The Story Of The Black Shuck
The Black Shuck has long been a Legend of Suffolk folklore. The Legend of the Black Shuck goes back several centuries. But one particularly famous appearance of the beast is from 1577. It occurred on a stormy night in both Bungay and Blythburgh. It is said that during the storm a demon came in the form of a big black dog and wreaked havoc in the churches. The Blythburgh church door still has the claw marks burned into it from the “demon Shuck” as it fled the church having killed several churchgoers.
There are reports that the Black Shuck still wanders Suffolk. People who have had encounters around the Suffolk coast and country lanes, say it vanishes as quickly as it appeared…
....you may also know Suffolk metal band 'The Darkness' wrote a song about the Black Shuck too. Lead singer Justin Hawkins growing up yards from where 'The Legend That Is Black Shuck' is built.
Further reading:
Black Shuck: The Legendary Devil Dog Of The English Countryside (allthatsinteresting.com)
The terrifying story of the 'hell hound' - BBC News
Where To Visit Black Shuck Sightings In East Anglia | Spooky Isles
The Legend of the Bungay Black Dog (thesuffolkcoast.co.uk)
The Skeletal Remains of a Hellhound in the Folklore of Devil Dogs - Atlas Obscura
Worth a watch:
Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country - Series 1: 1. Black Shuck - BBC iPlayer
We also sponsor the Bungay Black Shuck Festival:
Please contact us, if you know of any other links detailing the history of the Black Shuck!