Category Archives: Folklore

Sir Lancelot and Sir Tarquin

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In 79AD the Roman Army established a fort at Mamucium (Manchester) on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell. Originally built from timber and turf, the defences were later enhanced with a stone gatehouse and a stone facing to the walls. The area is now known as Castlefield.
The Saxons had been invited over to England to aid the Britons against the Picts and Scots after the Legions left this country, and having been victorious against these foes had turned on their allies and taken the lands for themselves.

One of these Saxons, Sir Tarquin, (a treacherous knight of gigantic stature and prestigious strength) set himself up in the castle and laid waste to the lands around it, killing or imprisoning any that challenged him.

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Posted in Heroes and Villains, Lancashire

The Goblin Builders of Rochdale

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In the time of the Doomsday Book, Rochdale was known as Recedham, an area ruled by Gamel the Saxon Thane. As thanks for his good fortune in keeping his manor in the wake of the Norman Conquest, he decided to build a church dedicated to Saint Chad on the bank of the river Roach.

The materials for construction were brought in and the foundations laid, yet overnight the whole construction, foundations and all, were mysteriously moved to the summit of the hill on the opposite bank.

This seemingly impossible deed led Gamels vassals to believe that this was the work of the Old Gods that their forefathers had worshiped and whose altars had been thrown down with the spread of Christianity.

John de Spotland (a subordinate Lord) had the construction moved once again to the original site and called for a watch to be set on the site to capture the delinquents responsible. It took fifty stout men and much difficulty to bring the materials back down the hill and across the river.

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Posted in Churches, Ghosts and Goblins, Lancashire
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