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Hedley Kow

A very mischievous, but not dangerous, shape-changing boggart which used to plague the villagers of Hedley (North-umberland) by his many tricks (Henderson, 1866: 270–1). A farmer mistook ...

Hedley Kow

Hedley Kow   Quick reference

A Dictionary of English Folklore

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2003
Subject:
Society and culture, Customs and Traditions, Social sciences, Regional and Area Studies
Length:
88 words

... Kow . A very mischievous, but not dangerous, shape-changing boggart which used to plague the villagers of Hedley (North-umberland) by his many tricks ( Henderson , 1866 : 270–1). A farmer mistook him for his own horse, a milkmaid for her favourite cow, an old woman for a bundle of straw; in each case he caused unexpected trouble, and then vanished with a loud guffaw. He could even turn into the likeness of a girl, to trick her sweetheart into following him till he ended up knee-deep in a...

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