Sophie Hollinshead- Folklore of the Fens and Carrs

The Fens and Carrs of Lincolnshire are unique, often bleak, and frequently hazardous landscapes. Historically remote and challenging to access, it is perhaps not surprising that a rich tapestry of folkloric and supernatural entities inhabits these regions. Among these are witches who cast spells with a fireside poker, the Ignis Fatuus that lures unsuspecting travellers to a watery death, and the Tiddy Mun, still harbouring his resentment against the Dutch engineers who drained the Fen and Carr lands in the 17th century, and a boggart in a coracle. This talk explores some of the folk tales from these evocative landscapes, existing in the transitional space between land and sea.