Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Lancashire

Devil / English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales

The Unbidden Guest

The following folktale entitled ‘The Unbidden Guest’ was published in ‘Goblin Tales of Lancashire’ by James Bowker (1878). ‘On a little lane leading from the town of Clitheroe there once lived a noted ‘cunning man,’ to whom all sorts of applications were made, not only by the residents, but also by people from distant places, for the fame of the wizard had spread over the whole country side.

English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales

Th’ Skriker (Shrieker)

The following story entitled "Th’ Skriker (Shrieker)" was published in ‘Goblin Tales of Lancashire’ by James Bowker (1878).  ‘On a fine night, about the middle of December, many years ago, a sturdy-looking young fellow left Chipping for his cottage, three or four miles away, upon the banks of the Hodder.

English Folktales / Folklore / Folktales / Hauntings

Nogworth Cross

Only the base remains of The Nogworth Cross (aka Northwood Cross) which can be found beside a lane near Shay Lane and the Todmorden Road.  According to ‘A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6’ (1911), ‘In the Extwistle part, on the high moorland, are some tumuli and the sites of supposed British and Roman camps; there is another camp above Thursden.

English Fairies / Fairies / Folklore

Extwistle Hall

Now in ruins, the Grade II listed, Tudor style Extwistle Hall was built by the Parker family in the 16th century.   Once land owned by Kirkstall Abbey, Exwistle passed to William Ramsden following the Dissolution of the Monasteries and then to Robert Parker. The Hall remained their seat until the tragic event of 1718.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Rivington Castle

Based upon a plan made by E. W. Cox in 1892, Rivington Castle is a folly and reconstruction of William II de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby’s, 13th century Liverpool Castle. Rivington Castle dates from 1912, when the building work began. It was built by William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme (Born 19 September 1851 – Died 7 May 1925) and can be found in Lever Park.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Sarah Siddons / Usual Suspects

Grand Theatre, Lancaster

The Grade II listed Grand Theatre in Lancaster is one of the oldest in Britain, being opened by Charles Edward Whitlock and Joseph in 1782. Though the theatre was rebuilt in 1908, it is thought to have a ghost that lingers from the early 18th century.

Folklore

Rivington Pike

Rivington Pike is a local landmark and site of an early warning beacon, possibly one of a system dating back to 1139. It was still in use in 1588 when it was lit to warn of the Spanish Armarda. According to tradition, the Rivington Pike area is associated with a demonic spectral horseman.