Thomas Busby Chair

Local legend has it that the chair belonged to Thomas Busby, a thug, thief and drunkard who lived in North Yorkshire in the latter part of the 1600s. When Thomas came back to the Inn, he found Awety, the father of his wife, waiting for him, threatening to take Elizabeth home with him. Busby’s mood only blackened when he saw Awety sitting in his favourite chair.
That night Busby still seething grabbed a hammer, stormed over to Danotty Hall and bludgeoned Awety to death. Busby then tried to hide his handiwork in the woods. Concern over Awety’s sudden disappearance led to a local search of the area being made. On finding the body, Busby was arrested at the inn and charged with murder.
One version of the story recounts how Busby was granted his last wish which was to have a final drink at his own inn and sit in his favorite chair. On leaving the inn to make his final journey to the execution site Busby cursed the chair declaring that death would come shortly to anyone who sat in it.
Busby’s spirit was believed to have haunted his old pub as well as the area where he was gibbeted but it’s his precious chair, the focus of his curse which became irrevocably linked to his revengeful spirit. According to local legend, this seemly innocuous piece of furniture has been responsible for more deaths than most serial killer.
Those who had any contact, those who sat or simply bumped into it, would soon die by anything. Such as car crashes, tumors, health issues, etc.
There are so many questions that have been left unanswered and probably unanswerable. Many people believe the deaths were just an unlucky coincidence. The wooden chair is now hanging from the ceiling by pieces of string.
If you ever visit Thirsk in the UK, I recommend you stop by the Thirsk museum, a small museum that houses some rather interesting pieces including this chair.