In 1827 John Thurlow Reade died in India. Not particularly unusual until you find out that at the same time as his death his ghost appeared before his mother at this place to tell her the sad news. A memorial stone was erected to mark the spot.
John Thurlow Reade was the eldest of eleven children born to John and Anna-Maria Reade. He sailed for India in 1817 while working for the East India Company.
John’s mother would look forward to receiving irregular mailings via the mail coach. However, she had not received a letter for some time and one evening in 1827, whilst walking down the road, Mrs Reade saw the ghost of her son coming towards her and exhibiting signs of utmost distress.
Convinced he was dead and had not received a Christian burial, she persuaded the local vicar to perform a burial service the following day. The next mail from India brought the news that he had indeed died of dysentery whilst travelling through the jungle. His servants had buried him where he died.
In 1860, one of his younger brothers Edward Anderdon Reade erected a monument to his eldest brother. He chose the site nearest to the point where his ghost had appeared.
Edward hoped that this would lay to rest the spirit of his revered brother. Has it?
The memorial is Grade II listed, the inscription is very faded but reads...
JOHN THURLOW READE,
ESQUIRE,
SEHAARUNPORE,
NOVEMBER 25TH A.D.1827,
'ALAS MY BROTHER'
The Reade family were lords of Ipsden Manor and designed the Maharaja Well at Stoke Row nearby.
The memorial is in a small thicket of trees next to a usually dry pond (Layend Pond). The path that passes through the copse is The Icknield Way.
Interestingly there is another monument nearby (N 51º 33.508 W 001º 5.618) erected to commemorate two boys who were killed by lightning in 1834. There is no public access but you might be able to spot it at the corner of the field about 300m SE from the cache. It is inscribed 'Near this stone Charles Goodd and Thomas Prior both aged 10 years were killed by lightening also two horses May 2n d 1834. Jn Dodd, tenant. Beware lest he take thee away with his stroke. 36 Job 18'.
You are looking for a small metal cylinder a little larger than a 35mm film canister - logbook and pencil only. Parking is a bit limited but one car can usually fit in close by or alternatively near Ipsden Farm (near N 51º 33.693 W 001º 5.522). Please take care turning off of and onto the A4074, the junction is a bit dodgy!