Peak Experience

Picture of Black Mere pool, Morridge  Picture of Mermaid Inn, Morridge

 

Black Mere is a pool on the moors between Buxton and Leek.  It is said to be haunted by a mermaid and was the scene of a murder and an attempted murder.  It was thought to be bottomless.  Cattle refused to drink its waters, fish could not live there and birds never flew nearby.

Black Mere’s mermaid was supposed to be a man magnet, who rose from its depths at midnight.  Legend suggests that on Easter Eve, a young man who sees the mermaid will be granted riches for one year.  But he will be so infatuated with her beauty that he will be drawn to throw himself into the pool to be with her forever.  It is commemorated in the Mermaid Inn nearby.

 

One night, many years ago, a young lady was seen at the mere in great trouble.  A few men were down the Cock Inn talking about the haunted mere.  One was dared to visit the pool for five shillings.  As he approached it he heard a woman’s cries and found a man trying to drown her.  He shouted, ‘Come, Dick, Jack, Tom, here is the rogue we are wanting!’  The would-be murderer fled and the distressed woman was taken to the inn.  She had been seduced by her attacker, and he had taken her to the pool to murder her.

In 1679 a woman pedlar was murdered and dumped in Black Mere by a serial killer from Leek.  Andrew Sympson had already killed one person and assaulted another before he killed the pedlar.

He worked at the Red Lion Inn in Leek.  In September 1677 a countryman came to the inn, went into town and sold some corn for £3.00.  Andrew saw the money so he followed the countryman on to the moors where he stole the money, bound his hands and feet and left him alone all night.  In the morning the victim was found and lived to tell the tale.

 

Six months later a wealthy young man arrived at the inn travelling to Nantwich on foot, at night asking for directions.  Andrew volunteered to accompany him for a mile or two.  They set off the next day and Andrew killed and robbed him.

 

The following May the pedlar came to Leek with her wares and she took some money in town.  She then left for Bakewell, passing Black Mere.  Andrew followed her and at the mere he strangled her and took her money and wares, throwing her into the mere.  He hid the stash in a haymow and mentioned to a maid he would give her some lace.  He was slow to fulfil this promise so she followed him to the haymow and saw the lace.  Her boss went to the haymow to discover the loot, and Andrew was arrested and confessed to the three cases.

 

Service 118 from Buxton to Hanley via Leek passes over the Morridge moorlands.  For more details, visit the Staffordshire journey planner, or call Traveline on 0871 200 2233.