The Cŵn Annwn - The Hounds of Arawn
The Wild Hunt-featuring the Cŵn Annwn (Definitely not dogs you want to pet.)
In Welsh folklore, Annwn is the other world, it’s ruler is Arawn. In its earliest form it was a place of wonder, providing an afterlife of eternal youth with plenty of food and wine thrown in for good measure. But in the medieval period it started to feature in Arthurian legends, and its ruler was changed to Gwyn ap Nudd. He was a hunter and a Psychopomp-a Psycopomp is an entity that escorts or drives spirits to the afterlife.
And this is where things took a darker turn.
The first written mention of Arawn and Annwn is in The Mabinogion-an early book about Welsh mythology-in this he is portrayed in a positive way, befriending the Welsh hero Pwyll. Later with the arrival Christianity, Arawn changed and became Nudd, taking on a darker role, and Annwn, far from being a land of plenty, became Hell…
Christian tradition has Nudd being banished to Glastonbury Tor by Saint Collen, for various misdeeds. It is now that he he becomes The Wild Hunter, leading the Cŵn Annwn, hounds of Annwn-singular Ci Annwn. Christians dubbed these creatures the Hounds of Hell, believing they were owned by Satan.
The Cŵn Annwn, are said to be most active in the autumn and winter-time, the sound of their mournful baying on the cold wind was said to be an omen of death. They favourite prey was believed to be wrong doers, who they would chase down remorselessly. According to myth, the louder their growling the further away they are said to be, when they are close at hand their barking is faint. It is then you really have to worry.
Being a hunting hound a Ci Annwn was a fairly decent sized pup. They are often portrayed as being a spectral white colour, with distinct red ears, the Celts associated the colour red with death. Some have suggested that the sound of migrating geese may have inspired legends of the Cwm Annwn. Others think that Nudd may be a Welsh personification of winter.
If you enjoy folklore and stories of the supernatural, why not try my book ‘Fireside Horror.’ It features boggarts, ghosts, prehistoric demons and cults, all inspired by folklore. It is available from Amazon and Waterstones online, links below.
Sources
Wikipedia
Ghosts and Legends of Wales (Jarrold 1993)
godsandmonsters.info/cwn-annwn
The Mabinogian
The Skeletal Scarecrow of the Cotswolds
The Skeletal Scarecrow
The Area known as the Cotswolds contains many Legends and superstitions, but today I will focus primarily on the little known tale of the Skeletal Scarecrow said to haunt a field outside a idyllic little village called Broadway.
The Cotswolds is a region that can be found in the southwest of England, it is largely rural with a few pretty villages and towns dotted around. Most of the houses are made from the famous local, golden-coloured Cotswold Stone. It has been designated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,’ and if you ever get a chance to visit, and see the rolling hills and meandering rivers you will understand why.
Ephraim Rolfe was a simple-minded young boy, he worked as a ‘Bird Scarer.’ Bird Scarers where like human scarecrows, the job involved standing in a field often with a device called a clapper which they used to frighten away birds so they did not eat all the crops and seed. The job was usually given to young boys, (in my day youngsters got a paper round) who would be out from dawn till dusk whatever the weather, spooking the local fowl. by all accounts the pay was meager (so in that sense very similar to a paper round.)
Ephraim Rolfe may have a been a simple youngster, but he was well loved in Broadway village for his kindness to youngsters and his affinity to animals. At dusk one evening the local squire was out patrolling his land looking for hated poachers, he saw a suspicious figure lingering in one of his fields, and being a man of action he took the decision to shoot first, ask questions later. Sadly the person he shot was not a poacher, as you have probably guessed it was young Ephraim Rolfe, about his business scaring the local wildlife. It begs the question how was stupid was the squire? It was his field, and he had hired Ephrim to scare in it, so why shoot…. (sigh) never mind.
Ever since then villagers walking past that field on wild nights, when the moon emits its spectral glow through the clouds, have claimed to see the ghost of young Ephraim - a skeletal scarecrow, standing a silent lonely vigil. Legend does not identify exactly which field this phantom guards, but it is said to be next to the road leading towards Evesham. So if you feel brave enough and you find yourself in Broadway, and at lose end, why not have a evenings ramble over the fields, who knows what you may encounter.
If you enjoy folklore, ghost stories, and tales of weird monsters why not check out my book ‘Fireside Horror.’ Link below -
Sources
Ghosts and Witches of the Cotswolds (Jarrold)
Wikipedia
Yr Hen Wrach - The Crone of the Bog.
Yr Hen Wrach - The Crone
Yr Hen Wrach (roughly pronounced - Err Hen rack) is a being from Welsh folklore, her name means means Crone. She was an elderly lady, now elderly ladies in folklore get a lot of bad press, usually they are portrayed as witches or Hags (a bit harsh, believe it or not my Nan is an elderly lady and she is lovely, more than willing to share her last Hobnob Biscuit with anyone.) But I digress, Yr Hen Wrach was most certainly not an old charmer. She lived in a place called Cors Fochno (Borth Bog), one of the largest unspoilt, raised mires in Britain. The Village of Borth lay nearby.
Yr Hen Wrach was a terrible Hag-like being, believed to stand nearly seven feet tall, and terrifying to behold. She haunted the treacherous wastes, appearing from the mist shrouded bogs to lure unwary travellers to their doom, definitely not the sort of person to share her last Hobnob.
When she was in a particularly bad mood, and when the mist spread from the marshland to envelope the village of Borth she would rise from the peaty depths to wander amongst the cottages, should she discover any unfortunate person out and about, she would breath on them, this would cause the poor soul to sicken, and in some cases even die! Naturally when the people of Borth saw the mists drifting in from the mire they would lock their doors and shutter their windows.
Borth Bog holds many other tales, it is believed to be the home of a Toad, said to be the second oldest creature on Earth. Alien Big cats are regulalry seen by local folk, there is also a submerged forest which can be seen at nearby Borth bay, with tree stumps dating back to 1500BC. It is said the ancient stumps are all that remain of the lost Kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod, a fertile land that was drowned beneath Cardigan Bay.
I hope you enjoyed this little exploration of Welsh Folklore. If you did you may like my book ‘Fireside Horror.’ The links are below, if you feel brave enough to purchase a copy.
#Folklore #Folkhorror #paulsheldon #Horror #welshmythology #welshlegends #horror #book #horrorbook #folkhorrorbook #myths #legends
The Curse of the Tiddy Mun: Dark Folklore of the Lincolnshire Fens
A picture of the Tiddy Mun. don’t upset him…
The Tiddy Mun is a character from Lincolnshire Folklore. For those outside the United Kingdom, Lincolnshire is a county in the East Midlands, it is a relatively rural area made up of rivers, fens and rolling countryside.
Years ago Lincolnshire had a lot more wetland, but it was decided that this should be drained and turned into fields for farming. This is where The Tiddy Mun comes in. The Tiddy Mun meaning ‘The Small Man’ in the local dialect, was a sort of gnome-like entity with white hair and a long white beard that would have put Gandalf to shame. He was described as being three to four spans high (A span is the distance measured by a human hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger) I’m not certain how accurate a form of measurement this is so please don’t use it for any DIY, unless you like wonky shelves.
As his name would suggest the Tiddy Mun was small, he was the King of the Tiddy Folk (Fairy Folk.) If ever there was flooding the local folk would go about the district chanting -
Tiddy Mun wi’out a name
Tha watter’s thruff
Which means ‘Small Man without a name, the water’s through!’ The folk would then listen for the cry of a Peewit, if they heard the birds call they would know The Tiddy Mun had taken pity on them, and the waters would soon recede. So in this respect he was quite a helpful little chap. But he also had a dark side, if people in the area drowned or disappeared, it was said The Tiddy Mun was to blame.
When King Charles I, bought in Dutch engineers to drain the fens the old Tiddy Mun was a tad annoyed, and demonstrated his displeasure by causing houses to collapse, walls to crumble and disease to spread amongst the people and their livestock. (Strangely most of these unfortunate things could have been bought about by the dramatic change in the landscape.)
Facing these horrible disasters the folk went out and poured water into the local ditches chanting -
Tiddy Mun, wi’out a name,
Here’s watter for thee,
Tak tha spell undone!
The people continued this tradition for many years, until eventually it was supposed that the Tiddy Mun had vanished from the Fens forever.
So that is the story of the amusingly named ‘Tiddy Mun,’ if you enjoy Folklore why not try my book ‘Fireside Horror’ the first book in ‘The Wendlelow Mysteries.’ links are below.
Stay Spooky.
Sources
Wikipedia
ostaraeast.co.uk/post/who-is-tiddy-mun
lincolnshirefolktalesproject.com
The Afanc
The Terrible Afanc
The terrible Afanc (pronounced A-Vank) is a water monster from Welsh mythology. He has many different descriptions, sometimes being described as a Nessie-like creature, while other times he is said to have a crocodilian form, others say he resembles a great beaver, and there are even descriptions of him looking like a gnome or goblin.
It was considered very unfortunate to have such a creature living close to your community, quite apart from its fearsome appearance (well maybe not the giant beaver one, which I can’t help but see as being rather sweet) its chief danger was believed to be the flooding it caused when it was angered, ruining peoples homes and damaging their valuable crops.
So if your community found itself close to a lake, river or pond, that was said to be home to one of these supernatural nuisances, the likelihood is that they would want to get rid of it. But that was easier said than done. Firstly anything described as a ‘monster’ has usually earned that name for a good reason, because it is unpleasant and probably rather dangerous. Secondly it was believed that feats of arms could not slay the beast, as its hide was immune to swords, spears or arrows.
Betws-y-Coed is a Welsh village in the county of Conwy, and many years ago they had a problem with an Afanc that dwelt in the local Conwy river, He was said to resemble a giant beaver (Now I have already spoken about my felling’s on the beaver versions, in short, I would probably have given the cute ‘furry fella’ a pass, but to be fair it is not my home he is flooding.)
The villagers designed a plan, if they could not slay the water monster they would lure it away. They got a rather brave, local maiden to sing sweetly by the river, luring the beast out of the water, and such was the power of the girl’s voice that the creature fell asleep at her feet. Quickly it was bound with great chains and then the pulled away by the villagers, it was taken to a lake under the summit of Yr Widdfa the highest mountain in Wales.
Its new home was Llyn Glaslyn - which means ‘lake of the blue spring’ and being high up in the mountains, and alone, with no one to hassle it, I imagine it lives quite a peacefully now.
So in the end everyone was happy.
The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) was once native to Britain, including Wales, after the last Ice Age, but vanished centuries ago. It is tempting to speculate that the legend of the Afanc preserves a distorted folk memory of these long-lost creatures.
A less pleasant version of an Afanc appears in my book ‘Fireside Horror,’ if you like folklore or enjoy creepy tales why not get a copy, links below.
Stay Spooky.
The Erlking
The flight from the Erlking.
The Erlking is an entity from European folklore. The name comes from the German Erlkönig, often translated as “Alder King”, though this may itself be a mistranslation of the Danish ellerkonge, meaning “Elf King”. Either way, he is generally depicted as a lord of the forest - and in some traditions, a King of the Faeries.
He was believed to lurk in ancient woodland, who dwells in the Black Forest in Germany, stalking any unfortunate children who lingered too long beneath the boughs of his realm. It was said he could kill mortals with a single touch, which is a strong incentive not to dawdle on your way home.
The Erlking is best known today through the poem “Der Erlkönig” (1782) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, inspired by earlier folklore collected and discussed by Johann Gottfried Herder. The poem tells the tale of a boy being carried on horseback by his father through the night. The purpose of their journey isn’t explained, though I can only assume it’s an urgent one.
As they ride, the boy becomes increasingly fearful, insisting that they are being followed by an unnatural being. The father - clearly a deeply rational man - dismisses his son’s complaints entirely, attributing the strange sights and sounds to shadows, mist, and the wind in the trees. I don’t know about you, but I have a feeling this “father of the year” is going to regret that.
As the journey continues, the Erlking attempts to lure the boy with promises of games, fine clothes, and his daughters. Whether these poor daughters agreed to be used as bait is unclear, though if they didn’t, I can only hope they voiced their displeasure at the next family dinner.
Finally, losing patience, the Erlking declares his intention to take the boy by force. (At this point, his thinking may have been something like: If I’m going to get an ear-bending from my irate daughters, I might as well have something to show for it.)
When the father finally reaches his destination, he discovers that his beloved son is dead.
So yes - a fairly grim poem, all things considered, but an extremely effective one. The New Oxford American Dictionary describes the Erlking as “a bearded giant or goblin who lures little children to the land of death”, which feels about right.
Below is a translation of the poem from German by Edgar Alfred Bowring.
Hope you enjoy it.
Who rides there so late through the night dark and drear?
The father it is, with his infant so dear;
He holdeth the boy tightly clasp'd in his arm,
He holdeth him safely, he keepeth him warm.
My son, wherefore seek'st thou thy face thus to hide?
Look, father, the Erl-King is close by our side!
Dost see not the Erl-King, with crown and with train?
My son, 'tis the mist rising over the plain.
"Oh, come, thou dear infant! oh come thou with me!
For many a game, I will play there with thee;
On my strand, lovely flowers their blossoms unfold,
My mother shall grace thee with garments of gold."
My father, my father, and dost thou not hear
The words that the Erl-King now breathes in mine ear?
Be calm, dearest child, 'tis thy fancy deceives;
'Tis the sad wind that sighs through the withering leaves.
"Wilt go, then, dear infant, wilt go with me there?
My daughters shall tend thee with sisterly care;
My daughters by night their glad festival keep,
They'll dance thee, and rock thee, and sing thee to sleep."
My father, my father, and dost thou not see,
How the Erl-King his daughters has brought here for me?
My darling, my darling, I see it aright,
'Tis the aged grey willows deceiving thy sight.
"I love thee, I'm charm'd by thy beauty, dear boy!
And if thou'rt unwilling, then force I'll employ."
My father, my father, he seizes me fast,
For sorely, the Erl-King has hurt me at last.
The father now gallops, with terror half wild,
He grasps in his arms the poor shuddering child;
He reaches his courtyard with toil and with dread,
The child in his arms finds he motionless, dead.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope this ghostly tale has left you trembling with a pleasurable fear. If you enjoy what I do, please consider picking up a copy of either of my books, Threads of Shadow or Fireside Horror, terrifying folk-horror novels uniquely told through short stories - available on all Amazon stores, I have enclosed link to the UK & US versions below, alternatively you can just search P A Sheldon and my work should appear.
Until next week, Stay Spooky.
Link to 'Fireside Horror' - Amazon UK
Link to 'Fireside Horror' - Amazon US
Sources
Wikipedia
The New Oxford American Dictionary
britannica.com
Ratmen in Folklore
In ‘Fireside Horror,’ the English City of Birmingham, one of the centres of British production during the industrial revolution, has a problem, and from the title of this particular blog, I imagine you can take a healthy guess at what kind of problem that is.
But are there really any Ratmen to be found in British Folklore, well actually yes, albeit a relatively modern piece of folklore. So I present to you dear reader: The South-end-on-Sea Ratman.
The story goes that an old tramp took shelter in an underpass one wintery night. unfortunately for this rambling hobo, he was discovered by the town drunks, who gave him a beating, and stole his blanket. (I have to say, the beating is bad enough, but to steal the poor chaps blanket too, well I’m lost for words…..) Anyway it was a cold night, and the chill, combined with his injuries was enough to finish this poor drifter off. However, before the body was discovered the rats had taken to gnawing his remains. From then on the underpass became haunted, but it was not merely the ghost of an old man that troubled this place, Oh no, it was the ghost of rat, walking on two legs like a man, squealing and scuttling in the dark!
Ratmen also appear in Dungeons & Dragons, where they are called Wererats, as the name suggests these beings are akin to werewolves, transforming from men and women, into human-rat hybrids. though whether this change is induced by the full moon or simply the sight of a full wheel of cheese I cannot say for certain.
Games Workshop also created a wonderful race of Ratmen for their miniature wargames system, they are marvellously fun models, I actually own an army of the ratty ne’er-do-wells, photos of my army can be seen below, they fight in mighty hoards, over-whelming their opponents.
Interview on ‘Novel Kicks’
A few weeks ago I was kindly asked by Laura if I wanted to be interviewed for her Blog ‘Novel Kicks’, I was a little nervous but Laura was very friendly and guided me through the whole process. The interview has now been put up on her website, here is the link NK Chats To… P. A. Sheldon | Novel Kicks
#booklover #bookstagrammer #book #bookworm #books #wendlelow #FiresideHorror #pasheldon #blog #horrorbooks #horrorblog
What is ‘Book Sprout’
So what is ‘Booksprout’ - Booksprout lets you find and discover ebook review copies from your favorite authors! It's completely free for reviewers; all you need to do is provide your honest feedback on the books you download.
‘Fireside Horror’ is currently available on ‘Booksprout’ Link. - https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/173491/fireside-horror
This review campaign is open to up to 25 people, the campaign will end 22nd August 2024.
Happy reading Sproutlings.
Crom Cruach – The Dark Irish Pagan God of Sacrifice and Stone
Crom Cruach. The Hunched God…
Near the town of Killycluggin in County Cavan, Ireland, there stands an ancient stone carved with strange and unsettling markings. This stone is a replica of the Killycluggin Stone, one of the most important artefacts of Irish pagan history (the original is preserved in the County Cavan Museum).
Legend tells that this stone possessed diabolical origins. Its shattered remains were said to have lain by the roadside for centuries, and women forced to pass it at dusk reportedly trembled with fear at the sight of it. For it is known by another, older name - the Crom Stone - dedicated to a prehistoric Irish deity so feared by early Christianity that his cult was driven from Ireland’s shores.
That deity was Crom Cruach.
Crom Cruach in Irish Mythology and Folklore
The Annals of the Four Masters, a key chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the seventeenth century, records that during the reign of Tighearmas, an early High King of Ireland, Crom Cruach was regarded as the “chief idol of adoration in Ireland.”
The text recounts a tragic Samhain ritual at Magh Slécht - the Plain of Prostrations - in what is now County Cavan, where Tighearmas and three-quarters of his followers perished while engaged in worship.
The Meaning and Form of Crom Cruach
The name Crom Cruach has several interpretations, one of which translates as “the Hunched One.” Or “the Crooked One.” He is sometimes referred to as Cenn Cruach or Cromm Cruach. Scholars and folklorists believe he was a fertility god, though a violent and bloodthirsty one, demanding human sacrifice in return for bountiful harvests and prosperity.
In Irish legend, Crom Cruach is often described as a giant serpent or wyrm, sometimes possessing a single great eye, and he is frequently associated with standing stones and ancient monuments. He is also linked to Crom Dubh, another dark figure of Irish folklore, where he may appear as a horned god - a recurring image in pagan myth.
Crom Cruach in Popular Culture
My own first encounter with Crom Cruach came through an episode of the classic television series Robin of Sherwood, fittingly titled Cromm Cruac. I found him a compelling and sinister antagonist and quietly tucked him away in my pocket.
Years later, I encountered this ancient supernatural menace again in the animated film The Secret of Kells, where echoes of Irish pagan mythology and forbidden gods linger beneath the surface of the story.
Standing Stones, Saint Patrick, and the Fall of Crom Cruach
Medieval sources describe Crom Cruach’s idol as a central stone figure, often said to be made of gold, surrounded by twelve lesser stones, suggesting a cult rooted in cosmic cycles, seasonal worship, or solar symbolism.
According to Irish legend, Crom Cruach was believed to dwell within or possess a standing stone. It was at Magh Slécht that Saint Patrick confronted the deity. Through prayer, divine authority, and his holy staff, Patrick shattered the stone idol, releasing the demon bound within and casting it into Hell.
It was whispered for generations that the broken stones were cursed, and that only those with brave hearts - or perhaps foolish spirits - would dare to touch them.
Crom Cruach in Fireside Horror
This crooked, prehistoric god serves as the antagonist in my book Fireside Horror, a collection of interconnected short stories steeped in folklore, pagan horror, and supernatural dread. Crom Cruach lurks within the shadows of the narrative, revealing himself only towards the book’s end.
Fireside Horror is the perfect book for dark, stormy evenings, and makes an ideal gift for readers who enjoy atmospheric horror, folk horror, and myth-inspired fiction.
Link below.
Stay Spooky.
Sources and Further Reading
Wikipedia
IrishMyths.com
IrishPagan.school
#CromCruach #Folklore #Folkhorror #firesidehorror #Horror #Book #paulsheldon #horrorbook #Wendlelow
Editing ‘The Crow’s Scream.’
Well ‘The Crows Scream’ returns to me for the third round of editing. Some stories have been added, some removed. There has been much reading, till my eyes boggle, but slowly I am getting there, probably one more round of editing after this. Hopefully this book will have some internal illustrations, I am in talks with a talented artist.
In the meantime don’t worry I have Lily the dog standing guard over the book, though she is not allowed to read it, it is too scary for her.
