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44
The Legend of The Black Dog
Barked by Pupstar - Editor
Has anyone out there heard of the
grisly legend of the Black Dog of East
Anglia? If not, I feel I should tell you
more!
The ‘Shuck’ is the name given to a
ghostly black dog which is said to have
roamed the coastline and countryside of
East Anglia for centuries, in particular
graveyards, side roads, bodies of water
and dark forests.
Opinions differ as to the origin of the
word ‘Shuck’. It may derive from the
Old English word ‘scucca’ meaning
‘demon’ or possibly from the local
dialect word ‘shucky’ meaning ‘shaggy’
or ‘hairy’.
There have been various accounts of
the animal’s appearance: some have
stated that the beast has only one red
eye in the middle of its forehead! It
varies in size and stature from being
simply a large dog, to being the size of
a calf or even a horse! It has also been
seen headless and at other times
floating on a carpet of mist. His howl is
supposed to make one’s blood run cold!
If you meet him, legend has it that your
death will occur before the end of the
year!
Its infamous appearance on August
4th 1577 in Bungay and Blythburgh has
been well documented and images of
the sinister black dog have become
synonymous with the area ever since!
He is said to have run up the nave at
Holy Trinity Church in Blythburgh past
the sizeable congregation, killing a man
and a boy and causing the church
steeple to collapse through the roof. As
the dog ran off he left scorch marks on
the north door which can still be seen at
the church today.
The Black Shuck is also supposed to
have been seen on the same day at St.
Mary’s Church in Bungay. There was a
terrifying thunderstorm – such
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darkness, rain, hail, thunder and
lightning, the like of which has never
been seen before! During the storm the
beast is said to have set upon the
congregation killing at least two people.
For those of you out there who
believe these are the ramblings of men
who lived so long ago and whose tales
are impossible to confirm accurately,
think again. There have been far more
recent accounts of the Black Shuck
rearing its beastly head and tormenting
the inhabitants of East Anglia!
During the 1920s and 1930s there
were reports from the fishermen of
Sheringham hearing a hound howling
on the cliff tops during stormy nights.
As recently as 1970 a sighting of the
Black Shuck in Great Yarmouth made
the headlines. In 1980 a young woman
claimed to have met the hound whilst
walking with her young son near
Wisbech.
In the village of Overstrand to this
day there is still a road called Shuck’s
Lane, named after the Norfolk hell
hound. Another of the hound tracks
runs through what today is Mill Lane
and into the grounds of Cromer Hall. It
is said that this particular locality was
the inspiration behind Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle’s ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’.
He had visited the area on a golfing
holiday and although the original film
is set in Dartmoor, there are scenes in
the film which one can quite imagine as
having some semblance to the area
within Cromer Hall.
Beware though my canine friends for
‘Shuck’ is not the only black dog who
has been seen prowling when darkness
falls. A dog-like creature stalks the
ruins of Burgh Castle: some believe it
is a werewolf whilst others say it is the
devil in disguise! Eeek! The beast is
called ‘Old Scarfe’ after Baron Rudolf
Scarfe, a notorious, depraved and evil
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knight of the 13th Century. So bad
were his deeds of wickedness that upon
his death some say the devil changed
him into a dog, laden him with chains
and sent him back to earth. ‘Old Scarfe’
has also been seen at Gorleston and
Great Yarmouth rattling his chains and
howling into the night!
If this isn’t enough to have you
quivering with fright in your basket
then listen up! Close to Cromer Pier a
black dog has been spotted near the
shoreline looking out to sea! But when
approached the hound vanishes into
thin air! It is believed he is waiting for
his human who will never return!
Now I don’t want to distress you
further with any more stories of a
hideous, ghoulish and demonic nature
but my fellow repawters on the Barking
Bugle thought that those of you visiting
Norfolk ought to beware and be VERY
VERY careful going out after dark! I
can assure you, however, that although
I am a black dog, I am NOT one of the
beasts I have woofed about! I also get
very scared about going out late at
night!
Beware though of any sinister, large
black dogs in the area – you never
know, if you spot one you may just be
the first person in the 21st Century to
have spotted the infamous Black Shuck.
If you do, avert your gaze or your life
may soon be over. You have all been
warned!
Woofs Pupstar
01553 766760
sales@websmartstudio.co.uk
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