Folklore of England

11 October, not tied to the day

Folklore from the old calendars

Gabriel’s Hounds Lore and belief Northern England, YorkshirePacks of phantom hounds were believed to pass overhead on dark, cloudy nights, heard yelping but seldom seen.
Lady Howard’s Hound Lore and belief DevonLady Howard of Fitzford, a beautiful and wealthy Devon woman of the time of James I, was said to have been cruel to her only daughter and to have married four times.
The Black Dog at Tring Lore and belief HertfordshireIn 1751 an old woman suspected of witchcraft was drowned in the parish of Tring, and the chimney-sweep who led the attack was hanged and left on a gibbet near the spot.
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 Black Dog of Lyme Regis Lore and belief DorsetAt a farmhouse about a mile from Lyme Regis, a black dog used to take the seat opposite the farmer in the chimney corner every evening, and he let it be.
The Devil’s Dandy-dogs Lore and belief CornwallIn Cornwall the phantom pack heard in the sky on wild nights was called the Devil and his Dandy-dogs.
The Weaver of Dean Combe Lore and belief DevonA famous weaver named Knowles of Dean Combe in Devon was seen at his loom the day after his burial, still working.

Folklore from the old calendars

Horn Fair No longer kept KentA three-day fair was held at Charlton on St Luke's Day, where visitors wore horns in their hats and rams' horns, horn toys and even horned gingerbread were sold.
St Luke’s ointment Lore and belief EnglandThe chapbook Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open held that St Luke's Day was better than St Agnes's for seeing a future husband.
The ladle in a sling at York Dish Fair No longer kept YorkshireOn St Luke's Day a fair for small wares was held in York, commonly called Dish Fair from the wooden dishes and ladles brought to it.
The New Forest keepers’ offerings to St Luke No longer kept Gloucestershire, Hampshire, WiltshireAt St Luke's-tide the keepers and foresters of the New Forest came every year to St Luke's chapel at Stoke Verdon, in the parish of Broad Chalke, to make offerings for luck with their game, deer and cattle.
Whip-dog Day at York No longer kept YorkshireDrake wrote in his history of York that St Luke's Day was known in the city as Whip-dog Day, because the schoolboys whipped every dog they found in the streets.