Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: United Kingdom

Apparitions / Hauntings / Road Ghosts

Radiant Boy

‘There is the popular legend of the ‘Radiant Boy’ — a strange boy with a shining face, who has been seen in certain Lincolnshire houses and elsewhere. This ghost was described to Mr. Baring-Gould by a Yorkshire farmer, who, as he was riding one night to Thirsk, suddenly saw pass by him a ‘radiant boy’ on a white horse.

Hauntings / Poltergiests

Sykes Street, Hull

The following account appeared in ‘County Folk-Lore Volume VI – Examples of Printed Folk-Lore Concerning The East Riding Of Yorkshire (1911)’ edited by Eliza Glutch.

Ancient Sites / Festivals / Folklore / Giants / King Arthur / Legends / May / Wells

Giant’s Cave, Edenhall

At Giant’s Cave, near Eden Hall, it has been the custom from time immemorial for the lads and lasses of the neighbouring villages to collect together on the third Sunday in May, to drink sugar and water, when the lasses give the treat: this is called Sugar-and-Water Sunday. They afterwards adjourn to the public house, and the lads return the compliment in cakes, ale, punch, etc.

Ancient Sites / Wells

Holwell Holy Well

"HERE was a holy well or spring in the village of Holwell, on the borders of Bedford and Hertfordshire; unfortunately both history and site have been forgotten by the villagers at Holywell.”—A. C. G. Cameron, H.M. Geological Survey. [The Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells of England by Robert Charles Hope (1893)]

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Folklore

Feather Death Related Folklore

According to The Ghost World by T. F. Thiselton Dyer (1893) ‘The presence of pigeon or game feathers is said to be another hindrance to the exit of the soul; and, occasionally, in order to facilitate its departure, the peasantry in many parts of England will lay a dying man on the floor.

Ancient Sites / Wells

Old Brine, Nantwich

On Ascension Day, the old inhabitants of Nantwich piously sang a hymn of thanksgiving for the blessing of the Brine.

Folklore

Bag or Black Mere

Robert Charles Hope gives the following description of Bag Mere in ‘The Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells’ (1893). "Before any heir of this [Brereton] family dies, there are seen in a lake adjoyning, the bodies of trees swimming upon the water for several days together." — [Camden : Brit. (Gibson’s ed.), i. 677.]

Folklore

Parrot and Punchbowl, Aldringham

A former 16th centry smugglers inn, the website for the Parrot & Punchbowl public house refers to a stone found outside the building relating to the death of a shepherd.

Hauntings / Road Ghosts

Beck Row

There is a story associated with the road between Beck Row and Holywell Row. One version suggests a large figure appeared before a group of people near to Aspal Hall saying either "Don’t fear me – fear my follower!" (or ‘Don’t fear me, fear what follows me’). As he vanished there was a huge gust of wind.

Ancient Sites / Wells

St Mungo’s Well, Bromfield

According to The Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells of England by Robert Charles Hope (1893), ‘In Bromfield there were plenty of legends connected with this well. It is situated in a field near the churchyard. The present vicar, the Rev. R. Taylor, with reverent care, had it cleared and enclosed with a circular vaulted dome of stone, on which he placed an appropriate inscription.