Monday, 4 January 2010

St. Mary's Walk - Devizes



Running parallel to St Mary’s Church is St. Mary’s Walk. Many locals will not use this route after dark, simply because of who is buried there and the terrifying tales associated with the walkway.

During the Civil War battle at Roundway Down in 1643, Devizes was overrun with the bodies of fallen soldiers.  Churchyards were at capacity, so a decision was taken to bury the bodies upright (standing room only) close to the church in an effort to conserve space.

Recently, during redevelopment of the area, sixteen bodies were unearthed and reburied in St. Mary’s church. However, beneath the paving slabs of St. Mary’s Walk, there still remain many of the bodies of those lost souls.

Stories from unsuspecting individuals claiming to have had their ankles and feet grabbed by unseen hands, vehemently believe that they have been the victims of the ghosts of long dead soldiers who are said to reach up from beneath the paving slabs of St. Mary‘s Walk.

Many have witnessed 'vaporous looking figures,' which appear to stand unmoving on the walk way. I must say, having walked this route at night, it can be a pretty spooky place...I dare you!

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