Busby’s Stoop Chair, a seemingly ordinary piece of furniture, carries with it a chilling legacy. This allegedly haunted oak chair has been at the center of numerous tales and legends, its reputation steeped in fear and intrigue.
The chair’s story is inextricably linked to its former owner, Thomas Busby, a man whose life and death have contributed to the eerie lore surrounding this object.
His connection to the object and the deadly curse he is said to have placed upon it have transformed this simple wooden furniture into a symbol of the unnatural.
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The Origins and Early Use of the Chair
The Busby’s Stoop Chair traces its origins back to the late 17th century in North Yorkshire, England. It was a common sight in the Busby Stoop Inn, a local pub named after a nearby road sign.
The chair was frequently occupied by Thomas Busby, a notorious figure in the area. Known for his quick temper and illicit activities, Busby was, for some unknown reason, deeply attached to this object.
Old records kept in the inn’s archives even talk about Busby’s episodes of rage when anyone else dared to sit in his favorite seat.
In one instance, Busby attacked and almost choked to death one of the inn’s guests who refused to move away from the chair.
Thomas Busby and His Dark Endeavors
But Thomas Busby was not just a regular patron of the inn. He was involved, among others, in a coin counterfeiting business, a serious crime in the 18th century.
His partner in this illegal venture was none other than his father-in-law, Daniel Auty (or Autie). However, their relationship was fraught with tension and frequent quarrels, often exacerbated by Busby’s heavy drinking.
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One fateful day, a heated argument between Busby and Auty escalated dramatically.
The dispute was allegedly over Auty’s disapproval of Busby’s marriage to his daughter, Elizabeth, but the final straw was when Auty threatened to destroy the chair, Busby’s prized possession.
Enraged, Busby brutally stabbed Auty multiple times, a criminal act that would eventually lead to his downfall.
Thomas Busby’s Execution
Following the atrocious murder, Busby was swiftly arrested and sentenced to execution by hanging in 1702. His final request was to have a last drink in his favorite chair at the inn.
However, as he was led to the gallows, witnesses claimed to have heard him placing a curse on the chair. With a voice filled with rage and bitterness, Busby yelled that anyone who would dare to sit in his chair would meet an untimely and often gruesome death.
Little did he know that his curse would transform the chair into a legendary haunted object, forever associated with his name and dark past.
Whether real or imagined, this curse has been linked to a series of fatal accidents and misfortunes that have befallen those who ignored the warning.
Fatal Accidents and the Chair’s Deadly Reputation
Between the time of Busby’s execution in 1702 and the first alleged incidents associated with the chair in the 1970s, the object remained at the Busby Stoop Inn, named after the site of Busby’s execution.
The inn was located at the crossroads of A61 and A167 in North Yorkshire, UK.
Over the years, the chair became a local legend, with stories circulating about its curse.
During World War II, several Canadian airmen from the nearby base at Skipton-on-Swale who sat in the chair never returned from their bombing missions over mainland Europe. According to reports, their planes were shot down or crashed under mysterious circumstances. The pilots’ bodies were never found.
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However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that fatal accidents were directly linked to the curse of Busby’s Stoop Chair, leading to its eventual removal from the inn and its placement in the Thirsk Museum.
In one of these incidents, a roofer who sat in the chair fell to his death the following day.
Next, a cleaning lady stumbled and fell into the chair. She was later found dead a couple weeks later from a brain tumor no one even knew she had.
A delivery man who couldn’t resist the allure of the chair died in a car crash that same day.
And the list of alleged Busby’s Stoop Chair victims goes on, each story adding to the chair’s grim legacy.
Deadly Curse or Coincidence?
The debate between the supernatural and the natural is long-standing, and the Busby’s Stoop Chair case is no exception. The question arises: is the chair truly cursed, or are the associated incidents merely coincidences?
On one hand, there is the argument that most, if not all, accidents linked to the chair can be explained through natural causes.
Many of the victims were in situations where accidents were likely to occur, such as being involved in risky behaviors or dangerous occupations.
For example, during World War II, the mortality rate for airmen was high, and it could be argued that their deaths were more related to the hazards of war than to a curse.
On the other hand, the sheer number of accidents and the specific circumstances surrounding them could also be linked to a deadly curse, as the frequency and nature of these incidents go beyond mere coincidence.
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Not to mention that many visitors to the Thirsk Museum, where the chair is now housed, have reported various paranormal experiences in the object’s close proximity.
Some claim to have felt a sense of unease or dread when near the chair. Others have reported a cold chill, a common phenomenon in haunted locations.
There are also accounts of visitors seeing the ghost of Thomas Busby near the chair. These sightings often describe a figure resembling Busby’s descriptions, appearing to guard the chair or even sitting in it.
While these experiences are subjective and cannot be scientifically proven, they add to the lore surrounding the chair and its alleged curse.
Examination by Historian Dr. Adam Bowett
Historian Dr. Adam Bowett is a renowned figure in the field of furniture history, with a particular focus on English furniture made between 1660 and 1840. His expertise in the subject has led him to author several books and articles, making him a respected authority in his field.
In his quest to unravel the mysteries of the Busby’s Stoop Chair, Dr. Bowett conducted a thorough examination of the allegedly haunted and cursed object.
This examination occurred in the early 2000s, when the chair was already a well-known artifact in the Thirsk Museum.
Dr. Bowett’s work was meticulous, involving a visual inspection and a detailed study of the chair’s construction and materials. He used different techniques, including dendrochronology, a method that involves analyzing tree ring growth patterns in the wood to determine its age.
His findings were intriguing.
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The chair’s construction and the type of wood used were consistent with furniture making practices of the late 17th century, around the time Thomas Busby would have been alive. This lent credibility to the stories surrounding the chair and its connection to Busby.
However, Dr. Bowett was careful to point out that while the chair’s age could be confirmed, the tales of its curse were harder to substantiate.
In his final conclusions, Dr. Bowett stated that while the chair’s history and the stories surrounding it were fascinating, whether or not it was truly cursed was a matter of personal belief.
A Haunting Exhibit
Today, the Busby’s Stoop Chair is housed in the Thirsk Museum, where it continues to draw attention and spark curiosity.
However, given the chair’s deadly reputation, the decision was made to hang the chair from the ceiling.
This was done not only to preserve the chair as a historical artifact but also to prevent anyone from sitting on it and potentially becoming the next victim of Busby’s curse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Busby’s stoop chair real?
Yes, the Busby’s Stoop Chair is indeed real. It is currently housed in the Thirsk Museum in North Yorkshire, England, where it is suspended from the ceiling to prevent anyone from sitting on it.
Why is Busby’s stoop chair haunted?
The chair is said to be haunted due to a curse placed on it by its former owner, Thomas Busby, before his execution in 1702. He declared that anyone who dared to sit in his chair would meet an untimely death.
How many real-life accidents were caused by the allegedly haunted chair?
While it’s difficult to confirm an exact number, numerous accounts of fatal accidents and misfortunes have been befalling those who sat in the chair, particularly since the 1970s. These incidents range from car accidents to sudden illnesses and unexplained deaths.
Who was Thomas Busby?
Thomas Busby was a notorious figure in the late 17th century in North Yorkshire, England. He was involved in a coin counterfeiting business and was executed for the murder of his father-in-law, Daniel Auty.
