The Broads National Park, often known as the Norfolk Broads, is one of the UK’s 15 National Parks. Seven rivers and over sixty waterways called Broads comprise the park. In the medieval era, locals dug peat from the land for fuel. By the 14th century, these channels flooded and created the Broads. They’d become a […]
folklore
Haunted Canals of England, Scotland & Wales
Canals occupy a strange place in the cultural imagination. They’re manmade, yet offer a connection to nature. They offer a means of transport, but one that’s only accessible by boat. Some cities depend on canals, like Amsterdam or Venice. In the UK, canals are often overlooked or forgotten spaces that have long outlived their original […]
Healings Wells and Springs at Glastonbury, Carrawburgh and Lourdes
We’ve no doubt seen plenty of content online about water’s power to be a great healer. We need to drink it (this is your reminder for today), while people swear by cold water baths for their wellbeing. Then we think about how much water appears in nature, somewhere we’re often counselled to go to improve […]
Following the Route of the Walbrook, One of London’s Lost Rivers
A sense of mystery gathers around London’s lost rivers, with their names whispered like forgotten deities from an ancient cult. Fleet, Tyburn, Walbrook, Effra, Westbourne, Neckinger. In some cases, they aren’t so much lost, as buried. Sometimes, they break ground, appearing where you least expect them. Take the grey duct that carries the Westbourne above […]
Church Curiosities: Finding Folklore in Carvings and Statues
Visiting churches might not sound like everyone’s idea of a great time. Yet the buildings are stuffed with strange carvings, peculiar graffiti, interesting artwork, and even sassy memorials. These church curiosities tell us a lot about what mattered to people in centuries past. They also preserve folklore, legends, and the beliefs of the congregation. From […]
Holy Cross Church and the Witches of Wallsend
Churches can be sites of divination, haunted locations, and important community hubs. Yet in Wallsend, Holy Cross Church is notorious for a tale of witches and heroic derring-do. The ruin might not look like it now, but appearances can be deceptive. It’s not just a chapel. Throw in a midnight ritual, grotesque women, a desecrated […]
