Braughing, The Maltings And St Mary's Church c.1960

Photo ref: B411016

More about this scene

The black-faced Maltings look out across the peaceful River Rib. Upstream, a few hundred yards before the river reaches the churchyard, the ford over the river is jealously guarded by the village ducks, geese and swans, who challenge pedestrians and motorists; usually, motorists take precedence, but not here at Braughing. St Mary's was the site of the premature funeral of Matthew Wall. When he 'died' in 1574, one of the bearers slipped on the wet leaves, dropped his coffin and broke the lid. Out sprang Matthew, not dead but sleeping. He lived to a ripe old age, and when he finally died he left a legacy, still observed today, to pay for the path to be swept clear of leaves on the anniversary of his first funeral.