The Dorsetarian

Fossil Folklore
Sea Dragons, Fairy Loaves& Serpents of StoneFables & Fossils of Lyme Regis by Dr. Karl P.N. Shuker Dr. Karl Shuker and life-size megalodon jaws,Lyme Fossil Shop, Lyme Regis In July 2010, I visited Lyme Regis on Dorset’s south coast, a relatively small town but one that is to fossil enthusiasts what Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh-English border is to book love...

Skulls in Folklore
Skulls by Sabine Baring-Gould. In medieval churches, castles, and mansions where there is a parapet rising from the wall and obscuring a portion of the roof, this parapet is supported at intervals by corbels, that usually represent heads of either men or beasts, very frequently grotesque. These corbels are not of any great structural importance, though they add to architectural decoration. T...

Ghosts and Hauntings
Ghosts and Things that go Bump in the Night by David Kingston. The word Ghost is described in the Oxford dictionary as, "a person's spirit appearing after his or her death." But then what about the reports of horses galloping down the lanes on a dark night and other such apparitions? Why do certain countries, houses and places appear to have more than there fair share of Ghosts?Great Britai...

Maids, Moors, and Monsters
Maids, Moors, and Monsters The Folklore of Morris by Richard Freeman. Few people who have seen Morris men dancing on a village green or in a pub garden realise the complexity and antiquity of the dance they are witnessing. The pleasant spectacle has a history that stretches back thousands of years and is peopled by grotesque and sometimes disturbing characters. Morris is a dance o...

Eric Frank Russell
Eric Frank Russell by Mark North. English Science Fiction writer and Forteanist Eric Frank Russell was born on 6th January 1905, Sandhurst, Surrey into a military family. He served with the RAF during World War II and worked briefly as an engineer before taking up writing full-time. Russell wrote numerous science fiction novels and over a hundred short stories from the late 1930's to the mid-1...

Daisy Wheels
Daisy Wheels and a Ritual Landscape in Dorset. by Ric Kemp In the summer of 2009 I went for a walk across a 10 kilometres long prehistoric landscape feature called the Dorset Cursus, probably a ritual processional walk-way constructed earlier than Stonehenge, containing a solar alignment, or a noted position on the horizon where the sun sets or rises at a point in the seasonal cycle of the...

John Symonds Udal
John Symonds Udal - A Dorset Folklorist by Mark North. To Dorset people of old, customs, superstitions and traditions were inextricably interwoven with nature, countryside and social history. This formula produced a wealth of folklore in this county and the first person to make an intense study of the subject was John Symonds Udal. A sportsman, antiquarian, collector, essayist and a miscel...

Christmas in Dorsetshire
Christmas in Dorsetshire by John Symonds Udal Imbued with the utilitarian spirit of our time, one is apt to overlook those strong feelings of genuine pleasure and innocent merriment with which our ancestors were wont to greet Christmas as it came upon them in its annual round. For many years now the ancient glories that used to attend the celebration of the great season of Christma...

Halloween
The Feast of the Dying Sun The Customs and Traditions of Halloween By Robert Newland. Hallowe'en, otherwise known as All Hallows Eve, a time for fun and games, dressing up and ghost stories. Traditionally it was believed that malevolent spirits, witches and fairies were abroad on this night. (see also Walpurgisnacht - The Springtime Halloween)Yet contrary to popular belief Hallowe...

Black Dogs - Part 1
Spectre Dogs by Robert Chambers. Neither Brand in his Popular Antiquities, nor Sir Walter Scott in his Witchcraft and Demonology, mentions spectre-dogs as a peculiar class of apparitions, yet they seem to occupy a distinct branch of English mythology. They are supposed to exist in one form or another in almost every county, and few kinds of superstition have more strongly influenced the c...

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Events

May Pole Dancing This page brings you current news of events from annual conferences to festivals and local community events.

The information below has been compiled with the best of intentions and I am afraid we cannot accept any responsibility for any of these events being cancelled or venue changed. Always phone before you set out on your journey, especially if you are travelling long distances.

If you are running or attending an event that is suitable to be posted here, please contact us in advance.

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Dorset Legend & Mythology Exhibition

On Saturday 3rd July 2010

Dorset Legend & Mythology Exhibition Portland Arts CentreThe Old LaundryBrymers AvenueFortuneswellPortlandDorsetDT5 1JS Private View Saturday 3rd July 7 - 9pmExhibition opening times Every week Thursday, Friday, 11am - 4pm. Saturd...

The Filly Loo, Ashmore, Dorset

On Friday 18th June 2010

The Filly Loo The Filly Loo at Ashmore, near Shaftesbury, a great annual free event outdoors around the village pond. A celebration of the longest day, held on a Friday near to June 21st, when villagers dance beside this singular villa...

The Wimborne Folk Festival 2010

On Friday 11th June 2010

The Wimborne Folk Festival 2010 Friday 11th to Sunday 13th June sees the annual Wimborne Folk Festival. A colourful spectacle of traditional folk dance and music was first held in August 1980 as a one day event. It was such a success that i...

The Wessex Folk Festival 2010

On Friday 4th June 2010

The Wessex Folk Festival 2010 Preparations for the Wessex folk Festival now well under way with concerts from Vin Garbutt and The Yetties Featured bands include The Morris Boys, Mad Dog McCrae, The Dolmen, 'local boy made good' James Findlay ...

The Spirit of Portand: Revelations of a Sacred Isle at Portland Museum

On Sunday 16th May 2010

The Spirit of Portand: Revelations of a Sacred Isle at Portland Museum Having just returned from Croatia, giving lectures around the country and appearing on Croatian TV talking about the Etruscans and links with the Isle of Portland, ...

Beaminster Market and Charter Fair

Starts Sunday 2nd May 2010 until

Beaminster Market and Charter Fair Beaminster is intending to turn the clock back to celebrate the 725th anniversary of its charter granted in 1284. The market starts in the Square at 10am and hopes to emulate the medieval atmosphere by hos...

Babylon Morris Dancing

On Sunday 2nd May 2010

Babylon Morris Dancing Programme 2010 Founded in 1995, Babylon are a border morris dance team, based in the small Dorset village of Corscombe. Here are the details of some of the places you will be able to see Babylon. Please note that all th...

52nd annual St George\'s Day Fair

Starts Saturday 24th April 2010 until

52nd annual St George's Day Fair From 1.30pm to 4pm - Fordington Green, Dorchester, St. Georges Fair organised by St George's Church in Fordington, will include stalls, drinks, food, games, competitions and entertainment. St. Georges Da...

Haunted Harbour Tour around Weymouth

On Wednesday 14th April 2010

Haunted Harbour Tour Discover the long forgotten haunts of history around the famous Old Weymouth and Melcombe regis Harbour. Many of the harbour side inns have reputed haunted happenings and sightings.This tour is researched from archiv...

Bonny Sartins Smugglers Tales

Starts Wednesday 24th March 2010 until

Bonny Sartins Smugglers Tales Wednesday 24th MarchThe Town Hall, East Street, BridportThis year's show by The Yetties front man will explore the illicit deeds of the smugglers of Dorset and Hampshire. Bonny said: “Smuggling is usually th...

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