The 700 year old Royal Scream

Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire

The year was 1327 when that most unfortunate King, Edward II, was put to death.

The place was Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Within this Castle is a deep dungeon where the bodies of animals were left to decompose with, it is said, the bodies of those who had fallen out of favour with the Berkeley family. The stink from this disease ridden hole, the foetid air, the rats, maggots and other loathsome by-products of death left small chance of life for those who were cast there while still living. This is where Edward found himself.

King Edward II

His story is one of great sadness where opportunity was handed to him by his father, but his character was such that it all just slipped away. When he was deposed by his wife and her lover his list of crimes at his trial was huge, including pursuing occupations unbecoming to a King (probably referring to his bi-sexuality), military defeats which lost Scotland (remember Bannockburn, possibly the greatest English defeat for 300 years), losing land in Ireland and France, damaging the Church (a most serious crime in those days) and a more general charge of losing the trust of his people while not giving the noble families the respect due to their rank.

So he had to go. However to execute a King in those days was a step too far, so another way had to be found. He could be allowed to die from natural causes, so he suddenly found himself in that nauseous pit in Berkeley Castle. But he proved to be too resilient so he needed to be “helped” on his way. His body however should not be allowed to show any external signs of force. Quite a quandary, but one which the medieval mind thrived on.

A particularly unpleasant death was devised. A tube was inserted up his “fundament”... a particularly elegant euphemism ... with a red-hot poker then pushed down the tube into his innards. This, after much excruciating pain, killed him from inside leaving no visible cause of death. It was considered a most satisfactory result, but one of intense agony for Edward.

Now, even today, if you walk around the Castle on the anniversary of his death, September 21st, you can often hear screams which echo far beyond the Castle walls. Or it might be just the keening wind swirling around the massive fortifications. Either way, it is a most eerie sensation.

In Association with the Western Gazette 

You can also read this article, and many others, at the Western Gazette website. Click here to follow me and be the first to know when I publish my next short story, article or book review.

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Cheltenham’s most famous Ghost

Fred Archer

The British Empire was being rocked to its very foundations when the Indian Mutiny erupted in 1857. But in that year, back at home in Cheltenham a boy was born. He was the son of the Grand National Winner William Archer. He was “quick and retentive”, was named Frederick, and was to become one of the most celebrated all-round jockeys in the history of racing.

Fred Archer entered his apprenticeship when he was eleven years old and began winning a remarkable series of important races soon afterwards. Some of these were the Champion Stakes, Epson Oaks, St Leger, Prix du Jockey Club; he had 2748 career wins and was Champion Jockey for 13 years until 1886 when he committed suicide, aged 29.

The circumstances were very sad. Fred was unusually tall for his job and was on a constant weight loss diet. In addition, in spite of his success he suffered from depression and was finally pushed over the edge when his young wife died in childbirth. The combination of physical strain through constant dieting and the emotional stress from his loss resulted in him shooting himself.

But before this personal tragedy he was involved in building his own large stable complex in Newmarket which was called Falmouth Lodge out of deference to his main sponsor. This has now become the Pegasus Stables and is where Fred and his favourite grey mare called Scotch Pearl still return to. The two of them have been seen by many people in recent times riding in and around the local area.

So next time you go to the races, especially on the flat, just spare a thought for one of history’s most famous jockeys.

In Association with the Western Gazette 

You can also read this article, and many others, at the Western Gazette website. Click here to follow me and be the first to know when I publish my next short story, article or book review.

Buy P J Cadavori's Catacombs of the Damned at Winstone’s of Sherborne, Waterstones or Amazon, in paperback and e-book formats. Click on the book covers below to view Catacombs of the Damned at Amazon.

 
Kindle                        Paperback 

Follow P J Cadavori:

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