Category: Uncategorized

The Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe – Who Was She?

A human skull has guarded Bettiscombe Manor for generations, but science revealed the famous legend had the wrong victim. So who was the mysterious woman behind Britain’s screaming skull? 💀

When the Dead Don’t Stay Dead

There are few things that humanity has been quite so consistently afraid of as a dead person who refuses to behave like one.

The Lawyer Who Shot Himself

How Clement Vallandigham became history’s unluckiest defence lawyer

Dressed to Kill

Beauty, style, a little fire… What can possibly go wrong?

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…

The Places You Should Never Disturb.

Fairy paths, forts and holloways..

The Folk Beyond the Hedgerows

Beyond the hedge lies another Britain. A land of fairy paths, hidden kingdoms and ancient warnings…

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

Cruel Coppinger: Cornwall’s Smuggling Terror

.

The Story Trees

The post explores the significance of remarkable trees in Britain, highlighting their historical and community roles. Notable examples include the Capon Tree, symbolizing community unity, and the Ankerwycke Yew, embodying endurance and legend. These trees serve as reminders of shared stories and cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of storytelling across generations.

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.”

The Last Witness. – Kirst D’Raven

Short Story Sunday

Lady Killers – The Black Widow Who May Have Got Away With Murder

Wherever Belle Gunness went, people had an alarming tendency to die. Children. Husbands. Suitors. Farmhands. And then, just when the authorities finally closed in… Belle herself apparently died.

Lady Killers: The Baby Farmer Who Betrayed Victorian Britain

Some stories are hard to tell.. Not because the facts have been lost to time or because history has become tangled with folklore and legend. But because every page reminds us that the greatest horrors are often committed not by mythical monsters, but by ordinary people living ordinary lives.

Lady Killers: The Devil of Royal Street

Some monsters are born in the darkness. Others host lavish dinner parties beneath glittering chandeliers while the city applauds their elegance…

Lady Killers: The Patron Saint of Unhappy Wives.

Every Legend needs its patron saint and the story of Giulia Tofana is no exception. Over 600 men allegedly succumbed to her concoctions – but how much of her story is truth and how much is fiction? Pull up a chair….

More Than a Game

The Superstitions, Rituals and Folklore of Football

The Three Lions

The Medieval Beast That Still Roars

When the Final Whistle Never Blows

The Ghosts of Britain’s Football Grounds.

Did Harry Meet Sally?

My Grandad Harry was a great storyteller. Yet amongst the lions, crocodiles and other improbable adventures was a story that always intrigued me. Harry swore that, when he was a boy, there was a woman in Attercliffe who owned a cat with wings…

Stocksbridge Bypass Revisited

Some stories refuse to stay buried…