Alford Town. Smugglers Tales- A haunted pub _ Antique Steam Fair.

[@cerysfrost3215]

My mum was a nurse at the hospital in Alford, I remember Dad driving us to pick her up on Christmas morning 1970 in the snow

[@JRWaite-ur5ge]

My ancestors came from Alford in the late 1630s. Looks like a very nice town. Glad I found this video.

[@Seany63]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. There is an engineering firm based in Alford called SM waite. Possibly related?

[@JRWaite-ur5ge]

@@Seany63 Sure could be! It would be quite a task to narrow down the relationship. We will call them cousins.

[@Hailstonepie]

Love Alford, and vintage stuff and tractors lol, thanks for a lovely day out.

[@Seany63]

My pleasure :-) Yes, I have great memories of Alford. it was such a bonus that I just happened to be there for the annual steam fair. :-)

[@ronnieadam8710]

Wow Sean how did I miss this one???, fantastic video, I pass Alford every week and I never knew about these stories, although I do believe the surrounding area is a ufo hotspot, especially the black triangle sort, keep the videos coming mate because I love them as I'm sure many others do, nice one mate 👍👍👍

[@Seany63]

Cheers Ronnie, and thanks for your kind words. Yes, I have great memories of Alford, the town has a fascinating history. Funny you should mention UFOs, I am planning on making a video about the many UFO sightings in the area at some point. Thanks again :-)

[@johnhales3566]

Just came across this and its brilliant

[@m18tankdestroyer43]

Alford is a beautiful place, it’s always a pleasure to visit.

[@morethanawheelchair2344]

Goosey Lucy remember that tale at Alford primary school in the play ground with mates. When I worked at the George it was creepy as! also worked at the White horse years ago another creepy pub

[@Seany63]

Yes, I remember the white horse, didn't know it was haunted👍

[@gilledwards9302]

What a wonderfully researched video. My formative years were spent in Alford and I well remember the terror of Lucy Goose in stories told by other children. Apparently, when The George was refurbished, the contractors had all sorts of unexplained problems; their electrical tools would cut out unexpectedly, items would go missing and strange noises would be heard. I also understand they accidentally cut into Lucy's grave and the ghostly activity increased out of all proportion until repairs were made. James Cycles has now gone and the Half Moon has closed. How sad. Fred James was a notable cyclist in his day and his hand-made bicycles were much sought after. I also remember people queueing on the streets to get into the Half Moon at August Bank Holiday when the Craft Market was an international attraction and the town was packed with morris dancers in the late 70s.

[@Seany63]

Thank you Gill, yes, the bike shop closed a few years ago I believe but I didnt know about the Half Moon. Yes, very sad it was one of the busiest pubs for miles back in my youth.

[@georgerobartes2008]

I knew a Gill and Sean back in the late 70s , I was one of the lads affectionately known as the London Boys that spent many weekends in and around the area for several years congregating at Dave Dixons Half Moon on a Friday night after a 3 hour drive from East London . Either Belly ( Sheridan Bell ) Schultz ( Mick Woods ) or Dave would pass the word around that we were coming up and the pub would be heaving by the time we got there around 9 o'clock , a skilful of Bateys then to Scremby ( Stables ) or Skeggys Mardi Gras until early hours after Gill and Dave called it a night which at times they didn't if we kept the noise down if the boys were asleep ! For noise see Daves Clock Collection . Originally 4 of us , Jeff , John , my brother Stuart and myself ( Malcolm the youngest and best looking one ! ) but expanding over the years to another John and then their girlfriends/wives . I stayed single hoping to find me a lovely Lincolnshire lass .I also new many others certainly another Gill , Ada , Debbie the lovely Boston nurse and Steve Garfitts ex girlfriend , Anita ( who introduced me to her parents - they lived the other side of Market Placem) and a Sean that often joined us for a beer and a kick around at the rec to sober up for the long drive home Sunday evening . I always stopped at the trout farm at Ulceby as I preferred them to kippers for breakfast . Michelle the Potter , and so many more I have sadly forgotten the names of , the chaps in the Morris team even some of their mates in the Immingham Morris men, half of the mummers that performed at the fairs, people that owned the big house out near Ulceby Cross . Lovely people all . Jeff moved up there , Horncastle I believe , I should've done the same . Steve and I got on really well as he was a passionate lyricist inspired by Tealby's Bernie Taupin and me a music nut . He was pretty much the fund of knowledge of the area and I learned much about the town from him. Didn't find any nastys when we gutted the little cottage Dave had bought next to the pub . I loved it there , the ceilidhs and discos at the pub garden and rear hall , the craft fairs at the Manor , the markets the people the whole town . The town must have loved us back as we were snowed in for 3 days at the pub one Christmas after a snow storm hit and 6 feet of snow had drifted all the lanes to Daves dad's farm at Burgh where we were staying . Another time the chemist next to the butchers in Market Place that brewed his own beer invited us for a tasting and closed the shop on a Saturday pm for the occasion , complete madness . Delightful ! Great pork pies and best fish and chip shop in Britain. I hope it still is . We actually spent a day driving about the Wolds looking for the shortest village ending with B Y . It was so damn hot that day that when we eventually found Aby , we were lucky to find it had a mill pond and river so we all stripped off and went for a swim . The water was warmer than any at the beach or Gibraltar Point . Sad it all came to and as peopled married or just drifted . I last saw the boys and Schulz in the early 90s , Dave and Gill were away ( anniversary) . Mick 'Schultz 'popped in the pub for a gas and my friend and I were guests of the Dixons that night . They had bought half of Alford by then , so surprised the Half Moon has closed . I hope everyone is well ? I had planned year on year to visit with my family for the August Bank Holiday , but life found a different course all the time as it has done last year and now this one . There might not be a next one . Fond memories of a lovely episode and people in my life .

[@Seany63]

@@georgerobartes2008 Thanks for the memories George. I rarely go to Alford these days but when I do I see the ghosts of the past on every corner. Who knows, we might have crossed paths back in the day

[@thebowleggedrunner]

Another great video, I lived in Alford as a boy and always remember the stories of Lucy Goose ghost, I recall her been referred to as Goosey Lucy. There was another story about a guy who made a deal with the devil on miles cross hill and there was a bush associated with the story and legend had it if you cut the bush you’d get very bad luck?

[@Seany63]

Thank you. Yes, I also have fond memories of teenage years in Alford back in the early 1980s. Thanks for the info. I didn't know about the legend associated with miles cross hill. I wish I had known when making the vid. Long shot, but do you know which bush? Thanks so much for sharing :-)

[@thebowleggedrunner]

It use to stand out like a sore thumb, it was near the cross roads (Well side) where you point out where the plague Stone use to be. However when I was over that way recently I couldn’t see it, almost as if someone has removed it. But the story was quite popular, I remember been told about it at primary school, then also covering it in English some years later at John Spendluffe. I’ve tried googling it but can’t find anything on it. I’m sure my mum had a book about the history of Alford when I was a young boy and I’m sure the story was also in there, along with Lucy Goose and the history of smuggling etc.

[@Seany63]

@@thebowleggedrunnerI have also tried to google it but sadly there is nothing online. The few books available on county folklore tend to rehash the same few stories, so the book your mum had sounds amazing. I wonder if it's still in print? Please let me know if you find a detailed account of the legend. Thanks again. Oh, I am enjoying watching your walks/runs with Harley. Cheers for now.

[@alfsmith4936]

@@thebowleggedrunner My mum used to tell us of Billy Batemans bush.. The legend was, the roots went to hell and whoever cut it was cursed. It was right at the brow of the hill, right next to the electrical substation.. I wonder who cut it down.

[@vikmeon]

Interesting details, me too exploring the wolds and doing some vlogs

[@Seany63]

Thank you, yes I see that you also explore. I have subscribed. :-)

[@user-jn6dz8hp2g]

ermergerd! That final photo of the plague stone has Mrs Willoughby who was the mother of girls I went to school with who lived at Tothby Manor. I played and stayed over there often as a kid. Her husband George Willoughby was at the Alford Grammar School with my cousin Andrew Head in the 50s. Allegedly, the stone ended up at the manor house but I saw it as a kid at Tothby in the 70s, just like the photo and the stone at the manor house is not the same one.

[@Seany63]

Thank you very much for your interesting comment. It's been four years since I made this video and I still haven`t seen the stone. I must film it soon, assuming that its still there. Thanks again.

[@CodgerBiker]

Brilliant as always. Loved the shout out too! I did not know any of that. I bet the Manor House could tell a tale or two. I worked on it for a while. Nice grey Fergy tractor too! 👍

[@Seany63]

Thanks me old codger. I have not walked around Alford ( sober) for many years. I felt like the ghost of Christmas past. Yes, indeed. The old Manor House can certainly tell a tale or two. But not ones I want to share :-O

[@cornellkirk8946]

You’ve got my old man’s tractor at 8:55 in the background ☺️ I moved out of alford about 14 years ago. Doesn’t feel like it though

[@Seany63]

Yes, it was great to see the old tractors. I left Alford back in the 80`s. Feels like a lifetime ago.👨‍🦳

[@rebeccalane3039]

You need to come back again - many sad changes since this video

[@Seany63]

Cheers Rebecca, sorry to hear that. I plan to make another video in the coming spring/ summer.