Enchanted Eardisland-Tales from a Herefordshire Village

The Eardisland Oral History Group have uncovered tales about events of the past in their parish concerning local customs and folklore. There are strange stories of the supernatural; and one of a fiddler who played for dancers prior to a disastrous flood.

In this agricultural area, many old traditions concerned the fertility of crops. The corn harvest was predicted with the outcome of men running across a field of winter wheat with a blazing pole. The apple orchards were once blessed in June with cider. One custom was based on ancient medieval use of local vegetation, especially the willow. Another was a game; cakes were thrown from the horns of a goaded bull either to the farmer or his worker. There was also the medieval prophecy for "he who shot the Arrow first"

Whilst most have passed out of folk memory, the custom of roping the wedding care is one that some local people still recall.