Big thank you to everyone who came along tonight, I had a fantastic time and I think we got some great answers out of the guests. I'm sorry there we a few technical issues, particularly frame rate in the first half, I think it worked very well as a proof of concept though and I hope to host more of them in the future after the upgrade of my computer hardware!
Forwarded from The Jolly Reiver
This is related to a subject that Staffordshire Folklore and I were discussing recently. Videos that are well researched and based in fact rarely do well, and are eclipsed by sensationalist entertainment that reaches the public in enormous numbers and gives them bucket loads of false information.
A popular ‘ghost hunting’ channel recently visited Chillingham Castle in Northumberland and made a video about the ghosts there. Before I discuss the folklore side of their video, this is the ‘history’ they presented the audience.
One of the guys says:
“Chillingham Castle was a battlefront between the English and Scottish for over 60 years”(?), accompanied by a picture of the Battle of Culloden, fought in 1746 hundreds of miles from the border.
To which the other follows up:
“You know the film Braveheart? Chillingham castle was in those wars!”
That’s it. That’s all the historical context you get.
A popular ‘ghost hunting’ channel recently visited Chillingham Castle in Northumberland and made a video about the ghosts there. Before I discuss the folklore side of their video, this is the ‘history’ they presented the audience.
One of the guys says:
“Chillingham Castle was a battlefront between the English and Scottish for over 60 years”(?), accompanied by a picture of the Battle of Culloden, fought in 1746 hundreds of miles from the border.
To which the other follows up:
“You know the film Braveheart? Chillingham castle was in those wars!”
That’s it. That’s all the historical context you get.
Forwarded from The Jolly Reiver
The ghost stories at Chillingham though are largely modern and made up. I’ve met staff, I’ve met the owner. It’s a tourist pull. They have ‘chill’ in the name and it looks very spooky, and the interior is filled with medieval-themed junk to add effect. Yet people like this keep visiting and keep making videos and they always get millions of views. There are dozens of other castles in Northumberland that have many genuine ghost stories and sightings, but they don’t have the name or the fame.
I’m disappointed but not surprised that the castle caretaker took these clowns around and let them be so obscene and disrespectful in both their language and behaviour.
This video got 5.6M views in 10 days.
I’m disappointed but not surprised that the castle caretaker took these clowns around and let them be so obscene and disrespectful in both their language and behaviour.
This video got 5.6M views in 10 days.
I'd love to say the views don't matter, but they do. Videos with a low number of views get buried on YouTube unless your search terms are hyper specific. and increasingly even then, YouTube will prioritise feeding you something it thinks will 'entertain' you rather than what is actually the best match.
Once one video goes viral talking about the 'Demon of Chillingham castle'. Or the 'black eyed children' of Cannock Chase it makes a circuit through other videos, local rag newspapers and then eventually cheap horror pulp on Amazon, worse, narcissists will then start making up reports independently for attention giving the story more credibility.
Before you know it the real stories of your home are buried beneath layers of artificial fan fiction, and it doesn't matter how hard you try to show people it's sensationalist drivel because if everyone apart from you is talking about it, surely, you must be the one who is wrong.
“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us.”
Once one video goes viral talking about the 'Demon of Chillingham castle'. Or the 'black eyed children' of Cannock Chase it makes a circuit through other videos, local rag newspapers and then eventually cheap horror pulp on Amazon, worse, narcissists will then start making up reports independently for attention giving the story more credibility.
Before you know it the real stories of your home are buried beneath layers of artificial fan fiction, and it doesn't matter how hard you try to show people it's sensationalist drivel because if everyone apart from you is talking about it, surely, you must be the one who is wrong.
“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us.”
A lot of people say they don't have time for folklore, they have too much going on in their life already. I'm very sympathetic to this, working full time with 2 (soon to be 3) small children, I understand, it feels there are too few hours in the day.
But what I'd encourage you to do is re-evaluate how you see folklore.
How much lore do you know?
Can you tell me why it was Tasha Yar was killed by the Skin of Evil?
What was the question that started the Geth war with their creators?
Can you tell me what incarnation the Valeyard was supposed to be?
And why did Fen'Harel betray the Elven gods?
-
Are any of those questions really something you need the answer to? Do they help define your place in the world? Tie you to your ancestors and to the land you call home?
If you think about it, while all those stories are entertaining, the only thing that they bring you closer to is whatever moral framework the author wants to influence you with.
I'd wager you still have some free time you fill with nostalgic shows and games from the early 2000's and before, something you use to switch off and relax with at the end of the day, consuming stories of futures past.
What if you picked up an old copy of a local folklore book for free on Google Books instead and just started reading?
You don't even need to do it every day, just a small effort, week by week and you'll be amazed what you'll pick up. You'll appreciate your town, county and country all the more, you'll be inspired to go out and find those lost graves, old barrows, and hidden castles and next time someone talks about the 'Vicious Guinea pig of Rutland' or something else equally awful, you can be another voice of authority pushing back against it!
But what I'd encourage you to do is re-evaluate how you see folklore.
How much lore do you know?
Can you tell me why it was Tasha Yar was killed by the Skin of Evil?
What was the question that started the Geth war with their creators?
Can you tell me what incarnation the Valeyard was supposed to be?
And why did Fen'Harel betray the Elven gods?
-
Are any of those questions really something you need the answer to? Do they help define your place in the world? Tie you to your ancestors and to the land you call home?
If you think about it, while all those stories are entertaining, the only thing that they bring you closer to is whatever moral framework the author wants to influence you with.
I'd wager you still have some free time you fill with nostalgic shows and games from the early 2000's and before, something you use to switch off and relax with at the end of the day, consuming stories of futures past.
What if you picked up an old copy of a local folklore book for free on Google Books instead and just started reading?
You don't even need to do it every day, just a small effort, week by week and you'll be amazed what you'll pick up. You'll appreciate your town, county and country all the more, you'll be inspired to go out and find those lost graves, old barrows, and hidden castles and next time someone talks about the 'Vicious Guinea pig of Rutland' or something else equally awful, you can be another voice of authority pushing back against it!
I recently did a livestream interview with Galdorcæft about their debut album 'The Nine'.
The album has now released and you can hear the whole thing here on YouTube.
If you like it please consider buying a copy on Bandcamp to support them as well!
YouTube | Bandcamp | Official Website
The album has now released and you can hear the whole thing here on YouTube.
If you like it please consider buying a copy on Bandcamp to support them as well!
YouTube | Bandcamp | Official Website
YouTube
Galdorcraeft - The Nine (Full Album)
Matthew Wudotun - Vocals
Kliff Moon - Bowed Lyre, Moraharpa, Kravik Lyre, Jaw Harp, Bullroarer, Backing Vocals & Percussion.
Marie Moon - Kravik Lyre, Anglo-Saxon Lyre, Horn & Percussion.
Sean Fisher - Log & Bones Percussion.
Willowe - Frame Drums
Rhys Spooner…
Kliff Moon - Bowed Lyre, Moraharpa, Kravik Lyre, Jaw Harp, Bullroarer, Backing Vocals & Percussion.
Marie Moon - Kravik Lyre, Anglo-Saxon Lyre, Horn & Percussion.
Sean Fisher - Log & Bones Percussion.
Willowe - Frame Drums
Rhys Spooner…
Local Bird invents new kind of computer!
Recently I've been dealing with computer problems that have limited what I can work on; so I wanted to see how much I could improve what I had for the least amount of money possible.
If you're into tech and want to learn how to build a VERY budget workstation/ gaming PC, or just laugh at the many self inflicted hurdles I faced and bodge solutions I used to overcome them, then this article might be of interest.
I'm also testing the format, if people like me writing articles like this it might be something I do for Folklore more regularly.
Read Here
Recently I've been dealing with computer problems that have limited what I can work on; so I wanted to see how much I could improve what I had for the least amount of money possible.
If you're into tech and want to learn how to build a VERY budget workstation/ gaming PC, or just laugh at the many self inflicted hurdles I faced and bodge solutions I used to overcome them, then this article might be of interest.
I'm also testing the format, if people like me writing articles like this it might be something I do for Folklore more regularly.
Read Here
Forwarded from The Jolly Reiver
Incredibly sad news today as one of Britain’s most iconic trees on Hadrian’s Wall is deliberately felled in the night.
Clearly planned, as the tree was spray painted and then taken down with a chainsaw.
Did a bunch of awful people just do this for the sake of pointless destruction? Perhaps. But this comes at a time when there’s an increasing number of ‘random accidents’ and mysterious acts of vandalism and arson destroying iconic and historic sites across the country, such as the Crooked House in Staffordshire.
Clearly planned, as the tree was spray painted and then taken down with a chainsaw.
Did a bunch of awful people just do this for the sake of pointless destruction? Perhaps. But this comes at a time when there’s an increasing number of ‘random accidents’ and mysterious acts of vandalism and arson destroying iconic and historic sites across the country, such as the Crooked House in Staffordshire.
Hello all, sorry for the lack of content and updates, I'm attending to matters in my personal life right now and should be back in a couple of weeks.
I just wanted to pop on briefly to share this following important update.
I just wanted to pop on briefly to share this following important update.
A man (44), and a woman (34) have been arrested for conspiracy to commit arson in relation to the destruction of the Crooked House Pub.
The pair have not been named, but for those who have been following the story this is very encouraging, especially when you compare the listed ages to certain people who you might have previously suspected.
The future of the pub is still uncertain, though the site has been cleared and the bricks, collected, cleaned, and loaded up for storage until a way forward has been agreed.
The pair have not been named, but for those who have been following the story this is very encouraging, especially when you compare the listed ages to certain people who you might have previously suspected.
The future of the pub is still uncertain, though the site has been cleared and the bricks, collected, cleaned, and loaded up for storage until a way forward has been agreed.
Forwarded from The Jolly Reiver
The incredibly talented composer Albert Schofield, that writes the fantastic music for my channel, has composed a tune in remembrance of the events of today. I hope this piece will prove popular.
While a sad day, we must remember there will be more days like this to come. We must not forget. Or forgive.
https://youtu.be/qTbc0vdpl3Q?si=pcoue874WH7aj_D6
While a sad day, we must remember there will be more days like this to come. We must not forget. Or forgive.
https://youtu.be/qTbc0vdpl3Q?si=pcoue874WH7aj_D6
YouTube
Sycamore Gap's Lament
In the early hours of this morning, the 28th of September 2023, the iconic and beloved Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall was cut down in a malicious act of of destruction.
This song, composed by Albert Schofield, is dedicated to the tree.
This song, composed by Albert Schofield, is dedicated to the tree.
There are early reports of a fire that broke out this morning in another historic Black Country Pub.
This time at the Greyhound and Punchbowl inn at Bilston. Originally a 16th century house known as 'Stowheath manor'.
News has only broken locally on social media so I can confirm little at this time, these photos were taken around 4am.
This time at the Greyhound and Punchbowl inn at Bilston. Originally a 16th century house known as 'Stowheath manor'.
News has only broken locally on social media so I can confirm little at this time, these photos were taken around 4am.
Forwarded from The Rose of Mercia 🌹
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-68414524
Although it will never be the same as the original pub, it is refreshing to see greedy land grabbers being held accountable for their actions every once in a while.
Although it will never be the same as the original pub, it is refreshing to see greedy land grabbers being held accountable for their actions every once in a while.
BBC News
Crooked House: Owners of wonky pub ordered to rebuild
An enforcement order requires the building to be built back to what it was prior to the fire.