They say this field is haunted land
Because a mill by river grand,
Once held a story old and bleak
Of a father’s loss, a son’s deceit.
It happened many years ago
When a miller to his mill did go
And from his favourite look-out spot
Became the centre of the plot.
It came to pass the river here
In early days once held a weir
And people found it hard to cross
But walking round was such a loss.
The river fed to tidal streams,
(The sea was nearer then it seems),
And at full moon it sometimes gave
The villagers a chance to wade
But if you got the timing wrong
You’d face a current very strong,
And foolish was the lass who tried
To wade her way to t’other side.
A maiden with her sacks for corn
Had left departure ‘til the morn
And trapped upon the river bank
Was far too frightened less she sank,
And now the horror of this tale
Begins upon this maiden’s wail,
For passing was a farmer lad
With reputation very bad.
And hearing of her cry of woe
Showed the maid a way to go
“Come my wench, hang on to me
And I’ll get you across you’ll see”.
But now within his vice-like grip
This wretched rogue her dress did rip
And thinking no one was around,
Forced the maid upon the ground.
The miller working way off far,
Behind the mill door kept ajar,
Saw this wretched loathsome cur
Then have his wicked way with her.
He knew there simply wasn’t time
To stop the lad commit his crime
Or catch the rascal at his deed
And help the maiden in her need.
But then this ruthless farmer boy
Threw the maiden like a toy,
Into the torrent of the race
And then ran off at quite a pace.
The miller ran to where she fell
But knew that he would have to tell
The locals of his dreadful fear
That she’d been drowned within the weir.
But did he mention all he saw?
No, for there was plenty more
For he had recognised this lad
From the jacket that he had
But couldn't bear to lay the blame
Upon the son that bore his name.
And so he laid the maiden’s plight
Upon her crossing late at night.
The miller knew the river’s way
Of sweeping everything away
And said she’d tried to wade across
Resulting in her dreadful loss.
But when his son came to the mill
He questioned him at length until
The lad knew there was no escape
So this suggestion did he make