As far back as 770AD, giant serpents were seen in Sussex, then known as Southern Angles. These were even recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles as 'Wondrous adders were to be seen in the land of the South Saxons'.

 

These tales are now resigned to the past and the only sightings of a dragon likely to be seen is the one that accompanies the mummers at christmastide

 

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Dragons are reputed to have lived in St Leonard's Forest, and here the saint fought an epic battle with a dragon and killed it. It is said that wherever the saint's blood fell lilies-of-the-valley grow today.

 

Another type of dragon. called a knucker, lived in bottomless pools, or knucker holes. These pools were found in many places and the dragon's hot breath ensures that they never freeze in winter.

 

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The most famous of Sussex dragons is the Legend of the Dragon of St Leonard's Forest. This wooded land was once part of the ancient forest of Anderida, described by the Venerable Bede in 731 as 'thick and inaccessible'.

 

Perhaps there were really several dragons, as some of the stories must have originated in very early times when many strange beasts lived in this inaccessible area. The dragon legends were given a new lease of life in 1614, when a pamphlet was published telling of a "strange serpent or dragon" said to be living at that time within the forest to the great annoyance of the local people.

 

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Another Sussex tale is of the Knucker Hole dragon. The Hole is actually a small, deep pool of water, fed by a spring, which according to local belief, has never been known to run dry.

 

Situated at Lyminster near Arundel, the pool was even reputed to be bottomless, and even when the locals took ropes from the six bells of Lyminster Church, and tied them together, they failed to touch the bottom. This has now however proved to be untrue by modern soundings of the pool.

The basic legend is of a very fierce monster of tremendous size, partly like a serpent, and partly in the shape of a woman. It was reputed to have wings, and was in the habit of swooping down on the farmer's beasts and carrying them back to its lair.

 

After many years of torment, the locals asked the King to deal with this problem, to which he offered his daughters hand in marriage to anyone who killed the beast. Many tried, and failed, but one tale prevails over others of a local lad named Jim Pulk or Jim Puttock.

There are various tales as to how he achieved this momentous feat, but suffice to say he married the king's daughter, and they lived happily ever after. Their descendants may still be found living in parts of Sussex to this day.

 

As proof that Jim did exist, his grave, covered with a slab of Horsham stone, used to be in the graveyard of Lyminster church. The slab was then moved from the graveyard into the church itself, and there it may be seen today, next to the font.

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Ordinary snakes were often credited with strange powers. A common belief which may not have died out, was that any snake or worm that is cut in two will not be able to die till sunset. Snakes and snake-oil were used in various folk-medicines, and to kill the first adder you saw in spring was sometimes held to be a charm for ensuring victory.

There was also a strong and widespread superstitious fear of snakes. The dragon as portrayed in many local folk-legends in England, is often simply a very large and destructive snake or 'Worm', rather than the fire breathing monster of mystical tales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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