Witch Country

As autumn descends, I wanted to face a classic symbol in British and European folklore - the black dogWe start in East Anglia, England, with perhaps the most famous of all shadow hounds: Black Shuck, who makes an appearance in St Mary's church of Bungay in 1577, storms to raise havoc. And a reading drawn from Ghosts and Witches by Wentworth + Ayrton, 1991, on the Galleytrot and Shuck.Before facing:The Barghest of Yorkshire, accompanied by rattling chains, may have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula's transformation into an enormous black dog in Whitby.Yeth Hounds (Devon)Whisht Hounds (Devon/Dartmoor)Richard Cabell's Hounds (Dartmoor) widely considered a major inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.The Devil's Dandy Dogs (Cornwall): A terrifying hunt led by Satan himself.The Wish Hounds or Witch Hounds of SussexThe Church Grim, a guardian spirit that appears as a large black dogAnd The Moddey Dhoo of the Isle of Man: Meaning "black dog" in Manx, this giant shaggy-haired dog that haunted Peel Castle And we finish with readings of The Moddey Doo or the Black Dog of Peel Castle from Manx Fairy Tales by Sophia Morrison, 1911 and The Book of Were-Wolves by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865. And accounts of witch wolves from Estonia.These are just a few of the countless legends of black dogs, wolves and hounds. Do drop me a message if you would like to share your own favourites! Happy SeptemberSarah X

Welcome to the strange and fascinating tale of The Haunted Organist of Hurly Burly, from the mind and pen of Rosa Mulholland. First published in 1891, it's one of the oldest stories in our series — 133 years old! And a rare ghost story set in the crackling heat of summer, which adds perhaps to the frenzy… The Mistress and Squire Hurly of Hurly Burly know their son Lewis has been dead for some 20 years. How then has he been seen not 5 days ago… the strong and industrious Margaret Calderwood, who was Lewis's fiancée before his untimely and cursed demise, seeks answers, and poor Little Lisa faces strange enchantment. Death and devilry ensue. Sarah XXX PS - In reading it aloud, I've kept to Rosa's original words, which includes some outdated language, particularly in how the Italian character Little Lisa is considered a "foreigner" to our insular English couple.

With thanks to Mark from Dorset for inspiring much of this episode! Featuring ideas, stories and poems from Gemma Gary, Enid Blyton, Olive Knott and Walter del la MareSarah XXX

A very exciting episode with news and songs and delights!As mentioned in the episode, find me on Instagram @thisiswitchcountryPatreon - www.patreon.com/witchcountryAnd don't forget to head over to WomancraftPublishing.com on July 9th! Sarah xxx

Welcome to Witch Country Ghost Stories. Prepare this month, to meet the White Lady of the Lyttletons, found in The Grey Ghost Bookby Jessie Adelaide Middleton, 1915Sarah XXX

Wishing you all a very Marvellous May! Mentioned in the podcast:Witch Country Ghost StoriesKitchen Witch audiobookxxx

Join me as I wade though water, myth and marshy lands in the New Forest!XXX

For 2025, Our podcast journey starts with a wander to Avebury. My friend and I took a walk amongst these stones last year, about this time, as the equinox sun shone.Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thisiswitchcountry/ Join the chats on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/witchcountryAnd I will include the link to the Kitchen Witch Audiobook as soon as it is live!XXX

I am thrilled to present, in what I plan to be a festive tradition for Witch Country: A Ghost Story for Christmas! Since the days of Charles Dickens and a Christmas Carol (1843), and, I'm sure, long before, we have huddled around fires to tell tales of spirits and ghosts during the cold yuletide nights. So here is a tale where witches raise storms and become ghosts themselves, seeking a little retribution, perhaps.Merry Christmas One and All! Xx

A frosty trip to Dartmoor!

Enjoy some Folk Fun and Food drawn from my fourth Book; ⁠Kitchen Witch: Food, Folklore & Fairy Tale!⁠ and ⁠Kitchen Witch Companion: Recipes, Rituals & ReflectionsWishing you all many happy hallowed evenings this October!Join me for Tales from the Wildwood live Zoom event on October 30th, 6pm (GMT) ⁠⁠Eventbrite Link⁠

A short and sweet podcast episode for September! If you are seeking more tales of forest folklore and witchy woods, Do pick up a copy of the Witch and the WildwoodJoin me for Tales from the Wildwood live Zoom event on October 30th, 6pm (GMT) ⁠⁠Eventbrite Link⁠

A wonderful wander with stones, witches and wizards!

In June, I journeyed along the Fife Witches Trail to stand at the stone we call Lilias Adies' grave and to pay my respects to the accused witches of Scotland at Dunferlimne Abbey.

Happy Solstice Season to All!

A wander on a sunny day to Tinkinswood Burial Chamber, also known as the Witches Castle!

Our three Gathered Tales were:Goblin Combe: You'll find many versions of this story, including the one in Folktales of England, by Katharine Briggs and Ruth Tongue, 1965The Brecon Elves & the Wise Housewife: A Variation of a story that can be found in Folk tales of Wales by Eirwen Jones, 1978The Fairy of the Dell: A short and sweet version of a tale told in Welsh Fairy Tales By William Elliot Griffis, 1921Thank you to all who have supported me on Patreon this month - do check it out. There are free resources and bonus goodies each month!

Today, I have a collection of tales! I start the podcast with some snippets from my upcoming book, The Witch and the Wildwood. Then, I head out on a journey to Arundel, Sussex, to indulge in Wassail and a walk around in muddy fields looking for Witch Hares!

Explore magical trees and join me underground in the caves of Wookey Hole!

Spying witch marks in the dim light of the Tithe Barn at Bradford on Avon, a walk through winter evergreens and along the Kennet & Avon Canal

Welcome to Midwinter!Thankyou to Haley and Leigh who suggested I might add the Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft & Magic and the Maggie Wall Monument to my ‘To Visit' List.Our Tree Tales this month are of the Pine tree and Christmas Trees:“In Germany the Christmas-tree is not a luxury for well-to-do people as in England, but a necessity, the very centre of the festival…For one thing, perhaps, in a land of forests the tree seems more in place; it is a kind of sacrament linking mankind to the mysteries of the woodland…at night it is a true thing of wonder, shining with countless lights and glittering ornaments, with fruit of gold and shimmering festoons of silver…The Germans have quite a religious feeling for their Weihnachtsbaum, coming down, one may fancy, from some dim ancestral worship of the trees of the wood.”Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Clement A. Miles in 1912Thoughts on this episode? questions? ideas? new witchy places I should explore? Say Hi on Instagram! @wildwoodsandwitchcountry

Starting Witch Country: a journey through story and landscape and all things witch, with perhaps the most famous, infamous witches of England - the accused witches collectively known as the Pendle witches.