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  • William, the Fairies and the Bath June 1, 2022

    Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern
    William, the Fairies and the Bath

    *This is the subject of Chris and my most recent Boggart and Banshee podcast* **For the source file; and for other Puca books and pamphlets** William Butterfield’s run in with the fairies at Ilkley is one of the best-known encounters in British supernatural folklore. An account appeared in the first number of Folk-lore Record in […]

    Nine Historical Mysteries June 6, 2013

    Author: Beach Combing | in : Ancient, Contemporary, Medieval, Modern
    Nine Historical Mysteries

    ***Dedicated to Moonman*** Thanks to an email from an old friend of StrangeHistory Beach found himself wondering about moments from history that are mysterious, and where this blogger would chop off his own digits to get at the truth. In what follows, he has avoided the classics because, to be frank, he just doesn’t care […]

    Fairy Death in Ilkley January 2, 2011

    Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern
    Fairy Death in Ilkley

    There is a melancholy time in rural communities when belief in fairies dies – a moment in a village life comparable to the moment in a child’s life when he sees his grandfather’s face behind the Santa beard. Wentz examined this fairy death in Ireland and Scotland and Wales in The Fairy Faith in Celtic […]