The story goes that a Swaffham pedlar called John Chapman had a dream. If he went to London Bridge he would come across a man who would make his fortune. Encouraged by this vivid vision, Chapman travelled down to London accompanied by his dog. On the bridge, at that time covered in shops and peoples houses, he told a shopkeeper about his dream. The Londoner laughingly replied: If I took any notice of dreams I would be as big a fool as you. Why, I dreamt that in Norfolk at a place called Swaffham lived a pedlar named Chapman. In his garden was a tree, and buried under it a pot of gold. Without another word quick-witted Chapman hot-footed it back home and sure enough dug up a brass pot full of gold coins under his apple tree. As a bonus the pot carried a Latin inscription, reading underneath this pot is one which is twice as good. After it was translated for him by a passing monk Chapman dug this up too. Now a wealthy man, he made a splash in his home town. Whatever the truth of the legend, versions of which are told in other towns, a John Chapman definitely existed, and was a successful Swaffham businessman during the mid 15th century. From 1435 to 1474, John Botewright was rector of Swaffham, and compiled the Swaffham Black Book. This was an invaluable record of all the work done on the rebuilding of the church. From the entries it can be seen that churchwarden John Chapman paid for the rebuilding of the north aisle, where his family pews were, along with other generous gifts. His help must have been very welcome; for a small market town, having to bear the cost of rebuilding such a large church must have been a daunting prospect, and would have had to be borne locally or not at all. Chapman is remembered by carved effigies of him on two front pews depicting him with his pack on his back along with his dog, and another of a woman looking over the door of a shop. The pedlar had made his fortune quite spectacularly.