Magical Creatures from British Folklore

 


Britain has a plethora of tales that feature magical creatures in its folklore. From well known creatures like dragons to less known creatures like merrows, British folklore is rich with magical creatures that colour stories with magic and mystery. There are so many worth mentioning and this post will be looking at a few of these mysterious magical creatures from British folklore who have stood the test of time. This blog post will explore less known to well known magical creatures.


Pixie 

Pixies are tiny magical beings often seen in British folklore especially from areas like Devon and Cornwall. These beings are portrayed as mischievous rather than malevolent most of the time in British folklore. They are also said to lead travelers astray. These magical beings are linked to ancient sites and woodland paths. Pixies have found their way to fantasy stories from British folklore in stories such as Peter Pan and Harry Potter.


Puca

The Puca is a shape shifting spirit from British Folklore from the Celtic tradition. It is thought to appear most commonly as a horse, goat, rabbit or even a human. In British folklore they are depicted as being helpful at times, and also dangerous. They are also believed to mislead travelers.


Kelpie

The Kelpie is a water spirit that often appears as a horse in British folklore, especially found in stories from Scottish folklore. In most of the stories in folklore Kelpies were thought to lure people onto their back before dragging them into bodies of water.


Brownies

Brownies are depicted as helpful household spirits in British folklore and mythology. They are known to perform chores during the night with the expectation of being treated well. Brownies are portrayed as easily offended in British folklore. 


The Boggart

The boggart is portrayed as a mischievous and troublesome household spirit in British folklore. They are known to hide objects and cause strange disturbances. The boggart is depicted in modern fantasy in Harry Potter and The Boggart.


The Black Dog

Black dogs are supernatural black hounds that are portrayed in British folklore. These beings are often linked with lonely roads and ancient paths. Sometimes these magical creatures are considered as a warning or an omen.



The Redcap

The redcap is one of the most malicious creatures in British folklore. They are believed to inhabit ruined castles and dye their caps with blood from their victims which is why they are called Redcaps.


Despite looking elderly they are thought to be fast and strong. These magical creatures are believed to be difficult to reason with and make powerful enemies.


The Selkie

Selkies are magical beings from British folklore, especially from Scotland and Ireland. They are thought to live as seals in sea but can shed their skins to become human when they come on land. Most stories revolve around humans stealing a Selkie skin which stops them from returning to their watery homes. 


Dragon

Dragons feature in many stories from British folklore and have influenced modern fantasy stories. Dragons come in many shapes, sizes and colours in folklore. Dragons feature in folklore stories such as in stories about St George and Arthurian stories. Dragons are mostly depicted as large winged lizard-like creatures covered in scales. Dragons from British folklore have found their way into modern fantasy stories like The Hobbit and Harry Potter. 



The Green Man

The Green Man from British folklore is not usually depicted as a monster or a spirit. But instead appears as a mysterious being surrounded by leaves and vegetation. His visage can be found carved into buildings like churches and monuments across the British Isles..


The Green Man is often linked with nature, renewal and the cycle of life. While there is  no exact information on his origins, he has become a powerful icon of the natural world and the connection humans have to it. 


The Will o’ the Wisps

The Will o’ the Wisp is a mysterious flickering light that is thought to be visible over bogs and marshes. These lights are thought to be magical creatures in British folklore that are thought to lure travelers away from safe paths into the dangerous swamps. They are depicted as lost souls or trickster spirits. 


The Changeling

A changeling is thought to be a fairy child left in place of a stolen human baby by the fairies. It is thought in British folklore that fairies would steal healthy babies and replace them with changelings. These magical creatures often behaved strangely or weakly.


The Spriggans

The Spriggans are believed to be ugly but powerful beings from Cornish folklore. They are thought to guard ancient ruins and treasures. These magical creatures are thought to be able to grow to an immense size if they are threatened.



The Banshee

A Banshee is a female spirit who is believed to wail and foretell an impending death. These magical beings appear near families before death according to British folklore. They are thought to cry or scream warning of impending death.

Jenny Greenteeth

A water spirit that is thought to live in ponds and rivers, Jenny Greenteeth was believed to drag children or elderly people into bodies of water according to British folklore and mythology. This magical creature was depicted as a green skinned toothy woman.


The Grindylow

The Grindylow is thought to be a small water goblin from British folklore that originates from Yorkshire and Lancashire. These magical beings are thought to lurk in ponds and grab children who dare to come too close. It is believed to have long arms and sharp teeth. 


While this list offers a glimpse into some common and less known creatures from British folklore and mythology, there are plenty of other creatures that populate the various folktales from the British Isles. Regardless of the fact that you might be looking for writing inspiration or just thought of learning more about the magical creatures of Britain, I hope you found this article useful. There are plenty of online resources on magical creatures from Britain which will help you grow and further expand your knowledge on magical creatures from British folklore any mythology.

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