Hellsborough & The Dark Peak

The Dark Peak Bestiary

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There is an ancient poem -- the "Brackenman of Wadsley Common"

The Common at Wadsley was ever dark, ancient and sinister.
Its man of bramble, thorn, bracken and briar;
And no one scrambles over the sliding gannister
Bowed legs of ash, four arms of yew and perishing juniper
Down the precipices of its sides, with tangled roots
Swirling fronds of green and purple heather shoots.

"Witnesses" of the creature, according to the ancient legends, described it as coming forth from the centre of a stone circle, its body of thistles and thorns, legs of bandy ash and arms formed of twisted briars. Its head was a gorse bush. Its eyes were the orange of burning coals.