Tall Tales

Here’s a tall tale I collected from a local character when I was researching folklore in Oldham, Lancashire. While the tale is purely fictional it does include some half truths and was ‘doing the rounds’ of the local pubs. Read More »

Today the hamlet of Talkin in north Cumbria sits astride the quiet road which connects the villages of Hallbankgate and Castle Carrock. Although secluded and well away from busy highways, it is now home to a variety of people from many walks of life. Read More »

George Eakin had decided to clear away the 'Cherry Tree Well'. It was a hazard to people and animals and, so far as George was concerned, a nuisance in the centre of a large and productive field some thousand yards from the home farm. Read More »

Chapter One:  Work was progressing well on the new stretch of road from Gelt Bridge to Byegill Farm. It had taken some eight years and much lobbying by local representatives to obtain sufficient funding. Read More »

Tom Phillips, born around the middle of the 19th century and believed to be in his late fifties on his death, was unfortunately profoundly deaf from birth. For this reason, and because he could not enunciate intelligible speech, he was referred to by all who knew him as 'Dummy' Philips. Read More »