In 1781, 21-year-old Thomas Meakin from Rushton Spencer was declared dead and buried in the canal town of Stone. A year later, his coffin was reopened – and what they found inside became one of North Staffordshire’s most disturbing legends.

Did his employer, a respected apothecary, murder him? Did jealousy and social status play a role? And was Thomas really buried alive?

This true story spans two towns, a mysterious illness, and a loyal pony that refused to leave its master’s grave. With historical records, grave clues, and local lore, we explore what really happened – and why Thomas’s body was quietly moved to the isolated hilltop church of St Lawrence’s in Rushton Spencer, where his grave still stands today.

⚰️ Part true crime, part tragic history – this is a story you won’t forget.

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