John Middleton (1578–1623) was an English giant who was born in the village of Hale and is commonly known as the Childe of Hale. He was allegedly tall, and legend tells that he slept with his feet out of the window of his small house, and tales credit him with great strength. He was employed as a bodyguard by the sheriff of Lancashire.

History

Middleton was born in the village of Hale, near Liverpool. According to contemporary accounts and his epitaph, he grew to the height of and slept with his feet hanging out the window of his house.

Because of his size the landlord and sheriff of Lancashire, Gilbert Ireland, hired him as a bodyguard. When King James I stopped by in 1617 to knight Ireland he heard about Middleton and invited both of them to the court, which they accepted in 1620. Middleton beat the King's champion in wrestling and in doing so broke the man's thumb. He received £20, approximately £3,500 adjusted for inflation (2024). Jealous of his wealth, Middleton's companions either mugged or swindled him out of his money while he was returning to Hale. Middleton died impoverished in 1623. Whilst his death is sometimes claimed to have occurred in 1628, church records indicate 1623. He was buried in the cemetery of St Mary's Church in Hale. The epitaph reads, "Here lyeth the bodie of John Middleton the Childe of Hale. Nine feet three. Borne 1578 Dyede 1623."

Portraits

Brasenose College, Oxford, possesses a life-sized portrait, two smaller paintings and two life-sized representations of his hands. Another life-sized portrait can be seen at Speke Hall in Liverpool, a National Trust property. A supposed 18th-century exhumation calculated Middleton's height as ; Guinness World Records estimated a height of from the Brasenose College handprints.

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Childe of Hale, Hale.jpg|Bronze sculpture of the Childe of Hale

Grave of John Middleton, Childe of Hale 2.jpg|Grave at St Mary's Church

Childe of Hale - geograph.org.uk - 40602.jpg|A wooden sculpture formerly opposite the church but now removed

14 Church End, Hale.jpg|14 Church End, Hale, Middleton's supposed birthplace

Childe of hale at speke hall.jpg|Depiction of Middleton's house at Speke Hall. His feet are hanging through the window and when approached snoring is heard.

</gallery>

References

  • "The Childe of Hale" (John Reppion in Fortean Times #187, September 2004)