Paranormal Cumbria

Paranormal Cumbria examines reported mysteries from across the county, arranged by theme rather than locality. Geoff Holder revisits the Croglin Vampire and Renwick Cockatrice, considers witchcraft and folk magic from the 17th century onwards, and traces the cultural history of Carlisle’s Cursing Stone. Other chapters gather accounts of psychic abilities, fairies and similar beings, alongside sightings of big cats, black dogs, escaped wolves and lake monsters.

The book concludes with the enduring mystery of the Solway Spaceman, while also considering how paranormal stories change through repetition, media coverage and deliberate invention. Holder compares later retellings with earlier printed accounts, allowing legends and alleged experiences to be considered alongside the evidence for their transmission.