Peterborough's location at the boundaries of four ancient counties (Cambridgeshire,
Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire) has led to the area being ignored by folklorists. However it has an exceptionally rich folklore, which was among the earliest documented in England, by the poet John Clare (1793-1864).
This is the first dedicated study of the tales, customs and traditional lore of
Peterborough and its environs. Peterborough is rich in medieval legends, from glimpses of ancient beliefs shrouded in the pagan past like the `Wild Hunt' seen in 1127, to unwise dealings between abbots and the devil, and strange reports of miracles.
Traditional beliefs lingered well into modern times. Peterborough Folklore features holy wells, unofficial folk saints, colourful local festivals, unquiet revenants, ghost-hunting vicars, the ever-present fear of witchcraft - and much more. Fully referenced and
illustrated in colour, it is designed to appeal to both academic and general readers.