The main entrance to Nether Lypiatt, the Gloucestershire home of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent could not be more impressive, gated as it is by two decorative wrought iron gates. The gates at the entrance to the house have a ghostly story to tell But there is a sad story behind the iron creations, and it is not surprising that the creator still haunts the gates. In 1704 Nether Lypiatt was owned by Judge Charles Coxe who presided over the case of a blacksmith who had been convicted of murder, or perhaps sheep stealing, and sentenced to the gallows.
But Judge Coxe had a little idea in mind and offered to repeal the blacksmith's sentence if he could make a perfect pair of gates. Seeing a chance to escape execution the blacksmith worked day and night for two weeks to create the perfect pair. But the |
