The historic county of Norfolk has more than its fair share of strange tales. From ancient legends, through stories of the supernatural to more modern documented cases, there is much to tell. In Illustrated Tales of Norfolk, John Ling brings together all kinds of stories from around the county including spooky and ghostly tales, folklore, witchcraft, smuggling, mysterious murders and much besides. From the legend of the giant supernatural dog known locally as Black Shuck, which helped provide inspiration for The Hound of the Baskervilles, to the peculiar case of the former vicar of Stiffkey who after being defrocked was killed in a lion’s cage, Norfolk has a wealth of fascinating and sometimes disturbing stories. This book also seeks out a number of other unusual local characters such as the 7-foot- 8-inch-tall Norfolk Giant and the nineteenth-century circus owner who was immortalised in a Beatles song.

John Ling lives in Norwich and has spent several years extensively researching the local history of East Anglia. A long-time windmill enthusiast, he has spent several years researching the windmills of his home county. His previous publications include Illustrated Tales of Norfolk, Windmills and Watermills of Suffolk, Windmills of Norfolk, Illustrated Tales of Suffolk and Norfolk Places Behind the Faces.