Thursbitch
Sep. 25th, 2010 10:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poliphiloThursbitch is a novel by Alan Garner. It's also a place- an isolated valley in the Cheshire Peak district - with a ruined farmhouse in it- and one or two other things. It has an evil reputation. Thursbitch is old English and means Valley of the Demon. I walked in there this afternoon.
There are a lot of monoliths lying around- some of them built into walls or re-used as gateposts. A number seem to have been carved to look like phalluses. They could possibly be neolithic.
To find out more about the mythos read this fascinating article- and to find out even more read the book.
As I left the valley a heron rose from the stream below me and wheeled off overhead.
This church- Jenkin Chapel- built in 1733- also features in the bookl.
And so does this stone, which marks the death, by exposure, of the jagger (or pedlar) John Turner.
On one side it reads: Here John Turner was cast away in a heavy snow storm in the night in or about the year 1756
On the other side it reads: The print of a woman's shoe was found by his side in the snow where he lay dead.
There are a lot of monoliths lying around- some of them built into walls or re-used as gateposts. A number seem to have been carved to look like phalluses. They could possibly be neolithic.
To find out more about the mythos read this fascinating article- and to find out even more read the book.
As I left the valley a heron rose from the stream below me and wheeled off overhead.
This church- Jenkin Chapel- built in 1733- also features in the bookl.
And so does this stone, which marks the death, by exposure, of the jagger (or pedlar) John Turner.
On one side it reads: Here John Turner was cast away in a heavy snow storm in the night in or about the year 1756
On the other side it reads: The print of a woman's shoe was found by his side in the snow where he lay dead.
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no subject
Date: 2010-09-30 06:51 pm (UTC)It's that cool windy time of year when I pile up my ghost books and make hot tea.
I've recently read Uncle Silas by LeFanu. How claustrophobic and spooky his writing is--this book isn't exactly a ghost story, but it's scarier than some I've read (his "Judge's House" is one of my favorite stories).
Hope you and Ailz are well.
My grandchildren now have two black rabbits! I told them about yours.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-30 08:33 pm (UTC)He's good, isn't he! I recommend The House by the Churchyard.
We're fine. Going on holiday in a couple of days. It's good to have you back.