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Folklore Posts by stubob

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Robin Hood's Stride (Rocky Outcrop)

"An unfrequentd path of another quarter of a mile led us to the base of Mock Beggar Hall, a curious assemblage of sand-stone rocks thrown confusedly together, yet so arranged as to form at a distance a strong resemblance to a regular building, with a huge chimney at each extremity; hence the name which this mass of rocks has obtained: the stony towers at each end are called Robin Hood's Stride."

'Peak Scenery or The Derbyshire Tourist' by Ebenezer Rhodes 1824.

Gardom's Enclosure

"The story was that 'Meg' the witch or fortuneteller, was driven out of the village and lived near this wall, or near the Nelson Monument, and that the wall was named after her. But 'Meg' is probably one of the usual excuses offered in clerical-medieval days to explain away the credit for remarkable works made by primitive, or pagan, man...........'Meg' however, is also Greek for big, or great, i.e megalith for big stone.

From the 'Sheffield Clarion Ramblers' 1942-3 by G.H.B Ward.

Twyford Henge (site of) and Round Hill (Round Barrow(s))

" Now for what can only be claimed as tradition, though the story may be quite true. Close by the northern bank of the River Trent, between Swarkston and Willington, is the little village of Twyford with its short spired church and wide views of the flat river plain stretching away under Midland skies. Half a mile to the eastward lies what is known as Round Hill, a large tumulus or burial mound. Here it is said were buried the bodies of those slain during a Civil War encounter. It should be remembered the Egginton Heath, or Common, lies but 3 miles to the west."

"Peakland Days" Roger A. Redfern, 1970.

Carl Wark & Hathersage Moor

" Carl Wark was the site of a British encampment. A Celtic tribe lived here before the Roman legions came toBritain. At the end of the sixth century this area was part of the kingdom of Argoed, governed by Sir Lamoracke, one of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table, who stood next to Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram in deeds of valour.
Men knew Sir Lamoracke (or Llywarch, to give him his celtic name) as a fierce warrrior. He had twenty-four sons, and at Carl Wark he and they fought the hordes of Loagrians, who invaded the country when the Roman army of occupation left Britain. After a long and bitter defence the knight and the remnant of his forces were driven from the stronghold.
"

Norman Price "The Derbyshire Dales" 1953

Stump Cross Field Barrow (Round Barrow(s))

The stone was moved to the village of Pilsley where it was used as a pig trough....but pigs died and the landowners suffered bad luck until the stone was replaced on the barrow.

Clontygora - Court Tomb

Folklorist George Paterson recalls....
The King's Ring was a grand place once, but they took stones to build the lock on Newry Canal.There was a time when there was music in the ring. It was quare music, one minute it would coax the heart out of you, and the next it would scare the living daylights out of you. Maybe it is laments for the oul' kings that are played.

Goward (Portal Tomb)

Further to Schlager Man's folklore post.....Finn McCool is reputed to be buried here.

Proleek (Portal Tomb)

Local Tradition holds that if you successfully land one stone in three on top of the capstone you will be married before the year is out. It also claims that the giant, Parra Bui MacShane, lies here after his fatal encounter with Finn McCool.

From The Gap of the North by Noreen Cunningham & Pat Mcginn.

Ballymacdermot (Court Tomb)

George Paterson recorded the following story about the tomb.
Sur' he saw no hurt in the breakin of it. But he never lived till finish it. For hundreds of years it has been there - maybe indeed since the beginning of time. I always remember it. Sure, it was there that I saw the first wee people.

From the Gap of the North by Noreen Cunningham & Pat Mcginn....

Carrock Fell (Hillfort)

" So spectacular and remote is the monument that its construction was ascribed to either the Devil or Michael Scot, the great Medieval scholar who was reputed to command demons."

Geoff Holder The Guide to the Mysterious Lake District (2009)

Priapus Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir)

A Furness Diary 1801-1807 published by The Countryman in 1958.......

"Friday, May 24th 1801. About 100yds to the West of Urswick Church in Furness in a field called Kirkflat, adjoining to the highway, stands a rough piece of unhewn limestone, which the Inhabitants of Urswick were accustomed to dress as a Figure of Priapus on Midsummer Day, besmearing it with Sheep Salve, Tar or Butter and covering it with rags of various Dyes, the Head ornamented with flowers."

Bambury Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

In Harold T. Wilkins' book Mysteries Solved & Unsolved he suggests that the stones name is derived from Ambrosie petrie the annointed stone. Meanwhile Doreen Valiente states that another possible origin of the name is from the Latin word ambire meaning to go round and that the stone was danced around. Both authors mention the stone was a focus for witchcraft ceremonies in centuries past.

Pendle Hill (Sacred Hill)

In 1652 George Fox, the founder of the Quaker movement climbed Pendle Hill because he was 'moved of the Lord' to do so. On its summit he saw a vision and had a mystical experience which inspired him in his religious mission.

Chanctonbury Ring (Hillfort)

"The local people call the spot Mother Goring; and at one time there was a custom of coming up to the Ring to see the sun rise on the morning of May Day. The Ring is said to be haunted by the apparition of a man on horseback...."

From:
An ABC of Witchcraft Past & Present.
Doreen Valiente

Thirst House (Cave / Rock Shelter)

In the 15th Century the cave was known as Tursthous which translated means 'giants house'.

Hob's House (Cave / Rock Shelter)

The fissure cave on the tumbled limestone rocks of Hob's House, on the northern side of Fin Cop, was once said to be the home of the giant Hulac Warren (sometimes Hector Warren) or Hob.
On a bend in the river, closer to Demons Dale, stands the Warren Stone. Which is said to be the petrified remains of the giant who was turned to stone for the attempted rape of a shepherdess. During the attack she either fell or threw herself to her death. Where her body landed a spring of pure water formed.

In an old local rhyme suggesting witchcraft in the area, Hob is portrayed as a fiddler:

The piper of Shacklow,
The fiddler of Fin,
The old woman of Demons Dale,
Calls them all in.

Margery Bower (Round Barrow(s))

Local legend has it that Cromwell's Parliamentarian troops set up a cannon on the barrow and fired on the town of Ashbourne a little more than a mile away.
Several of the cannon balls are displayed at St Oswald's church in the town.

Robin-a-Tiptoe Hill (Enclosure)

The hill, previously known as Howback Hill, is said to be named after a sheep rustler who was too tall to be hanged.

Head Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

Also known as John Stump, the Head Stone is another example of a Peak District stone that is said to turn around on a 'certain' morning each year on hearing the cocks-crow. (others include Baslow's Eagle Stone and the Cuckoo Stone in Matlock)
Visitors to the stone in late August with the sun highlighting its western face have also reported seeing a human face.

David Clarke's 'Ghost and Legends of the Peak District'
(The 'certain' morning is not revealed by Clarke)

The Merry Maidens (Stone Circle)

"I do know a story about the Merry Maidens, and it is a true story".

"In 1907 an emmet (an outsider) from England bought the farm where the Merry Maidens stone circle stands. Thinking that the stones lessened the value of the field, the new owner ordered one of his workers to pull them down and add them to the stone walls surrounding the meadow".

The worker, a Cornishman, protested, but the Englishman insisted: "This is my field, and I'll do with it what I please, and you'll do as I say!"
Next day the Cornishman hitched up three shire horses to a chain and began the task. Anyway, while pulling over the first stone the lead horse panicked, reared up, then fell over dead.
Reporting this to his master, the Cornishman asked if he should fetch another horse for the task.
"No," said the landowner. "Set the stone back upright. We'll pull the lot of them down later."

But the stone circle was left undisturbed, and remains so to this day.

Daniel Bowen Craigue. May 2002.
Showing 1-20 of 44 folklore posts. Most recent first | Next 20
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