The Folk Tale That Turned Deadly

Hope you all enjoy this one! Was blowing a gale out there so I had to film some to camera pieces in my living room. Nought wrong with that though. In 1875, in the quiet village of Long Compton, an old belief refused to die. This is the true story of James Hayward, a farm labourer who became convinced he had been cursed by witches. What followed was a brutal crime that shocked Britain—and revealed how deeply folklore still gripped rural communities in the 19th century. From the ancient Rollright Stones to the influence of a local cunning man known as “Wizard Manning,” this case sits at the intersection of belief, mental illness, and violence. At a time when science and industry were transforming the world, some communities still lived by older fears—fear of witchcraft, curses, and unseen forces. This is not just a crime story. It’s a look at how belief can shape reality—with devastating consequences. #folklore #folktale #history #rollright #oxfordshire #warwickshire #witchcraft #witch #britishhistory #englishfolklore #englishhistory #mythology #myths #historydocumentary #storytelling #storyteller #storytime