Real-life vampires and other bloodsucking creatures are found throughout English history, says RICK HALE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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$\"Croglin$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Legends of fiendish bloodsucking creatures who stalk the night and the nightmares of man have been with us since the advent of storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vampire, as we have come to call these monstrous beings, gained international attention with the publication of Bram Stoker’s tale of gothic terror, Dracula <\/a>in 1897.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the most part, Stoker’s inspiration for the ageless Count came from Vlad Tepes, a 15th century Wallachian nobleman<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although he was more genocidal madman than undead fiend, the idea stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Stoker may have gotten inspiration a little closer to home from tales of English undead revenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although stories of vampires in England are few and far between, there are a few both ancient and modern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are six of those tales sure to keep you up at night fearing the immortal undead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Vampire of Berwick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The earliest known account of a vampire like being, or revenant, comes to us from the Northumbrian town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his 12th century history of England or Historia Rerum Anglicarum, William of Newburgh<\/a>, tells the story of a revenant terrorising the town and its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newburgh details that following the death of a wealthy man, people reported seeing him rise from the grave and roam the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The superstitious townspeople, of course, believed the devil was at work and if they didn’t act quickly a plague would spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contact us here to write for the Spooky Isles<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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They feared whatever this man was would spread turning others into horrific beings like him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The townspeople followed the man back to his grave when the sun peeked over the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They opened his grave and went about the business of dismembering his body and burning it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Newburgh, the revenant no longer haunted the town. But, a plague did spread killing dozens. Those dozens, thankfully, remained in their graves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hunchback of Alnwick Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Northumberland, a county in the north has long been known for its generous collection of mediaeval castles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of these castles, the millennium old Alnwick Castle is the home of the Duke of Northumberland. And it was the inspiration for Hogwarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it has this pleasant history, something dark once called the castle home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A hunchbacked vampire that fed on the blood of the locals many centuries ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coming to us again from William of Newburgh is the story of a disfigured horror that brought both terror and disease to the people of Northumberland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Newburgh, this hunchbacked vampire would come from his hiding place in the castle, raid the villages and feed upon the weak and vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One night the people grew tired of the monster and cornered him with pitchforks and set the living nightmare ablaze reducing him to ash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were finally free of this terror that came in the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Croglin Vampire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Following the years of the English civil war, there were stories of a being borne of mankind’s darkest dreams stalking the village of Croglin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who saw the being, and lived to tell the tale, described the vaguely human creature as having brown shriveled skin and long grotesque fingers that it used to cease young women by the throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One well known story comes from a house in the region called Croglin Grange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vampire allegedly visited a young woman nightly and fed upon her until she fell ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One night her brothers busted in and wounded the fleeing creature with a gunshot to its leg.<\/p>
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