South Luffenham writer’s new book of short stories, based on Rutland folklore, set for release through Troubador Publishing

A county’s folklore has been brought to life in a collection of short stories published this week.

The Rutland countryside and its lost folk stories were the inspiration for South Luffenham author Chrissy Payne to write Graham’s Yard, which has been released through Troubador Publishing.

The six short stories are set in the fictional village of Sapthorpe - an amalgamation of two lost Rutland settlements, Sapcote and Sculthorpe.

Little remains of Sculthorpe, between South Luffenham and North Luffenham, after it was lost during the English Civil War.

“It was only very, very small and it rather got in the way of some warfare,” said Chrissy.

“So there's just a few mounds in the ground and a little spinney that's called Sculthorpe Spinney, but there's no buildings or no hint of what was there.”

While the fictional stories have a contemporary setting, old Rutland folklore is woven into them.

“There's always been talk about a highwayman that was billeted at Pilton who used to ride across the fields to get on to the Great North Road,” Chrissy said.

“Then he would weave his way all the way back through Tickencote and Empingham and he did this for years without being discovered, so I built that into a story.

“And we found a rather strange little carving as you go up to the clock winding room in South Luffenham church, so I built a supernatural story around that.”

The publishers have left an opening for further series if the book goes down well.

“There's a wealth of stuff in this area,” she said.

“A lot of things have gone slightly under the radar and may have been in folklore and then, as years go by, have disappeared.”

Chrissy finally got to cultivate a lifelong love of writing during the covid lockdowns and had a piece about her childhood in Oakham, Memoirs of a Little ‘Un, produced as a 10-episode podcast.

“It’s been listened to in about 15 different countries and lots of people have said they would like it in book form,” she said.

She also hopes that on top of the obvious local appeal, Graham’s Yard will appeal to an international audience.

“I hope it provokes some interest with people that read it locally who will recognize some of the spots,” she said.

“Others won't and might be interested to know more.

“And it is based around the English countryside so I'm hoping that will interest people overseas.

“There's lots of humour in it. It's quite uplifting, and also quite spiritual.”

Chrissy began writing the stories five years ago, with two originally intended for a DC Thompson magazine before it folded.

“I decided eventually to build it into a series of tales, but since I first started writing these things have changed, even in just five years, “ she explained.

“Quite a lot of what I'm writing about is disappearing or disappeared which is quite ironic.”

Chrissy is currently editing two novellas which are due to be published back-to-back next year.

Graham’s Yard (ISBN 9781836288916) is available as an e-book for £3.99 on online platforms, including, Apple, Amazon and Google or through Troubador.