A local legend in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. A small seaside town in South Eastern England.
The story of the Ratman has some variants but the core result remains the same.
That under a tunnel, sitting just near the residence of the Mayor, there looms a figure that resembles both a rat and a human being.
It will screech in the middle of the night and attempt to chase out people walking through there at night.
One version of the story tells of a local tramp and headcase. Who lived in the tunnel, being paralysed and unable to leave.
One night a group of drunken teenagers beat him to death and stole what little food and clothes he had. As he was freezing to death he could see rats scuttle forth to consume him. He swore revenge on the town that had abused him, and is now the Ratman of Southend, a vengeful spirit that hates the young and healthy.
The other version claims that the Ratman was the deformed son of an old Mayor of Southend. He was born hideously deformed, with a rodent-like snout, jagged teeth and a rotting stench about him.
The Mayor had the tunnel constructed to hide his secret, as the child was also the result of an adulterous relationship.
The Ratman still lurks there to this day, alone in the dark and waiting for any tasty humans to cross its path.
The story emerged years ago and reappears from time to time, via bizzare signs posted on lamp-posts and telephone poles.
The story of the Ratman has some variants but the core result remains the same.
That under a tunnel, sitting just near the residence of the Mayor, there looms a figure that resembles both a rat and a human being.
It will screech in the middle of the night and attempt to chase out people walking through there at night.
One version of the story tells of a local tramp and headcase. Who lived in the tunnel, being paralysed and unable to leave.
One night a group of drunken teenagers beat him to death and stole what little food and clothes he had. As he was freezing to death he could see rats scuttle forth to consume him. He swore revenge on the town that had abused him, and is now the Ratman of Southend, a vengeful spirit that hates the young and healthy.
The other version claims that the Ratman was the deformed son of an old Mayor of Southend. He was born hideously deformed, with a rodent-like snout, jagged teeth and a rotting stench about him.
The Mayor had the tunnel constructed to hide his secret, as the child was also the result of an adulterous relationship.
The Ratman still lurks there to this day, alone in the dark and waiting for any tasty humans to cross its path.
The story emerged years ago and reappears from time to time, via bizzare signs posted on lamp-posts and telephone poles.
Shaun and Craig ran under the tunnel of the Ratman, to see if he would try and eat them.
The story of the Ratman being the Mayors deformed son, shares some thematic similarities with the mythical tale of the Minotaur.
I have personally heard screeching in that tunnel and momentarily thought it was the Ratman.
The story of the Ratman being the Mayors deformed son, shares some thematic similarities with the mythical tale of the Minotaur.
I have personally heard screeching in that tunnel and momentarily thought it was the Ratman.
by Tyburn February 28, 2010
by YungPlatinum August 26, 2017
Ratman is a Toronto term giving to homeless people in the city who are crackheads and scavengers that roam the alleys like rats digging thru trash.
by Santasquad100 September 21, 2023
Something, most likely a conversation or an interest in something, that is killed instantly with a single stupid or insanly dull comment. Instead of saying "The conversation has been killed dead", you would say "The conversation has been Ratman'd".
Group of friends - Hey, how does everyone fancy going to the Youth Club?
Ratman (In incredibly whiney and 'desperate for attention' tone) - I once went to a youth club...
(Dead Silence in the confusion of what has just transpired)
The conversation has just been Ratman'd
Ratman (In incredibly whiney and 'desperate for attention' tone) - I once went to a youth club...
(Dead Silence in the confusion of what has just transpired)
The conversation has just been Ratman'd
by Jamie Ro... no wait, John Smith May 03, 2005
by Craftybug September 14, 2004
A man who resembles a Rat, having perculiar large ears with a long tail. Normally light skinned in color with distinctive features such as glasses (to help reflect the satelite signals bouncing off it's huge earlobes).
by Furious Styles May 05, 2006
A hermit that lives in a block of flats in Stoke. (also has a ginger beard and has lost the plot, see above)
by Andrew Williams February 12, 2004