Draper’s Corner is a small grassy triangle at the junction of Greensted Road and the continuation of Mutton Row, Stanford Rivers; walk out of the old Drill House, turn right and a short walk would lead to the corner. The oak tree that had resided there for more than a century was wrenched from the ground on the night of Thursday, 14 June 2012. The combined ivy cover, rain that had both weighed on the tree and had weakened the security of the roots, and a gust of a freakish wind that night had conspired in its destruction. It fell neatly onto the small triangle, avoiding an enforced closure of the road, and missing the new signpost at the corner.
Who was Draper? There has been local debate about the name of Draper. Draper is alleged to have been a sheep stealer. His crime may have been created through a simple association with Mutton Row, the narrow lane that leads to St Margaret’s, Stanford Rivers. Further, it is suggested that Draper was hanged for his crime from an oak tree, but despite some thorough searches of records of criminal trials, no supporting evidence has yet been discovered of the actual sentence of capital punishment.
But some years ago two local boys, teenagers, were returning home from Greensted Green. It was February and dark, if I recall correctly. They had cycled past the tree and under its branches before they arrived home, perhaps 400 metres away. They were distressed, and of an age when they should not expect to be. They described something hanging from the tree – similar in size to a body. The mother of one of the boys, impressed by their story, contacted the police, who did check out the tree perhaps with little conviction. No hanging body was seen.
To my knowledge no further observations have caused similar consternation. I am not a ghost hunter and am usually sceptical, but respectful, of such experiences like that of the boys and Draper. However, driving home in the dark, returning from work, the day after the sighting and unavoidably approaching Draper’s old oak tree, the hairs on the back of the neck briefly rose in expectation!