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In 1530 an important priory was completed by a group of Benedictine monks on the site of a Norman Church which had been built in 1095. The current parish church, near the Road of Remembrance, is no doubt on the original Norman foundations. Houses now cover the site of the priory and its grounds but some of them are still affected by the lives of those religious devotees. Mrs. Ludgate, who lives in one of the cottages on the Bayle often sits in her back garden which is surrounded by a portion of the original church wall. On more that one occasion she has seen a number of monks apparently working and making garden tools. 'They look quite happy in their work', 'but are rather ragged in their clothing. Perhaps they are a group of mendicants for they are wearing brown habits rather than the black robes of Benedictines'. Mendicant Orders were a certain religious sect of friars which grew up within the Roman Catholic Church in the early thirteenth century, the Franciscans and Dominicans being the most noted. They practised strict self-denial and subsisted mainly upon alms.


Some time ago whilst clearing up after a performance at the Leas Pavilion Theatre (Formerly a music hall), Brianne Manktelow, one of the management team, felt someone behind her and turned to find she was alone; yet the sensation remained. 'Someone I couldn't see was standing there', she said. John Hendry, the former set designer, is also said to have experienced similar incidents on more than one occasion. The 'feeling' is always more intense near a particular dressing room where, earlier this century, an elderly caretaker hung himself. He had been in debt for some time and, being on his own had nothing to live for. His craze for gambling had become an addiction and being unable to see a way out took his own life. Many members of the staff, when changing sets at night or preparing the theatre for the following days performance have sensed the old man and on more than a couple of occasions have heard unusual noises and doors closing of their own accord. Sometimes even some of the equipment is moved but, thankfully, always to the right place. 'I reckon the old boy is trying to help out', said Charles Vance. 'But at times he can be a bit of a nuisance. Some of the new members of the staff have said they have bumped into someone near a particular room but when they turn round to apologise there is no-one there'. At least the old man does not have any effect on the audiences for the theatre continues to play to packed houses. 'I reckon if the old boy leaves, it will mean we've a flop on our hands. He's not likely to stay around unless we are busy'.
© Andrew Green
In 1530 an important priory was completed by a group of Benedictine monks on the site of a Norman Church which had been built in 1095. The current parish church, near the Road of Remembrance, is no doubt on the original Norman foundations. Houses now cover the site of the priory and its grounds but some of them are still affected by the lives of those religious devotees. Mrs. Ludgate, who lives in one of the cottages on the Bayle often sits in her back garden which is surrounded by a portion of the original church wall. On more that one occasion she has seen a number of monks apparently working and making garden tools. 'They look quite happy in their work', 'but are rather ragged in their clothing. Perhaps they are a group of mendicants for they are wearing brown habits rather than the black robes of Benedictines'. Mendicant Orders were a certain religious sect of friars which grew up within the Roman Catholic Church in the early thirteenth century, the Franciscans and Dominicans being the most noted. They practised strict self-denial and subsisted mainly upon alms.
Mrs. Ludgate is not the only witness to the monks. A couple living on the other side of the road twice saw in 1975 a cowered figure on the staircase of their home. They have also heard chanting in the region of their front garden which covers part of the priory grounds. A postman and a milkman delivering to the area in the early morning confirm that they have heard the singing of religious hymns. The postman also reported in 1977 that he had seen a tall figure in a cape with a hood, rather like a large duffle coat, glide across the road, but preferred to ignore it. 'I don't believe in ghosts' he said. But he could offer no explanation for what he saw. © Andrew Green
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