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As a child growing up in Hereford I remember one summer when I was
at primary school, going onto the school playing field with my friends
and finding a 'fairy ring' and standing round looking at it and looking
out to see if the fairies were anywhere in the vicinity!!! We were too
scared to step into the fairy rings, but I didn't know why ....... it
was just not the done thing!
People in Herefordshire had stronger beliefs in Fairies and superstitions
prior to the beginning of World War One.
Whilst looking for a book in my garage today, I came across a book about
Herefordshire Folklore, which I had never really looked at before. I had
a quick flick through it, and came up with the following information.
(I would point out that this book was actually first published in 1912
and reprinted in the 70's).
William P, of Longtown, defined fairies as "little people that come into
folk's houses and steal things. They can fly anywhere."
On the eve of May Day at Kingstone and Thruxton, folks used to put trays
of moss outside the door at night for the fairies to dance upon.
One day a man was working in the fields when he heard the fairies talking
over their baking; they said they had no peel. He said "I'll find a peel."
He made one and left it out in the field where they could easily get it.
Next day it was gone, and in its place the fairies had given him a batch
of delicious cakes. But they were invisible all the time (the fairies) he
never saw them, only heard them talking. (A peel is a flat iron shovel with
a long wooden handle used for putting bread or loaves into the oven and
taking them out).
Mrs. Cummings, an ancient housekeeper at Pontrilas Court, remembered in her
youth an old Mary Phillips, who would relate by the hour tales of her
experience of fairies and ghosts. "I could not doubt Mary," she said; "she
knew the use of all herbs, charmed burns and cuts, and cured nearly all
who went to her, but she could not cure herself. I have never heard her
murmur, and she certainly possessed a great deal of knowledge. My mother
would say she was suffering for her sins; Grandmother said 'Nonsense.' She
told us how to be very careful not to offend the wicked old fairies or they
would do us dreadful injury. These always accompanied the pretty bright
fairies, who were always draped in white, with wands in their hands and
flowers in their hair.
Mrs. W, aged 75, one of the oldest inhabitants of Wigmore in 1909 told
the author a fairy story of her mother's. She said it happened to her
mother's first cousin, and her mother remembered it well. The cousin a girl
about eighteen, was very fond of dancing. she insisted on going to all the
balls for miles around. Wherever there was dancing going on, there was
she! Her people told her something would happen to her some day, and one
night when she was coming home just by the "Dancing Gates" near Kington,
she heard beautiful music. It was the music of the fairies, and she was
caught into the ring. Search was made for her, and she appeared to her
friends from time to time, but when they spoke to her she immediately
disappeared. her mother was told that if seen again she must be very
quickly seized, without speaking, or she would never come back. So one day,
a year after her disappearance, her mother saw her, and took hold of her
dress before she could escape. "Why mother," she said, "where have you been
since yesterday?" The time must have gone very merrily with her, for the
year had seemed but one day. The girl was none the worse, however, and they
sent her to serve at a small shop in Kington. Before long the fairies came
there, and used to steal little things off the counter. Afraid she herself
might be accused when the things were missed, the girl told her employer.
"How can you see the fairies?" he asked, "they are invisible." she told him
that when she lived with them they used a kind of ointment, and that she
rubbed a little of it on one eye, to try the effect. She could always see
the little people with that eye since. She afterwards warned the fairies
that their thefts were discovered; they were much puzzled to find themselves
visible to her. She was careful not to explain lest they might try to damage
the eye with which she could see them.
An old waggoner at Haven, Pembridge, used to tell a story of how a farm
hand, was going out of the kitchen one night when his mistress remarked
that the broth for his supper was nearly ready, "ay ay missis," he said,
"I'll be back in a minute." He was caught by a fairy ring and was lost for
twenty three years. When he came back he walked in and said, "well, missis,
be my broth ready?"
From "The Folk-Lore of Herefordshire", by Ella Mary Leather
First published in 1912.
Reprinted in 1970, 1973, 1991 and 1992.
Lapridge Publications
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