The Witchcraft and Folklore of Dartmoor

by Ruth St. Leger-Gordon

English witchcraft and folklore; black and white illustrations, index, 196 pages.

Genres: Folklore, Nonfiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Sombraline · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting recording of various legends, folklore and beliefs in witchcraft in Dartmoor, as the name pragmatically indicates. With the text written in the 1960's, one is glad it seemed to come just in time to record the practice of village witches, superstitions and other beliefs which feel like they must be a thing of the past now.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up on the moors and spent a lot of my time lately walking and exploring new areas, I thought it was only right to immerse myself in both the History and the folklore of the moors. This book by Ruth E st Leger-Gordon is one of the most comprehensive books I have read so far on the folklore of Dartmoor, including all the well known tales of the moors along with some less well known. It also examines the history of the tales and of there survival in the modern world.

I found this book both informative and educational and now know a lot more about the legends of the places where I walk and what inspired them and also the true history behind the myths.

[Potatoes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book full of Dartmoor folklore. However, the concentration on the discredited witch cult theory did make me have to knock a star off. It was a book that can be described as “yup, this was definitely written in the 60s” based on how the author discusses other cultures. That being said, it was interesting to read all the folklore stories the author collected. It’s a good read for those interested in Dartmoor folklore and how technology changes things.

[Ceilidhchaos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was in the recommended reading of another book I enjoyed and it was not what I was looking for at all.

[Tracey Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of some ongoing research I'm currently undertaking. For me, living near Dartmoor and starting off with a considerable amount of knowledge about its folklore, this was, for the most part, more of an entry-level summary of the more interesting aspects of moor lore. However, where this book is invaluable as a resource is in the numerous eyewitness accounts and oral testimony which were the most fascinating parts of the book. These accounts feature in every chapter and offer a real insight into how certain beliefs have been perpetuated in some moorland communities - and beyond.
The book didn't help me greatly in respect of my main research, as the chapters I was particularly interested in contained a lot of generalisations and one or two sweeping statements which were a little irritating, but it's a book very much of its time (mid 60s). It's well-written by someone who clearly knew her stuff - and while it didn't assist in one way, it provided four or five chapters which contributed extremely well to a new offshoot of research, so it was most definitely time well spent.

[Hannah Danfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating to read about the local history of where I grew up, having heard some of these stories as a child.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be more a book about the folklore of the area with stories. It seemed to have been written for people already familiar with the tales told. I am not so this was more of a struggle for me.