I’ve often talked about the picture books on lore and legend I would look through when I was a kid. Well, unbelievably I came across one on EBAY as I recognised the cover! 4 quid! Haven’t seen this beauty in over 30 years until it came today!

Little trip to Farndon, Cheshire. From the church with its musket damage and civil war window, across the medieval bridge into wales and Holt Castle (the villages are a ten minute walk apart) - an absolute dream of a historical day out.

In the pamphlet boom of the 1700s there were few more popular topics than the ‘Cheshire prophet’. The farm hand that foretold the future has fascinated folklore for 300 years: but could the most incredible part of his story actually be based in fact? LINK: thelocalmythstorian.com/the-hungry-p...

RELICS OF THE CORNFIELD My new essay exploring the ritual symbolism of the Moulton Crow Dance is now released. This unique folk tradition has taken place in my own village for 100 yrs, but its contents suggest it could be far, far older. LINK: thelocalmythstorian.com/relics-of-th... #moultoncrows

RELICS OF THE CORNFIELD My new essay exploring the ritual symbolism of the Moulton Crow Dance is now released. This unique folk tradition has taken place in my own village for 100 yrs, but its contents suggest it could be far, far older. LINK: thelocalmythstorian.com/relics-of-th... #moultoncrows

In summer, in Cheshire…few things can beat an English country morning. #moulton #davenham #englishsummer #cheshirelife

Sleepless nights with baby Lyra bring there own benefits for research! Perfect 2am reading!

The Moulton Crow Dance - filmed today. Local folk tradition dating back 100 years…but its wider origin may be far far older! Currently working on an essay regarding it. #moultoncrows #folkdance #englishfolktraditions #

Next up - ‘The Phantom Rebel’. Very proud this is the go-to for researching the headless horseman of the Staffs Moorlands. Also the piece that gets, erm, “borrowed” a lot online - which is a huge compliment I guess! LINK thelocalmythstorian.com/the-phantom-... #headlesshorsemanofbutterton

Having refreshed many essays recently, I’ll be posting links to them here. These are the foundation stones of my whole folklore ‘thing’ 😂. First up, my research piece on the rise and fall of Shipbrook Castle in Cheshire. LINK: thelocalmythstorian.com/invisible-fo... #shipbrookcastle

THE LOCAL MYTHSTORIAN There's been a fair few new followers here recently (hello!) and it occurred to me you may not be aware of my website - packed with essays, podcasts and general local mythstoria! It's a hub of my 'work' really, some folks may enjoy it! The link is thelocalmythstorian.com

THE REAL FOLKLORE OF CHESHIRE - LECTURE TRANSCRIPT Hello! For those who may be interested, a full transcript of my lecture at The Grange School from last month - 'The Real Folklore of Cheshire' - is now available at thelocalmythstorian.com/the-real-fol... Hope you enjoy it! #cheshirefolklore

THE HISTORY OF WITCHCRAFT IN CHESHIRE Hi folks - for those so interested - a transcript of my lecture at The Grange Theatre from May 2025 is available now on my website. thelocalmythstorian.com/the-history-... #thelocalmythstorian #cheshirehistory #witchcrafthistory

The Green Man by Kingsley Amis (1969) - my favourite novel and a perfect accompaniment to summer walks (on audiobook). If you’ve never read it, highly recommend - a pub landlord battling a mid life crisis AND the ghost that haunts his establishment. Great TV adaptation with Albert Finney too!

Haunted Magazine Issue 50 is out in UK shops next week and a little later in June in the US - the issue will include a feature from me regarding the ghostly folklore of the 19th century! You can also order online at www.hauntedmagazineprintshop.com #talesfromantiquaria #HauntedMagazine

I first began to wonder about this stretch of the Cheshire / Staffs border about 20 years ago. A series of man-made hillocks, within walking distance of the Bridestones...an unacknowledged tomb complex? I actually spoke with the landowner in 2006 - they too, had begun to wonder. #ancientlandscapes

Big thanks to all who came to last night's talk on the historic ballads of Cheshire! Little break from live talks now until October, when it'll be The Haunted Hills at Macclesfield Library! #thefolkloreofcheshireshistoricballads #folkloreontour #cheshirehistory

Just a reminder for anyone coming to my talk for Northwich & District Heritage Society tomorrow night: the venue is the hall of Grange Junior School at 8. There will be copies of The Folklore of Cheshire's Historic Ballads available too on the night at £10. Looking forward to it! #cheshirefolklore

OUT TODAY - THE FOLKLORE OF CHESHIRE'S HISTORIC BALLADS Transposed from the lyric sheets of Ballads & Legends of Cheshire by Egerton Leigh (1867) my new book tells its stories as trad folktale narratives for the very first time. Click link for more. thelocalmythstorian.com/order #cheshirefolklore

Been walking this countryside for years, but never took this route before. All looks a bit ritualistic to me - especially with that single corn sheaf from last years harvest. There are still things at work in the English countryside that stay hidden. Eerie and beautiful.

Some shots from Shutlingsloe this morning, looking over to Toothill, which for years was believed to be a Roman camp, but now is accepted to be the remains of a medieval deer enclosure. The east of the Cheshire landscape really is a world of its own - some real mysteries in those hills.

A fantastic evening tonight Caverswall Historical Society for the opening night of the Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival! An absolute pleasure. Thanks to everyone that made it such a success! Next stop, The Grange School, Hartford on May 21st! #staffordshiremoorlands #folkloreontour

Harvest Home (Thomas Tryon, 1973) Just finished this. Often overlooked because it came out the same year as The Wicker Man movie. The first rural horror novel? A few difficult moments in the last third, but I think ultimately, they do add to the pay off. Recommend if rural horror is your thing!

Built in the 1140s, the castle at Newcastle-Under-Lyme in Staffordshire inspired the market town to develop at its gates. Not much to see today, but you can see the foundations of the gatehouse and the original motte too; both being linked by John O'Gaunt's Road - to whom the castle once belonged.

The 15th century tower of St Chads is all that remains of 5 churches that have been built on the site - all of which have been pulled down following subsidence. It's an ancient place - the settlement of Wybunbury itself is a contender for the oldest in Cheshire, being founded by 600 AD.

Some shots from Goostrey last night, great place to visit with 2 pubs either side of a church with a 1200 Y/O yew. Grizzly history too, with '5 brothers of William Eaton of Blackden slain' there in 1385. Some cracking creepy dolls in that barn window too! #goostrey #localhistory #cheshirehistory

Highly recommend this if you're a fan of earth mysteries / folk horror. Only came out in Jan and I read it on a bit of a whim - well, listened to it on audiobook - but think it might be one of the best things I've read in a few years! #thehillinthedarkgrove #folkhorror #welshhorror

One of my favourite tales from my native Staffordshire - in 1459 at the battle of Blore Heath, Margaret of Anjou watched the battle from Mucklestone church tower. Following the defeat, she had a local blacksmith reverse the shoes on her horse so that her tracks would confuse anyone chasing her.

Just a little reminder that, should you be local to Cheshire, you'll find my feature page on local history and folklore in Cheshire Life Magazine every month! #cheshirelife #localhistory #cheshirefolklore