Creature of the Week: Owlman

In today’s post I am again looking into British folklore and legends. Today’s creature comes from Cornish folklore, or more specifically comes from the village of Mawnan. The creature I am talking about is the Owlman (not to be confused with Mothman).

In general, which I am sure you can guess, Owlman is an owl like creature. Sightings of this creature began in 1976 and the creature goes be other names including, Cornish Owlman and Owlman of Mawnan.

The Story

The first sighting of the Owlman was recorded on 17th April 1976, when 2 girls were on holiday in Mawnan. They witnessed what they said was a large winged creature flying above the tower of St Mawnan and St Stephen’s church. The girls were said to be so frightened that their dad ended their holiday then and there.

In the July that followed another 2 girls stated they witnessed the creature. In their story, more details were identifed in regards to the Owlman’s appearance. They described the creature as:

A big owl about the size of a man
With pointed ears
Glowing eyes
Black in appearance
Having pincer style claws

More claims circulated of the Owlman being sighted in the same place throughout 1978, 1979, 1989 and 1995. There was even a claim in the year 2000 where you could hear a loud owl like sound during the night.

Is There Really An Owlman?

It is not uncommon for church tower’s to become home to a number of species, most often bats, but owls (mainly barn owls) are documented as living in them from time to time. This is why many researchers investigating the Owlman regard the encounters as being simply that of an owl. More specifically researchers have linked the legend to local sightings of a Eurasion eagle owl.

Other researches state the while thing is a complete hoax, but what do you think? Do you think the legend is real or simply an animal flying in the sky? Let me know by commenting below.

Creature of the Week: Knocker

In today’s Creature of the Week, I am looking into a British being known as a Knocker. More specifically, they originate in Welsh, Deven and Cornish folklore.

A Knocker is also known as ‘Knacker‘, ‘Bwca‘ (in Welsh folklore), ‘Bucca‘ (in Cornish folklore) and ‘Tommy Knocker‘ (in American folklore). The Knocker is similar to the Irish Leprechaun and the English/Scottish Brownie.

Overall Knockers are described as harmless creatures who help miners.

Description

Knockers are described as being very small, reaching a height of 2ft tall. They have large heads and arms, with wrinkled skin, white ‘whiskers’ and are generally said to look like miners as they wear miners clothes and carry mining tools such as pickaxes and lamps. Of course this description is only when they are visible, as often they will be invisible, hidden from human eyes.

The name Knocker comes from the sound heard before cave-ins, due to this Knockers were seen in good light, as it was argued the knocks were warnings given by Knockers to miners to warn them of the collapse before it happens.

However, others argued that the sound heard was in fact the Knockers hammering the mine walls which caused the cave-ins.

Overall story consensus is that Knockers are helpful beings, but with a slight mischievous attitude playing practical jokes on miners by taking their food and tools. Miners would thank the Knocker’s by leaving the last bite of their food for them to eat.

In the US

During the 1800s, Cornish and Welsh miners were sought after in the US to work in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada and California (just to name a few). Those who emigrated took their folklore stories with them, causing American miners to not only learn about Knockers but also to believe in them as well.

Top 5 Most Haunted Places: Scotland

In today’s Top 5 Most Haunted places I am looking at Scotland. If you don’t know where Scotland is, it is one of the 4 countries that makes up Britain and is north of England on the mainland.

In order to create this list, I searched the internet looking for Scotland’s most haunted places, made a list and ranked them in order of appearance with the 5 most frequently mentioned listed below. So grab a cuppa and let’s begin.

5. Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh has a reputation of being one of Europe’s Most Haunted cities and in the city of Edinburgh one of the most haunted places is its castle.

The cite of Edinburgh Castle dates back to the Iron Age with a Royal Castle being here since around the 12th century, under the reign of King David 1st. It continued to be used as a royal residence until 1633, and by the 17th century the castle was predominantly used as a military barracks.

Over the centuries the castle has been sight to torture, executions the and bloody battles, even witnessing surprise attacks and capture by the English.

Sightings of ghosts on this site date back to at least 1650 where its documented that a headless drummer had been seen. Alongside this, drumming is frequently heard coming from the battlements and it is said that this fortells danger is coming.

Further apparitions include:

An elderly man wearing an apron.
A piper who is believed to have lost his life mysteriously in the tunnels below the castle.

Shadowy figures are common in the castle too, as well as strange light anomalies, sudden drops in temperature, mists and the feeling of being watched.

4. Skaill Castle

Built in 1620, Skaill House is a grade A manor house located in Skara Brae in Orkney. It is described as being ‘the most complete mansion‘ in the area.

It is built beside a neolithic settlement and on top of a norse burial ground. In fact, norse skeletons have been found under floorboards in the South Wing and under the former flagstone in the main hall while works were underway to lay oak flooring. In this part of the house the skeleton remains were placed back in the ground before the oak flooring was laid, where they remain to this day.

A number of paranormal occurrences have ben recorded here by the current laird himself, staff and visitors. Figures have been reported including:

the reflection of a tall man, with thinning hair, sighted in the shop.
A woman in a shawl.

Various sounds are heard including doors opening and closing, alongside footsteps. Cold spots are common and even the current owner, Malcolm Macrae, has smelt cigarette smoke with no original source.

Overall everyone seems to agree that the spirits here are friendly.

3. Mary King’s Close

Edinburgh is regarded as one of the most haunted cities in the world and within this city there is a street known as Mary King’s Close. It can be found underground beneath the current buildings standing on the Royal Mile, these hidden streets used to be home to families and business from the 1600s with its last resident (Andrew Chesney) leaving in 1902.

These streets became buried and sealed so the city could be modernised, leaving these streets to remain relatively untouched.

The underground world has a lot of myth, mystery and death surrounding it, with the streets temporarily sealed before the modernisation works began in order to trap the spread of the Black Death in 1645. Hauntings have been associated with this place since then, with the most reported occurrences being dark shadows, strange lights and apparitions.

It’s even said that the last resident of the close was drove mad by seeing disembodied limbs, a bodiless phantom of a child and the ghost of a gruesome dog which would simply curl up on a chair.

The most famous ghost at the close is that of a little girl called Annie, believed to have been abandoned by her family when she caught the plague. In 1992 a Japanese psychic visited and when she entered Annie’s Room became overwhelmed by sickness, hunger and cold. As she tried to leave the room she felt a small cold hand tug her leg. The psychic then lay a doll for the girl in the room sparking a tradition by visitors from all over the world to do the same.

2. Stirling Castle

In the city of Stirling sits Stirling Castle. The castle dates back to the 12th century and has played an important role in Scottish history.

The castle was used by many Scottish royals as their place of residence and coronation, including Mary Queen of Scots in 1542. The castle has also been witness to at least 8 sieges, including 7 during the Scottish Wars of Independence and the final being in 1746 when Bonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully tried to take thea castle.

There are many ghosts sighed in the castle, with the most frequent being that of the Highland Ghost. The Highland Ghost is seen wearing traditional Scottish garb including a kilt, visitors to the castle often mistake him as a tour guide only to find on approaching him, he disappears before their eyes. An architect in 1935, caught the Highlander on film while conducting surveying works and the image can even be seen on the negative to.

Further ghosts include that of the Pink Lady who is seen wandering the corridors of the castle, accompanied by the smell of rose-blossom in the air before she appears. Reports of who she is differ with some believing she is a noblewoman engaged to a knight who starved to death during an English siege in 1304 and in turn she died of a broken heart. Other reports state she may be Mary Witherspoon, a victim of grave robbers.

There is also the Green Lady who is believed to have been a servant to Mary Queen of Scots who met her end while saving her master from a fire which broke out in her bedroom.

Mary Queen of Scots is also reportedly sighted, although she is never seen with the Green Lady.

Apart from apparitions other activity said to occur in this castle includes phantom footsteps and parts of the castle simply having a general creepy atmosphere.

Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Battlefield featured in every source I looked, so naturally it took the top spot on this list.

Culloden Moor (or Battlefield) can be found near Inverness and was the site of the bloody battle between Government forces and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army on 16th April 1746. This was Britons last full scale battle on its soil, leaving 1500 men killed in the space of 40 minutes thus destroying the Jacobite Revolution. It is said that on the anniversary of the battle both armies can be seen with sound of sword clashes and painful cries being heard.

Futher apparitions on this site includes a Highlander who murmurs ‘they were defeated‘ when encountered. Another Highlander has been sighted lying on the ground screaming in pain.

To give more of a creepy factor birds are said not to sing near the graves of the fallen or over the exact site of the battle. An even eerier tale is that of The Great Scree of Culloden, which is a black bird first sighted on the eve of the battle by a Jacobite Commander. It is believed that anyone who sees this ghost will have bad luck and on occasion the Scree makes an appearance once in a while to this very day.

So when planning your next trip to Scotland, why not include some of these places on your list. You never know what you might encounter.

Creature of the Week: Banchee

In today’s Creature of the Week I am looking into the Banchee. The Banchee comes from Irish folklore and goes by other names including Hag of the Mist, Little Washerwoman and Hag of the Black Head. Accounts surrounding the Banchee go as far back as 1380.

Description

Banchee’s are female spirits, often depicted as an old witch. There are 3 main descriptions used when referring to Banchee’s which are:

She has long hair, with red eyes (from weeping), wearing a grey cloak and a green dress.
She has a pale face, with red hair and dressed in white.
She is a shrouded woman who crouches under trees crying.

No matter what her form, she has a piercing wail, so loud it can shatter glass.

A Banchee is said to be a sign of death, or more specifically pre-warns of death but not just any death, the death of someone you know. Stories state that if you hear a Banchee’s wail, shrieking at night, it foretells the death of a family member.

Although, it is also said that if you hear 7 Banchee’s wailing at once it is usually an indication of the death of someone holy.

The idea of a wailing woman has a deeper meaning, in that it was a traditional part of mourning where a woman would be paid to mourn the dead, with the best and highest pitched wails being most in demand.

If you want to take a more supernatural approach to this, Banchee’s are those woman, their screams echoing on.

Creature of the Week: Puća

In today’s Creature of the Week I am looking at Puća, also known as Pooka and Phouka. Stemming from celtic folklore, Puća can be the bearer of both good and bad fortune being able to help or hinder ones life.

Description

Puća are predominantly depicted as shapeshifters being able to appear as horses, goats, cats, dogs, rabbits, humans and foxes (just to name a few). When in horse form they are described as being sleek black, with golden eyes and a flowing mane. Whereas in human form they tend to retain some animal like features such as a tail, making it easier to tell apart from an actual human.

While these are the most common depictions, some stories have Puća as being vampire like creatures with a taste for human blood.

Interaction with Puća tend to be in rural and isolated places, with tales being found across Europe in countries with celtic roots. For example, in Welsh folklore their equivalent is Pwca, in Cornish folklore there is Bucca and in the Channel Islands Cramlech.

While notions around Puća are vague in Irish folklore, they do like to cause a bit of mischief. They trick humans into riding on their back, while in horse form, giving the person a bad time through a bad ride before dropping the person back where they started.

For those who have been following my Creature of the Week series you will recognise this behaviour in other creatures mentioned, but can you remember which ones? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

It is also said though that a rider could regain control of a Puća if they wore sharp spurs. Sharp objects feature in a lot of Irish folklore as it is argued cold iron items could ward off supernatural beings, which is sort of the case here but rather than warding off allow for control.

Good Fortune

It is said that Puća can be a positive being, bringing good fortune to you. One story said thet are able to intervene before a terrible act, they basically act as guardians protecting a person from more malevolent beings such as fairies and can even reward kindness.

For example in the story of Padraig, a farmers son witnesses a Puća passing by while in invisible form and offers a coat to the Puća. The Puća then appeared before the boy as a bull and instructed Padraig to come to the Mill at night. The boy obeyed and the Puća kept appearing in the Mill, milling sacks of corn into flour causing the farmer to become wealthy enough to retire and give Padraig an education.

Bad Fortune

While the Puća can be good to have around, not all tales share this view. Some speak of them with fear and caution. In County Down for example the Puća are regarded as short, disfigured goblins who around harvest time appear demanding a share of the harvest.

So to cut a long story short depending on where you are in the world, determines how you see Puća. They can be bearers of good or bad fortune, so tread carefully.

If you have any creature suggestions for me to cover, please do let me know by leaving a comment.

Creature of the Week: Lavellan

In this week’s Creature of the Week we are looking at a creature native of Scottish folklore known as a Lavellan. The Lavellan is a mammal cryptid creature found in Northern Scottish folk tales, particularly in the Caithness region. The creature itself has a number of different names including:

Làbh-allan
La-mhalan
La-bhallan

and is deemed lethal to humans.

Description

Lavellan cryptid is rodent like in appearance, similar to that of a shrew and much larger than a rat. It is regarded as being:

Small
Furry
Has bright eyes
Runs very fast

it’s said they like to live in deep pools of water within rivers.

The Lavellan are regarded as a poisonous creature, being able to injure from 100 feet away using their noxious breath which is deemed lethal to humans. However, tales do give examples of how one may be cured of its poison. Two methods are detailed on how this can be achieved.

First, if you were to preserve a Lavellan’s skin, dipping it in water, this water can be drank and heal the affected person(s).

The second method is to boil a Lavellan’s head and drink the water.

Overall folklorists believe the idea of a Lavellan was constructed as a way to demonise water shrews as their saliva is slightly toxic to humans.

Creature of the Week: Fuath

In today’s Creature of the Week I am looking into the Fuath.

A Fuath is a generic term given to a malevolent water spirit in Gaelic mythology. The name directly translates as ‘hate‘ in both Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, the English equivalent would be that of the Kelpie (see post 9th September 2020) and have similarities to the Bean Nighe and the Visges (Northern Irish folklore). The Fuath inhabit any form of water whether that be the sea, river or lakes.

Appearance

A Fuath’s appearance does vary, but in general they are described as:

Having a shaggy yellow fur
Webbed toes
(Multiple) tales with spikes
No nose
Wear the colour green

Alternative depictions have a Fuath with a mane of hair down its back rather than having shaggy yellow fur.

If you come across one of these creatures they can be defeated by sunlight or cold steel as its argued that these can kill it, so are afraid to be around them.

Creature of the Week: Finfolk

Today’s British folklore creature is that of the Finfolk, who come from Orkney. Orkney is a set of islands off the coast of Scotland and the Finfolk or Finnfolk have featured in folklore here going back many, many years.

In general, the Finfolk are shapeshifting sea creatures who travel to the Orkney shores during the Spring/Summer months in order to abduct a human spouse. There are both Finmen and Finwomen who live in one of two places, either in Finfolkaheem (an underwater kingdom) or Hildaland (a paradise island).

Finmen Description

Finmen are described as being thin and tall with a stern face and possessing magical powers. Finmen are very territorial and have been known to cause havoc to fishing boats and ships when they come to near or in ones domain. They are also described as being a crafty creature with a weakness for silver.

Finwife Description

Finwife are depicted as being a beautiful, radiant being with long hair and look like a mermaid, some sources state she has the voice of a siren. She comes to shore to find a husband, if she succeeds in her aims, he will be taken to live in either Finfolkaheem or Hildaland. However if she fails in her mission, she is then expected to marry a Finman who makes her go ashore and work, often as a healer or spinner, where she sends him all her silver earnings. Some descriptions list Finwomen in this situation as having a shapeshifting cat, that delivers messages back to Finfolkaheem.

Method of Abduction

In order to abduct an unsuspecting human they approach (in water) cautiously until they are at a distance where they can leap out and grab their victim. Finmen have an additional tactic, appearing as a fisherman in a boat – I guess to blend in and look less suspicious.

In the event a person is abducted you would live out the rest of your life doing ‘domestic’ duties for your Finman or Finwoman. But there is a chance of escape! For Finfolk have a weakness for silver, so if you are being abducted by a Finfolk throw a silver coin away from you for the Finfolk cannot resist and will go and get it leaving you time to escape (note this is for Finfolk and not other forms of abduction – but I hope you knew that).

If you have any creature suggestions please do let me know.

Top 5 Most Haunted Places: Canada

Today I am looking at some of the most haunted places in Canada. In order to produce my list below I have searched the internet listing all the places mentioned, tallying them up and selected the 5 most spoken about. So here are my 5 most haunted places in Canada.

5. St. Francus Xavier University

As someone who has only ever heard Xavier University in the X-Men films, all I can think of is Charles Xavier but it won’t come as a surprise he has nothing to do with the stories that come from this university.

Located in Nova Scotia and built in 1853, before becoming a University building it was a school for girls called Mount St. Bernard College which was ran by nuns.

Both students and staff today report a number of unexplained goings on includng:

Being knocked over be an unseen force
Footsteps that appear to folow you
Phone ringing (not matching any phone in the building)
Sounds with no origin
Doors opening and closing
Lifts moving without being called
Apparitions

It’s said that Gilmora Hall is haunted by a nun. The story goes that she fell in love with a priest and became pregnant with his child, she became so ashamed and felt guilty that she committed suicide by jumping from the top of the Hall falling to her death.

4. Plains of Abraham

One of themost famous battles in Canadian history took place in 1759 with a three month siege of Quebec City. Major General James Wolfe and British soldiers staged this siege against the French Army creating the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and since this time sightings of ghosts have been seen.

The sight is now a national park and it is believed that Major General Wolfe himself still wonders around, alongside the French Major General Louis Joseph de Montcalm.

Ghosts are said to appear and disappear with apparitions of soldiers being documented on the fields and in the tunnels.

3. Fairmont Empress Springs Hotel

The Fairmount Empress Hotel is described as one of the oldest and most famous hotels in Victoria. It has even been described as one of the ‘most haunted hotels in the world‘.

Built in 1904 by Sir Francis Ratterbury this hotel has hosted royalty, film stars and other well known people. Guests and staff have a number of tales to tell about this place.

Sir Francis Rattenburg, the architect of the building, was murdered by his wife’s lover and is claimed to be wondering the halls with a cane in his hand since 1935. But of course you can’t be named one of the most haunted hotels in the world with one ghost, oh no, other apparitions include that of a chambermaid called Lizzie McGrath who died in 1909.

She went to step out onto a fire escape but unfortunately for her it had been removed for construction and she fell to her death.

An elderly woman has also been seen in her pyjamas, who is said to knock on doors and leading guests to the lift before disappearing before your eyes. There is even a young girl seen by guests in one room, although I can’t find out which one exactly.

While guests and staff have their witness accounts, so do construction workers. In 1960 construction works were taking place on the West Tower where one of the workers claims to have seen a black shadowy form swing from the ceiling. Many believe this could be the spirit of another construction worker who hung themselves in that very spot.

2. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Located in Alberta and surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, sits the Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel and is argued not only to be one of the most picturesque hotels in Canada but also ‘one of the most haunted places in Canada‘.

It opened in 1888, with visitors and staff reporting a number of ghostly sightings. The most well known story is that of ‘The Ghost Bride’, she is reported to have fallen to her death down the marble staircase in her wedding dress, with guests of the hotel claiming to see her walking up and down the stairs as well as seeing her in the ballroom.

There is also the apparition of Sam The Bellman who is frequently seen helping guests with their luggage, despite dying in 1975. He is even said to help guests all the way to their rooms and switching on their bedroom lights, but if you try to speak with him he simply vanishes.

Other apparitions include a bartender.

It’s also reported that rooms 672 and 873 are haunted with guests hearing noises making it really hard to fall asleep. Would you try sleeping here?

Craigdarroch Castle

Built between 1887 and 1890 by coalmining millionaire Robert Dunsmuir for his wife and ten children this Victorian mansion can be found in Victoria, British Columbia.

Craigdarroch Castle is argued to be the most haunted home in Canada and is quite the tourist attraction, functioning as a historical site and museum.

Paranormal activity includes:

Music being heard, namely the sound of a piano playing
Disembodied voices
Whispering
Apparitions both full body and partial

A woman in white has been seen several times and is believed to be Robert Dunsmuir’s wife Joan. She is seen standing and looking through windows.

Other sightings include a little girl, a maid, a crying child, a man climbing the stairs and that of a woman’s feet running up the stairs.

However, the current owners deny any hauntings take place here.

That is my 5 most haunted places in Canada list. What do you think? Do you agree with this list or do you think other places should have been mentioned? Well you can let me know by leaving a comment, I’m interested in hearing your opinions.

Creature of the Week: Kelpie

In today’s Creature of the Week let me introduce you to the Kelpie. The Kelpie feature more in Scottish, folklore but do feature in British folklore as there are similar creatures throughout the four countries that make up Britain including a creature in Welsh folklore called a Ceffyl Dŵr.

A Kelpie in general is a malevolent, shapeshifting water creature that live in water such as streams and rivers usually taking on the form of a horse. But don’t be fooled, they can take on other forms to.

Description

Kelpie’s take on a number of different forms and I have read about 3 of these.

The first form is that of a black horse.

The second is the form of a human, although some sources say they retain their hooves and the third form is that of a hairy man.

Depending on which form you encounter determines how you might die.

If you come across the Kelpie in its horse form it will trick you into riding it. However once on you become stuck, unable to jump off and it will drag you into the water to eat you. It’s worth noting that children are the most susceptible to this form.

If you come across the Kelpie in the form of a woman, she will appear as a young and beautiful lady to attract unsuspecting men luring them to their death.

Finally if you come across the hairy man, he hides only to jump out and crush you to death.

Tales

One of the most common stories talked about is the story of The Kelpie and the 10 Children.

In this tale a Kelpie lured 9 children to their deaths and begins to go after the 10th child. During the chase the child catches his finger on the Kelpie’s nose and he begins to struggle to remove himself from the Kelpie’s grasp. The only way the child could escape was to cut its finger off, which the child does, managing to escape and survive. However all other 9 childre were draged into the water to their deaths.

Fortunately if you do come across a Kelpie, there are ways to survive, for example the best thing to do is grab the Kelpie’s main (when in horse form) as this is a Kelpie’s Achilles heel. As long as you can hold this you are in control.

There are of course warning signs of a nearby Kelpie. If you find yourself out for a walk and you hear thunder on a cloudless day, this is said to be the sound of a Kelpie’s tail entering the water. But if you hear a wailing or howling sound, it could be the Kelpie is fortelling an oncoming storm.

It’s also said a Kelpie can cause floods. So next time you see water levels rise in your nearby river it could be an angry Kelpie.

Regardless of the varying descriptions out there remember a Kelpie is a malevolent being, intent on causing your death.