In 1702, the convicted murderer Thomas Busby was on his way to the gallows in Thirsk when he desired a drink at his favourite pub in his favourite chair as his last request. When he finished, he said, “May sudden death come to anyone who dare sit in my chair!” Later, people noticed that the one who sat in it would never come back from war. After that death, the landlord asked the local museum to take it. To ensure nobody sat in it again, they hung the chair 5 ft from the ground. The museum is still open and functioning with the chair in place.
Chair of Death
