Custom · Braughing
Open on the map: directions, what's there today and read-aloud →
His coffin fell, he woke inside, and Braughing's children still sweep the lane.
See it clearly
St Mary's church and Fleece Lane are open to all. Old Man's Day is on 2 October; check that year's plans with the parish.
Ahead in Braughing, every second of October children sweep Fleece Lane, because in 1571 a corpse woke up when his coffin was dropped there.
On 2 October 1571 the coffin of a young Braughing farmer, Matthew Wall, was being carried down steep Fleece Lane to the church when a bearer slipped on wet autumn leaves and the coffin crashed to the ground. Banging and shouts came from inside: Matthew had woken up. He recovered, married his sweetheart and lived until 1595. His will paid for the church bells to be tolled each 2 October as for a funeral and then rung in a wedding peal, for brambles to be laid on his grave and for Fleece Lane to be swept of leaves. Children still sweep the lane, and prayers are said at his grave.