Map covers folklore of the Downs
A map of folklore of the South Downs, Hampshire and Sussex has been put together by the Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction.
The leaflet has been produced as part of the South Downs for All project run by the Friends of the South Downs and largely financed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The information is based on research by Sussex folklorist Jacqueline Simpson with additional information by Worthing local historian Chris Hare.
Chris said: "The aim of the project was to encourage children to learn about all aspects of the South Downs, including folklore. The children came from schools in Petersfield, Stedham, Bury, Slindon, Crawley, Worthing, Lancing and Brighton."
A lifelong resident of Worthing,
Jacqueline is one of Britain’s most pre-eminent folklorists.
Among the many books she has written, Folklore of Sussex, first published in 1972, remains consistently popular and the ‘go-to’ book for further reading on the topic.
Most of the information in the leaflet was first published by the Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction at the University of Chichester.
The map highlights key locations in West Sussex, East Sussex and Hampshire, as well as key dates, packed with information about associated folklore.
Learn about the giant who guarded the gates for the Earls of Arundel, the treasure at Chanctonbury Ring, the Roman centurion that haunts Chichester Inn, the curse of Cowdray and the Knucker Hole at Lyminster.
The section on The Turning Year is divided into dates, starting on Twelfth Night, January 5, with wassailing in Duncton and many other Sussex villages, to ensure a good crop of apples.
July 25 is the date for the Ebernoe Horn Fair, where the village challenges one of its neighbours to a cricket match. The man who scores the most runs wins the head and horns of the ram being roasted for the village feast.
Visit southdownsforall. org.uk/folklore-map to download the map and www.sussexfolktalecentre.org for more information.