Folklorist Zowie Swan is reviving the forgotten legends of Lancashire’s Fylde coast through a new community group, the Fylde Folklore Society
“The Fylde has this wonderful sense of faded Victorian grandeur,” says writer and folklorist Zowie Swan, “a little past its prime maybe, but still full of life and character.”
It’s an evocative way to picture this stretch of Lancashire, a flat coastal plain lying between the Ribble, the Wyre and the Irish Sea.
Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes and Poulton-le-Fylde may be best known today for their seaside and holiday history, but to Zowie, the land is steeped in something older and stranger.
“We’ve got witches, we’ve got boggarts, we’ve got fairies, we’ve got banshees, mermaids, water dragons, all sorts of things,” she says. “And with so much of the area being coastal, we also have drowned villages, wrecked ships, smugglers — all of the cool things.”
Founding the Fylde Folklore Society
Frustrated that so few locals seemed to know these tales, Zowie founded the Fylde Folklore Society in 2023.
Meetings are held quarterly at Singleton Village Hall, timed with the seasons — Midsummer, Hallowe’en, and so on.
Members are now working on their first community events, with traditional singers, folk dancers and local crafts on display.
The society has also partnered with Blackpool Film Festival to present a special screening of The Wicker Man.
“There’ll be singers in the lobby, harvest tokens for visitors, and a Q&A with the society afterwards,” says Zowie. “We want to make folklore immersive.”
Witches, hares and horror stories
One of the region’s most enduring figures is Meg Shelton, the so-called ‘Witch of Woodplumpton’.
According to legend, she could transform into a hare to outrun hunting dogs. When she died, she was buried head-first beneath a massive glacial boulder.
“They buried her upside down so if she ever scratched away to the surface again she would scratch her way to hell,” Zowie explains.
“Meg Shelton is one of the main legends associated with the area.”
For Zowie, stories like Meg’s are often richer than the way folklore gets portrayed on screen.
“I do take umbrage with the fact that any sort of folk horror is connected to sacrifice, murder, ritualistic savagery,” she says.
“They focus on folk people creating atrocities rather than the spirits or the folkloric creatures or mythical beasts of the area. Which is boring.”
Folklore for the next generation
Zowie is keen to ensure the stories live on.
The society is developing a quarterly zine and an online folklore archive, while Zowie herself runs workshops in schools.
“The creepier the better,” she laughs. “I was cautioned not to give them nightmares, but they were all bloodthirsty and they all wanted to know.”
For her, the response proves how vital this work is.
“It’s all going to die if we don’t keep telling these tales.”
The Fylde Folklore Society is dedicated to exploring, preserving, and celebrating the rich traditions, stories, and customs of the historic Fylde plain. Its mission is to make folklore accessible to all. Through talks, storytelling events, field trips, and research, its members uncover the folklore woven into everyday life, both past and present. Its aim to keep these tales and traditions alive so that they may continue to inspire future generations. Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned folklore enthusiast, the Fylde Folklore Society offers a welcoming space to discover the magic of the Fylde’s local heritage.
Find out more about the Fylde Folklore Society at www.fyldefolklore.co.uk and by joining its Facebook group,
Have you experienced the eerie legends of the Fylde coast? Tell us your favourite local folklore in the comments section!
