In the quaint village of Bampton, nestled in the heart of Devon, England, a tragic event unfolded in the year 1776 that would etch itself into local lore for centuries to come.

The son of the parish clerk met an untimely and unusual demise, felled by an icicle that plummeted from the tower of St. Michael and All Angels Church.

The church, a venerable structure with its origins tracing back to the 13th century, stood as the spiritual and communal nucleus of Bampton. Its imposing tower, a testament to medieval craftsmanship, was both a beacon and a sentinel over the village.

In the harsh winter of 1776, as temperatures plummeted, the tower became adorned with numerous icicles, some growing to considerable sizes.

On a particularly frigid day, the parish clerk’s son, whose name has been lost to the annals of history, approached the church, perhaps on an errand or to assist his father.

Unbeknownst to him, the thawing sun had loosened one of the massive icicles perched precariously above. Without warning, the icicle broke free, descending with lethal velocity and striking the young man. The impact was fatal, and he succumbed to his injuries at the very doorstep of the sacred edifice.

The community was left in shock and mourning. In an era when life was often harsh, and death a familiar visitor, the bizarre nature of this accident stood out, prompting both sorrow and a search for meaning.

To commemorate the young man’s life and the tragic manner of his passing, a memorial plaque was commissioned and affixed to the external wall of the church tower. The inscription, notable for its poignant brevity and the repetition of the letter ‘i’, reads:

“IN MEMORY OF THE CLERK’S SON

Bless my i.i.i.i.i.i.

Here he lies

In a sad Pickle

Killed by Icicle

IN THE YEAR 1776.”

The repetition of the letter ‘i’ in the inscription has been the subject of much speculation. Some suggest it symbolizes the icicles themselves, a visual representation of the very agents of the tragedy.

Others believe it may denote the tears shed by the community, each ‘i’ a droplet of grief for the lost youth.

The phrase “In a sad Pickle” reflects the vernacular of the time, indicating a troublesome or unfortunate situation, while the rhyme imbues the epitaph with a somber, almost nursery-rhyme quality, perhaps aiming to immortalize the event in communal memory.

Over the years, this memorial has attracted attention not only from locals but also from visitors and historians intrigued by its unusual epitaph and the rare cause of death it records.

The church of St. Michael and All Angels, now a Grade I listed building, continues to stand as a testament to the village’s rich history, with the plaque serving as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the unexpected ways in which it can be taken.

This incident, while tragic, also offers insight into the climatic conditions of 18th-century England. The formation of large icicles suggests periods of significant cold, followed by brief thaws, allowing for the accumulation of ice in such a manner. It also underscores the hazards that such natural phenomena can pose, even in locales not typically associated with extreme winter conditions.

In contemporary times, while the risk of fatal icicle incidents remains low in the UK, the story of the parish clerk’s son serves as a historical anecdote, reminding us of the unpredictable dangers that can arise from nature’s beauty. The memorial plaque, with its succinct and evocative inscription, ensures that this young man’s untimely death is not forgotten, but rather, serves as a lasting narrative within the tapestry of Bampton’s history.

For those visiting Bampton, the church and its memorials offer a glimpse into the village’s past, each stone and inscription telling a story of faith, community, and the passage of time. The tale of the clerk’s son, in particular, stands out as a somber reflection on the unforeseen perils that have, on rare occasions, intersected with daily life, leaving an indelible mark on the collective memory of this Devonshire village.