The Everton Vampire
Everton, Merseyside 1680
“…it was decided that special requirements were needed to ensure that he would not rise from his grave to feed upon the living” Independent Liverpool
The Burial of Suicides Act was passed in 1823, meaning that those who perished from taking their own life would be permitted to be buried in a churchyard. Before this act, suicide was a big no-no in both the eyes of the law and God. The act of killing oneself was referred to as ‘felo de se’, meaning felon of himself, and because of how blasphemous suicide was, many who did take their own lives were punished after death to be buried in the centre of a crossroads without religious ceremony.
Why am I telling you all this? Back in Everton in 1680, a circumstance arose that forced a man to be buried in this manner… but it wasn’t just a suicide. A local farmer murdered his wife, and then took his own life. The authorities found out that he hadn’t just killed her, he’d also allegedly drank her blood!
The farmer was already destined to be buried away from a churchyard due to his suicide, but it was decided that further measures needed to be taken to ensure that he didn’t rise from the grave once more to keep drinking people’s blood. Being guilty of felo de se, a crossroads was chosen for him and his grave was dug.
The site that was selected was the crossroads of Rupert Lane, Breck Lane (now Breck Road), Heyworth Street and Everton Road.
Independent Liverpool, 30th January 2020
The farmer was buried at night, to ensure that no sunlight could touch his skin. He was laid into his grave face-down and a giant wooden stake was pierced through his heart to prevent any undead shenanigans from ensuing.
No evidence or documentation of this man being disinterred from his resting place exists, so it’s very likely that his bones will still reside under this crossroads! Many say the Everton vampire remains under the crossroads, waiting for someone to remove the stake from his heart so he can rise once more. I’m not sure Everton council would be too please about anyone digging up a crossroads.
