Flibbertigibbet
The flibbertigibbet was a night demon who ‘mopped and mowed’ between the ringing of the curfew bell and the crowing of the first cock, with the object of terrifying young women.
[The Folklore Of Warwickshire (1976) by Roy Palmer]
Country and County: Warwickshire
Cobs And Knops
Cobs and knops were hobgoblins, much feared. They were originally demon horses, and it is clear that belief in them remained strong in Warwickshire, for in parts of the county on All Souls’ Day (2nd November) those brave enough went out carrying a simulated horse’s head covered with a sheet to frighten the timid.
[The Folklore Of Warwickshire (1976) by Roy Palmer]
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
Astley Castle
The ruined Astley Castle is a Grade II listed fortified manor house dating from the 16th century. The manor had belonged to the Astley family since the 12th century but passed to the Grey’s in 1420 when Joan de Astley, wife of Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn (Born 1362 – Died 30 September 1440), inherited the estate of her father Sir William de Astley, 5th Baron Astley.
Ettington Park Hotel
Part of the Hand Picked Hotel group, the Etterington Park Hotel was the former home of the Shirley family, Lords of the Manor since the time of the Domesday Book. The current Neo-Gothic mansion building, which may stand on the site of a Roman villa, dates from the Victorian era and was designed by John Pritchard. It has had several uses apart from being a home.
Alcock’s Arbour (aka Devil’s Bag of Nuts)
There are two stories associated with this conical hill just off the road between Stratford and Alcester known as the Devil’s Bag of Nuts and Alcock’s Arbour. One 21 September which is the known as the Devil’s Nutting Day, Satan was collecting nuts when he was surprised by the Virgin Mary.
Meon Hill, Lower Quinton
An Iron Age hill fort once stood upon Meon Hill and it has been suggested that man has lived there from the Stone Age, but it a legend concerning the formation of the hill that has attracted my attention.
Alveston Black Dog
Roy Palmer in his 1976 book ‘The Folklore of Warwickshire’ tells us that within living memory a black dog that was seen running down a hill and transformed into a woman. ‘Charles Walton, a ploughboy at Alveston, met a dog on the way home on nine successive evenings.
Selection Of Big Cat Sightings (2001 – 2011)
On Friday, 13 January 2012 the following article entitled ‘Previous ‘big cat sightings’ appeared in the Tamworth Herald mentioning sightings across Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire.
Recent Comments