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New Forest Folklore, Traditions & Charms
Britain's New Forest covers over 200 square miles of the Hampshire Basin in Southern England. Protected since Norman times, and used as a home and hunting ground since time immemorial, it is a remarkable landscape, made up of rolling hillsides and vast swathes of open moorland and ancient woodlands, sunken valleys and epic ridgeways. It was a melting pot and home for many of those who created the modern esoteric movement. But what drew them there? What local traditions, lore and people may have influenced them? What was the landscape they lived and worked in?
The New Forest is one of the few remaining parts of the British Isles where the community remains connected to the landscape they live in. New Forest Folklore, Traditions & Charms highlights the relevance of this, especially in terms of the deep connection between earth spirituality and the reality of rural living, in the resulting traditions and their underlying lore and superstition that have remained largely unchanged since at least the 11th century.
Starting with its prehistoric and geological origins, author and forest resident Vikki Bramshaw details the process of its 'afforestation', starting in Norman times, and the subsequent and complex development of traditions of commoning, the laws prescribing the rights of the forest residents and their animals - rights which often clashed with the desires of the King to use the Forest at his pleasure for a Royal hunting ground. From this sprang up many of the traditions of the Forest - the beating of the bounds, the building of the One-Night House, the Romani Gypsy camps, and the darker tradition of hanging transgressors of Forest Law on gallows trees.
Drawing on a wide range of sources - academic, professional, and local people and their lore - this book includes a detailed exploration of the Forest's places of power: its standing stones, sacred springs, special trees, burial mounds, and the rich tradition of 'magical marks' to be found in many of its older buildings.
No visit to the New Forest will be complete without having this wonderful guide to hand. The contents explore both well-known sites in more detail and reveal the hidden gems of the Forest that lie well beyond the busy car parks. A detailed bibliography and comprehensive index complete this invaluable introduction to one of Britain's most magical places.
The New Forest is one of the few remaining parts of the British Isles where the community remains connected to the landscape they live in. New Forest Folklore, Traditions & Charms highlights the relevance of this, especially in terms of the deep connection between earth spirituality and the reality of rural living, in the resulting traditions and their underlying lore and superstition that have remained largely unchanged since at least the 11th century.
Starting with its prehistoric and geological origins, author and forest resident Vikki Bramshaw details the process of its 'afforestation', starting in Norman times, and the subsequent and complex development of traditions of commoning, the laws prescribing the rights of the forest residents and their animals - rights which often clashed with the desires of the King to use the Forest at his pleasure for a Royal hunting ground. From this sprang up many of the traditions of the Forest - the beating of the bounds, the building of the One-Night House, the Romani Gypsy camps, and the darker tradition of hanging transgressors of Forest Law on gallows trees.
Drawing on a wide range of sources - academic, professional, and local people and their lore - this book includes a detailed exploration of the Forest's places of power: its standing stones, sacred springs, special trees, burial mounds, and the rich tradition of 'magical marks' to be found in many of its older buildings.
No visit to the New Forest will be complete without having this wonderful guide to hand. The contents explore both well-known sites in more detail and reveal the hidden gems of the Forest that lie well beyond the busy car parks. A detailed bibliography and comprehensive index complete this invaluable introduction to one of Britain's most magical places.
196 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2022
14 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Vikki Bramshaw
10 books11 followersVikki Bramshaw is an author and researcher committed to studying folklore, authentic ritual and the esoteric since the late 90's.
Some of her passions are religious history, theurgy, initiatory rites, trance and magic.
Her ground-breaking 'Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy', was published in 2013, exploring the numerous facets of the god Dionysos, revealing the hidden faces of the thrice-born god and the extent of his influence in the mysteries of the ancient world.
Vikki has also contributed to a number of anthologies, journals and magazines over the years and speaks at a range of events about ritual, magic and religious history.
Vikki Bramshaw lives in the UK in deepest darkest Hampshire.
Some of her passions are religious history, theurgy, initiatory rites, trance and magic.
Her ground-breaking 'Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy', was published in 2013, exploring the numerous facets of the god Dionysos, revealing the hidden faces of the thrice-born god and the extent of his influence in the mysteries of the ancient world.
Vikki has also contributed to a number of anthologies, journals and magazines over the years and speaks at a range of events about ritual, magic and religious history.
Vikki Bramshaw lives in the UK in deepest darkest Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 2, 2025
This book is an absolute treasure. As someone who loves both local history and the deeper, more mystical threads that run through our landscapes, I found it completely enchanting from start to finish.
The author has done something truly special here—interweaving rich folklore, seasonal customs, and the subtle transitions of the New Forest with such care and reverence. It's not just a historical account; it's a living, breathing celebration of place and spirit. Whether you're someone who calls the New Forest home or simply feels drawn to the magic of ancient traditions, this book offers something deeply nourishing.
Every page feels like a portal into the land, story, and the unseen. It’s perfect for anyone who delights in learning about the folklore that lingers in hedgerows, hearths, and hilltops—and for those who believe that folklore is not just something we study, but something we live.
I can’t recommend it highly enough. A beautifully written and deeply rooted work that I know I’ll return to again and again.
The author has done something truly special here—interweaving rich folklore, seasonal customs, and the subtle transitions of the New Forest with such care and reverence. It's not just a historical account; it's a living, breathing celebration of place and spirit. Whether you're someone who calls the New Forest home or simply feels drawn to the magic of ancient traditions, this book offers something deeply nourishing.
Every page feels like a portal into the land, story, and the unseen. It’s perfect for anyone who delights in learning about the folklore that lingers in hedgerows, hearths, and hilltops—and for those who believe that folklore is not just something we study, but something we live.
I can’t recommend it highly enough. A beautifully written and deeply rooted work that I know I’ll return to again and again.
February 28, 2025
4.5
A very interesting book on the history of the New Forest area, as well as its customs and folklore. My favs include:
• Collepixie- a trickster spirit in the guise of a New Forest Pony said to lure away travellers.
• The origin of the Will - O - the - Wisp
• In Hampshire, the saying goes that any crops not harvested before 31st October will be ruined by the faeries who start weeing on the blackberries!
A very interesting book on the history of the New Forest area, as well as its customs and folklore. My favs include:
• Collepixie- a trickster spirit in the guise of a New Forest Pony said to lure away travellers.
• The origin of the Will - O - the - Wisp
• In Hampshire, the saying goes that any crops not harvested before 31st October will be ruined by the faeries who start weeing on the blackberries!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews