For the unwary visitor to their lair, redcaps can be deeply dangerous creatures. These malevolent little folk are classified ‘goblins’ and that’s a word that’s rarely attached to anything positive. While they do appear in northern European folklore, they’re most often found in Border folklore. In many ways, it’s hardly surprising. The Border region is […]
What is the legend of the Brinkburn Bells in Northumberland?
Church bells appear in a range of ways within folklore. Sometimes they continue to ring far beneath the waves in a church under the sea. Or perhaps their peeling in the darkness guided a lost traveller back to the path and away from danger. In some tales, they’re stolen by the Devil, or by mermaids. […]
Tales of Northern Vampires: Ancient Revenants in the Borders and Cumbria
A lot of northern folklore includes the figures you’d expect to see – fairies, ghosts, brownies, and black dogs. But you might not expect to see northern vampires among the folk tales and legends. Yet three tales about vampires in the north, most notably in Berwick, Alnwick, and Melrose, occur in the historical record Canon […]
Are the Dancing Fairies of Northumbria Benign or Malevolent?
Tales of fairies exist all over the world, and there are hundreds to choose from right here in the British Isles. Yet they often have a particular ‘flavour’ or motif that lets you group them together. One of the common motifs of folk tales in the northeast of England is that of dancing fairies. It […]
4 Amsterdam Ghost Stories from the City of Canals
Amsterdam is famous for a lot of things, from its picturesque canals to the Anne Frank House, and more besides. What you might not expect from the Dutch capital is a series of Amsterdam ghost stories. Though why not? The city enjoys some 800 years of history, including wartime occupation, economic boom times, and floods. […]
4 Barcelona Ghost Stories from the Catalonian Capital
Barcelona lies on the Mediterranean Coast in Catalonia. It’s a gorgeous city, famous for architect Antoni Gaudí, artist Joan Miró and writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón, among many others. Yet you’ll find more than a few Barcelona ghost stories amid the winding streets and Gothic cathedrals. Strange histories abound in Barcelona. Astruc Sacanera, an astrologer and […]
