Before I give you some history into this chained grave, non of this info can be fully supported and maybe the subject of Isle of Man myth!
This rather strange grave brings many visitors to Malew Churchyard and as can be seen by the image it is iron staked at each corner and randomly heavily chained to allegedly keep the vampire in!
The alleged Vampire was a Mr Hassal who died aged 54, when Mr Hassal died the Undertakers were not allowed to bring his body onto the consecrated church grounds so rumour has it that they loaded his body into the grave from behind the wall, it was then covered in a heavy slate slab and staked with iron posts and iron chains.
To add to this conundrum Mr Hassal’s wife Margaret is also buried in this chained grave!
It makes a good story, even if it isn’t true.
Hi Eleanor, right back to my early teenage days I can remember my Dad telling me about this grave (he was a local undertaker) and it has always been a strange topic of interest for me!
I have done loads of research on this topic and this is the best we can come up with yet.
Hopefully someone can genuinely enlighten us us!?
Peter 🙂
Same as me Peter
He could probably tell some good stories too. It’s interesting how the old stories like this stick in the imagination. Have you passed them on to the kids.
Do you have their first names at all?
His name is Matthew Hassel
her name is Margaret
Apparently he commited suicide
I think is name was matthew
Thanks Matt
His name is actually Mr Hassal
I would love to know a lot more about this subject.
Peter
Apparently suicide victims were usually buried outside church grounds.
Thank you for the info Peter it is very helpful. I love your photographs xx
Thanks great info I mite visit
GREAT INFO VERY HELPFULL
FROM???????
Matthew’s burial record on the register actually says “Halsall” while his wifes inscription at the church says “Hassal”. I’ve never found a matching baptism for Matthew (born about 1800) and it could be that they came from England.
I wonder if thats were the name comes from ,dont give me Hassel.could be.
An old yarn, as they were so afraid they opened it up 4 years later to bury his wife Margaret Hassal with him.lol