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

The Dorsetarian

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Well Dressing and Sacred Water
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Some Dorset Superstitions
Some Dorset Superstitions By Hermann Lea In employing the term superstition, it is in the sense defined by Franz v. Schonthan : — Zwar nicht wissen — aber glauben Heisst ganz richtig — Aberglauben. (Not to know, but to believe; what else is it, strictly speaking, but superstition?) It is natural, no doubt, that superstition should decrease in the s...

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Easter Customs and Traditions
Easter Customs and Traditions By Robert Newland 'Easter Tide’ is the most important festival of the Christian year, symbolising the ‘Redemption of Man’ and the confirming of the fundamental belief in ‘Life Everlasting’. Easter holy week begins with ‘Palm Sunday’, which commemorates the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem before his tri...

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Fossil Folklore
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Skulls in Folklore
Skullsby 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...

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, Gary Biltcliffe will be at the Portland Museum on Sunday 16th May, talking about 'The Spirit of Portand: Revelations of a Sacred Isle' and looking at the artefacts described in the book, that are in the Museum. He will also lead a walk past Rufus Castle, Church Ope Cove and ruined St Andrew’s Church, revealing why these places are so much a feature of the book.

For more information contact The Portland Museum on 01305 821804.