Curious Legend

Query #9 - Curious Legend=

24/06/1933

There is an old story that the inhabitants of Bishop's Cannings, near Devizes, manured the steeple of their church in an endeavour to increase its height. Can the origin of this legend be traced.—All Cannings.

Replies

08/07/1933

The story of the manuring of a steeple is one of "Baron Munchausen's Tales," a collection of very tall stories published by an unknown author in the 18th century. Bishop's Cannings, as far as I remember, was not mentioned in the original story.— Swindon Reader.