This tale has intrigued me since I was little, when my Dad, who actually built the new Potter Heigham Bridge, told me the story.

Legend states that if you stand quiet and still on the old Potter Heigham Bridge at midnight on the 31st May you can hear the sound of horses hooves and the clatter of wheels until a fiery coach driven by a skeleton appears over the bridge before plunging into the water.

So, what is the story behind the haunting.

Well, in Potter Heigham during the 18th century Lady Carew sought the help of a local witch to ensnare the wealthy bachelor Sir Godfrey Haslitt of Bastwick, for her daughter Evelyn. The witch created a potent love potion, but would not accept money as payment. Instead she made Lady Carew swear that if the potion worked, whatever the witch asked for would be granted. She agreed.

The potion was given to Sir Godfrey at a hunting party in King Lynn and subsequently worked. Sir Godfrey and Evelyn married on the 31st May 1741. Following the lavish wedding in Norwich the bridal party returned to Bastwick for the reception, but on the stroke of midnight the party was interrupted by the doors busting open. Framed in the doorway was a skeleton, which then kidnapped the new bride and carried her away in a coach drawn by four black horses.

The rest of the party gave chase as the coach headed toward Potter Heigham, but as the coach reached the bridge it burst into flames and fell into the water, with Lady Evelyn still inside.

This was the payment the witch demanded for her potion.