Clockwise or widdershins? Around wells, boats, fires and even the kitchen pot, direction once mattered. Follow the sun for luck and protection – or go the other way when you want to turn the world upside down…
Category: Folklore
Don’t Turn the Bread Upside-Down
Bread, butter, salt, fire and even empty egg shells were once surrounded by rules designed to protect the household. Step into the kitchen, where everyday cooking still carries traces of some very Old Magic…
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Put It Back
Shoes in walls, witch bottles beneath floors, horse skulls under houses and dried cats hidden in ceilings. Our ancestors built protection into their homes – and when we find it centuries later, sometimes we still put it back.
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The Old Magic Hiding in Your Clothes
Getting dressed was once riddled with magic. From inside-out clothes and lucky socks to dangerous buttons, troublesome stiles and the unforgivable crime of putting shoes on the table, some of the old rules are still hiding in our wardrobes.
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Don’t Throw Yourself Away
How much old magic survives in the things we throw away? From lost teeth beneath pillows to hair and nail clippings, our discarded pieces once carried dangerous power…
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The Dead They Feared – The Strange Burials of Wharram Percy
At Wharram Percy, ten people were cut, broken and burned after death. Forensic anthropology reveals what happened to their bodies – but can it tell us what their community feared?
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The Croglin Vampire – Anatomy of a Legend
Britain’s most famous Vampire has a name, a date and a terrifying history. But dig into the original sources and the Croglin Vampire becomes stranger than the legend suggests…
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Annwn – The Otherworld Beyond the Hedgerow
Our ancestors didn’t imagine another world above the clouds. They imagined it was just beyond the hill..
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The Fairy Queen – Rulers of Britain’s Otherworld
Forget everything you think you know about the Fairy Queen. Long before glitter and fairy tales, Britain knew mysterious women who ruled hidden kingdoms below hills, lakes and ancient forests. Meet the powerful Queens of the Otherworld, where myth, magic and folklore become one…
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The Places You Should Never Disturb.
Fairy paths, forts and holloways..
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The Folk Beyond the Hedgerows
Beyond the hedge lies another Britain. A land of fairy paths, hidden kingdoms and ancient warnings…
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Crying The Neck
Harvest rituals like ‘Crying the Neck’ in Devon and Cornwall celebrate gratitude as farming communities mark the end of the harvest. It’s a mix of old customs and modern appreciation for agricultural roots.
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The Watchers in the Fields
Scarecrows used to be harmless protectors of crops, but now they creep us out and star in horror stories. Still, towns celebrate them in festivals, showing their quirky charm and creativity.
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The Man Who Had To Die.
John Barleycorn has been cut down, drowned and burned for centuries. But behind this brutal old folk song lies a much older story of harvest, sacrifice and rebirth…
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Woven From the Last Harvest
Corn dollies are intricate straw creations from harvest traditions, symbolizing good fortune and community. They represent the blend of craftsmanship, belief, and the important relationship between people and the land.
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Lammas – The Bread That Bound a Community
Lammas, or Lughnasadh, marks the first harvest, symbolizing survival and community. Celebrated with bread offerings and gatherings, it intertwines gratitude for nature’s bounty with ancient customs, transitioning towards autumn.
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Sea Serpents – Britain’s Monsters of the Deep
Sea serpents aren’t simply monsters. They’re symbols of the unknown. They remind us that there are still places where certainty gives way to possibility, where imagination sails alongside evidence, and where every dark shape beyond the waves invites one irresistible question.
What if?
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“The Haunting of Widow’s Leap Farm”
A Review of the Premiere of Joe O’Byrne’s new play; “The Haunting of Widow’s Leap Farm. A Tale from Paradise Heights”
Burnley Mechanic’s Theatre 26/07/26 7:30pm.
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The Legend of Screaming Beach.
Screaming Beach, or Trevaunance Cove, is a stunning yet eerie coastal region in Cornwall, England, known for its haunting legends and tragic maritime history. Its tales include the “Screaming Sailor,” ghostly apparitions, and mysterious occurrences related to shipwrecks. Visitors are drawn by both its natural beauty and supernatural intrigue, evoking a blend of fascination and skepticism.
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Cruel Coppinger: Cornwall’s Smuggling Terror
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Sea Saints
The Holy Men and Women Who Chose the Edge of the World…
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The Stone Graves Above the Sea
Pull up a chair…
The tide is coming in and every coastline has a story to tell…
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Birnam Wood – When a Forest Walked to War
The real woodland behind Shakespeare’s greatest prophecy..
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The Chained Oak – The Curse That Refused to Die
“For every branch that falls from this old oak, a member of your family shall die.”
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The Major Oak – Britain’s Greatest Living Legend
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest has captivated hearts for centuries, intertwining history and folklore. As it nears the end of its life, the deep connection people feel for this ancient tree reflects not just its grandeur but also the profound role it has played in our collective imagination. Saying goodbye feels like parting with an old friend.
