On his grave in the nearby graveyard it says........
" HERE LYETH THE BODIE OF JOHN MIDDLETON, THE CHILDE- NINE FEET THREE
BORNE 1578
DYEDE 1623"
Time has clouded the true story of the Childe of Hale, what does seem certain was that when his great size became known, King James 1st invited him to his court in London. He challenged and beat the Kings Wrestler, and was given £20, a lot of money in those days.
There is a life sized imprint of his hand, which seems to suggest a real height of 7 feet 9 inches, not as big as the legend says, but still a very large man.
This statue is nearly 10 feet tall, and was erected in 2013, he is looking across the road to his former home.
