THE WEREWOLF CURSE OF THE VILLAGE OF STANTON LOW

"In around 1485 the village was gripped by panic when livestock started being slain and children went missing. The only explanation? A werewolf. Not wanting to be the next victims, people started leaving from around 1487. By 1516 Stanton Low was deserted, with only the church still in use. In 1520 a nearby seasonal farmhand called Thomas Pipe was captured by a militia and accused of shape-shifting. In St Peter’s Church he was restrained by a mob whilst two priests tried to drive the evil from him. As he writhed and snarled, Pipe cursed Stanton Low to never thrive again and foretold the church would crumble to dust. He let out a long, wolf-like howl and then passed away.
This local lore is told in the 1890 publication ‘The Unnatural Lore of England’ and documented in the Save St. Peter’s Church archive collection that we look after. Stanton Low never did recover and became deserted on two more occasions. By 1950 the church had also been abandoned and its ruins are now a feature of Stanton Low Park.
Some people still hear the eerie howls of a wolf whilst they explore the deserted village."
"This is actually part of Milton Keynes known as Stantonbury.
The name of Stanton is derived from an Old English term for "stone-built farmstead" and the bury element from the French family Barri who held it in 1235.
The photo is of the ruins of St Peter's Church."