There still to this day exists the belief in the Fairy Folk throughout the Three Shires (Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire). One such place that the Fairy Folk are said to have inhabited can be found at the Fairyhough at Fools Nook along the Macclesfield to Leek road. The word Hough is Old English from the word Hoh, this means ridge, and as you travel out of Fools Nook towards Leek look towards your left and you will see a ridge, where it drops steeply at the end this is known as the hough which used to be the abode of the Fairies, perhaps it still is!
The Fairy Hough outside Fools Nook. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
Belief in the Fairies is far stronger in rural areas, and in some places in the Peak district farmers still leave a bowl of milk outside at night for the Fairies, if they do not do this they run the risk of the cow drying up and not giving milk.
This rock I have been told has some connection with the Fairy Folk, it is found on the far side of the Roaches in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
This is known as the Fairy stone which can be found next to the old road known as the Earlsway, which the Earls of Chester used when travelling to the now ruined Abbey known as Dieulacres. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
In the Dane valley it used to be tradition to leave food for the Fairies in a field the night before it was due to be ploughed by the farmer. Out on the Ashbourne road the other side of the town called Leek there is a place known as the Manifold valley, the high rocky sides of this valley make it difficult for sunlight to reach its bottom, it is said that Fairies light the way for the traveller through this ravine, perhaps these are Will O' the Wisp known locally as Jenny Burnt Tail.
A view down into the Manifold Valley. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
At Ludchurch in the ancient Backforest which can be found on the far side of the Roaches in the Staffordshire Moorlands there is a legend there that the Fairies danced at dawn outside this natural chasm, also the cave which is at the southern end of the chasm but is now sealed up is said to be the entrance to the otherworld.
Do the Fairies dance here outside the entrance to Ludchurch? Photo by Gary Tacagni.
One of the Christian explanations for the existence of Fairies is that they are fallen Angels seduced by Satan. When the Angel Micheal evicted Satan's hosts from Heaven they were followed by countless innocents, and when God saw Heaven was emptying he raised his hand and closed the gates, but some had descended to Earths mountains and woods.
This ancient cross at Mottram St Andrew in the county of Cheshire, U.K. is a place where the Fairies or "Good people" danced around at a certain time each year. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
Another Christian explanation for Fairies was that Adam and Lilith his first wife had so many children that they were ashamed. When God asked Lilith to bring the children to him she hid half of them, but God knew and said all those that are hidden should be "hidden from all Mankind"; thus they became known as the Huldre or hidden people, perhaps it is these that we know as Fairies.
Like the cross at Mottram St Andrews, this one can be found at Gawsworth and was also used by the Fairy Folk as a meeting place and used to dance around. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
This tree in Windmill wood at alderley Edge in Cheshire is said to have a connection with the Fairy Folk, when the tree finally dies so the connection will be broken. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
There is an area between Ipstones and Bradnop near Bottom Lane which was said at one time to be the part of the county which held the title of having the most Fairies. There are several small farms called Lady meadows, which it seemed possessed the ideal conditions for this race of small beings, the subsoil is clay and the ground is wet, except in dry weather. These beings were said to find lost items in exchange for cake e.t.c and were said to prevent Hedgehogs from sucking the milk of cows during the night, presumably when they were lying down (lol). They were encouraged to come into the houses using presents of tobacco and food, but if angered for any reason they could cause mischief and create havoc. The species is rapidly dying out now, it seems this modern way of life which is lived so fast is causing their way of life to come to an end, I am sure this world will be a poorer place when they have all gone. Perhaps they have not all died out yet though, as a tiny clay pipe has been found in recent times in a Cheshire field still smouldering. The photograph below is of Ladymeadows, perhaps one of the last sanctuaries of the Fairy Folk.
Ladymeadows. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
