The Shellycoat: Scotland's Goblin of the Waterways (Scottish Folklore)

A curious and mysterious figure is the Shellycoat. Some say it is a relation to the goblins or bogles, others suggest it is a misunderstood water spirit. The Shellycoat is often depicted as an ugly crooked monster, often described as a hunched feral creature in a large shell covered coat, from which it draws its name. The Shellycoat has a devilish and cruel sense of humour, it is known to rattle its shell laden coat to distract passing strangers, it rejoices in the confusion of others, wasting their time and playing with their minds. The Shellycoat can commonly be found in creeks, lochs and rivers all throughout Scotland. Although the shellycoat is devious and enjoys the suffering of others, by its nature it is not a violent creature and rarely if ever attacks its victims. There was however one Shellycoat known to be far more sinister and more powerful than any other. The Shellycoat of Leith. Intro Music: Written for me by Bobbin https://bobbin.bandcamp.com/ References: Campbell, A. (1827) The History of Leith from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Period; with a Sketch of the Antiquities of the Town. W. Reid & Son, 1827 - Leith (Edinburgh, Scotland). ISBN 10: 0342208489 ISBN 13: 9780342208487 Grant, J. (1979) Old and New Edinburgh. Langsyne, 1979. [https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo...] Grimm, J. (1835) Deutsche Mythologie. Göttingen: Dieterich, 1835. [https://archive.org/details/deutschem...] Hutchison, W. (1865) Tales, Traditions and Antiquities of Leith, C. Drummond, 1865 - Leith (Edinburgh, Scotland). ISBN 10: 137642875X ISBN 13: 9781376428759 Reid, D. (2017) A Spider and a Shellycoat – more Scottish Folk Tales. [https://cullodenbattlefield.wordpress...] Sir Edwards Whisky (2021) The Shellycoat joker. Whisky Sir Edward's. [https://en.siredwards.com/our-scottis...] St. John, R. (2013) Seafield Sewage Works and the Pennybap Stone. Water of Life. [http://wateroflife.space/rob/seafield...] Swancer, B. (2019) Curious Tales of Mysterious Scottish Water Spirits [https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/0...] Coulson, L. (2016) The Shellycoat. The Faery Folklorist [http://faeryfolklorist.blogspot.com/2...]