Sunday, February 5, 2017

'Home' from MartinC: The Legend of Molly Leigh

Molly Leigh was born in Burslem in 1685 (now part of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where I was born 282 years later). She was a solitary person who made her living selling milk.

Molly Leigh's Cottage
She was an eccentric person who kept a pet blackbird that sat on her shoulder when she bought milk to Burslem to sell. She was known for her quick temper and the local population were suspicious of her.

She was accused of being a witch by Rev. Spencer in 1746 when her blackbird flew into the Turk's Head pub and allegedly turned the beer sour.

Before she could be tried however she died of natural causes and was buried in St John's Church Burslem.

St John's Church, Burslem

The locals went back to her house and when they walked through the door there was Molly Leigh sitting by the fire with her blackbird.






The terrified locals killed her and reburied her. Once again they went to her house and there she was again. So they killed her again and reburied her but this time the grave was turned round to face North South instead of the normal East West and her blackbird was buried with her. Molly Leigh stayed dead this time.

Molly Leigh's grave, St John's Church, Burslem

I've been and seen the grave many times and was told the legend as a small child. The local legend states that if you run round the grave 3 times at midnight chanting "Molly Leigh. Molly Leigh. Come out and catch me" she will rise from the grave and do you in. When my Dad was dating my Mum in the early 1960s he took her to the graveyard and ran round the grave chanting twice but bottled the 3rd time. More recently some friends went down on a drunken Halloween and half way round the 3rd lap the vicar stepped out of the shadows and scared the crap out out them. Although I don't do God, I think I would have liked that vicar

23 comments:

  1. What a great story Martin and such a good entry, I love the bits for the spells on the table.

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    1. Cheers. I picked the table up at a flea market with a load of other old school stuff

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  2. Top work on this little vignette, Martin!

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  3. Great work and smashing story.
    Best Iain

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  4. I do like the old local tales, I'm sure Molly would be pleased her name is now out their in cyberspace. Is anyone gonna type her name 3 times??? And would they get extra bonus points for doing just that?

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    1. I've already typed it 6 times, maybe it cancels out. Daren't type it again though

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  5. I love this entry - so awesome and goulishly funny (laughed aloud when you said that your dad 'bottled' on the last lap). The blackbird is terrific as well. Great job!

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    1. Cheers. My dad is a very matter of fact kinda guy. But when push comes to shove....

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  6. A great tale Martin and nicely done entry!

    Christopher

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  7. I like very much the tales about wise women/crones, and this tale of Molly is suitable creepy.
    Great figure and I love all the details of her home.

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    1. Thank you. Must have been tough as a single woman. You had to be a witch. It is my understanding that they weren't killed if found guilty but imprisoned

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  8. This is a very fun story and well done entry to match.

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  9. Cool story. I agree with you, I would have liked that vicar.

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