Curse 'has no historic basis'
A curse which has been threatened, unless the Cattle Market development is dumped next month, has been rubbished by historians and civic leaders.
The Knights of St Edmund claim victims of the curse of St Edmund have suffered madness, blindness, syphilis and being eaten alive inside out by worms.
But town historian Clive Paine said: "They have no historical authenticity – there is no such thing as the curse of St Edmund."
Cllr Stefan Oliver, St Edmundsbury Mayor, said: "St Edmund was noted for his wisdom and piety.
"For any group of people to suggest that they are calling down his curses is totally at odds with the character of the man.
"They are preying on the fears and superstitions of people."
The knights' website – www.knightsofsaintedmund.com – has threatened the curse on Cattle Market developers Centros Miller and chosen department store Debenhams unless they abandon plans by November 18.
"The curse of St Edmund and St Edmund's reputation for extremely supernatural violence against those who threaten his liberty, abbey, town or shrine, was familiar to everyone in medieval England.
"On St Edmund's day November 20, a formal and public cursing ceremony will take place at Bury to once again summon the avenging saint and dread king to punish his 21st century enemies," the website states.
"This is just one of the many challenges for property developers. We have no intention to withdraw," said Tony Williams, project manager at Centros Miller.
He added at no stage during the consultation period had the group made its feelings known.
Knights member Alan Murdie said the information about the curse was historically sourced.
"I am personally praying that we don't have to do this. The thing that the knights will have to decide is for how many generations the curse will stand for," he said.
The knights claim Henry VIII, Svein Forkbeard and Robert Beaumont, Earl of Leicester among the curse's victims.
But St Edmundsbury Borough Council leader John Griffiths said: "Henry VIII didn't do too badly so I doubt Centros and Debenhams will be too worried by someone playing around with some medieval hocus pocus."
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 24 May 2012
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