Seeing snowdrops pop up is one of the first signs that spring is on the way. So named for their appearance soon after (or even during) the January snow, snowdrops are a perennial favourite among flower fans. Some fans take their love to such extremes that they’re known as galanthophiles…which is a bit weird but […]
folklore
Take a walk along the old Corpse Roads
Corpse roads might conjure up weird mental images of highways paved with the dead, or possibly byways only used by them. But they’re actually more straightforward than they sound. In days gone by, remote communities often had nowhere nearby to put their dead. Only the churches held burial rights, but they could be miles away […]
Can You Stop Faeries Swapping Your Kids for Changelings?
Imagine you live in the 17th century. After surviving the ordeal of childbirth, you now have to find enough food for your family and keep a roof over your head. You might think that’s plenty to worry about on its own. But for some families, the extra worry of changelings was very real. alt=”In folklore, […]
Did the Hand of Glory really work or is it a myth?
The Hand of Glory is a peculiar artefact. It appears in the folktales of northern England, and examples even exist in museums around the country. But this is a strange one for this blog because Hands of Glory weren’t simply a folk tale. They really did exist. Question is, how true were the stories about […]
Who are the 3 sad phantoms of Chillingham Castle?
Chillingham Castle stands in Northumberland, some 14 miles north of Alnwick. It dates back to the tumultuous days of the 12th century. Even Edward I, Hammer of the Scots, stayed here on his journey north in 1298. The castle boasts a dungeon beneath the northeastern tower. A rack, an iron maiden and various other implements lie […]
Who is the River God Tyne on the side of the Civic Centre?
Newcastle and Gateshead are currently awash with adverts for the Great Exhibition of the North. The aim is to promote the art, design and innovation in the region now. But what of its heritage and culture? We’ve played host to the Romans, the Vikings, and indigenous British tribes. With that in mind, let’s meet the mighty […]
