Hello....remember me?!! I'm back from my latest wanderings and ready to impart a few tales teased out from where I've been exploring. Let's start today with Edward Bright from Maldon.
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He was a grocer from the town and it was claimed that he weighed 44 stone when he died aged 29 of typhoid on 10 November 1750. A special coffin had to be built to contain his body. On 1st December a bet was placed at the Bull Inn that seven men could fit into his generously sized waistcoat and by 28th January 1751 they'd bettered that and had got nine men inside it. The wager this time at the King's Head was for a ham, some chickens and gallons of wine. A little more exciting than your average modern day raffle prizes I'd say. Mr Bright sounds like he was an all round good egg who was very popular and I'm sure he'd have enjoyed the jollifications. By all accounts he was an honest tradesman, affably tempered, a tender father and valued friend. The sculpture marking the 'Fat Man of Maldon' is by Cartharni Stern.
Arilx
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Hope you enjoyed the wedding anniversary celebration. Nine very small men well squashed together one would have thought. Sounds like Mr Bright managed to fit a lot of respect into a 29 year life.
ReplyDeleteHe had six children in that time too! Arilx
DeleteHe died so very young.
ReplyDeleteSadly he did even factoring in that people didn't live as long back then. Arilx
DeleteThat sculpture/engraving is wonderful. 44 stone! That's massive even in today's super-sized society!
ReplyDeleteHere in the land that time forgot, meat raffles are still a thing in most pubs! xxx
I have heard of the occasional meat raffle being held in the pubs round here, but it's not common. Arilx
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