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Richmond Castle (public domain).
Location: Richmond (North Yorkshire) - Richmond Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Beneath the keep of the castle, deep underground, is a secret room where King Arthur rests until Britain needs him. A young drummer who was sent down a tunnel to find the hideout vanished without trace, though his phantom drumming can still be heard underground. Finally, the castle's Gold Hole Tower had associated folklore which said gold was concealed underneath, although no evidence of this has ever been uncovered.
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Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland.
Location: Roslin (Lothian) - Rosslyn Chapel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Stone worker unknown, fairy in 2006
Further Comments: This stone worker was so talented that his master killed him in a jealous rage. Now the spirit of the worker looks longingly at his own handiwork, the Apprentice Pillar. More recently actors rehearsing at the chapel reported seeing a fairy-like figure in the grounds. As a side note, at least one contemporary author believes that the Ark of the Covenant could rest here, while others believe the holy grounds are the hiding place of the Holy Grail. Sometimes the chapel is reported to glow, as if on fire, which was said to indicate the death of a descendant of William St Clair (although his last descendant died in 1778).
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King Arthur in the Epitome of Chronicles.
Location: Seer Green (Buckinghamshire) - General area
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The village is reputed to have taken its name from when the court of King Arthur visited the area.
Location: Sewingshield (Northumberland) - Castle ruins
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Early 1800s
Further Comments: Legend says the site of King Arthur's hall; a farmer once claimed to have discovered the location, deep underground, accessible only by a secret passage that he'd accidentally stumbled upon. He found a cavern full of sleeping knights, dogs and two royal looking figures - but ran away and could not remember where the passage was.
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Uther Pendragon in the Epitome of Chronicles.
Location: Shap (Cumbria) - General area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Winter (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A large man on horseback seen galloping around on winter nights is said to be Uther Pendragon, though his motivation for being here is unclear.
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Badbury Rings hillfort, Dorset.
Location: Shapwick (Dorset) - Badbury Rings
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Battle in sixth century(?), entities in late twentieth century
Further Comments: This hillfort has been named by some as the location where King Arthur defeated the Saxons. Several phantasmic events also surround the Rings, including the sighting of a ghostly warrior on horseback, a spectral woman wearing a black dress, and an ugly dwarf-like entity which peers into the windows of parked cars. Finally, there are stories of a golden coffin buried in the area.
Location: Slaughterbridge (Cornwall) - River Camel, Stone marker close to Worthyvale
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This area has been named as a likely contender for the battlefield where King Arthur was killed by Mordred. Arthur's tomb is said to lie nearby, marked by a sixth century stone
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An old painting showing Mount Snowdon in shadow during a summer's day.
Location: Snowdon (Gwynedd) - Mountain Summit
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The summit of Mount Snowdon is rumoured to be the burial place of a giant banished by King Arthur.
Location: South Barrule (Isle of Man) - South Barrule hill
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The south facing side of the hill is said to be where the vast majority of the island's fairies and pixies live. It is also said that a giant is asleep under the hill, having been cursed by Merlin.
Location: St David's Head (Dyfed) - Coetan Arthur (aka Arthur's Quoit)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Stones still present
Further Comments: This circular barrow is another contender for the final resting place of King Arthur (or just a stone which Arthur tossed to one side).
Location: St Govan's Head (Dyfed) - St Govan's Chapel (and surrounding area)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: When the church bell was stolen and dropped into the sea, it was recovered by supernatural means and concealed within solid rock. When the rock is tapped, the ringing of the bell can be heard. Some have speculated St Govan was in fact Sir Gawain, who became a hermit after Arthur's death. Another legend says anyone who tries counting the steps which lead to the Chapel will reach varying totals depending on whether they ascend or descend. Finally, the chapel was home to an expanding, hollow stone that would change shape and size depending on who attempted to climb inside. Once inside, a wish would be granted.
Location: Stirling (Stirling) - The King's Knot
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: A non-invasive survey of this earthworks revealed a circular structure beneath the ground which predates the visible earth, lending credence to the legend that King Arthur gathered his knights on the site.
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Stonehenge.
Location: Stonehenge (Wiltshire) - Stone Circle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Most stories unknown, UFOs 1990, 2009
Further Comments: Many strange properties and stories have been assigned to the most famous stone circle in the world, including rumours that it was built by Merlin the Wizard (or the Devil), and that it is impossible to count the true number of stones. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Uther Pendragon is buried here. UFO sightings are not uncommon in the area, with a couple spotting a glowing orange light as they drove along the road past the monument in 1990, and a photograph purportedly showing 'discoid' craft sent to the MOD in 2009.
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Little Sea - another contender for Excalibur's final home.
Location: Studland (Dorset) - Little Sea
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This body of water has been named as one of the places that Arthur may have disposed of his legendary sword.
Location: Swindon (Wiltshire) - Liddington Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This defensive hillfort may be the mythical Mount Baton, where King Arthur defeated the Saxons.
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An old postcard showing Tintagel Castle.
Location: Tintagel (Cornwall) - Tintagel Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A place featured in Arthurian legend (Arthur is said to have been born here), the cave under the castle is said to be the one time home of Merlin. His spirit now shows a reluctance to leave the place. A ghostly horseman was reported by one witness, who promptly identified the phantom as King Arthur.
Location: Trent (Dorset) - Trent Barrow, pool
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Pool still present
Further Comments: This pool is said by some to be the location of King Arthur's Excalibur.
Location: Tywyn (formerly known as Towyn) (Gwynedd) - Llyn Barfog (aka Bearded Lake)
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A monster which made a nuisance of itself in the neighbourhood was killed by the hero Huw Gadarn, who drowned the creature. Another tale says that the hero involved was King Arthur. The area is also known for its fairies and was said to be the place where the legendary fairy cows first came from (before they vanished after one was almost butchered for being too old).
Location: Uffington (Oxfordshire) - Uffington Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This location has been named as another possible site where the Battle of Badon occurred.
Location: Wells (Somerset) - Arthur's Point
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Legend says King Arthur and/or his men used this summit as a lookout point.
Location: Westbury (Wiltshire) - Bratton Camp, aka Bratton Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This location is said to be the battlefield where King Arthur defeated the Danes.
Location: Weston-under-Redcastle (Shropshire) - Bury Walls
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One folk belief has King Arthur's court as being based at Bury Walls.
Location: Weston-under-Redcastle (Shropshire) - Red Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A family of giants once lived at Red Castle, until killed by King Arthur and his knights. A nearby brook ran red with blood for three days after the fight.
Location: Whitchurch (Herefordshire) - King Arthur's Cave
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Arthur hid much of his loot in this cave, which Merlin then protected with a spell, ensuring the treasure would never be found.
Location: Whitland (Dyfed) - River Taf, near Gwal-y-Filiast burial chamber
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present?
Further Comments: A naturally formed hole in the stones was said to have been created by Merlin so Arthur could cook his dinner.