Stories and Legends of Northampton
Steve Dimmer gave an amusing and varied talk in which he indulged in a spot of sleight of hand.
Dressed for the part he took us all back to the time of the wandering storyteller who adapted
tales from all over Europe and indeed, some of his tales seemed to be interpretations of Aesops
fables. There were ghostly tales involving St Peter’s church in Northampton; a dexterous
pickpocket from Daventry who found love in London and had a mysterious child; a reason why
Stowe Nine Churches was so named despite it not having nine churches or being able to see as
many from its position, and many others that were based on good faith.
It was a very entertaining evening and he was thanked by Di Burgoyne after which everyone
enjoyed a refreshing cuppa with cake and biscuits.
Some tales told
In the days when it was usual for marriages to take place at Christmas, a groom suddenly died only four hours afterwards. His bride
was so distraught she hung herself in the churchyard. Some years afterwards in the now de-consecrated church at Boughton, a man
was walking through what had been the churchyard and espied a young girl in a white dress sitting on the steps of the church.
Beckoning him over she asked him if he was married and on replying he wasn’t, she kissed him on both cheeks. upon which he felt an
intense cold running down throughout his body. Shortly afterwards he died and his obituary can still be seen in the paper of 6th
January 1876.
A thief who had found himself at the waiting room at Heaven’s door was invited to choose which of two doors he would enter into God’s
kingdom. He chose and his eyes were astonished to find a whole of eats of the most delightful kind waiting for him, but the moment he held
something it turned to dust no matter what. Behind the door were two extra long chopsticks but found that he couldn’t use them to feed
himself. As if to prove it from beneath the table came a whole host of emaciated being who looked as though they had had nothing to eat
despite the bounteous display. This was Hell he was told and this is what he could expect. His victim, on the other hand, went through the
other door, and was greeted by the same scene, except that from beneath the table came a whole host of well-fed, happy people. Again a
pair of chopsticks were hanging behind the door. He was told that this was Heaven where everyone fed by feeding each other with the
extra long chopsticks.
Some tales told
In the days when it was usual for marriages to take place at Christmas, a groom suddenly died only four hours afterwards. His bride
was so distraught she hung herself in the churchyard. Some years afterwards in the now de-consecrated church at Boughton, a man
was walking through what had been the churchyard and espied a young girl in a white dress sitting on the steps of the church.
Beckoning him over she asked him if he was married and on replying he wasn’t, she kissed him on both cheeks. upon which he felt an
intense cold running down throughout his body. Shortly afterwards he died and his obituary can still be seen in the paper of 6th
January 1876.
A thief who had found himself at the waiting room at Heaven’s door was invited to choose which of two doors he would enter into God’s
kingdom. He chose and his eyes were astonished to find a whole of eats of the most delightful kind waiting for him, but the moment he held
something it turned to dust no matter what. Behind the door were two extra long chopsticks but found that he couldn’t use them to feed
himself. As if to prove it from beneath the table came a whole host of emaciated being who looked as though they had had nothing to eat
despite the bounteous display. This was Hell he was told and this is what he could expect. His victim, on the other hand, went through the
other door, and was greeted by the same scene, except that from beneath the table came a whole host of well-fed, happy people. Again a
pair of chopsticks were hanging behind the door. He was told that this was Heaven where everyone fed by feeding each other with the
extra long chopsticks.
