We dont normally associate Scotland with vampires, but there is a rich history of mythology and folklore surrounding the undead.From the Pagan baobhan-sith of the Highlands, a sixteenth-century stranger that was suspected of being a vampire in Galloway, to a vampire that was terrorising wildlife in Lochmaben in the 90s, the vampire is alive or rather, undead and well in Scottish history and culture. This is a unique exploration of Scottish history and of a horror hero.
The folklore of witchcraft and magic in England runs deep. Every corner of this country once had its wisewomen, those female practitioners of the cunning arts that would be approached to help with everything from childbirth and matters of love, to protection against bewitchment. Every place also had its suspected witches, those who could stop a cart horse in its tracks, prevent milk from churning, and turn into hares to run around and frustrate their neighbours.This sequel to Of Doves & Ravens: The Witches and Wisefolk of Wales and the Borders, explores the magical and sometimes tragic stories of wisewomen and witches of England. From the legendary storm witches of Cornwall to the historical cunning women who roamed the Yorkshire moors selling fortunes at the markets of the nineteenth century, this book contains the often-misunderstood lore of those who were believed to have the ear of the Devil and those who fought against them.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a World Heritage Site globally renowned for its history and botanical treasures. Yet, beneath the serene surface of its iconic glasshouses and ancient groves lies a trove of hidden history, strange sightings, and centuries-old folklore. This book is a captivating collection that lifts the veil on the darker, spookier side of Kew. It draws on unique accounts gathered from staff, visitors, and forgotten archives to illuminate a shadowy landscape. Readers will encounter phantom highwaymen singing near Brentford Eyot, strange lights flickering near the Marianne North Gallery, and even the unsettling specter of a Roman legion marching through the grounds. From centuries-old legends and local mythology to genuine ghost stories and bizarre historical oddities, Ghosts, Myths and other Oddities of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is an essential guide for anyone who has wandered these gardens and sensed that some of the deepest secrets are yet to bloom.
British food has an unsavoury global reputation, but the folklore which made it what it is can be traced back millennia. Folklorist Ben Gazur guides you through the dark alleys of British history to uncover how our food habits have been passed down through generations of traditions. Readers will get a taste of what life was life in a time when food was both magical ingredient and sustenance.Discover why we throw salt over our shoulder, why we think carrots help us see in the dark, when living snakes in pies were once the height of fashion at weddings, and why people risk life and limb to chase wheels of cheese down a hill.Hilarious and fascinating, A Feast of Folklore will introduce you to the gloriously eccentric folk who arent often noticed by historians. Here lies a smorgasbord of their dark remedies and deadly delicacies, waiting to be discovered.