts in a sleepy little village in the heart of the English countryside. Turville is situated in the Hambleden valley, in between Oxford and Buckinghamshire. About 400 people lived in the scattered parish, and the village was mainly dominated by the Bailey family who lived at Turville Court.
At the corner of school lane there lay an old cottage, that is still there. It was owned by a farm labourer called Frewen, his wife Ann, and her children,. the children were from her first marriage to a man called Sadler.
The day started off normally, Frewen and the children got up and went about their business, but it wasn't until they realised that Ellen wasn't getting ready, that they began to suspect there was something wrong. Ellen was a quiet child most of the time, sedate, and thoughtful, She was also known to be dreamy, and had a listless manner about her which could be quite disturbing. Sometimes her distant expression and melancholy ways, made her brothers and sisters, leave her to her own thoughts, knowing that she didn't want to join in with their childish games and sports. She didn't have any friends and most of the time, she just sat at the bedroom window looking out at the world.
She had a great reverence for sacred things, and was always good and obedient, but it troubled her mother that she would sit for hours, by the fireside, with her head in her hands, staring at the flames and watching the shadows as they danced across the walls.
In fact the only time she would show any animation was when her father would return from the nearest tavern slightly the worst for wear, and she would give him a good talking too.!
At eleven years old, coming from an impoverished village, she had to start work. Her parents sent her to Marlow to become a nursemaid for a family with two young children.
This employment didn't last for long. Her fits of somnolence became regular and she became so stupid and useless (the words used at the time), that her mistress could not keep her.
After she had been discharged from the job, she started to complain about a constant pain in her head, evidently it was much more than just a normal headache,
Her parents became worried and sent her to a doctor in nearby Marlow, who diagnosed an abscess.
Poor little Ellen was sent to Reading hospital, and stayed there for seventeen weeks. Feeling a little bit better, she was sent home to Turville on Tuesday, March 27, 1871.
Two days later, on the Thursday, Ellen went to sleep.
A Dr. Hayman, from nearby Stockenchurch, rushed in his pony and trap, as quickly as he could , but by the time he got there, she couldn't be roused. as she lay there, apparently dead, her almost imperceptible breathing was the only thing showed she still had life in her body.
So began what even the great paper, The Times, called , 'one of the most astounding, inexplicable, physiological phenomena ever known'.
soon medical men and gentry were flocking to Turville to examine the sleeping girl. Ellen's mother didn't mind these visits, even encouraging them in fact. But there was a curious occurrence when she told one visitor that, she couldn't let him see her daughter yet, as she 'had to get her ready'
Eventually when the men were allowed to see her, this is what they saw.
The Free Press of the time, graphically explained.
After climbing the rickety stairs, and walked along to the room with the sloping roof, we saw , in the smaller bed, a girl laying on her left side, with her hand on the pillow under her head. A position she was accustomed to be in before she was afflicted.
The paper quotes: Her soft dark brown hair was confined in an old net. and appeared to be very matted, a condition her mother explained by saying she did not want to comb it for fear of disturbing her.
'This threw her pale face into greater relief, her eyes were sunken, and the appearance at a distance was that of death.
Many people who came to see her wanted to take a lock of her hair as a souvenir. Her mother was willing to grant this until all the peoples demands began to diminish the supply. It was only then that she refused to cut any more.
The strange thing was that her breathing was regular and natural, and her skin was still soft and her body was warm. Her pulse was slightly fast, but that was the only strange occurrence for somebody asleep.
Evidently her body was was still flexible but she was emaciated. Her feet and legs were the only part of her that was icy cold, which was strange. Her mother placed a hot water bottle beneath them to try and keep them warm.
Year after year, people came, and began to leave what was called small donations, or 'slight acknowledgements' as the were beginning to be called.
Suspicion began to grow that maybe this was a hoax, and the people began to turn against the family.
The main trouble was the fact that, according to her mother, Ellen was being kept alive by a small amount of port wine and sugar which she administered to Ellen through two small teapots, three times a day. At first she could open her mouth slightly and take a small spoonful, but after about fifteen months, her jaw became fixed and they had to use the teapots, pouring the mixture into the corner of her mouth, where she had a small opening because of a missing tooth. Sometimes a Small amount of milk was given to her, but this was all she had.
By this time the medical world was baffled. Rumours exist that among the elder Turville residents that Royalty even took an interest in her.
The prince of wales, the future King Edward, visited her and gave her the 'laying on of hands' which people in those days believed would cure the afflicted.
By this time, the doctors who where attending to her, began to realise that the local population was finding the whole thing very suspicious. So on entering the house, usually at unexpected moments to catch the family out, they would very carefully hide pointed needles up their sleeves so as to prick Ellen on her legs and arms to try and make her react. One doctor even suggested something called galvanism, in other words electric therapy. But nothing woke her.
The offers of money to come and see Ellen was quite substantial by this time. Ellen's mother was earning two pounds a week through donations. This would be about one hundred pounds in modern money. You can understand peoples scepticism.
Eventually someone, probably out of spite, wrote to the highest echelons of government, and the home secretary of the time demanded an investigation. This didn't come to anything as they were told that the parents were not deliberately asking for money. The people became frustrated and the whole thing simmered on until after a few years, in late may 1880, after a particularly bad thunderstorm, Ellens mother came in from the fields where she had been working, and feeling frightened and jumpy consequently had a heart attack and died before the doctor could reach her.
The inquest which was held at the Bull and Butcher pub, was straight forward, but of course everybody wanted to know what would happen to Ellen. Dr. Hayman was again confronted about his diagnosis, and defended himself by saying that Ellen was definitely paralysed and unconscious. Still they thought it a confidence trick. People came forward and said they had seen Ellen walking through the grave yard at night, and looking through the bedroom window when she thought there was nobody looking.
It was decided that Ellen would be looked after by her sister Elizabeth Stacey, wife of a bricklayer.
Then a strange thing happened. Five months later, Ellen began showing signs of waking. On New Years Eve 1880, more than nine years after falling asleep, the Free Press broke the news that at last the sleeping girl of Turville, was awake. She was conscious and speaking.
Ellen was twenty one years of age. But she spoke and acted like a child. She had absolutely no memory of those nine strange years.
After adjusting back into the real world, Ellen went to stay with her Aunt, a Mrs Blackwell, annd earned her living working with beads. A few years later she married a farmer from Reading and moved out of the district. Later dying in obscurity.
Was it Narcolepsy? At the time the Doctors wouldn't have known about the illness. They are still not sure today.
Like all strange mysteries, we shall never know the truth.
Copyright Nell Rose this is the original article any other site showing this is a copy and should be reported as stolen.
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It is a very strange mysterie, but like you said we shall never know the truth, sad really. beautifull writing and a lovely hub. Thanks Nell Rose. Take care my dear. God Bless.
I so enjoyed this story and thank you very much for writing this hub.
Thank you all for taking time out to read my story. I have grown up knowing about Ellen because I have always been told that somewhere along the line I am related to her! I think it was on my grandfathers side, his name was Stone, but he had a step brother, who we believe was the son of the name Frewen! I am not sure if it was a sister or aunt. it's all very confusing! whether this is true I am not sure, but it has always intrigued me. Thanks again. lol Nell
Amazing story. There are so many unexplained things out there in the world.- carol
Thanks carol, I love trying to find things out about old and new mysteries. I will start foraging around for other bits and pieces!
wohhh... strange and quite interesting story! It seems that she was the real life sleeping beauty... can't imagine sleeping for 9 straight years- incredibly amazing mystery.. thank you for sharing ma'am.. it really strucked my curiosity.. :)
thank you pinkhawk, as you say I can't imagine myself sleeping for nine years, I get annoyed haveing to go to bed for six hours! thanks again.
Weird, strange story. I've never heard this story. Thanks for sharing. It was interesting
Franki
thanks for your comment franki, yes it is a bit strange, I am sure everybody who lives in Turville have their own ideas about it, there maybe is somebody there who is still related to her. As I said above , I was always brought up to believe that somewhere along the line my family were, I think I need to delve a little deeper!
I wonder if we will ever know the truth? Fascinating story, I have have never read anything about this before
hi cmHypno, yeah it is strange that the story seems to have disappeared for a few years, but it occasionaly pops up with little bits of info in magazines along with other things about the village. thanks again. Nell
Hi,
I enjoyed reading this odd story. I also love your style of writing. Thank you for sharing it
thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it, and I am now furaging around trying to find some more interesting but not very well known subjects! Nell
wow! nice story there i really really love it thanks a million for sharing such a wonderful story
Thanks for your comment valentine and I am looking forward to reading your hubs! good luck and welcome to hubpages lol Nell
Great reading!, and just in time for Halloween, thank you Nell!
Thanks for the comments, I love finding out stories that seem to have disapeared over the years, back to the searching! lol Nell
What a story! Sometimes, truth is just as strange as fiction.... Thanks for doing the research and sharing it.
thanks for reading it, yes it is a bit strange, if it had happened these days i am sure it would have been sorted out, but then everything was superstitious. nice to hear from you. Nell
Certainly sounds like a hoax to me. I see no evidence to the contrary.
I lived in Hambleden near Turville for many years, and know the house and pub in the story very well. The house in the second photo featured as the home of the Vicar of Dibley in the TV Series. There is wonderful windmill at the top of the valley, which featured in the old film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. The story of Ellen is fascinating. Poor mother - and so sad that Ellen had such an obscure end.
Hi, Vasilis, yes you might be well be right, I think that is why it is so interesting, no one will ever know.Thanks for writing, and Carole It's nice to hear from someone in my neck of the woods!I grew up knowing about her because as i said somewhere above, I am related somehow, one of these days I will look into it. thanks again. Nell
Really interesting post! - James
While it's always going to be up for debate regarding its legitimacy, just imagine for a second if it was possible for the human body to sleep for nine years. My word! What a fantastic story - a great read. :)
thanks climber james for your comment and after looking at the picture of you climbing I think I would be tired if I tried it, climbing I mean!, and Hi, jordan yes I know what you mean about sleeping for nine years, I think my son has been trying to set the record himself! typical teenager, thanks again, Nell
What a fascinating and riveting read Nell, so glad you aren't asleep, otherwise we might never have heard about it :)
I do find paranormal phenomena and stuff ;ike that very interesting, although im slightly sceptical of it all.
I've read and heard many stories of weird things, and I have to say this is incredibly unique, while not that incredible in is self,it's really eerie, conjures up some strange images in the mind lol
A most fascinating and intriguing read, whered you hear about it?
Hi, Misty, Yes it was a good story when I first heard it years ago, so I thought I would look into it more. I tend to stay up until about two in the morning, and work later in the day! body clocks, who would have them! thanks again. Nell
Hiya christopher, I actually heard it all my life, evidently I am related somewhere along the line, I thought it was my grandads side but my brother said no, it was on my grans side because her mother or father were Sadler's. We grew up being told, 'get out of bed or else you will end up like Ellen Sadler the sleeping girl... Thanks for reading. Nell
Interesting story, I wonder how she stayed alive on a few sips of wine and sugar. Doesn't even seem possible. Sounds like some sort of coma.
What a grand story! Thanks for a super read.
Hi, fishtiger, Yeah it was a bit odd, I think she probably was in a coma for a few weeks, then the money started coming in and her mother thought wey hey! and the rest was a con, but I might be wrong!HI, The Rope, thanks for stopping by and glad you like it! I like the name! I hope it does'nt mean you are going to hang yourself! metaphorically I mean not literally!....lol Nell
I wonder if her mother was purposefully drugging the girl in order to encourage the donations to continue? She wasn't much good for bringing in money to the household as a nanny, which probably meant she wasn't able to be let out for any other occupation either. It's "funny" that the girl came around after her mother died...quite coincidental, isn't it?!
Hi, Susan, Yes I quite agree with you, but the one thing I found strange was that every Doctor that saw her, believed it. Even in those days, surely they could'nt have all been gullible? maybe the point was that they did'nt believe it but did'nt know what to do about it! Thanks for writing. Nell
I was going to ask you where on earth you "unearthed" such an astounding story...then I read the comments only to learn that you may have been related to Ellen. It's so compelling when we are driven to tell a story about an ancestor. I am going through that bizarre calling right now..guess that's why I happened upon your hub by accident. I must become a fan. Cheers!
Wow, I have been looking for something like this in the hubs. Great reading, true or not, this is number one with me so far!
Thanks green lotus, Yes it's a shame that we don't look into it when we are younger and all our relatives are about and still with us, I think it happens only when the elder ones start to go, we realise what we are missing. thanks again, and pollyannalana, thanks for saying that, I do love stories that have a bit of mystery to them, I am searching like mad to find another one! thanks again. Nell
Wild, truly wild and odd that I haven't run into this story before. It's easy to be skeptical but, on the other hand, that is an awfully long time to perpetuate a hoax; especially in a small community and under so much suspicion. Her mother would have had to be a brilliant anesthetist (an understatement) to keep her sedated for so long without killing her. It would be almost impossible without modern equipment.
Still, long term coma patients take an incredible amount of therapy to recover use of their limbs. This would have taken an extreme balance of factors to happen...frankly, I'm baffled.
well come to my city
What a fascinating story! I consider myself lucky to get a few hours sleep :) Thanks for a great hub x
thanks darkland, yes trust me I am still baffled and I grew up with the story! I think there is a lot left out from the time that nobody knows about apart from the people involved. thanks for stopping by. And king7? do you mean you live there? Hi merseyblue, thanks for reading it and I know how you feel, I suffer with insomnia! thanks again Nell
your story is interesting. feel free to up-load it on my site www.yamaaonline.ning.com. I will like my members across the world to read it. Thanks, David +2348066166949. I'm a fan of yours.
great post
Great story!
Thank you for your interesting, and well-written hub. You kept me captivated! I find it especially interesting how you are related to Ellen. I'd like to know more about what ever happened to Ellen. Did her marriage turn out well for her? Did she have any children? Did she ever regain any recollection of having any consciousness during those nine years? Were there more investigations done to rule out foul play? I'd love to know. I'm going to read more of your hubs!
thanks prophetofluv, Thanks for the offer, I will have to look into it, but thanks for the moment. Hi, Truth, thanks for stopping by it is nice of you, and Linda thanks to you too, yes this story does seem to have taken off a bit! but I love the story, a village with a mystery!. Hi Mary, I am actually trying at this moment to find out a few things more, It is one of those stories that I was brought up with, and never thought to question! But I am going to turn detective, and see what I can do! Thanks again. Nell
I really enjoyed reading your hub. I am fascinated by the story and wonder how she could have survived with such poor nutrition as port wine and milk for nine years. Makes you wonder if the story is true, or whether it was sensationalized and exaggerated by the press at the time.
What a strange story, Nell! Makes you think of Rip Van Winkle. hardly any nutrition, no bedsores - but stranger things have happened!
I enjoyed reading your post - it is good when you can get a headline as this means that many more people are going to read an interesting and worthwhile story whereas they probably wouln't necessarily go looking for the subject. Thanks
Your post is informative for all hubers. strange and quite interesting story! It seems that she was the real life sleeping beauty... can't imagine sleeping for 9 straight years- incredibly amazing mystery.. thank you for sharing ma'am.. it really strucked my curiosity.. :)
Quite interesting.
wow.... thanks.........
Thanks everybody, I appreciate all your comments and taking time to read it,I am trying to find out more about her! (should have done it years ago!) If I do find anything I will update it. I am longing to know myself, where she ended up. Thanks again. Nell
I really enjoyed reading this. This is a strange story! If it could have been a coma, I think it would not last that long. Imagine, 9 years unconscious! Who would have believed that! Well, anyway that is what we call mystery.
Thanks for sharing this interesting story.
Thank you Beth for stopping by, I think if it happened now, it would probably be understood straight away. thanks again. Nell
Crazy - I have known people with narcolepsy but never for THAT long....wow! Great hub - and how did you get your pictures so big? I keep trying to get my pics to work and they never will beyond 1/4 wide.....great job!
Hi, akirchner, thanks for reading it, and the subject of the pictures being small, I think that when you add photo's make sure you are not on 'thumbnail' or 'slide' slide will be the right size but is a bit of a pain sometimes, just put it on normal. you'll find this above the picture. okay? nice to hear from you. Nell
It'a a mystery. I would love to know the truth. Thank you
Hi Cleanclover. Thanks for reading it. yes it is a mystery that probably will never be solved. Thanks again. Nell
A well written and interesting Hub. Thank you for bringing us the story:)
Hi, Anna thank you so much for your comment. I am glad you liked it. cheers Nell
Great story. I really enjoyed it.
Hi, Grandma Jones, I love your name, thanks for reading my story. cheers Nell
Wow great story and nice writing. I have never heard of this story and it seems though that she must have been in some kind of coma that they wouldn't have understood at the time, the only thing is did she suffer anykind of brain damage as a result and how did she not die of starvation as she was already emaciated. It really is a mystery thanks for enlighting us and I have become a fan. Good Job.
Hi Ladyjane, sorry it took a while, I had visitors, (how dare they interupt me?!) I somehow think she must have been woken up at night. probably at the beginning she was genuine, but then they realised that they could make money! and so the scam started. thanks again. Nell
Amazing story! How utterly strange!
I love to read stories about how people recovered in the olden days and have written a few myself now.
Hi, Laura, thanks for reading it, I will come and have a peak at yours. sounds interesting. cheers Nell
I really enjoyed reading this!! Very interesting!!! Great Hub! :)
Hi, josie, thanks for reading it. And I'm glad you liked it. cheers nell
Interesting - what a sad life for the poor girl. Hope she had a decent life after marrying ;)
Hi, RedElf, yes it was a bit strange and sad, and I hope to find out one day, what happened to her.thanks for reading it. cheers nell
This is really a mysterious story which arouse readers' curiosity.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
Hi, agusfanani, thanks for your comments, cheers nell
and Vanidiana, thank you so much for reading it, I am having trouble with my PC at the moment, but I will be back soon! cheers nell
That was very interesting Nell. Great hub. I can't believe it really happened.
Glad you were featured so I found this story. It kept my interest all the way through.
Hi, grace, sorry it took so long. Computer failure!! arghhh.!! thanks for the comments, and yes it is a strange story. That is what makes it so interesting. thanks again nell
Hi, sheila, thanks for reading it. as I said above, my computer was driving me mad! but I am hopefully back on track now. cheers nell
Was watching a video about another girl that has the sleeping beauty sydrome (Louisa Ball 15-Year-Old-Girl Real Life Sleeping Beauty Syndrome)They are calling it Klein-Levin Syndrome. She will sleep for days, not years like Ellen. What a great story, thanks for the story.
Hiya, The Adalaide, thanks for your comment. I didn't know that it was called Klein-Levin Syndrome. Thanks for the info, and it is strange to think that if this had happened today to ellen, she would have been sorted out, instead of going into the myths and legends of her town. thanks again. nell.
What an intriguing story! Even more so since you are related - that would be interesting to dig into. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Rose, thanks for your comment. Yes it is a strange story, but I wonder if it was a scam or real? I would love to know. thanks again. nell
this is wonderful story. Like the real sleeping beauty. I had post about the girl who have the same problem. But she can sleep for a couples of says. Please check it out. thank you for showing me this information.
Thanks prasetio30, I will come over and have a look. Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it. cheers nell
You really have a way in story telling, Nell, and this is really good story indeed. Live up the curiosity. Thank you, Nell. ^_^
Hi, Freya, thanks for reading it. I am glad you liked it. thanks again nell
An excellent hub on a fantastic topic, Nell Rose. This is right up my alley...
Hi, mythbuster, I am glad you like it, and I will certainly be over to read your hubs as we seem to have the same interests. thanks nell
Another great story Nell. I have never heard of this one. Looking forward to the next one.
Hi, Granny, thanks again for reading it. It is quite well known around where I live, and somewhere along the line I am related to her. So I am trying my best to find out how! thanks again nell.
Great hub, very interesting. Enjoy stories like this.
Hi, europewalker, thanks again. I love stories like this, I am always foraging around in my old books or in the library to try and find something. This one was always told to me when I was small, because she is related to me, somewhere along the line. thanks again nell
Interesting story. I heard of a similar case, I think it was a movie that was supposed to be based on a true story. It was set in the 1950's though. Of course, movies often take a story and put them in different time periods I suppose. I think the character had encephalitis or something, but she awoke after a number of years too and lived a rather normal life. Sad and scary, I would be afraid to go to sleep each night.
Hi, mulberry, Thanks for reading it. I didn't realise that there had been a film that was similiar. I know this story from when I was a small child, because somewhere along the line, I am related. That explains why I have trouble getting up in the morning!! lol I don't think she was a blood relative, but was the daughter of my grandads step brother!! confusing... In this day and age, it would be sorted out quite quickly, but then it was just a strange thing. And to be honest, I think it was probably a bit of a fake, but I don't know. thanks nell
Fascinating story, and well written. I enjoyed this.
Hi, gramarye, thank you for reading it, and for the follow, I am looking forward to taking a look at your work. thanks nell
This is an exceptionally remarkable story. Very interesting and well written.
Hi, mquee, thank you so much for your nice comments. I am glad you liked it. Nell
What an amazing story, interestingly and well told. I suppose anything is possible so I guess there is a small chance her case could have been a hoax, but then, nine years is a long time to perpetrate such a thing and to not make any slip ups (no matter what wild stories children imagined and told), as indicated by the doctor being so adamant about her condition. It's amazing that the family was able (were able...I love that lil' grammatical difference we have, don't you!) to keep her alive. Her sunken eyes, her emaciation though would have been going much beyond the pale to successfully execute such an involved deceit. Thus, I doubt the case involved trickery. I enjoy your hubs. They are such interesting quality productions.
Hi, Ron, I am glad you liked it. This story has passed down through my family, as somewhere in the dark and distant past, i am related to her. I think it was on my mother's side of the family, so I have grown up knowing about her. It was strange when I first wrote this, that there was nothing else about her on the internet, apart from a passing phrase. Thanks again nell
Very interesting report.
Hi, qeyler, thanks for reading. cheers nell
wow what a great story - love your writing
Hi, Julie, thanks for reading it, and I'm glad you liked it. Thanks nell
great tale nell!! wonder if the mother kept her sedated all that time purposely with the port wine? goodness amazing she didnt suffer sores, contractures, all the things we know happens when someone is really in a coma
Hi, RNMSN, thanks for reading it, and I am glad you liked it, I do agree with you, I think the port wine had a lot to answer for! lol but I don't know. Maybe I we are suspicious because it sounds like the mother was after money, but something must have started it of in the first place. So I do think that ellen was in a coma for a while at least. thanks again Nell
A truly fascinating story. Thank you for sharing it. It would be awesome if you truly are related. It's one of those folk stories you just don't know how much of it is true. It sounds like it has been documented - mostly because they were trying to prove it a hoax - but still one wonders?
You tell a good story!
Hi, Duchess, I remember this story from when I was very small, and as you said, it was documented but it was really strange when I went to look for it on the internet it wasn't there. only a small piece about her. Luckily I had kept documents over the years from the local paper, and clips from stories that my parents had written down. I don't know if it was a hoax, but I will certainly look up any info that I can about her connection to my family. Thanks again nell
Great story, amazing! Polly
Thanks again Polly, I really appreciate it. nell
great work
Great story. Amazing
Hi, meharkarim, thank you for commenting. cheers nell
Hi, imissukhan, thanks for liking my story. cheers nell
Nell what a fascinating story, imagine someone falling asleep for so long. I think providence had a hand in it. I wonder where she truly went off to in her slumber? astral traveling to maybe another dimension perhaps? The story was so well written, you had me captivated and my full attention. Thank you for the great read, I rate this hub UP big time.
Hi, saddlerider, thank you so much for reading it and liking it. evidently she was a relative of mine, that is why it wasn't on the internet, only a few small peices about her. and thanks for the rate. nell
p.s. thank you so much for your support the other day, I feel like a big idiot now, it was two in the morning and I think that he upset me too much. I should have known better than to get anybody else involved. thanks again nell
Your very welcome Nell it was my pleasure to help a friend. By the way your name Nell reminds me of a famous story of Nell Gweynn and the King, apparently she was his mistress and he would sneak her up to his palace for his pleasures. She was a waitress in some pub I went to visit when I was touring England back many moons ago. Interesting, your first name brought back that memory. Peace and hugs
Hi, saddlerider, that was quick! lol yes I remember Nell gwynn. here's a bit of celebrity for you! My great aunt used to clean for Edward the seventh and his mistress Lilly Langtry! they used to come down to a house at the bottom of the high street in my town, and my great aunt used to 'do' for them. ha ha that's my claim to fame! thanks again. nell
This is indeed a facinating story and the way you tell it makes it even more so. I am glad you pointed me out to it and I wonder if today's medicine could explain this strange phenomenon
Hi, Petra, thanks again for your help, I have wondered if Ellen did suffer from a neurological complaint that would be sorted out quite quickly if she had been born today, also it could have started off as a physical problem and they realised that it brought the money into the house and they carried it on! I would love to find out, thanks again nell
This is really fascinating. I often wonder where our brain. or soul goes in these types of things. I mean we have a body to house the soul and foster it's learning, but what if they have two or more bodies that they house. Would this happen if the other body needed constant attention and this body had to go into a coma or sleep state? It fascinates me lots. I saw a program a long time ago that had this guy that was in a coma and it showed what he was doing in that coma--he was living another life somewhere else. All the times that the family members called him to that body that was laying in the hospital bed he heard them as distant voices. He did make it back into that body eventually. I wish I knew what program that was. It was so long ago and stuck with me all this time. Dimensions interest me too ans I think that we can be living in multiple ones all at the same time. I think of them as all the "What If's". If I made that decision I would be living that choice and that outcome and so an and so forth.
There is a story or childrens tale about a man (for the life of me I cannot think of it) that fell asleep in the mountains of New York. Now I wonder if that was true too or was it just a children's story.
I found it. It's Rip Van Winkle and here is the story: http://www2.lhric.org/pst/shms/Rvw.htm
Hi, Lady G, it is fascinating to think that maybe we do go somewhere else if that sort of thing happens, I also think it is possible when we just sleep normally, for years I dreamt that I was living somewhere else, and this dream went on for years, it was somewhere up north in or near Scotland, I actually wrote the story to a magazine and had it published, and I received a letter from another woman, through the magazine, who said the same thing had happened to her! I can still see the place in my mind, and if I ever find it, I will freak out! lol thanks for reading it, and I will take a look at the link now, cheers nell
....I was just dying to try out my new phase (see other comment) - so here goes: why yes ladies and gentlemen may I present to you another - 'Nellism' .....
...and this is the kind of hub which gives the epigramman ideas to write about things that go bump (and sometimes grind) in the night!!!!
Hi, epi, ha ha Nillism! I love it! thanks so much nell
Great story, what a mystery. Thanks for writing this awesome hub, ~L
Hi, Light, I am so glad you liked it, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Whew....nine years? Sometimes I would just love to have nine extra minutes. Gosh, can you imagine? So fascinating!
Hi, theherbivorehippi, ha ha I know exactly what you mean! thanks for reading it, cheers nell
I'd wonder why the mother didn't want anyone to try to wake Ellen! Was she secretly hoping at first that the girl would die, before the money started rolling in? After which, of course, she didn't want her to wake up?
That Ellen survived on only bits of wine and sugar isn't all that amazing since she was essentially in a state of hibernation and her body only required minimal nourishment.
An amazing story!
Hi, JamaGenee, thanks again, I do believe that the illness was real in Ellen to start with, but I think her mother probably did play on it a bit to get the public to come and see her, what better way to get money? lol I don't think we will ever know, thanks so much nell
Wow, great hub Nell! I was literally at the edge of my seat reading! :) I am writing a a hub about sleep and If you don't mind I would love to link this hub to it. It makes for great reading! Thanks again for sharing! :)
Hi, jenny, sorry I haven't been over, it's been a bit hectic! lol thanks so much for reading it, and of course it would be great if you linked it, thanks again nell
I have read this for the second time. You are a great writer indeed. :)
Hi, Ingenira, thanks so much, I am so pleased you liked it, cheers nell
It sounds like she had a disorder called klein-levin disorder. There are about 1000 people in the world with it. It primarily affects teenage girls after a viral infection.
Hi, Gavin, thanks so much for the comment, I had never thought of that, thanks for the info, it certainly does explain a lot, I will go and read up on it, thanks nell
Wow, a real sleeping beauty story! That is quite a story indeed. Thank you!
Hi, Pachuca, glad you liked it! and thanks so much, cheers nell
Nell, you are the best storyteller! The way you captured my interest and told this story was great! I can't believe she didn't starve to death or awake crippled. Amazing story that for its time was a true medical mystery!
Hi, Erin, I think it started of as an illness or something but I do believe they kept up the story, mainly for money gain! thanks again for reading it, cheers nell
Great read! Thanks for sharing. I love history like this. :)
Slowly getting through your hubs: )
Hi, Ross, thanks for reading it, somewhere in my family history Ellen was related, I am still looking, but it is a fascinating story, thanks nell
I just love mysteries! I wonder what this was....? lilyfly
Hi, lilyfly, I would love to know too! these days I am sure it would be a simple thing to find out, but in those days it was a mystery! thanks again nell
I like this story. I don't think it was narcolepsy, though, because with that, you fall asleep during the day for short periods of time, right?
Hi, Edoka, thanks for reading it, yes you are right, I am not sure what it was that Ellen had, maybe it was genuine at the beginning but I think that later on it was for the money! I do need to update this as I have recieved more info!
Very interesting story. I'm newer to hub pages, but love to read your hubs.
Hi, sfrentz, thanks so much, I am glad you liked it, cheers nell
You find the most amazing stories! Thanks for sharing! WOW!
Hi, Lene, thanks for reading it, and thanks for the Wow! lol cheers nell
A few months ago I have read a true story about the modern day Sleeping Beauty. It is one of the sleeping disorders like narcolepsy or hypersomnia. Interesting story but I guess our hearts should go for those patients suffering from it as obviously they cannot live a normal life like we do.
Hi, PaperNotes, yes you are right, it must be horrible, and especially back in the old days when they knew nothing about this, what a nightmare, thanks so much, nell
Thats an interesting and strange story. I just love your hubs.
Hi pan, I love strange stories! lol thanks again nell
I can't believe it Nell but I missed this one.
I am so glad that I found it though.
Brilliant as always and written so naturally in your own unique style.
Here's to many more years of hub sharing.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Thanks Eiddwen, I am glad you liked it.
a great story , well written ... I enjoyed the read :-)
I have narcolepsy .I have had it from being a young child ....
my average day consists of me sleeping 18-20 hrs a day ...... often I sleep solid for 4-7 days. being woke up by my partner to eat and drink , even then he has difficulty in waking me , and sometimes does nit succeed - I often wonder WHEN I would wake up on my own if he didn't do it ....
there is a sleep disorder called KLS kliene leaven syndrome .... where people sleep for 1-2 (sometimes longer )weeks solid (being woke up for food & drink) then after thus loooong episode of sleep they are "back to normal " wide awake ...... normal ..... then say a month a few months later the sleep starts again.....
with KLS the sleeping lasts long but then stops with long breaks inbtween ... breaks can last months
with narcolepsy the sleeping is everyday , no breaks ....
i don't know if the story is true ...... but I really enjoyed reading it .... thanks for sharing
X Carrie X
Hi, Carrie, that must be so difficult for you, I have read about it and seen it on TV, is there any medication that you can take that will help? thanks for reading my hub, cheers nell
Terrific hub, and very interesting. It would have been so strange for the girl, upon waking up.
Hi, Paradise, yes I agree, I would love to know exactly what happened, thanks so much for reading it, cheers nell
this was really interesting.. sad that girl didnt get to see her mother who has done so much for her when she was asleep.
Hi, Anjali, thank you so much for reading. Yes it was sad that helen didn't get to see her mother, but it was very strange that she woke up shortly after, cheers nell
hi nell this was such a intresting story!! the fairy tale sleeping beauty is not completly fantasy then!!
carrie
Hi, carrie, it seems that way doesn't it? lol she certainly was a mystery, thanks again nell
Hi, carrie, it seems that way doesn't it? lol she certainly was a mystery, thanks again nell
It is difficult yes-
Narcolepsy is caused by a missing hormone (hypocretin) that supplies the brain hypothalamus - to regulate sleep - narcoleptics have non or very little hypocretin- there for no control of when and how long we sleep ( that's a very quick explanation )
There is no cure-the hormones have gone- it is a disease that I will always have.
I take medication to keep me awake- Modafinil and dexamphetamine- they are stimulants,amphetamine's ... I take them daily to help keep me awake 4x 200mg Modafinil 4x 5mg dexamphetamine - I'm like a walking maraca ;-) ... They do help, I still sleep a lot and always feel sleepy, never feel completely awake and full of energy ( I crave for just one day like that ) and I still have bouts of sleeping 3+days ...
other side affects of narcolepsy are sleep paralysis , where you wake up but can move , often accompanied with Hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations - the only way I can explain this is it's like being stuck- unable to move - aware that I am awake - and then..... the dreams (hallucinations) happen and it can be very very scary .having nightmare visions around you but unable to move or wake up...
I often can not wake up- knowing full well I'm asleep,knowing I have to get up-that the alarm is going or my son is next to me and I still can not wake- I slip in and out of dreaming and reality every inch of me trying to pull myself out of the horrible limbo of sleep,dreaming and waking - a constant cycle that can last hours- the dreaming I have is very vivid and again can be very frightening - by the end of it when I do wake up I'm exhausted, mentally , physically and emotionally ...
I also hallucinate whilst awake... ( dreams coming into reality ) so I can be doing something normal and then I hallucinate ... everyday I see giant bugs, faces , people and hear things ... these are the 'smaller' hallucinations for me .... then I have the big ones... the ones that scare me silly ... they can last a while as well .... it's hard at times to tell what is and isn't a hallucination ....
then there is automatic behaviour - it's when you carry on doing something but your mind shuts down and goes to sleep- so for example ... having a conversation with someone and having no recollection of it .. I once put £20 in my sons toy draw, right at the back.... at the time I thought I had lost the money... a few weeks later my son found it ..... so at some point I took the £20 out of my purse , pulled out my sons draw and put the £20 in there... needless to say my son got the £20 as he thought we had hid it there for him as a surprise - he was SSooo excited when he found it ;-)
I have done many other things - I don't like this part of narcolepsy at all- it makes me feel unsafe ....
then there is caterplexy
the sleep paralysis should read I can not move .... not can :-)
Hi, cazzart that must be awful for you. I do understand about the sleep paralysis, I have a thryoid problem and before it was diagnosed I had terrible sleep paralysis, and the hallucinations are terrifying, you are a very brave women, I do hope they can find some sort of relief for you, and others with this condition, take care nell
what a strange and interesting tale. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi, PDX, thanks again for reading, it was a mystery, and I would love to know the truth about it as we were related!
Awesome job on this hub. I really enjoyed reading it and had never heard of this before.
Sage
Hi, Sage, I was the first person to put it on the internet, it had been written about a little bit, but only old newspaper cuttings, the reason why I wrote it is because I have grown up knowing the story as she was related to me, going back a few generations, thanks for reading it, much appreciated, cheers nell
related? Have u ever had any bouts of prolonged narcolepsy?
Hi, PDX, no, luckily she was a relative by marriage, from what I can gather, through all the bits and pieces of family gossip, is that my gran's uncle was frewen, and he was the step father of Helen, complicated stuff! lol
yes. But still interesting. I'm an 8th cousin of US President Calvin Coolidge ;-)
Hi, PDX, Wow! Really? I think it was mickey dee who wrote a hub about how all the Presidents and British queens and kings were connected, even Brad pitt! you should look further into your background, you may very well be surprised! lol! thanks again nell
sure, if you can send over a link to that hub, i'd be stoked to check it out
Okay, I will go see If I can find it, shouldn't be too difficult as long as I can remember what he called it! lol!
I can't find it, not sure if he has taken it down, but if you look up any hub about the Illuminati, it should mention it, okay? Good luck!
All that is going through my mind at the moment is, For Real? Seriously? 9 years? I have a hundred questions. Never heard this stroy before today...might there be a book written of this incident? Up & awesome...for sure!!
Hi, fpherj48, sorry it took me so long to answer, yes this is totally true! she was a relative of mine and it is very famous in Turville where she was born, I knew the story growing up, and funnily enough there wasn't a book written about her, strange I know, I do know that an author did mention her in a book about Turville, but I knew the story because of my connections and grew up listening to the tale, and of course collecting all the snippets of information from the local papers, strange story, but very true! lol! thanks for reading, cheers nell
You're story didn't give me a chance to take a break until I finished reading it. It was like a tale of the sleeping beauty and the only absence there was the prince who was supposed to wake her up. I love it!
Hi, wanderlust, thank you so much, its strange that she was related to me in some way, only by marriage by her father I think, but still, what a story! I am actually going to look into it more and see if I can find her relatives today! thanks for reading, and I am glad you liked it, cheers nell
Another strange yet amazing story from u! The Real Life Sleeping Beauty! Thank u for sharing this Interesting story with us. Vote up.
I would expect that her muscles woud have atrophied.
Hi, ishwaryaa, thanks for reading, its still a mystery today, what happened? how did she do that? etc, fascinating stuff! lol!
Hi, Pc, yes exactly, thats why I believe it was a really big scam. Not to start with, I think Ellen was genuinely ill, but when Ann her mother realised the fact that people would give money to see her, then it went too far, and she kept the poor girl prisoner or made her ill deliberately, thanks again, much appreciated, cheers nell
good point pc. I hand't considered that before...
i believe that it was fake there is no way that a young growing girl could go for nearly nine years and live on a bit of sugar water she would have died of dehydration and malnutrition
Hi, susie, yes you are probably right, I would imagine the the sleeping girl of turville was just a complete fake, saying that, I think it was genuine at the beginning, but then the mother realised that she could make money out of it! lol! thanks for reading, and your feedback, cheers nell
Great hub- interesting and intriguing! Will definitely keep reading your stuff!
Thanks grinnin, glad you liked it, cheers nell
Hi Nell. What a great hub. An amazing story how did she live through all that time. Your ability to embed your other hubs is brilliant. I found myself clicking through one after another! I have been here reading for two hours. That shows the quality of your work. voted up / awesome.
Graham.
Hi, old albion, thanks so much, I am so glad you liked it, and for reading all the others too. This was my first hub I ever wrote, believe it or not! lol! I have been sitting on this story ever since I was a young girl as Ellen Sadler was a relative of mine! still trying to figure out exactly who she was related too, I believe it was my grandfathers step brother, but not sure, thanks so much again, nell
Hi Nell. What another fascinating story. Reading some of the comments I see many of them think it was a scam..even you. I´m undecided because how could she not react to needles being stuck in her and electric shocks?
on the other hand how could she have survived if indeed in a coma without the medical care we have today...very strange. OH well voted up awesome and will read more later.
Hi bac2, lol! Its one of those things we will never know. To be fair I believe ellen sadler did have an illness that kept her asleep for a while, but her mother, Ann, probably played on the whole thing, thanks for reading, cheers nell
Yep. sounds about right. Great story telling though. Thanks.
Thanks bac!
Another great hub! Thanks!
Hi Cathleen, thanks for reading, cheers nell
stagnetto 2 years ago
What a really interesting and mysterious story. Really enoyed reading it.