Oxfordshire Folk Tales

About this book

Oxfordshire Folk Tales gathers legends, local traditions and oral stories from across the county, ranging from ancient monuments to pub lore. The Rollright Stones, Dragon Hill, Wayland’s Smithy and the White Horse of Uffington appear alongside Banbury Cross, the Blowing Stone and the landscapes of Otmoor and Wychwood Forest.

Kevan Manwaring’s selection moves between prehistoric sites, medieval legends, rural customs and Oxford’s literary associations. Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Inklings, highwaymen, cavaliers, gypsies and a devilish mason all feature in stories shaped for performance and retelling. The result is a county-wide collection rooted in particular places, where remembered history, ballad, superstition and local storytelling meet.