WELCOME to
HALLOWE'EN!
"Spooky" just doesn't begin to describe
Hoptroff & Lee at the start of this season!
We thrive on it!
Hallowe'en means "All Hallows Evening" or the eve of All saints Day. Hallowe'en night is when evil spirits and ghosts are abroad. Why not visit our shop for some quirky vintage spooky purchases and some great ideas?
We may have just what you need!
Read on..
Some Hallowe'en items in stock now at Hoptroff & Lee!
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A STAMFORD
HALLOWEEN VISIT!
At Hoptroff & Lee, antiques in the alley, we like to make history come alive, and that includes a trip around this very old town. Let us, at this darkest time of the year, introduce you to a few creepy facts to help you get a flavour of​
HAUNTED STAMFORD!
Stamford was originally a medieval walled town, many of the oldest buildings still existing today alongside those of a later Georgian influence. The town was also a religious and educational centre borne out by its surviving churches, there being many more than there are today, the Priory, and some remaining evidence of halls of learning. With its large number of public houses sitting in close proximity, Stamford is bound to have a few tales to tell!
It is also the town's past all around us, evident in every building, and some secret signs too that helps us to see the ghosts of a bygone age! There is evidence everywhere of former inns and shops with the ghostly outlines of doors and windows in the walls, existing inn signs, and tales of ancient tunnels beneath the streets. Local people know that most of the old town centre streets take their names from the nearest hostelry or church, or occasionally bearing the name of a rich town merchant or Mayor!
Due to the age of some buildings, creaky floors and winding passages, staircases and cellars may heighten our imaginations. But local people have reported the presence of entities where they live and work. One such encounter was at no. St. Paul's Street which was a cafe & upstairs accommodation during the 1970s. The owner reported the presence of a lady in a crinoline dress who he encountered on regular occasions throughout the the building, but particularly at night when he was aware of her sitting upon his bed!
Cheyne Lane
Cheyne Lane, just off the High Street, the home of Hoptroff & Lee, is a medieval passageway, linking High Street with St. Mary's Street.
The alley curves slightly and is narrower and darker at each end. This is due to closely built and overhanging buildings which make it eerie after dusk.
There are 8 visible former windows and doors leading out into the lane, their faint outlines can just be seen. Imagine eyes looking out at you every step of the way! At least one shop owner in this lane has reported the feeling of being continually watched.
Cheyne Lane would not have been a nice place to walk at night as it was the type of alleyway that was home to vagabonds and drunks. Slops would be thrown out into the streets from the high windows at all times of the day and night, making this a foul, stinking place to be.
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STAMFORD BULL RUNNING
Stamford's annual bull running was once a vibrant spectacle held on November 13th, St. Brice's Day. For nearly 600 years, the streets echoed with the thunder of charging bulls, cruelly baited, a tradition that met its end in 1839. Legend has it that at midnight on this fateful day, you can still hear the spirits of the bulls racing across the meadows close to Bath Row.
Local author, Betty Clark, related chilling tales of hearing the ghosts of the bulls in the yard of her childhood home in
St. Leonard's Street, believed to be the site of one of the original bull yards (enclosures).
The Infirmary
Many old buildings may hold haunting tales because they stand upon the sites of
other ancient habitations.
The Stamford & Rutland hospital, or infirmary, was built on the site of a former Franciscan Friary. The Friary grounds are said to be the resting place of historical figures, including the legendary Joan, Fair Maid of Kent. The infirmary's original gate, dating back to the 14th century, stands apart from the main infirmary of 1828, a dark avenue of trees once running between the two. Nearby St. Leonard's priory, partially remaining, may have been in existence in some form from as early as 624.
Staff have reported sightings of a ghostly grey monk wandering through the hospital grounds at night, heading towards
the Priory.
