The Saturday Strangeness

By NeilA Last edited 194 months ago

Last Updated 09 August 2008

The Saturday Strangeness
Vampire hand

65. Dracula Woz 'Ere!

I've mentioned in two previous posts (episodes 1 and 20) the mystery and controversy of the Highgate Vampire, and now for a foggy yarn of another London blood-sucker!

On the 15th and 17th of August 1978, the London Evening News reported on a rather bizarre discovery – the alleged grave of a vampire... well, not just any vampire, but the king of the undead, Count Dracula!

Whilst renovations were underway at a house in Peckham, South London, workmen stumbled upon a peculiar slab of granite resembling a grave as they were burrowing in the soil. Even more weird was the inscription upon the surface, which read:

Count Dracula, 17.12.1847

Had the builders uncovered some gothic chamber, or eerie tomb lost to the world for over a century? Site agent James Davis seemed to think so, he told the press that whilst keeping watch one night for vandals, he became extremely spooked and that his Doberman Pinscher dog was afraid to venture into the garden where the strange burial site has been found. Even the next-door neighbour, a Mr Francis, got involved stating, "It's eerie. If they find any dead'uns in there, I'm moving out. Let alone undead'uns!"

After a few days of bemusement and chilled confusion, step forward former resident David Perrin to solve the dark riddle. It was he, he claimed, who thirteen years previous, as a fifteen-year old boy, had put the slab in the ground and carved the inscription. He did it for a joke never realising it would be unearthed over a decade later to cause such peculiar frenzy.

So, no real vampires on this occasion then to get our teeth into, but don't throw the garlic away just yet...

Photo by Derrick T on flickr