There are many stories about appearances of the Black Friar
or Monk.
In some he seems to be a portent of doom but in this one he shows a more sympathetic
side of his nature.
In the 1930s the wife of a houseowner in Newstead village was due to give birth.
The Black Friar stalking the grounds of Newstead Abbey
Her husband telephoned the doctor to come to the house as soon
as possible.
It was some time before the medic finally appeared and the husband remarked that
he was only just in time.
"Where have you been 聳 you聮re so
late" he chided.
The doctor replied that he would have been later still if he hadn聮t stopped
by a waterfall in the grounds of Newstead Abbey and asked the way of a monk who
was standing there.
The black robed figure said nothing but pointed in the right direction.
There had been no monks at the Abbey for hundreds of years.
