Folklore of Buckinghamshire

The year ahead

Told of Buckinghamshire, but not tied to a day of the year.

Folklore from the old calendars

God Almighty’s birds Lore and belief Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, OxfordshireIn most parts of the country martins and swallows were held to be sacred birds, and killing one was thought a greater sin than killing any other harmless bird.
Master John Shorne and the devil in the boot No longer kept BuckinghamshireJohn Shorne, rector of North Marston, whose will is dated 8 May 1308, was honoured as a saint without ever being made one.
The Black Dog in the Gap Lore and belief BuckinghamshireA cowman from a village near Aylesbury took a short cut to his cows through a gap in a neighbour's hedge, until one night he found it filled by a huge black dog with fiery eyes that grew bigger as he watched.
The Boarstall horn Lore and belief BuckinghamshireTradition said that Boarstall took its name from a wild boar that terrorised Bernwood Forest near Edward the Confessor's palace at Brill.
The green forester of Fingest Lore and belief BuckinghamshireHenry Burgwash, made Bishop of Lincoln on 28 May 1320, enclosed the common land of the poor at Fingest to enlarge his deer park.
The rustling lady of Creslow Lore and belief BuckinghamshireThe old manor house at Creslow, once held by the Knights Templars and Hospitallers, had a haunted chamber over its crypt and dungeon.