As autumn descends, I wanted to face a classic symbol in British and European folklore - the black dog

We start in East Anglia, England, with perhaps the most famous of all shadow hounds: Black Shuck, who makes an appearance in St Mary's church of Bungay in 1577, storms to raise havoc. And a reading drawn from Ghosts and Witches by Wentworth + Ayrton, 1991, on the Galleytrot and Shuck.

Before facing:

• The Barghest of Yorkshire, accompanied by rattling chains, may have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula's transformation into an enormous black dog in Whitby.

• Yeth Hounds (Devon)

• Whisht Hounds (Devon/Dartmoor)

• Richard Cabell's Hounds (Dartmoor) widely considered a major inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.

• The Devil's Dandy Dogs (Cornwall): A terrifying hunt led by Satan himself.

• The Wish Hounds or Witch Hounds of Sussex

• The Church Grim, a guardian spirit that appears as a large black dog

• And The Moddey Dhoo of the Isle of Man: Meaning "black dog" in Manx, this giant shaggy-haired dog that haunted Peel Castle 

And we finish with readings of The Moddey Doo or the Black Dog of Peel Castle from Manx Fairy Tales by Sophia Morrison, 1911 and The Book of Were-Wolves by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865. And accounts of witch wolves from Estonia.

These are just a few of the countless legends of black dogs, wolves and hounds. Do drop me a message if you would like to share your own favourites! 

Happy September

Sarah X

Welcome to the strange and fascinating tale of The Haunted Organist of Hurly Burly, from the mind and pen of Rosa Mulholland. First published in 1891, it’s one of the oldest stories in our series — 133 years old! And a rare ghost story set in the crackling heat of summer, which adds perhaps to the frenzy…

The Mistress and Squire Hurly of Hurly Burly know their son Lewis has been dead for some 20 years. How then has he been seen not 5 days ago… the strong and industrious Margaret Calderwood, who was Lewis’s fiancée before his untimely and cursed demise, seeks answers, and poor Little Lisa faces strange enchantment. Death and devilry ensue.

Sarah XXX

PS - In reading it aloud, I’ve kept to Rosa’s original words, which include some outdated language, particularly in how the Italian character Little Lisa is considered a "foreigner" to our insular English couple.

With thanks to Mark from Dorset for inspiring much of this episode! Featuring ideas, stories and poems from Gemma Gary, Enid Blyton, Olive Knott and Walter del la Mare

Sarah XXX

A very exciting episode with news and songs and delights!

As mentioned in the episode, find me on

Instagram @thisiswitchcountry

Patreon - www.patreon.com/witchcountry

And don’t forget to head over to WomancraftPublishing.com on July 9th!

Sarah xxx

Welcome to Witch Country Ghost Stories. Prepare this month, to meet the White Lady of the Lyttletons, found in The Grey Ghost Book

by Jessie Adelaide Middleton, 1915

Sarah XXX

Wishing you all a very Marvellous May!

Mentioned in the podcast:

• Witch Country Ghost Stories

• Kitchen Witch audiobook

xxx

Join me as I wade though water, myth and marshy lands in the New Forest!

XXX

For 2025, Our podcast journey starts with a wander to Avebury. My friend and I took a walk amongst these stones last year, about this time, as the equinox sun shone.

Links Mentioned:

• Find me on Instagram

• Join the chats on Patreon

• Kitchen Witch Audiobook

Thank you for joining me this month for Magic and Myth! See you next month for more Witch Country Wanders!

XXX