A simple first cache for us near St Katherine’s Church in Matson. Both my father and best friend are buried in the church so it’s very special to me. No need to enter the church grounds to find the cache. It’s a small tub with room for a few swaps. Used to walk past here every day on my way to and from school. Opposite is Selwyn House. I have included a small story about the Blue Lady who is said to haunt the area.
Selwyn house built around 1650 was a mansion of great proportions & stands along the top of what we call Matson Lane a stones throw from St Katherines Church.
Around 1700 a maid who worked at Selwyn House was brutally axed to death the walls were said to be covered with a red substance and the room is clearly locked even today.
The maids identity is little known.
In around 1972 a group of boys decided to loiter behind the church , there is a cellar trap door which led directly to the basement a dark and bleak cellar, the night was dark and cold and a full moon lingered over the tomb stones.
Whilst the boys searched the cellar one kept watch , he suddenly cried out , the other boys quickly scrambled out of the cellar , over a moon struck cemetary a figure stood beckoning the boys.
Dressed in a long blue dress with a shawl the boys quickly ran to the front of the church , down the steps and ran down Matson Lane. As one looked back the Lady appeared at the Church Gates.
On The second night the boys returned accompanied by older boys. As they walked through the graveyard a mystery figure appeared again dressed all in blue, partially hidden by the shadows of the moon a voice beckoned them.
All the boys became frightened and ran away.
Next day the boys went to school and told their history teacher and one night he also went with them, as he followed a short distance behind they returned to the grave yard the figure appeared again for the third time .
As the teacher caught up with the boys the figure ran but one shoe worn by the figure was left behind in the soft soil. The Teacher picked it up, and they all returned home.
The Shoe was Analized by local historians but no explanation could be found apart from it was a Georgian Ladies boot which was coloured blue , no age, or date was found.
The shoe was sent to Scientists in New York who had better facilities, when arriving at the labority
the box had been opened.
Inside the package a dried up dirty brown leather object was removed, no longer a perfectly preserved in excellent condition shoe.
The rumour has it that once the shoe left the Ladies foot it died, turned into it's real age, as it turned out it was about 300 years old.