Martyr legend
George Marsh's Bleeding Footprint
Faith pressed into stone.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Medieval hall with a marked flagstone
- Legend from
- Bolton
- Tone
- Eerie
A footprint that bleeds.
In 1554 the preacher George Marsh was questioned at Smithills Hall by Robert Barton. He was sent for trial and executed at Chester for heresy. Legend says he stamped his foot on a flagstone as he was led away, leaving a mark still shown in the hall. The footprint is said to bleed every year on 24 April.