Castle Hill, or Fairy Hill, has stood East of Bishopton since the twelfth century. Built by Roger Conyers, the constable of Durham Castle, the landmark has become entrenched into local lore and culture. When one day a team of workmen were digging up the hill in order to re-arrange the land, an eerie voice could be heard. "Are you well?" It asked, "Yes, I am well" replied the workman who could hear. "Then stay well, and leave Fairy Hill well alone!". This ominous warning apparently fell on deaf ears and the next day work continued as usual. It was that afternoon when someone dug up a large wooden chest. It was heavy and rattled with a metallic contents. The lock was rusted fast so they dragged the huge trunk along the track to the nearest blacksmith. When it was eventually opened, they looked in and expected to see gold and silver coins. It was however full of nails! The trick played by the fairies seemed to change what was in the chest as it's unlikely that an ancient motte would contain such a trove.
One dark night, a farmer called John Bonner was travelling home to his farm at Beggar-Bush near Castle Eden. As he was moving along the lane in his horse drawn carriage, something pounced from the hedge and landed on his cart. In a spooky voice, the specter said "Johnny Bonner, When you get home, tell your cat that Catherine Curley's dead". Hearing his own name mentioned, and the strange message, John Bonner turned around. There, he saw a giant cat. He cried out and the giant cat jumped off the cart and ran off. When he got home, to which he drove at a fast pace, he was pale with horror. His wife asked hm what was the matter, and he repeated the words. "Tell your cat that Catherine Curley's dead". Upon hearing this message, the farmer's cat woke up from its sleep, let out a yowl, and ran off never to be seen again.
A brightly painted coffin sits in a crevice of the wall in Wimborne Minster. Designed for Anthony Ettricke during his lifetime and inscribed with the date 1691, forbiddingly, Ettricke was convinved he would die in that year. In fact, he lived until 1703. Famous for being the Magistrate who sent the Duke of Monmouth to trial after a failed rebellion, he seemed to always know that he'd die in that year. Strangely, it reads the same upside-down as it does forwards. What is less known is that the coffin itself does not contain the bones of Anthony Ettricke. He is in fact buried in the family vault underneath the Minster. Using ornate coffins as a symbol of burial is said to fool the devil who may come looking for the soul. Maybe it is a sign of a heavy conscience? What-ever the reason, it is still just as brightly painted today as in his will he left twenty shillings per year for its upkeep.
In the village of Shaftesbury, there was once a group of men who enjoyed to play cards. On one Saturday night, they decided to have a game. Hours went by and soon the clock struck midnight. Knowing that it was forbidden to play cards on the Sabbath Day, they contemplated turning in. However, they were enjoying themselves so much, they decided to have a few more rounds before bed. It was not long after when there was a knock at the door. A stranger was there and he asked if he could join in. The men agreed eagerly, thinking the game could carry on for a little longer. As they continued the game, one of the men dealt a card but it fell to the floor. He knelt down to pick it up and to his horror he saw the stranger had cloven feet. It was the Devil. He shrieked that it was Satan and they all saw him for who he really was. The men threw down their cards and ran to the hills, and they never played cards on a Sunday ever again.
In the area surrounding Lulworth Castle, there have been numerous sightings of vast phantom armies. The first sighting was so surprising that it was thought to be real. In 1678, Captain John Lawrence of Creech was out with his brother watching over a group of workmen digging for clay. The entire group saw thousands of soldiers marching over a stretch known to be at least 8km with a huge clattering of armour and arms. The ancient hill-forts that measure distances were counted. The group went to the villages and homesteads in the area and raised the alarm. In total, over a hundred eye-witnesses described the giant army on the move. Captain Lawrence quickly rode to London where he attempted to warn the government, but by the time he got there the army had vanished and he looked very foolish. Other sightings have been recorded from time to time that describe Roman soldiers and ancient warriors. It is known that great battles did take place all over the land between local tribes and Roman invaders. The occupation of Rome lasted well into the the dark ages and continued under the guise of Roman Catholicism. Oversight from Rome was finally removed by Henry VIII, not long before the first sighting.
Famous beyond its local area, the Cerne Abbas Giant is a hillside sculpture of a giant man. With a clearly erect penis and a large brutish club, the naked barbarian is often said to be an ancient warrior-god of the ancestral tribes. This is a highly plausible explanation. There is one controversy, however, in which the first written records of the notable image is from the relatively recent 17th Century. The local parish has a record of payment for three shillings for the "repaireing of ye giant". An interesting fact is that at the time, Oliver Cromwell had recently overthrown the monarchy. He had been nicknamed the "English Hercules" in a mockery of his strong-man image. It is widely thought that the giant was intended as a satyrical cartoon of Cromwell himself. With the parish being a Royalist community, paying for its upkeep would make sense. The truth is hidden in the storybooks of history, probably never to be found. That is unless there is a secret society of ancient origins that still holds the key to its meaning.
During the Middle-Ages, a priest of Batcombe in Dorset was asked to give a last Communion to a dying man. The traditional sharing of bread and wine helps Christians feel connected to Jesus. The priest set out in the dead of night across windy moors to the dying man's home. When he got there, he discovered he'd dropped the Pyx. This valuable silver box contains the sacramental bread. Despite the wind and rain and the fact it was night, the priest had faith and went out to retrace his steps. When he got out onto the windy moors, where no-one was about, he saw a pillar of fire rising from the lost Pyx. Around it was a ring of cattle, kneeling on both front legs. There was also a black horse, who only knelt on one leg. The priest asked the horse why it was only kneeling on one leg and it replied "I would not kneel at all if I could". The priest then asked the horse who it was and it replied, "I am the devil". "Why take the form of a horse?" the priest asked, "So that men will steal me and be hanged, and then belong to me". The priest retrieved the Pyx and once he had seen to the Communion, erected a stone cross on the spot where the horse had spoken to him.
Scholars of King Arthur will know that the defeat of the Saxons occurred at Mount Badon. The Badbury Rings west of Shapwick in Dorset is a popular contender for this mythical location. The Iron-Age fort is a raised patch of ground that once stood as a fortified community. One particular piece of evidence for the true nature of this ancient site is a family of ravens who live in a patch of trees on the hill. Readers of Don Quixote will remember that, according to legend, Arthur did not die but was transmuted into a raven. This raven would then become one of the last pair of ravens in the land. We do not know if this group ever became the very last, however Wessex is the land they speak of. This is the old name for the local county area. The story tells of a time when Arthur will be needed once more and he will turn back into human shape. According to the local lore, to find the raven that is Arthur you have to watch the field on the anniversary of the battle. There you will see a raven circling overhead, crowing over his victory. If a legend of Arthur isn't enough to inspire you, it is also told that a coffin of solid gold is buried within the hill fort. Gaining permission to find it must be an Arthurian task worthy of the Grail or Excalibur. Maybe you can do it?
Sir Robert Chichester was the owner of a luxurious manor house in Martinhoe. He had rented it out to a wealthy tenant who made his money through hard work. One day, just before the rent collection day, a soldier passed through asking for lodging. The tenant agreed, and as luck would have it, an armed gang came to ransack the manor that night. The soldier took his bow and shot the leader of the gang, who rode on a tall white horse. Then they unmasked him, it was Sir Robert of Chichester who owned the manor. He was attempting to steal the rent money and force the tenant to leave. He likely had a contract that prevented eviction without cause. Sir Robert soon died of his injury and his ghost was set free from the body. Because of his crimes and his unrepentant ways his ghost was not permitted to move on. From that day he walked the land in the shape of a black dog, and sometimes in an elephant drawn carriage with burning wheels which drove up and down sheer cliffs at Crosscombe. Each night, the ghost of Sir Robert would return to his bedroom, where his bed was made every night. If a servant happened to see the ghost, however, they would be burned alive by its presence. To protect from this, a servant must hold a loaf of leaven which acts as a magical charm. The story came to an end when the townsfolk became tired of the evil spirit and they called for an exorcist. One soon came, and they were able to force the ghost into a contract. The task was to carry a bundle of sand up a hill, if they succeeded they could go to heaven and if they failed they would go to hell. The ghost of Sir Robert tried to carry the bundle of sand up the slope but the rope kept breaking. Eventually, his time ran out and the ghost was promptly banished to an eternity in hell.
John Arundel Radford was the Parson of Lapford Parish during the mid 1800s. He was feared by the locals as a harsh man, and various tales are told as to this fact. One time, a merchant issued a bill and instead of paying it, the Parson forced him to eat it between two slices of bread. Perhaps it was over charged? He would also allow his hounds to run free along the Parish and they would chase away the children. The most memorable story tells of when he hanged a Curate with his bare hands. Some point to a rafter in the rectory where the rope was pulled. When the Parson was taken to court, the jury was made up of locals who were members of the Parson's church. They gave an innocent verdict despite strong evidence to his guilt. When asked why they found him innocent, they replied "us haven't hanged a parson and us wasn't going to now". This is according to hand-written notes taken by an historian who spoke to surviving townsfolk. As to the real guilt of the Parson, it seems clear. When he eventually died, presumably of old age, he had requested to be buried in the church itself. The church had him buried on the North side of the building, on the outside. Traditionally this is the side closest to Hell and is where convicts and suicides are buried. His ghost can sometimes be seen walking the church buildings and the grave is said to be the only one that hasn't had its cross slewn. This probably means cut away. Another famous ghost is said to walk this church, that of Thomas Becket, the famous Archbishop who was murdered. He appears on his feast night, which is the 7th of July.
Somewhere in the heart of Dartmoor can be found an ancient well. Known as Fitz's or Fice's Well, the 16th Century monument is supported by large granite slabs. Engraved with the letters I.F. the waters within are said to have miraculous powers. Discovered by John Fitz of Tavistock, he and his wife once lost their way while travelling home. They had become tired and thirsty and at this point, they stumbled upon a natural spring. When they drank the clean and sparkling waters, not only was their thirst quenched. They also regained their lost energy and seemed to know exactly how to get back home. It is commonly believed that it was pixies who deliberately caused John Fitz and his wife to get lost, with the magic well being a source of their mysterious powers. It is therefore a common practice to leave gifts for the little people who may or may not wish you well.
During late winter in 1855, a strange set of footprints were reported at Dawlish. Labelled "The Great Devon Mystery", during several nights of heavy snow the incredible footprints appeared. They were described as looking like a donkey's hoof yet had a gate of about a foot and walked on two legs. The footprints were said to be highly regular and when they came to obstructions, the prints simply continued beyond them. At times they must have leapt over fences several yards high. Many superstitious locals claimed they must belong to The Devil, who is said to walk on hooved feet. Several search parties were called out to follow the prints, which soon apppeared all over the county. Although they were able to follow them for miles at a time, not once did their maker come into sight. Many explanations were offered, and the spirit of Victorian Rationale was able to come up with several material ones. The two most popular causes of the prints, according to the non-superstitious, were that they were made by a monkey that escaped a travelling circus or that they were made by a kangaroo that escaped from a zoo. The prints appeared several times and have been since reported across the country. What began as the Dawlish phenomenon clearly created such a stir that whoever was responsible decided to take their show on the road.
Cranmere Pool is now a peaty bog but once upon a time it was a real body of water. Its name means Crow's Mere and it is located South of Okehampton. Several ghosts are said to haunt this spot as the restless spirits of sinners would congregate there. One such ghost is that of the Okehampton Mayor, Benjamin Gayer. He took money meant for charity while in office and so now cannot enter heaven. The spectre is known as Bingie. According to legend, to prevent him from wandering the town, Bingie was cast into the pool by a conjuror and was given the impossible task of draining it with a sieve. After many years of failure, Bingie found a sheepskin and used it to seal the sieve. After this, the pool was drained and it caused a flood in Okehampton.
During the seventeenth century, an infamous squire called Richard Capell lived at Brooke Manor in Buckfastleigh. So dreadful was his reputation that no-one dared to interfere with his activities. It was said that he would go out into the nearby villages and hunt for virgin maidens. Once he captured one, he'd take her to a hillside lodge under lock and key. Who knows what things he did once there, but the maidens were never seen again. When the squire died, it is said that "whisht hounds" or demon dogs were summoned to his house and howled all night. Since then, his tomb was built with an alter upon it. Children of the day would walk around the building thriteen times and then dare themselves to put their finger in the lock. It was said you could feel Richard Capell gnawing at the nails. Even to this day, the last recorded story from the 1990s, children refer to the tomb as the vampire's tomb and continue to dare each other to get up close.
Somewhere south of Okehampton in the wilds of Dartmoor can be found two large rocks. Locally known as Bread and Cheese, they are on a path up from what are called The Slipper Stones. Their originis surrounded in mythology. According to legend, the Bishop of Exeter in 1260 was one Bishop Bronescombe. He was walking through the moors one day from Widecomb to Sourton with a Chaplain. At the point where the slope became steep, he lost his slippers. Bare-foot, the Bishop and Chaplain continued on through the muddy grass where upon they found a place to sit. The Bishop was very hungry and had no food in his pack. He said to the Chaplain, "Do you remember the story of Jesus in which Satan offered him bread from stones? I don't think I could resist that on this day". The Chaplain responded "Aye, and some cheese too, it would be a blessing". Then, another walker rose up from the muddy hill and he carried a large sack. The walker said hello to the Bishop and the Chaplain and offered to share his food. He produced a large loaf and cheese from his sack. "All you have to do is kneel before me and call me Master" said the traveller. The Bishop and the Chaplain both agreed, for there was no harm in it, and knelt down. Only then, the Chaplain noticed the walker had cloven feet. He stood up again alerted and made the sign of the cross. At this the walker disappeared, leaving his bread and cheese which immediately turned into stone. To remind the Bishop of what he nearly did, his slippers were also turned to stone, further down the path.
There once was a man from Totnes who had a dream. In this dream he discovered a hidden treasure in the ruins of Berry Pomeroy Castle. The dream showed him where to look. Disregarding the dream as a fantasy, the man went about his business as usual. It was only after he awoke late at night after dreaming of the treasure for a third time, he decided to go and see if it was true. That night it was raining and a cold wind whisked through the village. As he walked into the hills and toward the ruins, he came across a doctor. Curious, the doctor asked him why he was out so late. Upon telling him his tale of treasure, the doctor tutted and told him to go home and look in the morning when it's not so cold. Reluctantly, the man from Totnes saw the truth in this and went home. However, when he reaced the ruins the next morning, he saw that the place he was to look had been recently disturbed and there was no treasure to be found. The doctor, who had advised him to go home, seemed to grow in wealth soon after too.
According to a 1958 edition of The Sheffield Star, an Irish coal miner named John McGroary passed out after seeing a ghost at work. He later described his experience as "a vision and a light..it looked like Wilfred Hales". This same event occurred again, this time to another miner called Keith Plant. He too said it bore resemblance to Wilfred Hales. The ghost in question was that of a fellow miner who had suddenly collapsed a few years earlier, aged only 30. The story travelled quickly through the couple of thousand miners employed by the company which led to complaints about reduced productivity. It seems everyone was loking out for Wilfred. It was common belief among the mining trade that seeing ghosts was a sign of coming disaster, where their departed friends would return to pass on the warning.
According to legend and lore, there lives an immortal mermaid at Kinder Scout. She is said to come down from her cave once a day and take a bath in the pool that forms in the River Kinder beneath. Known as Mermaid's Pool, lucky travellers who are able to see her are granted the wish of immortality. Furthermore, if you go at dawn on Easter Day you have the most chance of seeing her. Beware, though, as with all mermaids, freshwater mermaids are equally as dangerous. If you catch her bathing and do not do exactly as she wishes, she will drown you there and then.
This listed building in the Derbyshire region is deeply riddled with a horrible curse. The lead mine like many other in the area saw much activity up until the 20th century when industry fell into decline. When it closed in 1924 after over 300 years of digging, it had accumulated a tragic record of killer fires, floods, and cave-ins. So many men had died while putting pick to rock in order to cart out the sought-after ore.
Perhpas the curse is directly related to "T Owd Mon" of the old lead mines, a familar term for the image of an old style miner which appeared to some of the men. Seen in various caverns across the area including Magpie and Eyam, he'd be seen with a shovel over one shoulder and could be heard muttering to himself as he wandered about. Visitors can go and pay their respects to T Owd Mon of Magppie Mine as it now has a visitor centre and offers underground tours from time to time.
Overlooking the famous Chatsworth House, a thousand feet above sea level, is a squared off Bronze Age round-barrow. These structures were built in pre-Roman times and often marked burial sites. It is this barrow on top of Bunker's Hill where Hob Hurst is said to live. This sprite of English folklore often referred to as a devil or troll is known for haunting local woodlands and fields. Hurst is an old word for wood, making this a wood goblin by today's syntax. A related document by the Saxon scholar Bruce Dickins called Yorkshire Hobs however likens the word hurst to thyrs, meaning giant. Stories of Hob Hurst have been told all over the Chatsworth region, including tales of an appearance at Deepdale Cavern. Never-the-less, in local folklore, Hob Hurst is seen as a friend and protector of farmers and gamekeepers.
Near Glossop was and perhaps still, is a spot called Mossie Lea. Here there once lived a famous magician. His powers were so reputable that folk would travel from across the land and from abroad in order to learn his metaphysical arts. After many strange tests and devious tricks, a few of these pilgrims would succeed in becoming his students. One time there were two young disciples of his who were at the beginning of their education. The magician sent them away to collect a certain book, this particular book contained several powerful spells and incantations. He warned the students to not open the book under any circumstances. Once they had acquired the book, after many trials and much sacrifice, they began their journey home. It was when they were at a lonely spot where not many would go that they decided to take a quick look at the pages. The book was protected by a demon, and when they opened it the demon arose and created a violent storm with thunder and lightening. The magician, who was never far away, saw the storm and knew exactly what had happened. He walked over to where the students were cowering in fear and asked them calmly to pass him the book. Once he had it in his hands, he used one of its magic spells to compell the demon to create a rope to heaven using the sand at its feet. Until this day, that demon has never once bothered any student again. Perhaps it is there now, making a rope from sand.
There was once a village called Ashopton with a church named Derwent Woodlands famed for its rich traditions. When a new vicar was called to take the parish, he was told about the requirements. There were many archane traditions that had been adhered to since time immemorial. Then, they told him about The Sermon For The Dead. On December's last Sunday, the vicar always preached to an empty church at midnight. The spirits of those who would die within one year would leave their bodies and listen. When hearing this, the vicar refused and said it was witchcraft. However, when that time of year came upon him and snow caused an eerie silence to cover Derwent Woodlands, he decided to tell his Sermon For The Dead. As he preached to an empty church, still vitalised by the aromas of incense and polished oak, wraith like forms began to congregate in the gallery. As he peered up at them, he noiced that they were the spirits of some of his parishoners. Then, to his horror, he saw his own image up there, watching himself speak. Sure enough, every one of the parishoners who apppeared that night died within one year, including the new vicar.
Derwent Woodlands church is now submerged under Ladybower Reservoir. This flooded area now serves water for thousands of local residents. Was turning it into a lake and flooding the village the only way to prevent this terrible and archaic magic from manifesting? Perhaps the secret will never be totally told.
In the city of Chesterfield, North Derbyshire, can be found a peculiar church spire. The fourteenth century building is one of the largest parish churches in the area. Its twisted spire is one of the first things people notice when in the city as it towers high above many buildings. The other discernible feature passers by can see is that it is made of wood. It seems that the wooden structure has bent round under some sort of pressure. Scientific explainations talk about the wood being untreated and warping in the rain. It's possible, however don't you think they would have made sure they used mason's timber? Never-the-less, there are more fantastic stories behind the warping of the spire.
Some say that when it was built, one of the first couples to be married there were so innocent that the spire bent in recognition. It is said that when another couple with equal purity marry there again, the spire will right itself. Another tale talks of the time when the devil clung to the spire in an attempt to frighten the people of Chesterfield. No-one can be certain as to exactly why the spire bent in the way it did, leaning seven feet out of its original position. It seems unusual to be such a uniform deformity, and centred around one point. When it was deemed unsafe in the nineteenth century, the demolition team were held off by a costly restrengthening instead. This means that even today a piece of medieval architecture remains for us to admire, even if the devil broke it.
Sometime in the eighteenth century, there was a gruesome murder at Bradwell. The body of a young girl was found hidden under the stairs in an old house at Hill Head. Even though the body was buried, the spirit of the girl refused to rest. Every night, all the residents of Hill Head were terrified to cold sweats by ghostly apparitions. The terrors became so bad that the locals eventually called upon the services of a Baptist magician. The exorcist claimed to have power over the planets themselves, so a ghost would not be a problem for him. When he arrived, he set up his equipment and drew a chalk circle on the floor of the hall. After many hours of chanting in which he broke into cold sweats, the minister remained inside the circle and commanded the spirit to show itself. Then, the spectre appeared. The minister then commanded it to turn into a fish and live in the lumb, which is a local term for a pool of water. To finish off the spell, he then ordered the ghost to take on the shape of an Ouzel, which is a small white bird, every Christmas Eve. Perhaps this was so that in future times the spirit had a chance to enter the next realm?
On one lonely cold night, a Methodist minister found himself lost on Ashbourne Moors in Derbyshire. After wandering around looking for help, he spotted a light in the distance. As he approached, he saw it came from an old house. The minister decided to knock on the door as ask if he could stay until morning. There was an old couple living there and they agreed he could stay but warned him of spirits. The minister sat and waited to be served supper, but the old couple simply went to bed and wished him a peaceful night. Perhaps they were poor and couldn't feed him? Never the less, when the minister went up to bed he soon heard the rattling of pots and pans. A few minutes later, he heard someone shout "Armanleg, supper is served!". To this, the minister got out of bed and made his way downstairs. There he saw a huge table laid out with all kinds of delicious foods. Sat around it were lots of beautiful looking people. He prayed over his dinner in the way he normally did and called upon heaven to dismiss any devil-work. When he opened his eyes, the table was empty and the beautiful people were all gone. So the minister ended up going to bed hungry after-all. He managed to survive the night though, and went on to tell his spooky tale. In these times the church was still competing with pagan beliefs which at one time had been incorporated in the church to make Christianity accessible to believers of older religions.
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Fantastic Britain: Myths And LegendsWritten by Rowan Blair Colver Categories
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