Saturday July 14th 2018

The first of our posts in this most recent update is - I am embarrassed to admit - a VERY long overdue note concerning a pair of books co-written by a lovely friend of ours, Susan Lamb.  

Sue and her friend Joanne Larner are passionate 'Ricardians', devoted to the knowledge that Richard the III was certainly not the hump-backed, evil, 'prince killer' that popular history has mainly portrayed him.  Avidly studying the history of one of our most famous monarchs, both ladies were struck by the emphasis constantly being heaped on the 'negative' aspects of his life... all of the death, destruction and - greatly thanks to the work of William Shakespeare - inferred skullduggery and evil machinations!  Greatly as a result of this, they decided that the horrendously maligned Richard needed to show his more humourous side.... and..... as a consequence, 'Dickon's Diaries: A Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' was created!!

This intriguing book is, according to Joanne's biography, 'A humorous collection of anecdotes about Richards's escapades at his castle of 'Muddleham'; and readers are warned that the book is 'NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY' as they are invited to..... well....... lets just let his Highness tell you himself, for best, eh?:

"Deare Dames and loyalle Subjectes, hear ye this! 'Tis your Liege Lord and Sovereign King, Ricardus Rex Tertius, but ye have Oure permission to calle Us Dickon, for We are a right generous and kinde prince and We knoweth ye loveth Us right welle (especially ye Dames). We hath been keepyng Oure own personall diary, a diary whyche telleth of Oure lyff here at Muddleham and ye adventures of Us, Oure wyff, Anne, the Quene and Oure loyalle and trustie friend and servaunt, Francis Lovell. We hath wryttn down alle Oure thoughts and anecdotes for your pleasure. We know ye follow Us on Ye Booke of Faces and enjoy Oure wordes of wisdom, so now can ye owne a whole booke of them. And, We hope ye shalle agree, right entertainyng it is, by Oure troth. Let not any saye your King is not a generous and kindlie monarch! Now readeth ye on!" 

While the aforementioned volume is clearly light-hearted fiction, Sue herself - through her passion for Richard and his ultimate demise in Bosworth, Leicestershire - has experienced some related 'strangeness', which she believes is most probably paranormal in nature!?  As page visitors will see when they read on, her peculiar encounters at the battlefield itself are mentioned in one of our most recent posts below.....  

Copies of 'Dickon's Diaries: A Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' are available via Amazon at this LINK   

Unfortunately - and this is where we are truly embarrassed - it has taken us so long to report on this volume, our post actually comes at a time when a 'second' installment is now almost ready for release!!  Word of 'Dickons Diaries 2: Another Yeare In The Lyff Of King Richard The Third' - due for release shortly, in early August 2018 - can be viewed HERE  

Saturday 14th July 2018

I have recently been looking into a supposed matter of Birmingham 'ghostly history'.... namely the alleged haunting of Edgbaston Old Church (St. Bartholomews), by suicide victim, Thomas Jackson.  Local legend has it that the unfortunate Jackson entered the church one night and - for whatever reason - 'put an end to his life' with a cut-throat razor!!  It was widely said that Jacksons 'ghost' then haunted the site.... not only being seen in in the church and churchyard, but also in the surrounding streets!?

No doubt you will notice the usage above of words like 'supposed' and 'alleged', as - in coming to recently chase up details of the actual suicide itself in contemporary, newspaper archives, it appears the case of the self-destructive Jackson is wholly 'conspicuous by its absence'? 

The suicide is said to have taken place at some point during the 1840's and the above is a story that I've personally seen numerous references to, over the space of literally decades, in a number of different sources.  Well-known, local, historian, the late Chris Upton, wrote an article on the matter for a Birmingham-based newspaper in the early 90's, seemingly as an aspect of bona-fide 'history'.  Another piece, from a short-lived periodical called 'Midland Murders, Mysteries and Legends' (released in 1995) also mentions the 'case'.... though pretty much all references that I've seen contain exactly the same details, so, I guess, they probably all originate with the same references?

The only, moderately 'historical', piece that I have managed to find (so far) that even touches on the subject is an article from a local newspaper for the mid-1800's: a ridiculously over-the-top 'ghost story' that basically sounds 'cheesier' than a wheel of Stilton! Intriguingly, despite the suggested 1840's date for the suicide, the piece - only around a decade after the supposed tragedy - seems to already treat the topic as an aspect of 'distant history' or even 'folklore' at very best.... which perhaps suggests that the suggested date is pure fantasy, on behalf of some storyteller or other?

Interestingly - during the aforementioned newspaper searching - I did happen to discover that a number of suicides from the Edgbaston area were actually committed with straight razors..... a reasonably higher figure, it seems, than any other place (locally, at least) that I've happened to look at in the same vein!?  (Canals and other bodies of water seem to have been the 'No.1 favourite' - by far - when it came to self-destructive Victorians!!)  Not that these statistics could possibly have any bearing on the matter in question, of course, but I did find it rather peculiar that Jackson was said to have ended his life in such a manner in a place that is (in comparison) fairly 'rife' with suicide by similar method!?
 
As is suggested in many searches, 'going to the source' is frequently the best course of action and, as a result, I wrote to the authorities at St. Bartholomews Church itself.  Kindly, - and somewhat surprisingly, I must add - I received an immediate reply on the topic.  Unfortunately, however, they seemingly have no record of the supposed suicide, though the aforementioned piece by Chris Upton does reside in their files....

In speaking on the matter elsewhere, the vicar of another Birmingham church suggested that I contact the Birmingham Diocese to ask if St. Bartholomews had ever been 'reconsecrated' at any point?  He said that this would have certainly had to occurred if someone had committed suicide inside the building!?  As a result, I immediately typed an email to the diocese, though - apart from advising me to contact other, 'historical' sources - they could offer no help at all in this search.......?

It should go without saying that I shall certainly be adding to this matter, here on the blog, if I unearth any further detail..... though, in the meantime, I would like to take the chance to ask if any page readers had ever come across word of this most perplexing topic previously!?

Friday 13th July 2018

Great news to be able to let page visitors know about a 'new' publication dedicated to the myths and traditions associated with our capital city.... but even better when it happens to be written by a friend of ours, Worcestershire author, Polly Jones!!

Released only last month, 'Legends And Folklore: London' is an 80 page book that offers a taste of some of the customs, events and characters that have become part of London’s fascinating and varied culture.  Leafing through the volume, the reader will discover a selection of some of the odd events and people populating the myriad streets of this magnificent, old city over the centuries.  Spanning from legends of King Arthur and ancient Britain... to superstitions and witchcraft...  tales of giants, legends and myth throughout the checquered history of our bustling metropolis......!!

Regular visitors to this blog may well have seen a mention of Polly and her work previously, but - for the uninitiated - she is a freelance writer, with a keen interest in history, folklore, and.... well.... basically.... anything with an 'unusual' slant!!  Polly admits that she 'loves the weird and wonderful' and is fascinated by anything magical, macabre, or mythical.... which clearly makes her the perfect choice for penning the publication mentioned here!! 

Her previous writings are varied and have taken the form of numerous projects for a number of different sources.   Her interviews, reviews, articles, and other works have appeared in periodicals, online, and in non-fiction publications... including such sources as: 'Magical Folk:  British And Irish Fairies:  500 AD To The Present', 'The Celtic Guide' magazine, 'Worcestershire Life', 'Mythology Magazine', 'The Spooky Isles' website, and Radio Rivendell. 

Copies of 'Legends And Folklore: London' can be obtained via your usual High Street stockists, or ordered online from Amazon at this LINK 

Thursday July 12th 2018 

Going back to just over two weeks ago, the W.M.G.C. received a lovely little note, from a lady called Kelly Fullard, regarding the 'Bosworth Field' battle area, situated in the Leicestershire countryside.  She informed us that she came across our blog while looking for anyone who had encountered anything potentially 'paranormal' in the area concerned.  The reason for her search was because - while recently visiting with a friend - they had both had a rather peculiar experience..... 

Kelly tells us:

"I am a huge history lover, as is my, friend and we went to the 'Battle of Bosworth' site on a Wednesday school time, as we both wanted to the chance to enjoy the day in relative peace and quiet. When we arrived it was very quiet indeed; a lovely sunny April day. There were at most 15 people around.  We went through the museum / visitor centre and then off onto the ‘walk’.... in which you can’t actually get that close to the field where the battle took place.  It’s also worth mentioning that we were not on a ghost / guided walk at all; we did not go to experience anything at all other than the history.  We walked as far as we could and then started walking back, seeing no more than 3 elderly people, with dogs, on our entire walk.

We stopped at the bench just by ‘Richards Well’ for a spot of lunch.  Again, it was a lovely spring day and it was a nice quiet spot.  We were just chatting about our children and such when, at the same time, we both heard rather distinctive ‘drumming’.... and not the kind of drumming that you would hear in music, this was maybe a single drum being beaten and what we could only describe as a ‘war drum’ based on what we have seen in films.  It just had that rhythm about it.

We both looked at each other and then, before we could say anything, we heard ‘several’ men shouting.... and then it stopped.  The whole experience lasted several seconds.  Suddenly the peaceful surroundings didn’t feel peaceful and we both (admittedly we were a little shaken) didn’t feel like we should be there, so we grabbed our bags and walked back up towards the visitor centre / museum.

We spoke to a lady who worked there and actually asked if they had sound effects or actors around, to which she said no and that we weren’t the first to ask this or have an experience like ours.

It caught us off guard completely and we can’t explain what we heard. For anyone who has been there you will know there isn’t anything nearby and it’s a secluded area indeed".

Needless to say, we were greatly interested to hear about Kelly's experience, as this is a place that we have taken a fair amount of interest in, in the past.... and also investigated ourselves, just over a decade ago. 

A good friend of mine, Su Lamb, is an authority on the history and life of Richard the III - and related heritage - and has also had a couple of peculiar experiences during previous visits to the site of Bosworth Battlefield herself.  (To see Su's account from late 2013, please click HERE).  

In sharing Kelly's story with her, Su commented that:  "The lady who related the story certainly isn't alone, as other people I know have heard drumming there too... and yelling!"  (*I'm sure that little snippet will be both 'of interest' to Kelly and her friend.... and, possibly, a little reassuring too, perhaps?)  Su also added:  "My own experience there was more 'peaceful', I suppose.... but it is an extremely haunted place!  In saying that, I have never felt 'threatened' there; I have had the sensation of being watched though.... especially near 'Dickon's Well' and in Ambion woods". 

On a separate visit to the site, Su and a friend saw a group of 'knights' situated behind a hedgerow, on the opposite side of the field to where they were standing.  Her friend managed to take photographs of their view (See nearby pic), but, because of the distance concerned and the general 'distortion' involved in enlarging digital images, etc, the resulting shot generally fails to allow viewers of the pic to really 'share in' what they saw that day, unfortunately.....

Su says that the strange thing about these 'apparitions' was the fact that they seemed to 'interact' with the witnesses!?  Her first thought was that there were a group of 'bikers' in the area, because - at first - they could see the reflections from their helmets.... but, as they looked again, they had realised that they were definitely looking at 'medieval armour'!!   At the time, the friends were standing on the slope which leads up to Ambion Hill, facing down towards Ambion Wood.  When they saw movement and reflections, they had naturally stopped to look in that direction.... and the figures ALSO seemed to stop to - potentially - return their gaze!?  The friend started to snap away with her camera, but Su admits she was totally transfixed and really could not believe what was in front of her eyes!! 

At this point, the main figure they could see - wearing a heavy, wine coloured cloak - appeared to 'point up towards them';  not exactly a 'finger pointing at them', but more of an 'open handed indication' towards where they were standing....!   Both parties stood staring at one another for several, long moments.... before the armoured assemblage just seemed to melt away!?  Su admits that, although it really felt as if the figures were interacting with them, the 'pointing figure' could well have been indicating to nearby Ambion Hill - which was just behind the friends - perhaps outlining a good vantage point in the surrounding topography? 

Afterwards, they went to take a look at the area where these intriguing figures had been situated.  All of the 'knights' appeared to be very tall, but they now realised that they couldn't have actually been standing at modern day ground level, because, on the edge of the wood where they were seen, there is quite a deep ditch!?  If anyone had stood in the position concerned, you would have barely been able to see the top of their head from the ridge where the friends were previously situated....? 

In a previous conversation on this general topic - on the W.M.G.C. Facebook page - a gentleman by the name of Garry Davies also said that, during a visit to the battlefield in 2010, he and some companions had spotted the figure of a tall man, seemingly dressed as a monk, in the Visitors Centre.  Thinking the person was perhaps a member of some form of re-enactment group, they had followed close behind the man, but, as he turned down a long corridor, they discovered he had vanished!?

In ending her recent email to us, Kelly mentioned that the whole encounter had prompted them to book places on a ‘Ghost Walk’ at the site - on the anniversary of the battle - and they hoped to perhaps gain some insight as to what they had heard that day.  Kindly, she has said that she will share any potential experiences that they might have with us, as a form of 'update' on the situation!  Needless to say, we hope that Kelly has something to relate to us, from her forthcoming trip to Bosworth - as long as it's nothing too unnerving, of course!!  Chuckle!! - and hope that this blog entry will contain some data that may prove 'food for thought' on this return.....!?!