div>
John Middleton was born in Hale in 1578, a normal and healthy baby of humble peasant stock. Middleton grew to a height of nine feet and three inches (2.8m), so tall, it is said, that he had to sleep with his feet sticking out of the window of his tiny cottage. Because of his ‘formidable appearance’ Middleton was employed as a bodyguard by a local landlord called Gilbert Ireland.
In 1617 1, on his way back from Scotland, King James I (James VI of Scotland) stopped to knight Ireland, and in doing so heard of his gigantic protector. Both master and servant were invited to visit the king’s court, and a fine outfit of purple, red and gold was specially made for Middleton. In London, John beat the king’s champion wrestler, and in doing so broke the man’s thumb. Embarrassed by the defeat and displeased with the amount of money many of his subjects had lost in betting on the match, James sent the Childe home with the substantial amount of £20 for his troubles. Unfortunately, jealous of his wealth, and taking advantage of his apparently slow wits, Middleton’s companions mugged him on the journey back to Hale. John Middleton returned to the village penniless and remained there until he died in 1623.
John Middletons Grave
The Cottage John Middleton lived in
Speke Hall Ghost
The ghost here is thought to be that of Mary Norris a descendant of Sir William Norreys the first owner of Speke Hall. In 1791 Mary inherited Speke Hall from her uncle, Richard Norris. Five years later Mary married Lord Sidney Beauclerk, a hopeless gambler. Lord Beauclerk enjoyed high living and indulged himself much in the London society of the day.
Mary soon fell pregnant and produced a son for Lord Beauclerk she hoped he would stop his gambling. Unfortunately this was not the case shortly after their son's birth he returned from London to announce that his recklessness had resulted in financial ruin and that they faced poverty and disgrace. In a fit of rage Mary picked up her son and threw him from the Tapestry room window to his death in the moat below. Mary then made her way to the great hall and took her own life.
It is believed to be Mary's ghost that haunts the Tapestry Room; there are references to the haunted chamber and a ghostly lady in white going back over a century. Members of staff and visitors have remarked at having seen or sensed a presence in the Tapestry room. Miss Adelaide MacGregor was one visitor who witnessed the ghost, she described seeing a translucent figure walk across the room and vanished into the wall close to a window. Later investigation of the area revealed a secret passage that led through an outer wall into the grounds.
Photograph of the Great Hall, Speke Hall, showing a ghostly figure by the doorway.
The Kitchen
The Servants Hall
The Haunted Tapestry Room
The Hallway
Read more about the The-Childe-of-Hale here..
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...Childe-of-Hale
Bookmarks