Forteana
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There are certain graves that seem determined to tell you their story.
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Iron scales, fiery eyes and a vulnerable spot beneath its tail. The Wantley Wyrm is one of Yorkshire’s greatest dragon legends, but was it ever meant to be taken seriously?
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From medieval wolf hunters to modern roadside encounters, the strange story of the creature said to haunt the roads around Buxton.
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The world is filled with optical illusions that captivate the human eye and mind, and among them, the Fata Morgana phenomenon stands as one of the most mesmerizing. From ghostly ships on the horizon to cities in the sky, Fata Morgana has fueled myths, legends, and illusions across diverse cultures.
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In the heart of Scotland, the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, has woven a tapestry of mystery and intrigue that spans centuries. The tale of a mysterious creature dwelling in the deep, dark waters of Loch Ness has captured the imaginations of locals and visitors alike, giving rise to a…
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The tale of Gef the talking mongoose remains one of the most puzzling and intriguing mysteries of the paranormal world. Whether he was a genuine supernatural entity or a clever fabrication, Gef’s story continues to spark fascination and debate among believers and sceptics alike.
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In my vast collection of strange and extraordinary tales, few stories rival the legend of Mike the Headless Chicken. Born in Fruita, Colorado, in 1945, Mike’s tale is one of resilience, wonder, and the enduring spirit of life. Mike’s story began on a seemingly ordinary day when farmer Lloyd Olsen, going about his usual farm…
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Why do millions of religious people travel around the world every year, to look at and pray to severed toes, old pieces of cloth and pieces of old thorn?
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In Dartmoor, England, the B3212 road is infamous for the “Hairy Hands” incidents, where unseen forces grab steering wheels, causing accidents. With roots in early 20th century folklore, encounters persisted into modern times, sparking debate between supernatural and rational explanations. This enduring mystery continues to captivate and fuel speculation about the unknown forces at play.
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The Devil’s Hoofprints of 1855 stand as a testament to the enduring power of folklore and the enigmatic nature of unexplained phenomena, leaving a legacy that transcends time and beckons us to explore the mysteries that still await unravelling.
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In the heart of Victorian London’s dimly lit streets, a figure emerged, striking terror into the hearts of its residents. Spring Heeled Jack, a phantom-like character, transcended the boundaries between reality and folklore, leaving an indelible mark on the collective psyche of the era. This elusive and mysterious being became a spectre haunting the imaginations…
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Hannah Beswick, born in 1688, inherited a substantial estate in an era marked by the Industrial Revolution. Her fear of being buried alive reflected the uncertainties of medical knowledge. After her passing in 1758, her body was embalmed and displayed above ground, offering insights into medical practices. Her unique story embodies the complexities of 18th-century…
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Sweden’s rich folklore, rooted in Norse mythology, intertwines ancient tales with modern life. From ghostly legends of “Grey Man” and Gripsholm Castle to “Ghost Rockets” sightings, Swedish folklore bridges the gap between reality and fantasy. This captivating heritage continues to inspire contemporary art, creating a timeless cultural identity.
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In 12th century Woolpit, England, villagers discovered two peculiar, green-skinned children who spoke an unknown language. The boy died, but the girl adapted, shedding her green skin. The children’s origins remain a mystery, inspiring theories of distant lands, supernatural beings, and more. The legend endures, reflecting humanity’s enduring fascination with the inexplicable.
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The intertwining of modern Bigfoot sightings with British folklore raises scepticism about the authenticity of reported encounters. The parallels drawn between mythical creatures and contemporary accounts blur the lines between fact and fiction, challenging perceptions and inviting contemplation on the complexities of human storytelling.
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I loved magic shows when I was a kid. I remember being absolutely fascinated by mysterious events and the possibility that some of us might possess supernatural powers such as the ability to read minds, get a glimpse of the future, or, perhaps, suddenly port into another dimension. The human mind is a curious one.…
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Although accounts of an aquatic beast living in Scotland’s Loch Ness date back 1,500 years, the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster is born when a sighting makes local news on May 2, 1933. The newspaper Inverness Courier related an account of a local couple who claimed to have seen “an enormous animal rolling…
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A misshapen dwarf-like fairy with a conical hat was once seen running across a road in Ewell, according to a newly unearthed account. Jeremy Harte, curator of Bourne Hall Museum, stumbled across the extraordinary report in a book on the lost archives of the Fairy Investigation Society. Mr Harte asked: “Do unseen fairies haunt Ewell?…
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Frankly, we’re a little weary of Bigfoot and Nessie. What about those mysterious critters that don’t have dedicated reality shows … but are still integral, beloved, and/or feared parts of the communities in which they’re said to dwell? Here are 9 wonderfully weird, staunchly local cryptozoological creatures. read more The 9 Greatest Monsters in North…
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On a trip to the local supermarket a couple of weeks ago I discovered an antiques shop I’d never noticed before even though it’s been there for months, apparently. I bought a 580-page, half-leather-bound, gold-embossed book called The Universe for just a pound. It’s a very late 1909 edition of a book that was first…
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The story begins in the small town of Crewe, Virginia in May or June 1968. Bob was only a young child but remembers the incident well. “My mother was giving birth and my dad had sent use to wash our hands on the front porch and this child-like creature stepped up on the porch and…
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“Hobthrust: a good natured goblin, who assists servant maids in their early morning work, but in a state of nudity….” Glossary of Words, English Dialect Society 1877 The Hob was believed to have been a small little man who helped a household around the hearth and kitchen. Throughout Yorkshire there are place names, traditions and…
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Boggart Hole Clough is a nook, a small valley within the Manchester connurbation that has miraculously remained without housing development or industry. Its name should immediately excite those interested in fairylore as the boggart is a northern solitary fairy: note that there have been several boggart posts on strangehistory including boggart catching, a misplaced Calderdale…
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In mid-1984, Kevin Chippendale, while walking along Braemar Road, spotted a creature flying near the roof of the Green Dragon apartment building. “He described it as resembling a dog with wings, having a long muzzle [beak?] and four legs with what looked like paws. ”He saw the thing again in February 1985, on the same…
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For thousands of years across many different cultures across the world people have believed that the head or skull has held the soul. Some tribes would preserve the skulls of their fallen enemies and the Celts would decorate their shrines with skulls.In Britain we have a strange folklore of skulls that scream if taken from…