David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

Freelance journalist; prize-winning gothic/magical-realist fic; Amazon #1 bestseller of non-fic (Shire/Bloomsbury). Folklore, graveyards, weird history, myth. davidcastleton.net/serpents_pen_b… North-East England Joined June 2016

Tweets

7K
Followers

12K
Following

9K
Likes

22K

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

3 days ago

Frankenstein Castle, Hesse, Germany, was the birthplace of an alchemist who allegedly conducted experiments on dead bodies. Some claim he tried to animate the bodies with lightning & that he may have inspired Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. #WyrdWednesday #folklore #gothic #books

0 9 29 839 1

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

4 days ago

Mount Vesuvius, near Naples, was - according to Roman myth - once inhabited by a race of giant bandits. These 'sons of the earth' were subdued by Heracles, who seems to have been worshipped in the surrounding area. #FairytaleTuesday #folklore #mythology #history

1 6 16 616 0

Download Image

Coffin Boffin @DrSamGeorge1

3 weeks ago

UNCANNY DOUBLES Life-sized Victorian style twin dolls unsettle tube travellers in London (c/o Darren Brown) #creepydolls

10 39 150 6K 15

Download Image

Coffin Boffin @DrSamGeorge1

3 weeks ago

GHOULISH GARDENS Step inside a 500 year old gothic garden via the mouth of a mythical #monster reclaimed by nature. The Garden of Bomarzo, or The Villa of Wonders is in Viterbo, Lazio; created in the 1600s in the valley below the Castle of Orsini

1 67 329 8K 51

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

3 weeks ago

The Greek sun god Helios driving his chariot across the sky. A fairly minor deity, Helios was maybe best known for having his cattle killed & eaten by Odysseus's men. In later antiquity, he was identified with powerful solar gods like Apollo & Sol. #FolkyFriday #folklore

1 2 17 269 0

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

4 weeks ago

The elephant & castle is a traditional symbol of strength. It was used on coinage in the 1st century BC. The Romans used war elephants, including in the invasion of Britain. The South London area of Elephant & Castle likely derives its name from a pub. #FairytaleTuesday #history

1 1 6 227 0

Download Image

Marja Heiskanen @marja_photo

a month ago

Mushroom photography; Yea or Nay?

250 333 3K 45K 68

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

a month ago

"Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall" William #Shakespeare, Measure for Measure. #ShakespeareSunday #literature #theatre #books #gothic

1 3 16 411 1

Download Image

Mary-Ann Thorson𐃆 @NoctrnlValkyrie

3 months ago

“Because the world is so full of death and horror, I try again and again to console my heart and pick the flowers that grow in the midst of hell” — Hermann Hesse

1 50 193 3K 23

Download Image

Coffin Boffin @DrSamGeorge1

4 months ago

PRINTER'S DEVIL cheekily squatting above the entrance to Coffee Lane Yard in York is the Stonegate Devil, a symbol associated with early printing presses. I enjoyed spotting this today.

1 41 185 4K 15

Download Image

Coffin Boffin @DrSamGeorge1

6 months ago

FOLK DEVILS 'Hell is empty, all the devils are here!' Wonderfully theatrical & evocative marionettes from Prague: Dracula & Folk Devils #WyrdWednesday

0 20 102 2K 10

Download Image

Coffin Boffin @DrSamGeorge1

7 months ago

GOTHIC #VALENTINES Mary Shelley is rumoured to have kept Percy Shelley's heart in a silken shroud, carrying it with her for years (his remains were in Rome). After she died the heart was found in her desk wrapped in his poems. It's hard to out goth that! 🎨Embalmed hearts

6 114 441 13K 45

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

7 months ago

St Valentine's Keys are exchanged between lovers in Italy in the belief they may 'unlock the giver's heart'. Some also see them as a charm to ward off epilepsy, which was once called 'St Valentine's Malady'. #FairytaleTuesday #gothic #folklore #weird

0 14 26 769 1

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

7 months ago

Jack Frost is a figure in English #folklore said to leave fernlike patterns of ice on windows & to nip fingers & toes. The 1st known reference to Jack is in the book 'Round about our Coal Fire', 1732, but he may have roots in older personifications of winter. #FairytaleTuesday

0 12 47 868 0

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

7 months ago

Narcissus was the subject of a prophecy - that he would only live long if he never knew himself - & a curse: that the one he fell in love with could never love him back. He fell for his own reflection in a pool & melted away from the fire of his passion #folkloreSunday #folklore

2 5 30 678 1

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

7 months ago

Prometheus stole fire from the gods & gave it to humanity, for which he was severely punished. Seen as the author of human arts & sciences, he represented the striving for knowledge. The Romantics saw him as a genius, whose efforts could lead to tragedy. #FolkyFriday #folklore

0 4 11 259 0

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

7 months ago

Orpheus is a poet of Greek #mythology whose songs could charm wild beasts & make & trees dance. He visited the underworld & even won over Hades. After he was torn apart by followers of Dionysus, his head - still singing - floated down the River Hebrus #BookologyThursday #folklore

0 8 35 762 0

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

7 months ago

#London legend claims that the Celtic Queen Boudicca is buried beneath Platform 10 of Kings Cross Station and that she made her last stand against the Romans at nearby Battle Bridge on the now-buried River Fleet. #FairytaleTuesday #folklore #weird

1 20 50 1K 3

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

8 months ago

Some say St James Garlickhythe, City of London, is haunted by Dick Whittington's cat. Whittington was buried at nearby St Michael Paternoster Royal & a mummified cat was found during a search for his grave, but #folklore insists his cat haunts St James's. #FairytaleTuesday #weird

0 7 22 597 0

Download Image

David Castleton (Author) @david_castleton

8 months ago

A Boxing Day custom was 'hunting the Wren', though these hunts made so much noise it's unlikely many wrens were caught. At most times of year, it was unlucky to kill the 'king of the birds' - this may be an example of a taboo act being allowed on special days. #folkloresunday