The Old Village Mortuary as it is 2011
This is an interesting old building in the middle of our village; it is the old village Mortuary . For saying that there would be no more than two hundred people, if they were all rounded up, you could not see what need there was for it.But I was told that if there was a death or someone was killed in our area, who did not live in the village, that was where the policeman would take the body and the door locked. As you see in the photograph, it is the door at the top of the steps, in a loft above a cowshed, with a cool north facing window.
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On a closer look at the window, it too is a secure one with iron bars across it, there again it was not to prevent escape but to stop invaders (or body snatchers) the window being some ten foot up a blank wall. I have not heard of a small village anywhere else in the country having one in existence, but then I have not travelled.
The door below has regularly used by the publican in recent years as a store room, a small window less lockup as this side of the building is in fact the pub yard. On the other side of the building is a cowshed window and a split door, one where the top half can be left open if need be. The lean-to tiled roof by the brick steps is the "fodder bing" (local name for feed passage) which runs' along in front of the cows where hay and other feed can be stored and pushed through directly into the cows troughs.
Just another quirky little building that will instantly be demolished in the interest of providing another building site. But what about the history to it
Accident, n.: A condition in which presence of mind is good, but absence of body better.
Unknown
HI Fred, All those years I lived in the village I never knew that place was amortuary. When I was there is was where Eric Vanner from the Holly Bush stored his fags.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you and your readers might be interested to know that I have just published my book about growing up in Seighford. It's called A Staffordshire Boy: Tales of Fishing & Other Fun. Its a good read especially for those who have lived in the village.
Best Regards
George Mason
Good to hear from you George, and well done on your publication,"A Staffordshire Boy" there is a monthly village booklet that is delivered round all the villages around Stafford.
ReplyDeleteIts called “My Village Voice” The editor is Paul Mitchell at Stone, his link is www.myvillagevoice.co.uk I think he would be very interested in all local information. Think he would do a few lines on your book he does a page or two from all the villages, but only if he is told, or given the information.
Best of luck Fred