Legends, Myths and Folklore...
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
April 27, 2007 4:00am CST
Do you have any legendary or mythical connections in the vacinity of your home, or any folklore? I'm very interested in these three subjects.
I don't know of anything much in my village, apart from the ghost in the pub and the one in the school, but there are no great stories attached. I've seen the ghost in the school when I worked there. He wore a black, hooded cloak and only appeared for a few seconds, as though he was taking care of me whilst I was alone in the school. I've also seen one in the cemetery next door to the school, but that one, I felt, was more a deity than a once-living person.
Then, on Ditchling Common, which is about 5-6 miles from here, but very close to where I was brought up, there is a Highwayman, who rides about a 2 mile stretch of the common, at certain times. From what I can gather, from reports of sightings, this normally occurs on full moon and has been the cause of several traffic accidents.
So do you know of any myths, legends or folklore in or around your home town, or county? Please tell me about them, and where you're from? I'm waiting with baited breath.:-)
3 people like this
5 responses
@mummymo (23706)
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27 Apr 07
Well I don't know if this is the type of thing that you mean honey but I am from Stirling in Scotland where there were 2 major battles with the English ( both of which we won ;-p) The battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and the battle of Bannockburn in 1314! I actually live on what would have been part of the battlefield in 1314! There is also a lot of history and legends of ghosts in Stirling Castle and they have organised Ghost Walks in the old town every summer! Unfortunately I have never met any of these spirits ( there are to many to go into in one post!) but I live in hope - or is that fear! lol xxx
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
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27 Apr 07
WOW... how interesting that you live on a historical battlefield. Yes, this is the type of thing I meant, being part of legend. I've read Bernard Cornwell books about battles between the Scottish and English. These were mainly on English territory though, and we won those! So, it looks as though we were better on our own territories. lol.
Did you ever take a Ghost Walk? They have those in Whitby and Stratford Upon Avon, but I've never joined them because they're always around 8-8.30 at night.
Thank you for sharing this with me. I don't think there's anything to fear... Brightest Blessings my friend. Another + rating for a great response. :-)
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
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27 Apr 07
Thanks Darkwing - yeah we won twice but it didn't last that long lol I have been on a ghost walk but it was quite a few years ago now - lots of fun though! I am sur we have something in common with the Edinburgh Ghost walk in that they have one about tea time and then one later on - maybe your local ones will start that too - I hope so cos I think you would really enjoy it! xx
@Galena (9110)
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27 Apr 07
oh my goodness, that picture is my favourite painting!
The Wanderer above the sea of Fog, by Casper David Friedrich!
I LOVE IT! it's so moody and atmospheric and thoughtful. I love it so much. I have a lovely print of it.
errrm.
okay, the short answer is, I live in Cornwall. there's a lot of folklore in Cornwall. there's piskies, knockers, the wild hunt, a long and interesting History of Witchcraft, Smugglers, Piracy, everything.
@Darkwing (21583)
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28 Apr 07
I'm glad you like the pic and you are indeed lucky to have a print of it.
Yes, Cornwall holds a lot of Arthurian Legend, doesn't it? It's a very interesting place. I love the Moors in the West Country and come to that, the North Yorkshire Moors. All of them are steeped in legend and folklore.
I have yet to reach further than Looe on the south Cornwall coast, but I have been further west inland. I would someday like to go to Tintagel. I imagine there's a lot of atmosphere abot the place.
Thank you for your response, Galena, and Brightest Blessings.
@Galena (9110)
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28 Apr 07
tell you what, you're better off heading a few miles along the coast from Tintagel, which apart from the castle is a bit of a tourist hellhole (a few good shops though) and going to Boscastle.
Boscastle is a truly beautiful harbour village, beatiful harbour, stunning cliffs and of course there is the completely amazing Museum of Witchcraft. it's just incredible some of the stuff they have there.
@Darkwing (21583)
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28 Apr 07
If I go down for a few days, I could perhaps do both. Thank you.
I went to Glastonbury for the first time last year, and Chalice Well Gardens. I had a bit of an experience there, but it was a good one, and I came away in a bit of a trance. Beautiful place. I daresay you've been?
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
3 May 07
Well I live in Weatern state of Nevada in U.S.A. now.
BUt my father in law told of sleeping in a cousins house in a back room where something kept pulling his blankets off he never seen any thing and another time driving a team of horses and wagon down a road when A woman in white stood in the raodway and scared the horses but she disappered never did find out the legion behind these stories.
@Darkwing (21583)
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3 May 07
Wow... I've felt a light weight sit on the bed but horses and a wagon must be from a real long time ago. Maybe a woman was run down by a horses and a wagon at that point at one time? Having the blankets pulled right off your bed must be pretty scary. Wouldn't it be interested to find out why those things happen?
Thank you for your very interesting response Lakota. I'm giving you a plus rating for this. Brightest Blessings my friend.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
27 Apr 07
Hi Darkwing, Yes there have been known many ghosts, and legends in Australia as you are aware in Australia that there this is where they sent the convicts as their have been many sighting over the years of ghosts that are roaming around the old convict cells that people have been known to of seen, we also have a couple of castles also where there have been others ghosts, and earlier this month was our Sydney harbour bridge 75th birthday and they were telling us and showing us where other ghosts where they were sighted, so it looks like we have many here in Australia.
@Bizziebod (3497)
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3 May 07
Hi Darkwing, well as I'm sure you are aware where I live in Devon it is riddled with folklore about pirates, ghosts etc. The most intriguing myth I found was when I lived in a little village called Chardstock just out of Axminster. There was a lovely old church and graveyard there. If you walked around to the back of the churchyard and looked over the wall there was a tree with a big hole in it, however, it looked like the tree had been bricked up from inside. There were all kinds of rumours that there was a skeleton in there and this person was heartbroken so sealed themselves into the tree. Personally I think someone put some bricks into the tree to make it more stable many years ago and then the tree just grew around it making it look like it was bricked up from the inside!
@Darkwing (21583)
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3 May 07
You might well be right Bizziebod, but if as you say it looked as though it was bricked up from the inside, this story may well be true. Heartbroken people do some strange things, and I like that story better than your theory! lol. It's more romantic.
Thank you for your response my friend, and Brightest Blessings.
P.S. How did your Beltane go?
1 person likes this
@Bizziebod (3497)
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3 May 07
I had a great day thanks, spent some time with an older pagan who always gives me some good advise. How was yours?