Some atmospheric images from Suffolk Churches for Halloween.
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Some atmospheric images from Suffolk Churches for Halloween.
Help support my art and photography on Ko-fi. Thank-you.
My Redbubble shop.
Some spooky news from around Scotland.
Glasgow Ghost App.
The Haunted City Exploration Game and Tour, Ghost app maps out the most haunted places in Glasgow.
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/glasgows-most-haunted-places-mapped-21721937
Spooky Ghost stories from Glasgow.
The Mansfield Street Ghost.
A little girl haunts the Alien Wars at the Arches.
Blochairn House ghosts.
A Victorian lady haunts Barlinnie’s Surgery Wing.
The ghost of a murderer at Blythswood Square.
A ghostly presence at the Cathedral House Hotel’s
Cathedral Streets Grim Reaper.
A poltergeist at Glasgow Central Hotel.
St Vincent Street Victorian ghost.
A ghostly man on Dalmarnock Bridge.
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/10-spooky-glasgow-ghost-stories-21861199
The most haunted places in Scotland.
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are top of the list.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/scotlands-most-haunted-places-named-25203551
Mary king’s Close, Edinburgh.
A ghost has apparently been spotted on video at Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. Mary King’s Close has a reputation for being very haunted.
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-tall-man-ghost-spotted-21682534
The most haunted spots in Edinburgh.
William Burke, William Hare and Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The Cannongate Cannibal.
Major Thomas Weir, reputably was a Devil worshipping Wizard.
The Banshee haunted pub.
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/history/edinburghs-most-haunted-spots-visit-21895402
Haunted Pub.
The Banshee Pub, Edinburgh is haunted by a number of ghosts.
The Arthur’s Seat Coffins.
Creepy museum collections to visit in Edinburgh.
Spooky Inverclyde.
Inverclyde one of the most haunted districts in Scotland.
Turnip Lantern.
Instead of carving a Pumpkin why not try and carve a traditional Scottish Turnip Lantern instead.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/go-traditional-scottish-carve-terrifying-25187887
Some Scottish Halloween Traditions.
Haunted Castles.
8 haunted Scottish Castles.
Earlshall Castle.
Castle of Park.
Drum Castle.
Ackergill Tower.
Glamis Castle.
Airth Castle.
Fyvie Castle.
Jedburgh Castle.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/8-most-haunted-scottish-castles-25197686
10 of the most haunted places in Scotland.
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Wales is a land that has an abundance of folklore, legends, customs and supernatural occurrences, both in out of the way ruins and within it’s busy towns and cities.
Whilst Halloween in the UK has been influenced by American customs, Wales still has a few customs and traditions of it’s own.
Welsh Halloween Customs
A BBC article from a few years back, about Welsh Halloween traditions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46019969
Many places in Wales are hosting special events over Halloween including tours and ghost hunts.
If you want to explore places yourself, please be careful, be respectful and get the landowners permission.
Enjoy.
The Most Haunted Places in Wales.
Information taken from the Paranormal Database reveals the spookiest places in Wales.
https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/19635365.new-study-reveals-spookiest-places-wales/
Spookiest Welsh Town
Newport is apparently the scariest and most haunted Welsh Town.
Supernatural Cardiff
On the other hand Cardiff is also supposed to be the most haunted and spookiest place in Wales.
https://nation.cymru/news/cardiff-the-most-haunted-place-in-wales-according-to-paranormal-database/
Haunted lighthouse.
The Point of Ayr Lighthouse, near Prestatyn, North Wales, is said to be haunted by a former keeper.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/haunted-talacre-lighthouse-guarded-keeper-21827087
Beddgelert.
The legend of Gelert, the hound, is attached to this village. It’s an interesting story, though all is not quite what it seems.
https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/beautiful-welsh-village-thats-rumoured-21671334
Haunted Silver Mine
The ghosts of Llywernog Silver Mines have been investigated by a team from Haunted Hunts.
Gwrych Castle
Made famous by I’m a Celebrity, this castle is said to be haunted by a number of spectres including a poltergeist butler.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/im-celebritys-gwrych-castle-haunted-21836311
Some Haunted Welsh Pubs to Visit.
Menai bridge and Caernarfon.
Two pubs with the same name, The Anglesey Arms are both said to be haunted.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/spooky-connection-between-two-north-21824466
Cardiff.
Spooky goings on at The Lansdowne Pub in Cardiff.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/watch-pub-manager-spooked-ghost-21538199
Carmarthen.
Is there a ghost at Cwrw, Carmarthen ?
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/landlord-spooked-video-footage-shows-21836178
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A few interesting articles on folklore and traditions. The UK has a wealth of folklore, myths, legends, traditions and customs. Some are widespread, others confined to a specific place.
People are familiar with celebrations like Christmas and Easter, yet up and down the country there are many events that take place throughout the year.
If you do visit any of the places I mention, please be respectful, don’t damage anything, don’t litter and ask permission if it’s private property. Some places have tours so worth checking what’s going on.
Enjoy.
Caynton Caves.
The caves are on the Historic England data base and are thought to be 18th/19th century in date. They were probably a grotto. So not a new discovery. Caves though attract a lot of folklore so no surprise that these particular ones have been connected with the Knights Templars.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/youtuber-discovers-knights-templar-cave-21787426
Hertfordshire Puddingstone.
A piece of rock, known as Puddingstone, found during construction of a bypass, has been placed in the village of Little Hadham. There are folklore traditions associated with this particular type of rock.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-58663801
John Dees Mirror
John Dee was an adviser to Elizabeth I and was rumoured to have dabbled in the black arts. His Obsidian mirror is now thought to have originally come from Mesoamerica.
The Pendle Witches.
The tragic story of the Pendle witches in Lancashire.
Victorian Death Traditions .
The Victorians had a lot of traditions around death, however I’m a bit dubious about some of these. Myths have sprung up about certainly practices that are not quite true.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/creepy-victorian-death-traditions-sin-25184077
Plant lore.
Some unusual plants some of which have folklore and traditions attached to them.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/weird-plants.html
Monster legends including Loch Ness.
A new book, Scottish Legends: 55 Mythical Monsters by Dr Aaron Mullins, delves into the myths and legends of Scotland. Loch Ness if of course included.
Brecon Folklore.
The Brecons are a beautiful place to visit and are steeped in legend and folklore. One of the most famous stories concerns the Lady of Llyn y Fan Fach, a fairy who married a mortal.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/travel/beauty-spot-brecon-beacons-steeped-21708221
Conkers.
I can remember playing conkers as a child, It’s not as popular as it once was, though it has nothing to do with health and safety gone bad as some would like to think. Things change. Who knows it might become popular again.
Well Dressing.
Villages Saddleworth have continued the old tradition of Well Dressing this year.
Scottish Halloween Traditions.
Halloween is considered to be an American import yet the traditions and folklore ofHalloween are very old, especially in places like Scotland, Ireland and to a lesser extent in Wales and Cornwall, although at one point they were probably more widespread across the UK generally.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/family-kids/scottish-halloween-traditions-you-need-25158375
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Some interesting, unusual and maybe a little strange, stories that have caught my eye.
From doorbell ringing slugs to a 19th century Astronomer with a pyramid grave, the UK certainly has some interesting and sometimes bizarre stories to tell.
Enjoy.
Slug Rings Doorbell.
An amusing story of a slug ringing someones doorbell.
A spider decided to make it’s home in front of mine. It looked like a giant spider was attacking the flats opposite.
Unexplained Portsmouth.
From the disappearance of Lionel ‘Buster’ Crabb to UFOs and unsolved murders, Portsmouth has it’s fair share of mysteries.
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/6-of-portsmouths-most-shocking-unsolved-mysteries-3394320
Lightning Folklore.
Some folklore and stories concerning lightning.
I was camping during a violent storm in Ashdown Forest and a tree next to the campsite got struck by lightning. I have never been so frightened.
Mystery Vehicle in Devon.
Local people have been speculating on the origins of this unusual vehicle. I think the suggestion it’s aliens is someone having a bit of fun.
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/mystery-alien-vehicle-zips-through-6031869
John Dee’s Mirror.
John Dee’s Obsidian mirror may have Aztec origins.
A very interesting article about mirrors and they’re mystical and occult history.
I would recommend going to see this and other items that belonged to John Dee in the British Museum.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-aztec-origins-of-a-mysterious-elizabethan-mirror
British Big Cats.
A Countryfile podcast on mystery big cats in the Cotswolds.
I grew up not far from the haunt of the Beast of Bluebell Hill although I never saw anything myself.
However I do know a few people who have seen big cats at Bluebell Hill and in other parts of the country.
https://www.countryfile.com/podcast/mystery-big-cats-cotswolds/
Another Welsh Dinosaur.
A dinosaur fossil, found in the 1950’s in Wales, has been discovered to be a new species and has been named Pendraig milnerae.
The Natural History Museum, Wales in Cardiff, is a great place to visit. It has a Dinosaur gallery plus a model and fossil remains of Dracoraptor hanigani, which was found in 2014 not far from Cardiff, as well as other fossils found in Wales.
Ladybird Invasion.
Basically the weather is on the turn, Winter is coming and ladybirds are looking for a nice place to hibernate, which just so happens to be human dwellings.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/uk-ladybird-infestation-2021-hits-21811595
Washed up Sea Creatures.
By-the-wind-sailors a colonial hydroid, have been washing up on Welsh beaches. The Autumn and Winter storms often wash them ashore around the British coast.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/strange-looking-by-wind-sailor-21805537
Letters Blaming Satan for Covid, Posted Through Residents Doors.
Residents in Birmingham are receiving letters claiming Satan is responsible for the Covid Pandemic.
Mystery Wooden Head in Norfolk.
Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a carved wooden head said to be associated with Witchcraft, that was stolen in 1967.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weird-norfolk-witchcraft-mystery-field-dalling-8392226
Gold Necklace Discovered During Fireplace Renovation in Wales.
The necklace could have been deliberately placed by the fireplace to protect the cottage from bad luck.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/buried-gold-necklace-protected-north-21780475
The Irish Cave Where Halloween Was Born.
Supposedly Halloween has it’s roots in Iron Age Ireland. I’m sceptical, Iron Age tribes weren’t restricted to Ireland and what sparse evidence we have suggests similar festivals over a wide area of Europe.
The 19th Century Grave of Charles Piazzi Smyth, Astronmer Royal For Scotland.
Charles Piazzi Smyth had some interesting ideas about the Egyptian Pyramids, hence his Pyramid tomb in St John’s Sharow Churchyard, Ripon.
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More mystery lights, UFOs and a bit of Alien news from around the UK.
UFO Writer John Hanson
A UFO investigator in Warwickshire has set up a UFO museum.
https://www.stratford-herald.com/news/warwickshire-investigator-searching-for-ufo-answers-9216996/
Atlas V
The Atlas V launch caused a flurry of news articles about strange lights in the sky.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-58719814
Mystery light in the sky seen over Greater Manchester.
And some over Deeside.
https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/19604043.mysterious-lights-sky-seen-flint-morning/
Merrivale Stone Row
Standing stones and Aliens.
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/dartmoors-cider-making-stonehenge-site-5939126
Preston’s first UFO conference.
Last but not least some UFO investigators in the West Midlands.
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A look at various news stories of “mystery lights” across the UK.
Red Ufo seen in the skies above Kent.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/glowing-red-ufo-fiery-trail-24870019
A Dorset prison was apparently visited by a Ufo which gave prisoners a rash.
Guardian article about Ufos.
More crop circle news.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/england-crop-circles-farmers-aliens-b1915799.html
Strange lights spotted over Liverpool.
Disc shaped lights over Kent.
Ufo documentary filmed in Norfolk and Suffolk.
https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/norfolk/news/ufo-documentary-filmed-in-norfolk-and-suffolk/
New Brighton Ufo mystery. Or not.
https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/19554862.haunted-wirral-new-brighton-ufo-mystery/
Penguins are not Aliens.
A star shaped crop circle in Yorkshire.
Student films ‘ufo’ over Glasgow.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/brit-convinced-hes-filmed-ufo-24891376
An alien boyfriend.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/abbie-bela
Violet light baffle Angus residents.
Mysterious blue lights over Leeds photographed from Meanwood (Image: Emma Shaw)
Mystery light over Leeds.
https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/northern-lights-leeds-mysterious-blue-21593964
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More strange lights and aerial goings on in the UK. Plus a few crop circles.
Lights over North Staffordshire which may well be planes.
I know someone who helped make the Milk Hill formation which is mentioned in this article.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210822-englands-crop-circle-controversy
A Yorkshire Crop circle, nothing really alien about it.
Mystery loud noise over Gloucester. Urban areas are noisy. I’ve lived in towns and cities and been woken by some unusual noises.
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/mysterious-big-bang-heard-over-5796620
And in Sheffield.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/residents-baffled-mysterious-loud-bangs-24688012
Lights seen in the River Thames which might not be so mysterious as there are navigational lights along the river.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/mysterious-flashing-light-seen-river-24771501
The strange light was only noticed afterwards and looks like a light flare. I’ve taken pictures at night and light sources can cause some odd effects.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/woman-left-baffled-after-claiming-24842577
First object probably a plane, you don’t always hear them especially high up. The others I think are birds, gulls probably, light from street lights is reflecting off their bodies. The reason I say this is because I’ve seen the same thing myself. It wasn’t until the gulls flew overhead that I saw what they were.
https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/strange-lights-over-great-yarmouth-8269522
Strobe Lighting. Something I’ve seen a few times.
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Folklore, Myths and Customs
The Folklore of the UK is rich and varied. From Fairies, Witches, Dragons, Merpeople, Ghosts, Dragons and other weird and wonderful happenings, there’s not a town or village that doesn’t have a story to tell.
Whilst most of us have the latest technology, we still tend to celebrate many customs that go back a long way, such as Christmas and Easter. The UK still has many traditional customs and celebrations that still take place. Many are specific to a particular area such as services dedicated to a particular Saint that may only exist in that location.
The local press will usually publicise any events of local interest and occasionally the national papers will pick something up.
Here’s a few from around the UK.
An article about The Queens Swans on the River Thames.
https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/10-things-you-didnt-know-21364391
Five Castles steeped in folklore. Castles do seem to attract more than their fair share of stories.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrrpt
Ritual Britain
Places to visit in Sussex which are steeped in history and myth.
https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/kingley-vale-cissbury-ring-halnaker-5813307
New book on the Folklore of East Anglia.
Myths and Legends from the North East.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/myths-legends-every-single-person-18674210
Crow Dance, Northwich. Due to the pandemic a smaller event will take place this year at Moulton British Legion car park & St Stephen’s Church Hall Green on August 29.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/tradition-men-dress-crows-dance-21197079
Traditions return to Kirkhampton Church.
Community Hymn singing to go ahead on 1st September, despite annual show cancelled.
Aldermastons Nativity Play to ho ahead this Christmas.
Graffiti to eard off evil found at Kibworth Harcourt mill.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-58259268
Old folk remedies from Norfolk.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/strange-old-norfolk-health-remedies-8260380
Fossil folklore of Norfolk and Suffolk.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weird-norfolk-bad-luck-fossils-fairy-loaves-8258448
Jennet Device: The Child who condemned The Pendle Witches.
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19526785.jennet-device-child-condemned-pendle-witches/
The mysterious ‘ancient’ ruins with spooky rumours of devil worship hidden in a Yorkshire wood
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/mysterious-ancient-ruins-spooky-rumours-21190284
Article on Mother Shiptons Cave.
The influence Folk Horror has on Alternative Music.
Morris Men: Documenting One of England’s Most Misunderstood Misunderstood Subcultures.
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This was quite a big thing back in the 90s and early 2000s. It started off with plain circles appearing in crop fields mostly in Wiltshire although they did appear in other counties. This attracted all sorts of theories from hoaxes, animals trampling the crops, Fairies, Angels, Ufos and Aliens, whirlwinds and tornadoes, something to do with leylines, earthlights and magnetism.
They became bigger and more elaborate, there was supposedly footage of lights forming the circles, people seeing Ufos in the area and experience weird phenomena whilst in circles.
Then two men admitted they’d started making them and others decided to do the same.
One of my brothers started out thinking Crop circles were formed by mysterious means. Then he got to know people who made them and decided he’d join in. Back in 2001 he helped make the Milk Hill formation.
https://www.livescience.com/amp/26540-crop-circles.html
The craze died down somewhat shortly after that, although they still appear, and some still believe they are made by mysterious forces.
I can understand farmers not being happy about people trampling their crops. I do recall a few started to charge visitors. You could buy postcards, T-Shirts, pictures, jewelry, books, calendars, all with a crop circle theme.
They are works of art, using the landscape as opposed to canvas. Many who made them are unknown. They certainly sparked the imagination of a lot of people. Even thogh I never believed they were supernatural, I still appreciate how artistic they are. They have become part of folklore.
They are still being made and every year, local papers report a few.
Here’s a roundup of Crop Circle news articles.
Giant crop circle appears in farmer’s field in Upham
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19453253.giant-crop-circle-appears-farmers-field-upham/
9 of the most stunning crop circles to have ever appeared around Somerset.
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/stunning-crop-circles-somerset-visit-4396607
A white light seen and a crop circle discovered.
Crop circle near New Alresford, Winchester district.
Mystery crop circle appears on Dorset field.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19468079.mystery-crop-circle-appears-dorset-field/
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