Local Legend

In the days when soldiers' pay was carried across Salisbury Plain on foot, Sergeant Marchant of the King's 43rd on Salisbury Plain was dispatched on such a journey. A young drummer boy, Andrew Brand, set off with him. In a bid to steal the money, Marchant murdered young Andrew and fled with the money. He intended to leave England but was press ganged and served several years at sea.

Many years later, he and some fellow sailors passed by the spot on Salisbury Plain where the drummer boy had been slain. The boy's skeleton was still visible. A terrible storm blew up making progress impossible. Believing divine retribution to be imminent, Marchant confessed his crime to those with him.

Marchant was taken to Devizes, tried and found guilty. He was gibbeted at the scene of the crime. Many local tales of sightings of the ghost of the unfortunate Andrew Brand are still told.

Do you know of any other version of this or other local legends?

The Museum Curator would love to hear from you.