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While stories told around a campfire about ghosts and ghouls can scare children (and some adults), the tales about Black Annis instil deep-seated fear even in the bravest souls. Anyone in Leicestershire, England, would have grown up hearing tales of this scary hag, who would feast on children who misbehaved.
But who exactly is Black Annis? Is she a figment of someone’s imagination, or is there perhaps truth behind the legend?
Black Annis
The legend tells the tale of a ghastly, monstrous woman who lurks in the countryside. Her appearance is terrifying, with a blue face, iron claws and an absolutely huge figure. In fact, she has also been depicted in a monstrous cat form.
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In the Black Annis Bower poem by Lieutenant John Heyrick, he described her avidly:
“Tis said the soul of mortal man recoil’d,
To view Black Annis’ eye, so fierce and wild;
Vast talons, foul with human flesh, there grew
In place of hands, and features livid blue
Glar’d in her visage; while the obscene waist
Warm skins of human victims close embraced.“
The Legend of Black Annis
Legend has it that Black Annis would snatch people and unsuspecting children and eat them. She would skin them and then fasten skins around her waist as a warning to anyone who dared to cross her path. Similar child-scaring legends exist around the world — for example, in Abbeville, Alabama, locals still whisper about Huggin’ Molly.
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The tales go that she has a fear of sunlight because the sunshine could turn her to stone. So, she emerges from a cave in a shroud of darkness and hunts for unsuspecting prey and naughty children in the dark of night.
Black Annis has been the subject of much speculation through the centuries, but she has played her part in keeping little children obedient with just the mere threat of her.
Black Annis is also known as:
- Cat Anna
- Black Anna
- Black Anny
- Black Agnes
Black Annis Bower Close
Historical records speak of a piece of land on the west side of the Dane Hills along a path that is just two miles from Leicestershire. It is called Black Anna’s Bower Close. This indicates that the legend goes back many centuries.
While some versions of the tales say that perhaps she lived beneath Leicester Castle, where a subterranean passage connected her to the countryside caves in the Dane Hills, others place her firmly where the Dane Hills lie. It is said that the underground passage extending to the hills and the cave is where she lies in wait to this day.
The Dane Hills are a series of low sandstone hills located a few miles from the ghost-hunting town of Leicester. They offer a secluded and wild landscape that fueled the legend of Black Annis dwelling there. Her favourite haunt is a small cave marked by a giant oak tree. It is sometimes said that Black Annis lies in wait for new victims in that very same oak tree…
According to legend, Black Annis used her iron claws to dig out a cave from the sandstone cliff – an image enough to instil fear in anyone.
The Origin Of The Tales
While the stories of Black Annis have been told to generations of children to keep them behaving, there may be a real person behind the tales…
Agnes Scott
Agnes Scott lived in the Middle Ages. It is believed that she was possibly a nun or a religious recluse. British folklore suggests a connection between Agnes Scott and the terrifying Black Annis.
Agnes may have resided in a cave near the Dane Hills, where Black Annis is said to dwell. Additionally, some theories suggest she cared for a leper colony near where the Dane Hills lie, which could have been misinterpreted over time.
During the reformation, there was an anti-religious sentiment, and perhaps some hatred grew against Agnes. As tales tend to do, it is possible that the stories about Agnes grew into a fearsome tale, and the gruesome legend was born.
Other theories about the folklore
There are other theories about the origins of Black Annis. Some folklorists have tried to link the grisly figure to a Celtic goddess named Cailleach Bheare (also known as the Scottish Blue Hag). The Celtic goddess was known to expect child sacrifices and would devour her victims.
Building on the Celtic connection, Reverend John Dudley believed that Black Annis could have been a distorted memory of the Celtic goddess Anu. He suggested that it was connected with cannibalistic rites that the ancient goddess performed for fertility that required sacrifices. These stories could have evolved into the child-snatching aspect of the Black Annis legend.
Black Annis In Modern Times
In our more enlightened times, one would think that the tales of Black Annis would have found a back seat. However, there are still traditions that remind us of the woman with talons foul with human flesh.
While she has been portrayed as a monstrous cat (albeit with the nickname Cat Anna), in the early spring, tradition has it that a dead cat is dragged in front of Black Annis Bower in the Dane Hills while a pack of dogs chase the dead cat. Perhaps this is to ward off her evil ways and keep the residents of Leicestershire safe. While this local ritual seems to have died off, her legend remains.
The symbolism behind the dead cat is not completely clear, but it is rumoured that it is a replacement sacrifice—a cat instead of a child.
Black Annis In Pop Culture
In the nineteenth century (1837), Black Annis was brought to people’s attention in a play at the Leicester Theatre, where she was portrayed as an innkeeper at the Blue Boar Inn. She has also appeared in video games like Wizard101, where people who have little fear can play with her character.
Black Annis has also been mentioned in books and poetry, such as in Freda Warrington’s “The Faerie Path” and John Connolly’s “The Book of Lost Things.”
Black Annis Leaves Her Mark
The tales of Black Annis have left a lasting impression. While English folklore tells her tale, she is still used as a threat to young children to keep them from misbehaving.
The psychological effects of the tale
Stories about Black Annis can leave a lasting psychological mark on people, especially young and impressionable children. It was said that she would climb through windows to grab her unsuspecting prey. Thus, homes were built with small windows, so she could not get more than a single arm inside the window to keep the children safe.
It has also been said that her shrieks and screams could be heard from miles away. When people heard these unearthly noises, they would close their windows and doors and smatter herbs and salt across any openings for protection. Stories about this livid, blue-faced hag have created fear in people and affected even their basic living conditions.
FAQs
Is Black Annis connected to other stories about the bogeyman?
There seem to be some significant parallels between Black Annis and tales told around the world involving a monstrous persona that harms children. One example is Baba Yaga from Slavic legends.
What role does Black Annis play in Leicestershire today?
Black Annis is a widely known legend among the locals, and it is still used as a story to get children to behave today.
Final Thoughts
The tales of Black Annis may have been skewered over time, mostly to frighten local children, but the blue hag still inspires fear in the hearts of many. This enduring legend serves as a reminder of the power of folklore to shape our perceptions of the world and the lingering influence of the past on our present.
The question remains: Is Black Annis simply a tale told to elicit fear and obedience, or is there a sliver of truth lurking beneath the monstrous facade? The answer, like the legend itself, remains a mystery…
