14/06/2025
**FOLKLORE FRIDAY**
Our tale this week concerns a chance meeting which saved Hereford Castle from attack. It was a time when Hereford was seen as a jewel to those who sought power. Those who controlled Hereford also had control over the southern Marches, simple as that. As Hereford was a maiden castle, one which had never been taken, it was the role of the governor of the castle to keep it that way.
It was an unsettled time, with the weak King Edward II on the throne. There seemed to be lots of challengers to his crown, treachery was rife and life was dangerous. The governor and his family had a very privileged life. This however came with restrictions which didn't always suit the governor's lovely daughter Isobel. Unlike many other poorer women in Hereford she did not have to toil and task, in fact Isobel had so much free time on her hands she was very often incredibly bored.
The governor recognised this, he saw how restrictive life was for her, Isobel was an outgoing, gregarious girl who needed something to keep her busy. So he arranged for her to have coracle lessons, this would be something she could focus on and may indeed prove useful in the future should she need a means of fleeing the castle if it were to come under attack.
Isobel found this liberating as she could use her coracle down the Wye, disappear from the bustle of the city for a while and experience a taste of freedom away from the confines of the castle.
One sunny afternoon however while she sat on the banks of her favourite spot near Hoarwithy, her peace was interrupted by a rider who dismounted his horse and proceeded to drink from the river only a few feet away from her. The young man looked like a gentleman, with his fine cap, leather boots and proud stature. They struck up a conversation, he told her stories of his travels through England and France, she told him of her life as the governor's daughter. Over time they met often but he never gave her his name, Isobel didn't mind as she enjoyed their time together and his company.
However things were about to change, as she rowed ashore one day she could see he appeared worried and concerned. He told her that Hereford Castle was about to be attacked and begged her not to return but go away with him. Isobel had grown very fond of this traveller and their liaisons and very much wanted to leave with him there and then, but she had many riches and jewels that she wanted to bring with her. So she agreed to return to the castle, grab her belongings and rendezvous with him later.
Paddling faster up the Wye than she had ever done before she returned to the castle. Sad to be leaving her wonderful father, she decided to see him for one last time and found him in the great hall. She told him the news about the castle being attacked. Isobel thought that her father would not believe her as the last attack on Hereford had been over two hundred years ago, but he confirmed that the Earl of Hereford had in fact had a falling out with the King and that the castle was now vulnerable.
Before she knew it the castle had been locked down and she was unable to leave, she drifted off to sleep wondering what might have been. After being abruptly awoken by a raging battle, she hid in her room until her father came and found her. He told her that the castle had been attacked that night but thanks to her warning it had not been taken. They had captured Hugh Despencer, the leader of the attack and one of the king's favourite men who would be hanged in High Town the very next morning.
As the prisoner was lead to the gallows Isobel let out the loudest scream and fainted on the spot, the man being led to his death was none other than her dashing traveller gentleman. Isobel was never the same again, she ranted, screamed constantly and only found peace when she was allowed to paddle her coracle along the Wye. To everyone's dismay one evening she did not return, her upturned coracle was found but Isobel remained missing.
From this point strange occurrences began to happen on the Wye. Boatmen told tales of a phantom boat and of hearing the paddles of a rower where none were to be seen. For centuries this part of the Wye was referred to as Spectre's Voyage and no boatman would venture out there after dark. Reports of a ghostly vessel containing a woman stopping on the banks of Hoarwithy were rife, apparently her sad cries could be heard as she frantically rowed back and forth along the Wye, after which she would suddenly vanish from view.
Folklore has it that if you see the ghostly spectre of Isobel late in the evening on the Wye it means that your days left on earth can be measured on the fingers of one hand. Don't say we didn't warn you.
There are more great tales and stories over on our dedicated Herefordshire History and Folklore page, why not take a look:
www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/information/history-and-folklore
These stories are curated from many sources where accuracy cannot be guaranteed and retold in our fun ESL style, in the true spirit of Folklore magic.
