The Ash Tree
Encyclopedia
"The Ash-tree" is a ghost story by M.R. James, found in his 1904 collection Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
. The tale documents the tale of Sir Richard Castringham, who has just inherited a country seat with an unfortunate history. The house has been cursed since the day his ancestor, Sir Matthew, condemned a woman to death for witchcraft. It is soon discovered that the ancient ash tree outside his bedroom window is the root of the problem.
as "The Ash Tree" and part the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas
strand. It was first broadcast on 23 December 1975 at 11.35. The adaptation stars Edward Petherbridge
as Somerton, and it was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
.
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary is the title of M. R. James' first collection of ghost stories, published in 1904...
. The tale documents the tale of Sir Richard Castringham, who has just inherited a country seat with an unfortunate history. The house has been cursed since the day his ancestor, Sir Matthew, condemned a woman to death for witchcraft. It is soon discovered that the ancient ash tree outside his bedroom window is the root of the problem.
BBC adaptation
It was adapted in 1975 by David RudkinDavid Rudkin
James David Rudkin is an English playwright of Northern Irish descent. Coming from a family of strict evangelical Christians, Rudkin was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham and read Mods and Greats at St Catherine's College, Oxford...
as "The Ash Tree" and part the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas
A Ghost Story for Christmas
A Ghost Story for Christmas is a strand of annual British short television films originally broadcast on BBC One from 1971 to 1978, and later revived in 2005 on BBC Four. With one exception, the original instalments are directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark and the films are all shot on 16 mm...
strand. It was first broadcast on 23 December 1975 at 11.35. The adaptation stars Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge is a British actor. Among his many roles, he portrayed Lord Peter Wimsey in several screen adaptations of Dorothy L...
as Somerton, and it was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark is an English television director and producer, perhaps best known for his A Ghost Story for Christmas series of mostly M.R...
.