The Mice of Horsehill Farm series

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mice-Horsehill-Farm-Teasels-Present-ebook/dp/B00O37VNPW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=teasels+present+elizabeth+andrews&qid=1561556587&s=books

http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/the-mice-of-horsehill-farm-teasels-present

The Faerie Queen and True Thomas the Rhymer

True Thomas The Rhymer: Many people have been seduced into leaving the 

mortal world and travelling to Faerie land; some never to be seen again, for

 once there it is very difficult to escape. 

One such was Thomas the young Laird of Erceldoune who one May Day saw

 a beautiful woman riding towards him across the grass. He was so smitten 

that he promised then and there to love and stay with her for ever if she would 

only give him a kiss: although in some versions it’s more than a kiss he received! 

Once the kiss had been given Thomas watched in horror as the woman’s appearance 

changed before his eyes, her hair turned gray and her face became lined and 

haggard, her clothes became tattered and there before him stood an old crone 

where two minutes before there had been the beautiful woman with whom he 

had fallen in love.

Thomas knew that he could not go back on his promise and as she made to leave the

 hill where they had met, he gave one backward glance to the mortal world. 

Then followed the old crone to a cave in the side of Eildon Hill and from there

 into the otherworld. They traveled for many days in pitch black surrounded by 

strange sounds until at last they came to an enormous cavern and in the middle

 stood a Faerie Castle surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Thomas turned to the old crone to exclaim at the wonder of the place and there 

in place of the old crone stood the beautiful woman as she had been before. 

Thomas gazing on her face then knew that it was the Faerie Queen herself that he 

had made his promise to.

To Thomas, it seemed as though he had only been there for a few days and when

 the Faerie Queen told him that in fact he had been there for seven years he could 

not believe it. She warned him that if he stayed another night then he would be 

bound for ever in Faerieland and for the sake of their love he would be given a 

chance to return to his mortal home. With a blink of her eye Thomas found himself 

once again standing on Huntlie Bank. The Faerie Queen gave Thomas a parting

 gift: the ability to be a master harpist and also that he would answer every question 

with truth. For seven years his wisdom and prophecies were sought by many. But he 

never forgot the beautiful Queen that had stolen his heart; and one day he received a

 summons from her; Thomas walked out of his home and was never seen again in 

the mortal world.

from 'Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles'

www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk

Fairy Tomb

New Grange Passage Tomb , Brugh Na Boinne, Meath.

This is one of the finest passage graves in Ireland and it is situated in the ancient Boyne Valley Cemetery.

There are three great mounds, three chambers within, a 62 ft passage leads to one chamber. The walls are huge slabs, all carved with intricate spiral and geometric patterns.

Offerings of Gold, Jewellery and coins were buried at New Grange for the Faeries.It was believed that they were the guardians of the land and the health and fertility of animals and crops depended upon their cooperation.

Excerpt from Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles

available www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk or Amazon

The Blue Men of the Minch

Barrington Court, used for filming Wolf Hall

Barrington Court, Somerset, the National Trust 

property that was chosen to be one of the filming locations for Wolf Hall.

Although the estate had been occupied since the 11th century the

Tudor manor house was not built until the 1500’s. One of the early

 owners, a Giles Daubney, was courtier, diplomat and 

military commander under Edward IV and Henry VII.

Later Henry Daubney inherited the estate and was created Earl of Bridgewater 

for his services to Henry VIII. 

He eventually went bankrupt and was involved in the disgrace of Catherine 

Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife so the state was forfeit to the crown.

It had various owners since then including Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk who 

then sold it to the Cliftons

John Clifton was thought to be responsible for most of the 

building work at Barrington .

 By the early 19th century the property was almost derelict and Barrington Court 

was acquired by the National Trust in 1907 and was leased to 

Col. Abram Arthur Lyle of Tate & Lyle in the 1920's who 

refurbished the court house and renovated Strode House (built in 1674) which 

was originally a stable and coach block. It was at this time that the Lyles contracted 

Gertrude Jekyll to design the three formal gardens on the property that are 

now maintained by the head gardener.

The original stables were used as a location with Mark Rylance leaving his horse 

in this amazing building. ( minus the wicker cow!)

 The interiors are fitted with Colonel Lyle’s collection of 

salvaged antique woodwork.

The house was one of the first large properties acquired by the National Trust, at that time

 they did not  realise just how extensive the repairs and maintenance would be, but do not 

let this put you off visiting this property, its well worth a visit if you are in the area.

St Elmo's Day- 2nd June

According to legend St Elmo or Erasmus of Formia who

was martyred by having his intestines drawn from his body by a windlass. 

So his name is now invoked against all stomach and bowel complaints. 

He is also the patron saint of sailors, because he is said to have continued preaching

 even after a thunderbolt struck the ground beside him, this prompted the sailors

 who witnessed this event and who were also in danger from 

sudden storms and lightening to claim his protection. 

St Elmo's Fire, a bright blue or violet 

glow, the electrical discharge that flickers ships during storms is believed 

to be a sign of his protection.