Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Specific Location: Yorkshire Dales

Buried Treasure / Legends

Maiden’s Castle, Reeth

The following treasure legend was published in Notes on the Folk-lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders by William Henderson (1879). ‘I learn from Mr. Robinson, of Hill House, Reeth, Yorkshire, that in his neighbourhood as in many others is a place called Maiden’s Castle, in which tradition avers a chest of gold is buried.

Black Dogs / Legends / Occult / Witchcraft

The Wise Woman Of Littondale

The following legend of ‘The Wise Woman Of Littondale’ appeared in ‘The Table Book’ (1827) by William Hone (Born 3 June 1780 – Died 8 November 1842) and partially reprinted in ‘Yorkshire Legends and Traditions’ by Rev Thomas Parkinson (1888).

Devil / Legends

The Devil’s Apronful

In his  ‘Yorkshire Legends and Traditions’ (1888), Rev Thomas Parkinson gave the following account of how the stones known as The Devil’s Apronful got their name.

Devil / Devil Bridge / Legends

The Devil’s Bridge, Burnsall

There stories throughout Britain of the Devil building bridges and Rev Thomas Parkinson in his ‘Yorkshire Legends and Traditions’ (1888) gives the following account for the bridge over the River Dibb at Burnsall.

Apparitions / Black Dogs / Hauntings

Ivelet Bridge Black Dog

The single span Ivelet Bridge over the River Swale dates from 1687 and was an important crossing point on the 16 mile Corpse Way from Muker to the Churchyard at Grinton, which was once the only consecrated burial ground in the dale.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Auld ‘Opper Of Raydale House

Raydale House is a 17th century building that has been largely rebuilt during the 19th century and, it was during the 19th century that it acquired a reputation of being haunted.

Ancient Sites / Stone Circles

Rawthey Bridge Stone Circle

Stones used in the construction of the 1822 Rawthey Bridge over which the A683 passes were plundered from a stone circle described in The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, 1777 by J Nicolson & R Burn. “A circle of large stones, supposed to be a monument of druid worship”. According to Rev.

Ancient Sites / Early Christianity / Wells

St Simon’s Well

According to Edmund Bogg in “From Eden Vale to the plains of York or A Thousand Miles in the Valleys of the Nidd and Yore" (1894) ”In the township of East Scrafton is a spring of water known as St. Simon’s Well. Near it once stood an oratory called St. Simon’s Chapel; not a vestige of this remains. The well was formerly used as a bath. Tradition says that St.

Ancient Sites / Fairies / Folklore / Legends / Wells

Giggleswick

The ebbing and flowing well: legend tells how a nymph was being chased by a satyr who was overcome with lust. The nymph prayed to the gods and was saved by being turned into a well – famous for healing. The only thing that remained of the nymph was her eternal breath that causes the well to ebb and flow like the tides.