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The Pilford Bridge Spirit
It was believed the ghost of a witch lurked beneath this bridge (or its precursor) over the River Ancholme, and would come out to push people into the water.
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Old Mother Nightshade
Old Mother Nightshade was a witch, feared by all apart from the young and foolish John Culpepper, who sought her counsel after being rejected by a potential lover. She gives him a box of sweetmeats to present to the girl, and tells him to return in three days’ time…
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The Strangers’ Share
This tale has something in common with ‘Tiddy mun’, which is also discussed on this map. It concerns the strangers, or ‘tiddy people’ – baby-sized beings with long arms, legs, and tongues, who wore green clothes and yellow bonnets…
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The Lad who Went Looking for Fools
This story tells of a young man called Jack, due to marry a young woman called Polly. One day, he finds mother, father and daughter in tears: there is a well in the garden, and the three are terrified that, should Jack and Polly have a child, it will fall in and drown…
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The Markby Church Ghost(s)
According to legend, anyone who runs three times round the church anticlockwise and then bangs a nail into the door will see a ghost. We obviously do not endorse this act…
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The Flyin’ Childer
A lad sees a girl washing herself, and offers to marry her if she follows him. She agrees, but says that if he rescinds his promise she will put a spell on him, and he says that if he lets her down the worms should eat him and their children should develop wings and fly…
Lincolnshire Folk Tales Project 