Visiting famous historical places like the Roman Baths, Windsor Castle, and Canterbury Cathedral is a fantastic way to connect with the unique and beautiful history of England. However, many famous sites are only a few hundred or even a thousand years old. There are far more ancient institutions that are as deeply tied to the land as Stonehenge itself.
I’m talking, of course, about the world of English folklore. This mysterious subject isn’t easily understood. Folklore is a complex blend of storytelling, superstition, convention, and custom that has its roots in practices that predate recorded history. Somehow, many of these fascinating ideas still exist—and, in some cases, are even believed—to this day.
Whilst some stories and customs are quaint, others are downright creepy. Either way, you can’t visit the UK without learning a little about our long history of folklore. Here are a few fascinating and intriguing stories from English folklore that are worth knowing about:
- Robin Hood
- Tom Thumb
- The Maypole Dance
- King Arthur
- Brân the Blessed
- The Ravens of the Tower
We tell you all about English folklore in this article!
Robin Hood
Due to the production of several Hollywood movies, the story of Robin Hood is widely known throughout the world. In true folkloric style, however, the tale changes just a little with every new telling. The first ever written incarnation of Robin Hood is a 15th-century ballad named ‘Robin Hood and the Monk’.
In this rather bizarre retelling, Robin Hood places a bet on Little John, who then proceeds to murder a monk and a young boy before rescuing Robin from the King’s dungeon. Certainly not the story we all know and love!
Tom Thumb
The story of Tom Thumb is the first known fairy tale ever recorded in English, but it is unknown when the story was first told. It recounts the story of Tom – a young boy no bigger than his father’s thumb – who goes on adventures around the English countryside.
Amazingly, Tom Thumb seems to be based on a real person. His grave is set in Trinity Church, Lincolnshire. I’m willing to bet he was bigger than a thumb, though…
The Maypole Dance
Folklore comes in a variety of different forms, from stories to traditions and practices. The Maypole Dance is a staple of British customs, one that you can participate in yourself. The Maypole Dance involves wrapping coloured ribbons around a standing pole through a series of intricate dances and is said to celebrate the arrival of spring and summer.
King Arthur
The legends of King Arthur are numerous. Some believe him to be a real King of ancient Britain who repelled the invasions of the Saxons, whilst others believe he exists only in the world of myth. Some even think he may be a long-forgotten Celtic deity.
Regardless, the many stories of chivalric adventures, mythical creatures and magical swords associated with his name have inspired storytellers for millennia. Some landmarks around the UK are even claimed to be sites upon which the Arthurian legends took place.
Brân the Blessed
Brân is a little-known mythical figure in the UK, a giant said to be King of the Island of the Mighty. Legend has it that, after he died, Brân’s head was buried deep in the earth under the spot where the Tower of London’s White Tower now stands.
It was said that, so long as the head remained there, England would forever be safe from invasion. That is, until King Arthur purportedly dug the head up as a show of confidence in his military might.
The Ravens of the Tower
Some folk tales are so deeply embedded within our culture that they remain a part of today’s cultural consciousness. One of those tales is the legend of the Ravens of the Tower.
It is said that if the Ravens were to one day take flight and leave the Tower of London, then the crown and Britain itself would fall. Interestingly, this story has its origins in the tale of Bran the Blessed, whose name, translated from Welsh, means ‘The Blessed Raven’.
The Ravens of the Tower remain there to this day, and you can visit them on our Tower of London tour. We hope you’ll love exploring the world of English folklore in person!
