![caxton-gibbet[1]](https://i0.wp.com/mjmallon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/caxton-gibbet1.jpg?resize=529%2C332&ssl=1)
I’m joining in the Spooktacular Capturing History Challenge from Ed Mooney.
Here’s a link toΒ Ed’s blog:
https://edmooneyphoto.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/spooktacular-2015/
As I’m blogging this on a Monday, this is my entry for Rachel Thompson’s #MondayBlogs too: https://twitter.com/RachelintheOC. Rachel blogs at Bad Red Head Media. http://badredheadmedia.com/
I really wanted to join in thisΒ challenge this month asΒ I am doing aΒ spooky stuff and nonsense theme on my blog leading up to Halloween.Β By the way, Β today, MondayΒ the 26th of OctoberΒ is the last day to submit your photos to Ed. So if you want to join in get cracking, and email him, super pronto!!!
I was originally going to takeΒ one of those Ghost tours in Cambridge, which I still fancy doing,Β but then it struck me the perfectΒ idea to post about for this Spooktacular would be the history behind the Caxton Gibbett Inn in Cambridgeshire, particularly as it features briefly in my manuscript! Β This place is or shall I say was about asΒ creepy, and unlucky, cursed if you ask me, as it gets.
The innΒ was located between Cambridge and St. Neots.Β It is no longer standing as it burnt down in mysterious circumstances, in March 2009, when it had been trading as a Chinese restaurant, The Yim Wah House. In fact I had been there a few times for meals, as I have some friends who live out that way so I’m so glad it didn’t burn down when I was inΒ there munchingΒ my spring rolls!Β Apparently fiftyΒ firefighters had their job cut out trying to stop the blaze. Anyway the Yim Wah has now relocated, I don’t blame them! Would you want to stayΒ in residence thereΒ after that?Β Shudders. No brainer.Β The YimΒ Wah is now situated in the centre of Cambridge, good move!
The legend of the originalΒ inn is interesting Halloween fare. ApparentlyΒ three travellers were murdered by the landlord,Β Β (who intended to steal from them.) He disposed of their poor unfortunateΒ bodies down the pub’s well. The original gallows stood on Caxton Common, the replica gibbet was thought to have been made from the timber of a nearby cottage.
Punishment was a very public affair in those days, the murderer was hung alive in an iron gibbet from the gallows and death under these circumstances followedΒ due to starvation, dehydration or exposure. Apparently thereafter the inn was haunted by mysterious footstepsΒ that stopped at the well! Creepy , Ghoulish stuff or what? !! Enough to make you choke on your spring roll! Β Sounds like that land may be cursed, and it is now the home of fast food restaurants. Well, on the bright side at least with fast food you’re in and out quick, surely nothing too terrible can happen to you in such a short timescale! My advice is don’t hangΒ about andΒ chat too much, get out of their fast!
So not exactly good joss. Perhaps not history as such, maybe more of a legend,Β but it does seem to me to be an area of Cambridgeshire with a creepy predisposition, and a gallows, so beware!
The story of the inn captured my interest so much that itΒ features briefly in my manuscript Krystallos.
Here’s a short excerpt:
Amelina spoke in a hushed spooky whisper. βTalking of ghost stories did you see that Chinese restaurant that burnt down at Caxton Gibbett?Β Its burnt out shell creeps me out every time I go pass it, the original inn on that site, also burnt down in the 1920βs.β
βThe George Inn, yes, bit of a weird coincidence isnβt it?β said Ilaria her voice rising with excitement.
βThe place was cursed. The landlord was hanged and gibbeted for murdering his guests as they slept. The room where they were killed was always intensely cold,β said Amelina, as a cold shiver ran down her spine.
βGod thatβs creepy, talk about gruesome,β said Joselyn, βThanks, I’ll not sleep a wink tonight.β
βMe neither. Maybe when we’re wide awake some fit dead guy could return from his eternal slumber for a chat.Β Hopefully a famous rock or pop star,β joked Ilaria.
βNow that would be cool. You know I had this amazing dream once that all the rock stars came bursting out of my posters and had a party in my house. It was a bit freaky as some of them were dead. They were rocking out until the early hours,β said Amelina as she demonstrated her favourite rock hero pose playing air guitar to the girls.
Ilaria, Joselyn and Jade looked at Amelina with wide eyed astonishment.
βGod youβre crazy, Amelina, I canβt believe the things you say or do. The air guitar was awesome,β remarked Jade.
Ilaria and Joselyn laughed.
Β© Marjorie Mallon 2015 – aka, Kyrosmagica.Β All Rights Reserved.Β
Hope you enjoyed my Spooktacular post, I enjoyed taking part, I’ve been planning this for ages, this baby has been waiting part finished in my draft folderΒ and I nearly forgot to join in, that’s just typical of me. Scatty, orΒ Loopy depends on how you take me!
Links:
http://www.cprs.co.uk/caxton.html
Bye for now, hope you enjoyed this Spooktacular story.
I’m hiding under the covers tonight just in case!

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx