Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Category: Folktales

English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales

Southend-on-Sea Ratman

I thought I’d tell you of a local legend in Southend-on-Sea that I heard growing up and thought you’d enjoy. In our town, there is a pretty grim underpass that’s been there for years, and has developed a reputation for being crime-ridden and basically a no-go-area after dark. However, more interesting is the ghost said to haunt it.

Apparitions / Folktales / Hauntings / Scottish Folktales

Jedburgh Castle

Jedburgh’s original wooden motte and bailey castle dated back to the 12th century and was founded by King David I of Scotland (Born 1084 – Died 24 May 1153). The Scottish demolished the castle in 1409, which by then was a stone fortress with a pele tower, gatehouse and courtyard. In 1823 a Howard Reform prison was built on the site of the castle which was then closed in 1868.

Apparitions / English Folktales / Folktales / Hauntings

Church Hill, Crowborough

There is a siting legend associated with The Church of St John the Evangelist, whch was consecrated on 31 July 1839. The orignal site that was chosen is said to have been to the West, on Church Hill near Friar’s Gate. As with other siting legends the stones would be moved each night and positioned in the current spot.

English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales / Witchcraft

Betty Chidley The Witch

Below is the story of Betty Chidley, originally published in Miss C. S. Burne’s ‘Shropshire Folk-Lore’ and then again in ‘English Fairy and Other Folk Tales’ by Edwin Sidney Hartland [1890].

Black Dogs / English Folktales / Folktales / Hauntings

Grassington Bargest

The following story was published in ‘English Fairy and Other Folk Tales’ by Edwin Sidney Hartland [1890], under the title ‘Billy B—‘s Adventure’ and Robert Hunt’s ‘Popular Romances of the West of England’ was cited.

Black Dogs / English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales

Aylesbury Black Dog

The following story which appeared in English Fairy and Other Folk Tales by Edwin Sidney Hartland [1890], concerns ‘a man who lived at a village near Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. This man was accustomed to go every morning and night to milk his cows in a field, which was some distance from the village.

English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales

Bomere Pool

The privately owned Bomere Pool was created through glacial action and is an example of a kettle hole mere. However, there is a story that would have you believe it was created another way. Edwin Sidney Hartland gives the following account of this tradition in his ‘English Fairy and Other Folk Tales’ [1890].

English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales

Cherry of Zennor

The following story complete with footnotes was entitled ‘The Adventure of Cherry of Zennor (1)’ and appeared in ‘English Fairy and Other Folk Tales’ by Edwin Sidney Hartland [1890]