Taking a little dip today into the “Proverbs and Proverbial Sayings” section of Dorsetshire Folklore by John Symonds Udal. Here are a few of the best: A peck of worry won’t pay a pound of debt. The age old advice that worrying gets you nowhere. True, but hard to live by! Better be at the …
Greasing the Fat Sow and other Dorsetshire Sayings Read More »
In a week where the phrase “you couldn’t make it up” has been uttered more often than we could have ever imagined, it seems a fitting time to write up my recent reading on the improbable topic of “animated horse hairs.” Yes, you read that right: there once existed a belief that horsehairs were capable …
There are exciting times ahead for #FolkloreThursday! The response since starting the hashtag back in the summer has been overwhelmingly positive, and more than a few people have been in contact to ask whether there are any plans to take the project further. It is with great pleasure that we can officially reveal that yes …
Tales of bells that have been lost to the sea are a familiar occurrence in many legends, especially those that take place around Britain’s coastline. Whether lost by bad weather, bad luck, or punishment for a rash word spoken in anger, here are a selection of Britain’s drowned bells. The Legend of Kilgrimol: This tale is …
Drowned Churches and Ghostly Peals: Britain’s Lost Bells Read More »
Bread lies at the centre of many a story; little surprising given its importance throughout history as a staple of the average diet. Bread has been baked, shared, fought over, ruined, refused, exchanged and blessed throughout history and fable alike, and two tales of bread and witchcraft are to be found in the rich folklore …
Situated on Castle Rock, Nottingham Castle rests an impressive one hundred and thirty feet above the city. Although very little of the original castle exists today, the series of caves and tunnels that run through the cliffs continue to draw visitors and investigation, with over four hundred known caves currently documented and catalogued. One of …
Gyre Carline – a Scots term, from the Norse for Old Woman – was a force to be reckoned with. In some accounts a giantess, others a witch or hag, she inspired terror in the hearts of those who heard tales of her exploits, and perhaps with good reason. One such story involves the …
Bouley Bay, a picturesque harbour on the north coast of Jersey, is well-reputed for being the perfect place for a day-time stroll. As night draws in, however, if local legend is to be believed, you would do best to be as far away as possible… A ghostly hound is said to haunt the area: …
