The Legend Of Kent

Do motorists pick up a phantom hitchhiker on Blue Bell Hill during stormy nights? Does Satan appear if you dance round the Devil's Bush in the village of Pluckley? Do big cats roam the local woods? And what happens if you manage to count the 'Countless Stones' near Aylesford? For centuries strange urban legends have materialised in the Garden of England. Now, for the first time, folklorist and monster-hunter Neil Arnold looks at these intriguing tales, strips back the layers, and reveals if there is more to these Chinese whispers than meets the eye. Folklore embeds itself into a local community, often to the extent that some people believe all manner of mysteries and take them as fact. Whether they're stories passed around the school playground, through the internet, or round a flickering campfire, urban legends are everywhere. Kent Urban Legends is a quirky and downright spooky ride into the heart of Kent folklore.

100 short stories, and over 25 images from the stories.Myths, Legends, Ghosts & Mysteries of historic Kent, Just like anyone else born in Kent, we grew up being told stories of the villages where we lived. Many were local legends, like the ghostly highwayman of Oxney Bottom, which spooked generations of children from the village.As well the ghost stories there were fascinating legends like Grey Dolphin. Did Robert de Shurland really kill his horse on the word of a local witch? Was that church in Gravesend really visited by aliens? If you ask the locals you will get ten different versions of the story.With Kent being the eldest county in England it's reasonable to expect a few famous names and events to have links here, yet Kent has an abundance of them.Names and events that when you hear them for the first time leaves you thinking "wow I didn't know that" Did you know about Kent's own "Bermuda Triangle", what about the Kentish folk who saw battle at Trafalgar or at Rorkes Drift, or even the Titanic passenger from Sittingbourne?Throughout the generations these stories have been told and re-told thousands of times and with each telling the story grows and adapts a little bit more.The stories we have written in this book are the versions, which we have come to know and love. How historically accurate they are could be debated forever, although the basic facts of many of the stories are 100% accurate as our research has found. We leave you to decide, fact or fiction, myth or legend or a mixture of all four.So join us on a journey across history and through the towns and villages immortalised in Kentish folklore and see how many times you say..."Wow I didn't know that"

Do motorists pick up a phantom hitchhiker on Blue Bell Hill during stormy nights? Does Satan appear if you dance round the Devil's Bush in the village of Pluckley? Do big cats roam the local woods? And what happens if you manage to count the 'Countless Stones' near Aylesford?For centuries strange urban legends have materialised in the Garden of England. Now, for the first time, folklorist and monster-hunter Neil Arnold looks at these intriguing tales, strips back the layers, and reveals if there is more to these Chinese whispers than meets the eye.Folklore embeds itself into a local community, often to the extent that some people believe all manner of mysteries and take them as fact. Whether they’re stories passed around the school playground, through the internet, or round a flickering campfire, urban legends are everywhere. Kent Urban Legends is a quirky and downright spooky ride into the heart of Kent folklore.

Kent boasts a plethora of characterising traditions which include hop-growing, smuggling and saints. All this reflects the curious history and geography of the area. It is bounded by sea on three sides, has the longest coastline of any English county and was the base for much maritime activity. This included trade and invasions, which gave rise to communities rich in sea-lore. This book also covers topics such as seasonal customs including harvest traditions; drama; witchcraft, saints and holy wells; and the background and songs surrounding fruit and hop-growing. This book charts the traditional culture of a populous and culturally significant southern county.

The first book in a new series filled with friendship, magic, and laugh-out loud adventure Welcome to the sleepy island of Penfurzy, where nothing exciting ever really happens. OR DOES IT? Adventure awaits Demelza and her new best friend in the whole world, Nessa, as they explore the island and uncover the mysteries of the Penfurzy Knights. With a honking pet goose sidekick, quirky islanders and a legendary treasure to find, it's up to Nessa and Demelza to ride their bikes, solve the puzzles before them, and face down danger with frisbees, water-balloons, feathers .... and a toilet plunger. THEIR FRIENDSHIP WILL WARM YOUR HEART. THEIR BRAVERY WILL MAKE THEM LEGENDS.