Astute Essexians may have deduced that my Damebury is very similar to Danbury, a small village on a hill three hundred and sixty-seven feet high. It was in the thirteenth-century church sited there, St John the Baptist, that a knight’s tomb was indeed discovered. Another was discovered later. According to The Gentleman Magazine of 1779, that occupant was said to be without any signs of decay, pickled in a solution that, yep, tasted like ketchup. Those who are interested in finding out more about this most fascinating episode can find the article online.
The new discoveries have (sadly perhaps) come straight out of my imagination. However there have been stories of ghosts and secret tunnels leading from The Griffin to the church circulating for decades, though none to this day have been found. I should also add here that the cellars and their contents are products of my fancy. Though The Griffin itself is indeed a delightful pub with an excellent menu.
E. Nesbit’s story helped fire my imagination and if you would like to read it, this too can also be found with a quick google. It is entitled Man-Sized in Marble and I would recommend it to those who like their stories full of suspense and superstition. As Tabby Walker attests, ‘It’s a damn good read.’