Marby Noffki

Local haunts

April 18, 2008 |  1 comment
Image Credit: The past seven days or so have been surreal in ways irrelevant to this column. Between a bad cold, a migraine, and two days of drinking copious amounts of wine and contemplating my dog’s personality, I’ve done a fair bit of spring cleaning and yard work, and have otherwise stuck my head dully into reading the archives of a rather humorous web site. It happens when you are feeling like the north end of a south bound mule. I promise that my husband and I actually leave the house sometimes, even without the dogs, and when we do, we either head into London, or we foot it and walk into town where our first drink is always at the Boar’s Head.

I am a newcomer to Bishop’s Stortford, which is a pretty town on the River Stort, and for the tourist, not much of an attraction. It is an old market town located close enough to London to make it easy to party there, but far enough away to otherwise enjoy a peaceful existence without all those big city troubles. I love it here, and having been here for just under two years, it is only recently that I have stumbled across Bishop’s Stortford’s ghostly legends.

The Boar’s Head is the first pub we stop into when we walk into town for a few drinks. Directly across the street from St. Michael’s church, which is complete with an imposing graveyard, the Boar’s Head is a cozy, dark place. Along with the boar’s head over the fireplace, it boasts its own grey lady. This ghost walks through town and stops in at the pub before crossing the street to head into church.

I’ve never seen this entity and would not trust my senses if I did for the simple reason that if I am at the Boar’s Head, I am more than likely impaired. One of the last times I was there, we took my parents, who were visiting from the States, through the graveyard in the fog on the way home. If any ghosts were out and about, they were probably betting amongst themselves as to who would stray from the path and fall on their face first. Luckily, no one did!In the center of town, it is said that a ghost runs screaming down the street. I go into town at least once a week and have yet to see this happen, but next time I am at the local Boots buying the lotions and potions that keep me young, I will certainly be on the look out.

The George Inn is located in this area, and legend has it that room 27 is haunted by a woman who was stabbed to death there. Though I have only ever stopped into The George for a pint twice since I’ve lived here, I will make sure to ask about room 27 the next time I am there.

Several private residences claim a ghost, as does a local nursery. This particular ghost is a little girl that was supposedly burned to death at this location.

I often joke that I live in the only house in England that isn’t haunted, and never thought that my own town would have such interesting ghostly legends. Having read up on some of these, I am inspired now to ask the locals about these ghosts and will certainly be on the look out, camera ready, the next time I am at any of these places.

What are some of your local legends? Comments (1)

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