Local Legends #23: Hugh Williams

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin chats all things Worcestershire and the surrounds with folklorist and author Hugh Williams.

Born in Worcester at the heart of the English Midlands, Hugh has gone about things the old fashioned way. Which is to say, he has spent almost his whole life physically exploring, discovering and researching the stranger places of England’s middle counties, and is deeply passionate about telling their stories.

Part of this he does through his blog, which is absolutely amazing, and he has also written three books, The Mystery of Mercia Volumes I and II, which are collections of lore and folktales centred on the old Anglo Saxon kingdom of Mercia, and, more recently, The Magic of Mercia: A History of Witchcraft and Magic in the Midlands of England.

Drawing on traditional sources as well as his own collecting and site visits, Hugh’s work paints a vivid picture of the English heartlands, from their very beginnings right through to the present day. All of which has earned him a prominent position on social media, where he posts pictures and videos of his discoveries to tens of thousands of people. Plus, he’s now moving into the world of TV presenting – he’s just filmed for the new History Channel series Weird Britain which will be released next year!

So, settle in for a chat which folds in Danish reeves being skinned and their outer layers pinned to cathedrals, Cunning Folk, giants, Wild Hunts, foliate heads, and much, much more!

To learn more Hugh and his work, do visit his website at mysteriesofmercia.com and you can find him on social media via @mysteriesofmercia

The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

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