Part One
On Foulness Island to the west of Churchend, can be found the ruins of a once fine manor house. Before arable farming became commonplace, the Island was known for sheep with the largest farm belonging to the Wakerings of Middlewick Manor. Their farm had long been esteemed for the quality of its produce having won both international and national prizes. It was said by the locals on the mainland, Burnham on Crouch, that a witch had blessed the farm after Wakering’s grandfather rescued her cat from kiddles1 on Foulness sands. Whatever the reason for their good fortune, the Wakerings were the richest farmers in South East Essex and employed a good many of the locals in industry.
That is not to say that the family were without their problems for the eldest son, though stout and handsome was what they called ‘wild’. He would row across the Crouch to drink in the local pubs and get into fights. He often stayed away for days at a time so the family thought nothing of him disappearing one dark winter’s afternoon and not returning. However, after four days had passed they searched for him in vain for there was no sight of him and no clue as to where he’d gone.
From then on, Mrs Wakering took to sleepwalking and would often be seen at Fishermans Head gazing out at the water, her long dark hair billowing out behind her, wearing nothing but her white flannel nightdress. To keep his wife within the confines of the parish, Richard Wakering built a fence around the manor’s main gardens and had servants keep a watchful eye during the night. Although Mrs Wakering’s nocturnal habits soon returned to normal, she could only sleep a few minutes at a time before she’d sit bolt upright in bed suffering from heart palpitations.
The family kept up most of their social commitments and were known for a great masked ball they held annually in aid of education for the Islanders. Every year, lights were strung up along the quay and paths leading up to the house, the locals who weren’t employed for the evening at the house came to the quay to see the guests dressed in their expensive silks, heavy with exotic perfumes. Special ferries were laid on to ship the guests to and from the Island and the ball often went on until late the next morning.
It was during the preparations for their ball that the second tragedy befell the family. Due to an agreement drawn up by Wakering’s great grandfather, smugglers had kept away from the goods of Wakefield Manor. However, a new smuggling family had superseded the old who didn’t recognise the ancient pacts. They ransacked several shipments of fine wines and other delicacy’s on its way to the manor house, however, Blackheart as was the leaders’ name was soon caught with the seven others who had followed him.
They were tried and, found guilty of smuggling were sentenced to death. They were executed by tying their hands and ankles together then weighed down with stones. They were then pushed into the water one by one to much clapping and cheering by the bountiful crowd of onlookers. According to local lore, the bodies of the seven smugglers turned into giant crabs which can still be found when the tide is low.
Unbeknownst to any, Blackheart was rescued by his half brother who lay in wait in the marshes until the coast was clear. Together they stole up to the manor house and took the eldest daughter, Elizabeth from her bed. Although the family searched day and night for weeks with most of the local inhabitants, not a trace of her was every found. It is said that Mrs Wakering’s hair began to fall out in clumps, whether that was because of grief or illness no one knows but she took to wearing a cap during the day, never revealing her head to anyone, not even her husband.
The Tale of Middlewick Manor – Part Two
A few days passed when an old man came to the door in ragged clothes, easily mistaken for a tramp but for the piercing intelligence his eyes belied and the dominance of his nature. He waited at the foot of the stairs holding his hat between his hands and Mrs Wakering walked slowly down to meet him though no one had yet called her.
He said his name was George and he had heard of the family’s troubles, he said he knew how to lift the family’s bane though it would mean a certain sacrifice. At this point Mrs Wakering was willing to agree to most anything and followed him up the stairs whereupon he went into the room of little Megan, their youngest and most beloved daughter. He pulled off the front of a large dolls house that had been in the family for generations and held up three small figures. They looked like ordinary dolls but on closer inspection human hair had been crudely stuck onto their heads with wax and features drawn on their faces with pen, uncannily resembling the disappeared children and even Mrs Wakering herself.
Old George said this could be nothing but the work of a witch and the witch was Megan, for this was the sacrifice of which he spoke. He said that Megan was not their daughter but a changeling; their real daughter had been swapped at birth and killed. This was a direct descendant of an ancient family of witches who had been thrown off their land during the burning times1 and thought completely destroyed. He said to ask her husband, for he had clue as to why their family had been chosen out of all others, that he had long known. As Mrs Wakering was in such a fright and shielding Megan from him, he said he would give them two days to think over his offer or he would ne’re offer again.
Mr Wakering was away on business and not back until late that evening, by which time his wife was nearly mad with fear. The day’s events were quickly explained to him, whereupon his face turned from red to deathly white and it was difficult to tell who was more wretched him or his wife. And all the while, little Megan remained her sweet angelic self saying nothing and looking from one to the other of her parents and awaiting their decision.
The cook was called for it was said that she was part ‘cunning’2 and knew of such things. She was much afeared of Old George, said there were rumours of dark goings on in his village and that he was very powerful at what he did and had demons and witches at his beck and call. It seemed as though the family were in a very difficult situation at which point, Mr Wakering remembered a sealed letter passed down to each son since the time of his great grandfather, kept in the safe with other important documents. He went to his study to read the letter and when he returned had aged considerably, his straight back now bent as though carrying a tremendous weight. He ordered the servants to pack up what belongings could easily be fitted into the family boat, dismissed the servants and rushed his wife and child into the family carriage whereupon they drove off in great haste.
At dawn the next day thick black smoke was seen on the horizon and the Islanders could do nothing but watch the once magnificent manor burn to the ground. There are many rumours as to what the letter said to prompt the family to leave as they did, but no one knows for sure why Middlewick Manor was abandoned and destroyed.
1 Infamous European witch trials
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