Leek-green children

Edward Parnell explores a comprehensive, meticulously referenced and fascinating delve into an 800-year-old classic of fortean folklore

The Green Children of Woolpit Chronicles, Fairies and Facts in Mediæval England John Clark University of Exeter Press 2024. 30 per cent discount with code FORTEAN30 from exeterpress.co.uk Hb, 260pp, £90, ISBN 9781804131367 The story of two enigmatic, unintelligible green-skinned children, a girl and boy who emerged from out of the earth close to the west Suffolk village of Woolpit at some point around the middle of the 12th century, is a classic example of both forteana and English folklore (particularly fairylore). John Clark, who for many years was the curator of the mediæval collections at the Museum of London, has long been fascinated with this strange tale, and has previously written about it in various periodicals including FT’s former sister publication Fortean Studies. Here he treats the subject to…

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Fortean Times (Digital) - 1 Issue, 452

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