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Folk Tales
Lancashire Folk Tales
Take a fantasy journey around Lancashire, the Phantom Voice at Southport, the Leprechauns of Liverpool and the famous hanging of Pendle Witches at Lancaster,to the infamous Miss Whiplash at Clitheroe. Enjoy a rich feast of local tales, a vibrant and unique mythology,where pesky boggarts, devouring dragons, villainous knights,venomous beasts and even the Devil himself stalk the land.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 12, 2024
The folktales are so annoying I can't tell. It might interest people who like to read history or something. But I've clearly outgrown "folktales". I should've known that. It's really not an original book, it's a compilation of various stories from different sources but the writing style is same. If there was a half star I'd give it that.
March 2, 2016
A very interesting little book of folk anecdotes, mini history lessons, jokes and traditions, ghost stories and myths and legends from Lancashire, cunningly entwined with a geographical journey through the region and little asides, rest for pints and commentary from the various narrators. Real, living folk stories written down in the oral tradition, complete with all the historical variants and alternative endings that make up folk legends. Favourites were the tale of Lancelot du Lac growing up under Martin Mere, the sorceress who plants a worm in a man's spine that transforms him into a woman eating dragon that returns after 13 generations and the man executed whose angry stone footprint bleeds on the anniversary of his death. An excellent collection and a great act of storytelling scavenging. 6
November 28, 2014
This book is an interesting read but oddly structured, with some odd grammar quirks. The 'narrators' that are used didn't work for me (taking you on an odd disjointed journey) - the folk tales are intriguing but most are from what is now Great Manchester rather than Lancashire.
It refers to the Lancaster Leeds canal...which doesn't exist....and there is some interesting intrepretation of some information/folk tales. The inclusion of the Preston Guild is also a bit odd, given that it is an event still ongoing rather than a folk tale.
It does have some good folk tales included and many are well told.
It refers to the Lancaster Leeds canal...which doesn't exist....and there is some interesting intrepretation of some information/folk tales. The inclusion of the Preston Guild is also a bit odd, given that it is an event still ongoing rather than a folk tale.
It does have some good folk tales included and many are well told.
August 5, 2014
Having already read Berkshire Folk Tales I was looking forward to reading Lancashire Folk Tales. Once again this was an enjoyable read of an eclectic mix of myths, legends and spooky stories and told in a very original and engaging style.
You did really feel as if you were sitting in a cosy pub somewhere north of Watford, a fire burning in the grate, a pint in one hand, listening and being entertained by a master storytellers.
If I'm honest, I did slightly prefer Berkshire Folk Tales, and this has nothing to do with the way that this book was written or presented, it was just there were a lot of locations mentioned in Berkshire Folk Tales that I knew, had visited and could relate to. Having only had fleeting visits into Lancashire, some the places mentioned were just names on a map. Perhaps I need to get out more.
Saying that, if you like your folk tales told in a unique and intimate way then this is a book I would highly recommend.
You did really feel as if you were sitting in a cosy pub somewhere north of Watford, a fire burning in the grate, a pint in one hand, listening and being entertained by a master storytellers.
If I'm honest, I did slightly prefer Berkshire Folk Tales, and this has nothing to do with the way that this book was written or presented, it was just there were a lot of locations mentioned in Berkshire Folk Tales that I knew, had visited and could relate to. Having only had fleeting visits into Lancashire, some the places mentioned were just names on a map. Perhaps I need to get out more.
Saying that, if you like your folk tales told in a unique and intimate way then this is a book I would highly recommend.
February 20, 2015
Some good folktales told in an odd sort of way, a small book that only scrapes on the rich wealth of Our Beloved County Palatine. This whole area is so steeped in a long and at times bloody history, there most be thousands of such tales about.
January 11, 2025
This is one of a series of books detailing the folklore of various parts of the country. As a frame for the tales, the writers put themselves into the guises of Lily and Fred, storytellers who take us on a journey around the county of Lancashire (to its historical extents), regaling us with tales of myth and legend from those places they visit.
The sort of tales they tell will perhaps be familiar to people from all over Britain - huge worm/dragon creatures terrorising villages, crimes of passions resulting in ghostly hauntings, bizarre creatures both benevolent and malevolent who influence the daily lives of local folk with their kindness or mischief. And witchcraft, but that's something Lancashire is especially famous for - the Pendle witches, though historical and not mythical, are also covered.
But even though the stories are the stuff of which we've all heard, there is charm in the detail of the stories but much more so in the journey around Lancashire that we're taken on. There are places both rural and urban that are visited, many of which most of us would be unfamiliar. But from the stories told, it's easy to get a yearning to go to these places, where some of the locations of these stories - castles, halls, hills, are still there. There are also plenty of nuggets of information about Lancashire's history and culture that help you to get to know the place.
In this sense, you might view the book as a sort of travelogue told through the lens of local folklore, and this is far from a criticism. It certainly provides a great deal of colour to a county long associated with dark satanic mills and bleak moors. A lot of food for thought for those with a bit of imagination who like to travel.
The sort of tales they tell will perhaps be familiar to people from all over Britain - huge worm/dragon creatures terrorising villages, crimes of passions resulting in ghostly hauntings, bizarre creatures both benevolent and malevolent who influence the daily lives of local folk with their kindness or mischief. And witchcraft, but that's something Lancashire is especially famous for - the Pendle witches, though historical and not mythical, are also covered.
But even though the stories are the stuff of which we've all heard, there is charm in the detail of the stories but much more so in the journey around Lancashire that we're taken on. There are places both rural and urban that are visited, many of which most of us would be unfamiliar. But from the stories told, it's easy to get a yearning to go to these places, where some of the locations of these stories - castles, halls, hills, are still there. There are also plenty of nuggets of information about Lancashire's history and culture that help you to get to know the place.
In this sense, you might view the book as a sort of travelogue told through the lens of local folklore, and this is far from a criticism. It certainly provides a great deal of colour to a county long associated with dark satanic mills and bleak moors. A lot of food for thought for those with a bit of imagination who like to travel.
November 24, 2019
I bought this book while on vacation in England as I love folk tales from around the world. I made it about 1/2 through the book when I finally gave up reading it from frustration.
The stories themselves are fascinating and enjoyable, however the structure of the book leaves much to be desired. You are introduced to an oddly placed narrator that feels forced. I would have much preferred to just read the tale.
Within the actual telling of the stories is poor grammar structure and a lack of flow from one thought to another. I often felt like a thought was left incomplete as in transitioned from paragraph to paragraph.
The overall idea of the book is fun. The execution is lacking.
The stories themselves are fascinating and enjoyable, however the structure of the book leaves much to be desired. You are introduced to an oddly placed narrator that feels forced. I would have much preferred to just read the tale.
Within the actual telling of the stories is poor grammar structure and a lack of flow from one thought to another. I often felt like a thought was left incomplete as in transitioned from paragraph to paragraph.
The overall idea of the book is fun. The execution is lacking.
December 24, 2025
Hey! I’ve been reading your story and really enjoyed it the emotions and flow felt very natural. While reading, I kept picturing how some scenes would look as comic panels.
I’m a commission-based comic/webtoon artist, and if you’re ever curious about a visual adaptation, I’d love to chat.
📩 Discord & Instagram: lizziedoesitall
I’m a commission-based comic/webtoon artist, and if you’re ever curious about a visual adaptation, I’d love to chat.
📩 Discord & Instagram: lizziedoesitall
July 1, 2020
I liked the way it was written as an actual journey, but got quite boring at parts.
October 27, 2021
Interesting traditional folk stories. Sometimes a bit simple but certainly interesting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews