Halloween is just around the corner so. This is the time of year when we start digging around some of the most interesting corners of the world in search of dark legend, myth and lore. Today we bring you to England to explore Norfolk folklore and the famous story of St. Mary’s Church and the Witch’s Wooden Leg.
The county of Norfolk in the East of England boasts the highest concentration of Medieval churches in the world, with just over 650 in total. Drive to any place in Norfolk, and you are guaranteed to find at least one such church. Norwich, the county’s main city, has enough for worshippers to visit a different one each week for a whole year!
However, not all of Norfolk’s Medieval churches remain in working order. For nature lovers, explorers, and ghost hunters, these ruins are little havens. The word ‘ruin’ brings to mind a set of expectations: crumbling walls, broken arches, missing windows, and wild foliage. Ruined churches are no different. Except for one. St. Mary’s of East Somerton has all of these typical traits. What is not so typical is the massive oak tree growing right in the centre of the nave. In terms of Norfolk folklore, this is one of the more curious stories.
About St. Mary’s Church
This tree is sometimes called ‘The Witch’s Finger.’ Looking at it, it’s not hard to see why. It’s straight and has few branches, and with a bit of imagination it could easily be a giant finger pointing out of the earth. But according to legend, the oak tree isn’t a finger at all. Instead, it’s a leg. Centuries ago, when St. Mary’s was still in use, it is said that a witch with a wooden leg was caught and buried alive in the church’s foundations. From her wooden leg, the oak tree grew and ruined the church, coaxed by her vengeful spirit.