The Metheringham Lass
Have you seen her
Running
Through the fog
On the road
To Metheringham?
Have you seen her,
Trying
To catch a car
On the road
To Metheringham?
Have you seen her
Wearing
The flowery dress
On the road
To Metheringham?
Have you seen her
RAF jacket
All wet, too big
For a slight girl
Of nineteen?
Have you, oh have you
Seen a lass
Trying to catch her breath
On the road
To Metheringham?
Have you heard her
Asking for help
In a voice so low
On the road
To Metheringham?
Have you noticed
Her lavender scent,
Drowned in rain,
On the road
To Metheringham?
Has she spoken to you
And asked for help
At night,
On the road
To Metheringham?
Has she ridden with you,
Has she smiled
At you
On the road
To Metheringham?
Was she gone
With a sigh
In her flowery dress,
On the road
To Metheringham?
If you have,
You should know
She was but a ghost
On the road
To Metheringham.
If you have,
You have felt
Lavender turn to rot,
On the road
To Metheringham.
If you haven't
Beware
Of Catherine's ghost
On the road
To Metheringham.
Don't you stop
Or stare,
She will see you there
On the road
To Metheringham.
If you follow her,
You are lost and gone,
In her ghostly arms,
On the road
To Metheringham.
Don't you walk alone
Where the tall grass grows,
On the rainy nights
By the road
To Metheringham.
The Metheringham Lass is a famous urban legend from Lincolnshire, England, describing the apparition of a young woman who haunts the road running through the former RAF Metheringham airfield.
*The Legend of Catherine Bystock*
The ghost is widely identified as Catherine Bystock, a 19-year-old member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).
The Incident: She was reportedly killed in 1945 while riding on the back of a motorcycle driven by her fiancé, a Flight Sergeant stationed at the base.
The Crash: Their bike skidded on a damp road, throwing Catherine and killing her instantly from severe head injuries.
Appearance: Witnesses describe a young woman in a pale green coat or grey RAF uniform, often wearing a headscarf with an RAF wings badge pinned to her lapel.
🛣️ Reported Sightings
The "Lass" typically appears at night between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM, particularly during the summer months.
The Plea: She flags down motorists or cyclists, pleading for help for her boyfriend, who she claims has been injured in a crash nearby.
The Vanishing: When drivers get out to assist, she suddenly disappears, often leaving behind the scent of lavender followed by a foul odor of decay.
Terrifying Detail: Some accounts claim that right before she vanishes, her headscarf slips to reveal a skeletal face with empty eye sockets.
I've always wanted to see a ghost! Fascinating story.