The Lads of the Village

Long Marston-in-the-Mere is a medieval village set defiantly within a prehistoric stone circle. The cottages cluster round St Michael's Church corralled by the pressing monoliths. The place lies thus in This world while being reminded constantly both of the Next and the Other worlds. The village year culminates with the annual f?te and ritual dressing of the Holy well in the woods. The Rector does not encourage this pagan custom. The Archdeacon sees no harm. Superstitions abound, particularly the possibility of recovering Sir Tancred's treasure (guarded by a dragon.) It is known that anyone who takes the gold will reap the consequences. This is the story of the last f?te and the villagers who unearthed the truth behind the legends. Regrettably most of them have disappeared and those who survive are unlikely to speak of what they saw.