Lots of locations around the UK boast a Grey Lady, a White Lady, or even a Green Lady. Such spectres are usually attached to sad tales of loss and a lot of them are nameless. When I visited Bamburgh Castle some years ago, one of the guides told me they have a Pink Lady. As […]
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Explore 3 strange legends of the Newcastle Castle
The Newcastle Castle occupies a strange position in the city centre. So strange that some people can’t believe we have a castle in town at all! Buildings have stood on the site for centuries, dating back to the Romans and their Pons Aelius fort. But the Newcastle Castle was originally founded in 1080 by Robert […]
Can King Arthur be found sleeping under Sewingshields Castle?
King Arthur continues to hold a fascination for folklorists and the public alike. After all, the deeds of Arthur and his knights are now legendary. They’ve become part of Britain’s mythology. One of my favourite versions of the Arthurian legends was the Channel 4 mini series, Merlin. It starred the very excellent Sam Neill as Merlin and the […]
What are the links between seahorses, folklore and Newcastle upon Tyne?
Seahorses are elusive creatures, almost like a mythological animal made flesh. They appear in Roman and Greek mythology, pulling either Neptune or Poseidon’s chariot. Either Poseidon was very small, or he had extra large seahorses, but it’s a cool image all the same. Others believe Poseidon actually rode a seahorse, which is even cooler. Their […]
Want to See Inside All Saints Church, Newcastle upon Tyne?
All Saints is one of the four original parish churches of Newcastle upon Tyne. Along with St Andrew’s, St Nicholas’, and St John’s, it provided spiritual sustenance for the old medieval city. But given it fell into disuse in the late 1950s, many people wonder what the old Georgian church looks like inside. Thanks to the […]
Bringing Spectacle back to Cinema
Ever since television became the must-have gadget in every living room, cinemas have been trying to devise ways to bring audiences back into theatres. They’ve tried Cinemascope, 3D (several times), surround sound, and IMAX screens, always peddling the idea that cinema gives you “the experience”, something you can’t quite capture with television. Even watching a widescreen […]