This giant was hung by local bakers for stealing flour. His final wish was to be buried where his arrow landed. He is buried in Weston with two markers indicating his arm span.
Legendary Essex note: Rosalind’s drawing is of the Giant’s legs and Luke’s drawing is of his resting place. A bit of research into this story reveals an interesting history and another version; Jack O Legs did indeed requisition flour, but from the Knights Templar who had put up the prices of the flour after a poor harvest and were taking it out of town, leaving villagers with nothing to eat. One telling has Jack stopping the carriage leaving town and taking the flour, giving it to the people. He was hung for his efforts! His supposed grave is in Holy Trinity Church, Weston. The Bakers of Baldock may be the monastic order who would have been able to dictate bread prices because they owned the banks, the surrounding farmland, the flour mills, and the marketplace. They also had the power to punish thieves and outlaws.
Tring Brewery and Six Hills Brewery in Hertfordshire have ales names after Jack O Legs!
