The Legend of the ‘Sack Stone’ or ‘Stone Sack’, Fonaby near Caistor c1890.

An original, posted (in 1905), printed postcard by Eastoe of Caistor. The card is based on a photograph taken in c1890. The photographer is unknown. Eastoe registered the photo. The legend of the ‘Sack Stone’ or ‘Stone Sack’ is fully described, together with photographs, in ‘Lincolnshire Folklore’ by Ethel H. Rudkin (1936). The legend appears to go back until, perhaps, the 1830s. The story goes that Christ was riding through the field on his ass when he saw men sowing corn. He asked for grain for his ass to eat. The men said that they had no grain and that the opened sack just contained stones. Christ replied, “Stone be it!” and the sack of corn was immediately petrified. The stone stayed where it was until about 1920 when it split into three pieces. The stone could be safely moved a short distance for ploughing but every time the stone was moved further from its original position, a curse took hold and terrible events occurred. Each time, the stone was moved back to near where it belonged. I saw the stone in the 1980s. It was in at least three pieces in a hedge bottom. Charles William Eastoe was born in Litcham, Norfolk in 1838. He married Eliza Taylor in Chorlton, Lancashire in 1894. They had a daughter (1995) and a son (1897) in Didsbury, Lancashire and then a daughter (1899) in Caistor, Lincolnshire. Did they move to Caistor because Charles had a younger brother in Caistor (Herbert A. Eastoe, builder and contractor, born Litcham)? (Herbert Eastoe committed suicide in Scunthorpe in 1927.) Charles William Eastoe was a photographer in Caistor by 1899. By 1901, he was a schoolmaster and photographer. The family lived on Castle Hill Caistor. On the 10th November 1907, Charles William Eastoe attempted suicide, which was illegal at the time. He was removed to Bracebridge Asylum, Lincoln on 27th November 1907. Sadly, Charles died early in 1908, aged 48. In 1911, Eliza and the children were living with her brother in Abingdon, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Eliza died in Caistor in 1927. Their daughter, Alice Maude Mary Eastoe, died in Caistor in 1965. She was living at Caistor Institution in 1939 and 1965. Charles and Eliza Eastoe’s son, Charles Waldron Eastoe, died in WW1. He is buried at Thiepval, France. Their daughter, Dorothy Fairhead Eastoe, married Sergeant John J. Callison in 1919 in California, USA. Dorothy was a member of the W.R.A. F. in Farnborough when the couple met. Dorothy died on 17th January 1926. Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum. The postcard was posted by E.T.T. in Caistor on 12th September 1905. The recipient was Mrs Hutchinson, Clarborough Hall, Retford Notts. The message reads, “Hope to see you at 2 o’clock on Thursday. That day will suit me perfectly well. Hope the fine weather will last.” Note: Clarborough Hall was built 1863-4 for John Henry Hutchinson Esq (son of H.C. Hutchinson who built Welham Hall in 1831), red brick with slate roof, timber joinery including sashes and panelled front door with fanlight and surround, stone lintels and cills, brick stacks; extended to rear in 20th century. Locally Listed by Bassetlaw District Council. Note: Agnes Denison Hutchinson (née Hannam), farmer’s daughter, was born at Clixby Manor House, Caistor. She died at Clixby in 1922. It appears that Agnes’ grandfather was Charles Fitzwilliams of Clixby. (Major Clixby Fitzwilliams of Healing connection.)