Folklore of Northumbria

Folklore of Northumbria surveys the traditions attached to England’s north-eastern borderlands, drawing on printed accounts, manuscripts and oral material. Fran Doel considers how these stories and customs developed within the region’s historical, cultural, religious and social settings.

The subjects range widely, from beliefs about witchcraft and dragon lore to seasonal practices, ghost accounts, legends and mythology. Rather than treating folklore as a collection of isolated tales, the book sets different forms of tradition alongside the communities and circumstances that preserved them. Its illustrated presentation brings together the darker narratives and everyday customs associated with Northumbria, offering a concise account of the region’s remembered beliefs and storytelling traditions.