Vers Libre Show 11 - Samhain - Thursday 29th October 2020 - 10pm Norway Time

Introduction

This is our re-telling of the hauntings on Nan Tucks Lane near Buxted, and in the surrounding woodland. Based on a traditional gothic tale style, this legend is based on true events. Reports of ghostly happenings are still reported in the area. We bring you this story as a full moon will soon illuminate our lands on 31st October this year, and we hope you enjoy a blessed Samhain.

I just wanted to thank the people who make up this story, the musicians who bought it to life, and a great thank you to Tim and Ed for their excellent narration, and support and belief. Thank you so much to Scott as well for his support, and for letting me use his stunning artwork to help bring the story to life. 

Additionally we will be putting this story on YouTube on 31st October with a montage of Scotts artwork, check out the updates on Instagram and Facebook for links to when and where this will be on.

Music

- Windhand - Summon The Moon
- Rainbow Kitten Surprise - Devil Like Me
- Karliene - The Unquiet Grave
- Lucette - Muddy Water
- Peter Gundry - Goetia
- Jonna Jinton - Varsangen (The Wolf Song)
- Trafton - Scarborough Fair
- Ursuline Vulpine Ft Annaca - Lovers Death

- Ashley Serena - O Willow Waly
- Phildel - Piano B
- Code Marla Ft Katherine Sunlay - When The Spell Finally Breaks
- Joy Division - Dead Souls
- Antimatter - Angelic

Links To Information on Nan Tucks Lane

https://shortoncontent.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/nan-tuck-the-witch-of-tucks-wood/

https://www.madamegilflurt.com/2014/10/nan-tuck-georgian-ghost.html

https://www.wattpad.com/486167128-urban-legends-haunted-places-etc-nan-tuck%27s-ghost

Story:

The Ghosts Of Nan Tucks Lane

Written by Stealing Victories, Read by Tim and Ed

Today, we'll tell you a story, well not one, nor two, but three

A tale of hidden secrets, human wickedness, and misery

In a place of such ethereal beauty, evil descended, as a full moon came

They only talk in whispers, of what happened in the woods by Nan Tucks Lane

It was written three times on a Sussex village, a madness would descend

And that the weight of their guilty conscience, would be hard to comprehend

Only when a full moon came on Samhain, and its light hit the woodland altar would it come to be

The years were 1606, 1807, and All Hallows Eve in 2020.

The pay of the sins that took place, outside the village in Tucks Wood

Was that they would be forever haunted, by those who were dealt no good

And the locals who knew the secrets, and others who heard the rumours knew

They should never go down Nan Tucks Lane, lest a haunting put a madness on you

That’s why they called it Nan Tucks Lane, to remind them of the terrible past

No one talked about the hauntings, but a place name, it would last

They say at the place of the murders, is an area where nothing grows

To this day lay a barren circle, deep in the woods where nobody goes

----

We start our tale in 1606, just outside Buxted village in a shack

Where lived a woman of simple mind, an education she did lack

She'd grown old alone among the trees, her few family had long passed away

But she understood life more than the villagers, who mocked her everyday

Strange happenings in the village, got the locals wandering and talking

About the simple woodland woman, who they sometimes saw out walking

Suspicious minds whispered tales of witchcraft, in the woods at night

They said it was Nan, she's strange and odd, she clearly isn't right

Their fear and ignorance of difference, reached a fevered pitch

They dragged poor Nan from her home, and chanted in unison 'burn the witch!'

They took her to the river Uck, and bound her hands and feet

Drowning would prove her innocence, survive and a fiery end she would meet

Just as they were about to throw her in, from the ropes she struggled free

Nan ran from the baying crowd, and in the fields she found some sanctuary

She'd heard of the church, how they would help a troubled soul in fear

But when she tried, the priest replied, 'we won’t have your witchcraft here'

The priest gave chase with the baying mob, Nan hid deep in the woods she knew best

She used all her cunning to evade them, and she found a place to rest

Moonlight came through empty autumn branches, to the leafy ground

It bounced off the jewellery round her neck, a silver coin so round

The priest did see the flash of light, as it glinted in his eye

'String her up' the holy man cried, 'tonight Nan Tuck will die'

Up went the rope over the bough, a lynching of a terrified woman they did see

On a cold blue Samhain night, Nan Tuck swung from the old Yew tree

Right before the lynching, Nan bowed her head and whispered to the tree

Incantations set free in the night, until from her body she was free

'A curse, a curse on all you here, I'll haunt you to your dying day'

And stay well clear of Nan Tucks Lane, she quietly did say.

---- 

Our tale brings us to 1807, approaching all hallows night,

A full blue moon was forecast,  t'would be a glorious sight

Old Nan Tuck had melted into lore, along the passing years

But when they went down Nan Tucks Lane, still they got the fears

In the village lived a woman named Nancy, local outcast born and bred

Daughter of the Tuckers, farm hands with a hidden secret, it was said

The Tuckers found their treasure, in a world that could be so plain

They named her from the woods she was born, alongside Nan Tucks Lane

The years went by and Nan married Tom, who ran the village bakery

For many years the cutest couple, that anyone ever did see

But in later years, she would read at home while he went to the pub at night

Sometimes under drink he would beat her, then loves spell would feel like fright

She used to pick wild mushrooms, in the woods off Nan Tucks Lane

To get out of the house was a blessing, to be in the woods just kept her sane

She delved into her deepest woodland, to under the ancient Yew

And found the hidden circle, it was the place where nothing grew

Except this time were some mushrooms, that looked like little ceps so plain to see

save for 3 little dots like the mark on her arm, so she picked them for Tom's tea

She put them in the stew, served to her husband ‘fore he went to drink his brew

But Tom would be going nowhere, he gasped and choked to death on Nan Tuck's stew

As Tom lay slumped at the table, Nan panicked and ran into the wood

Soon they found Tom laying there, the villagers cried 'murder', 'we knew she was no good'

He was a man of good standing, and she was born insane by her dad and mum

She must be an evil woman, very soon her end will come

They eventually caught up with her, by the ancient Yew tree

They beat her to the ground, and laughed so callously

They strung her up like Nan before her, over the bough of the yew

And they cheered as she gasped for breath, they watched her choke and turn a deathly blue

Before Nan finally passed, she spat out a final word or two

All they made out was 'my woods... madness,  -  ... circle ...death ...and  I'll haunt you'

And they gave Tom a decent send off, the pub was packed that for the wake that night

While they left Nan strung from the yew, then buried what was left of her ‘neath the hanging site

---- 

No words were spoken of Nan, much like her namesake before

And all was very quiet, people wouldn't venture down the lane much anymore

Some who did came back different, for some time they couldn't speak

Of the horrors and hauntings they saw, down Nan Tucks Lane and in their sleep

The was a local rumour, that the ghost of both women were there

They had met in spirit in the woodland, and their grisly stories they did share

It seems they may have made a pact, to be together on Nan Tucks Lane

And if anyone ever did meet them, their ghosts would drive the trespasser insane

Many could here strange noises, and cold spots on a summer's day

For some an eerie noise or feeling, that made them stay away

maybe running water where there was none, or a shadow moving quick

Sometimes a breeze that sounded like whispers, or a fog unusually thick

But when the Nan’s decided, you were a bully or had a black soul

Then you’d better stay away from the lane, or the sisters would take their toll

Those people would see their apparitions, from which they could not break free

Until finally the women decided, it was time to let them be

They'd show them all the horror they could muster, and scare them half to death

And they would drive them further to insanity, with each and every breath

They would return to the village, or from wherever that they came

Not saying a single word for weeks, the sisters had driven them insane

They left to those that showed them kindness, and would let good people be

show respect for them and their place, they would always let you roam free

Down the lane and amongst the trees, that are touched by their fair hand

And even to the magical yew tree, surrounded by the circle of barren land

---- 

Two hundred years later, we find ourselves in 2020

Would this be the year the madness, returns to Sussex County

A full moon on Halloween is due, will it touch the woodland altar with its light

It was written that three times the insanity, would fire up the Autumn night.

The story of the Nan's has been diluted, by the rivers of time again

But many still don't like the feeling they get, on a trip down Nan Tucks Lane.

Morphed into just one fable, and eroded from memories now unclear

Perhaps the history suggests, that 2020 might just be the year

So this All Hallows Eve who knows, if the madness may occur once more

The Sisters in the wood will be waiting, of that you can be sure

There's a tense feeling around, as we reach Autumn months this year

By those who know the stories of Nan Tuck, there is a certain fear

And if what was written in the stars is realised, this full moon Halloween

Next time in another town or village, this awful story could be seen

So watch out around Samhain this year, if the full moons light you can see

Not just if you’re in a Sussex village, perhaps anywhere the madness might be

And if the Samhain moon shines, on the barren circle round the ancient Yew tree

You know that there will be trouble, and a madness there will be

And of course take care if you venture, down to Nan Tucks Lane

Lest a madness is put upon you, and it drives your mind insane

Other Contributors/Samples

- Sample Of Heavy Rain
- Sample of Radio Interference
- Icy Wind and Fire Sample

- Thunder and Gentle Rain Sample

- Wolf Howling Sample
- Loud Thunder Sample
- Haunted Woods Sample

- Whispering Voices Sample