British rural beliefs and superstitions

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO, IDEAS TO TRY

On the morning of 4 August 1577, the good Christian folk of Bungay assembled in St Mary’s Church for their regular Sunday service. But more sinister forces were also gathering in the Suffolk town. Dar

Just where did all the weird ghosts go is a question that has been posed in Fortean Times. One answer might be Wales. Ghost hunter John Harries declared, “In order to meet a Welsh ghost one really nee

IT was a day every bit as beautiful as autumn is supposed to be. The sky was blue and the air felt warm, holding a hint of distant woodsmoke. It was a perfect afternoon for a walk in the country, so w

Karen Youngs encounters squabbling herons and glimpses an elusive predator on a waterside walk

Corn-dolly crafter Colette Hughes describes the bleak situations our ancestors faced. “Imagine,” she says. “It’s winter and your family is hungry and cold. It gets dark early, fresh food is in short s