Henry Trigg was a 17th-century Stevenage grocer whose eccentric burial plan turned him into one of Hertfordshire’s most peculiar historical figures, writes RICHARD CLEMENTS
Within the historic streets of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, lies the peculiar story of Henry Trigg, a 17th-century grocer whose legacy transcends the ordinary.
Known within his community as a steadfast churchwarden of St Nicholas’ Church, Trigg’s memory endures not for his everyday dealings but for an unusual and enduring attempt to defy the grave itself.
Yet, it wasn’t his civic contributions or commercial success that ensured his name endured, it was a burial request as peculiar as it was unforgettable.
One evening, as the story goes, Trigg returned home after a drink or two with friends.
As they ambled past the churchyard, a flickering glow caught their attention.
Drawing closer, they heard muffled sounds that seemed almost too sinister to believe.
Peering over the wall, they spotted figures hunched over a fresh grave, bodysnatchers, plying their grim trade.
The scene was enough to make any reasonable person shudder, but it struck a chord for Trigg.
He was determined that his own body would never fall victim to such a fate.
A Scheme to Outsmart the Grave Robbers
During the 18th century, the insatiable demand for cadavers by rapidly expanding medical schools led to a sinister underworld of body snatching.
Grieving families often faced the horrifying discovery that their loved ones’ graves had been violated within days of burial.
For Henry Trigg, such a grim prospect was intolerable.
With characteristic resolve, he conceived a plan as daring as it was unconventional to protect his final repose.
In his will, Trigg outlined an audacious strategy to outwit grave robbers. He requested that his body be encased in a robust, lead-lined coffin and suspended high in the rafters of his barn.
This elevated resting place, he believed, would deter even the most persistent of body snatchers.
Trigg insisted that the barn be securely locked, with the key inside his coffin, to lend his plan a mystical dimension.
The reasoning? He anticipated unlocking it himself upon his resurrection, which he confidently predicted would occur 30 years after his death.
The practical challenges of such a scheme are evident. Who, after all, would lock the barn if the key was entombed with the deceased?
Nonetheless, Trigg’s brother, the Reverend Thomas Trigg, saw to it that every detail of the peculiar request was executed.
In 1724, Henry’s lead-lined coffin was lifted to the barn rafters, ten feet above the ground, where it would remain for decades, inspiring local intrigue and drawing the curious from far and wide.
Trigg’s unique resting place soon became a local curiosity. The coffin became an unlikely tourist attraction when his barn was converted into the Old Castle Inn in 1774.
Landlords, archaeologists, and locals inspected the coffin over the years, noting that his remains were surprisingly well-preserved, with hair still visible on his skull during an 1831 examination.
However, Trigg’s plan to preserve his body failed spectacularly.
Over time, souvenir hunters pilfered parts of his remains.
A carpenter is said to have stolen a tooth and some hair during repairs, and soldiers stationed in Stevenage during World War I reportedly replaced his bones with horse remains to maintain the attraction’s allure.
By 1999, when National Westminster Bank owned the property, any remaining fragments were allegedly buried, leaving the coffin empty.
Haunted by the Past?
In 1964, a worker reported witnessing an unsettling apparition, a man in an overcoat walking straight through a brick wall during renovations.
Other accounts describe an uncanny sensation of being watched or an inexplicable presence lingering in the building, though no concrete evidence has ever come to light.
Today, the barn and its adjoining house endure as Grade II listed buildings, now repurposed as a dental practice.
The empty coffin remains a silent testament to Trigg’s eccentricity, commemorated by a plaque that ensures his story continues to captivate historians and paranormal enthusiasts alike.
Henry Trigg’s story is one of determination, fear, and irony.
His elaborate efforts to thwart grave robbers have ensured his legacy, though not as he intended. Instead of eternal rest, his quirky burial plan enshrined him as one of Hertfordshire’s most peculiar figures.
For those who find fascination in the macabre, Trigg’s tale offers a poignant reminder of humanity’s age-old desire to outwit mortality.
What did you think of this article about Henry Trigg? Do you know of other eccentric burial stories? Share your thoughts in the comments!
