Category: Legends

Thomas Holt And The Devil

Roy Palmer in ‘The Folklore Of Warwickshire (1976)’ tells us that ‘A Coventry musician, called Thomas Holt, who had nineteen children, sold himself to the devil to solve his financial problems.

Long Compton

About a mile from the Rollright Stones, it was once it was said that ‘There are enough witches in Long Compton to draw a load of hay up Long Compton Hill.’ Roy Palmer in his ‘The Folklore Of Warwickshire’ gives the following brief account of account of someone contacting the D

The Three Crutches, Strood

One night in the 13th century a Templar Knight named Sir Richard or Reginald Braybrooke was murdered whilst travelling (probably) to Temple Manor after visiting Lord Cobham. He was shot through the heart by and arrow and his body was not discovered until the following day at a location where three roads met. The murderer was never caught or brought to justice.

Satan Outwitted In Trefeglwys

The following account appeared in ‘Y Brython’, a popular Welsh-language periodical devoted to literature, antiquities and folklore published between 1858 and 1863. It was later reprinted in Elias Owen’s ‘Wesh Folkore’ (1887).

Satan Appearing As A Lovely Maiden

A young man who was walking from Dyserth to Rhyl was overtaken by a lovely young lady dressed in white. She invited conversation, and they walked together awhile talking kindly, but, when they came opposite a pool on the road side she disappeared, in the form of a ball of fire, into the water. All that has reached our days, in corroboration of this tale, is the small pool.

Satan Seen Lying Right Across A Road

The following story appeared in Elias Owen’s ‘Welsh folk-lore’ (1887). ‘Near Pentrevoelas lived a man called John Ty’nllidiart, who was in the habit of taking, yearly, cattle from the uplands in his neighbourhood, to be wintered in the Vale of Clwyd.

Our Lord of the Poison‏

There once lived a man named Don Fermin Azueta who was much admired and respected throughout Mexico City for his piety, kindly nature and gentle spirit. He was a wealthy man who used his money for helping the poor of the city and his philanthropy became legendary.

Little St. Hugh of Lincoln

Stories of blood libel are not unfortunately unknown in Britain and like central Europe we have our antisemitic stories such as those surrounding William of Norwich, Simon of Trent, Robert of Bury, Harold of Gloucester and Little St. Hugh of Lincoln.