The Strange Hermit of Alnwick | English Folklore

In this video, I went exploring in Hulne Park near Alnwick Castle. The park is the former hunting grounds of the Percy family and contains a few secrets and hidden places. I tell the story of the three robbers of the 9 Year Aad Hole, a strange cave that is guarded by a solitary statue of a monk or friar. Then I go in search of where it came from.
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The Jolly Reiver is my project aiming to preserve and promote the forgotten folklore and history of rural Britain. Primarily focusing on folklore and legends, you’ll not find me trying to deconstruct these old stories or trying to rationalise them with science and psychology. Instead I will present them as they were always told by our forebears, and leave the conclusions up to you.

[@martynnotman3467]

Finally a youtube video where someone can pronounce Alnwick right 😂

[@aariley2]

I am SO happy that some young people still value the past. Bless you. You have a great storytelling voice too. It will only get better and better with age.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@xvsupremacy7190]

The Gypsy Kings/Earls were used to give the Nobility safe passage .

[@midshipman8654]

we will all be the past, so its best to value it in turn.

[@MikeSnifferpippets]

@@midshipman8654 we are already in the past, let that bend your head for a moment or three.

[@random22026]

2:50 Recently built graveyard for the Percys? Someone's thinking ahead. 4:36 Gandalf, as I live and breathe! 😊😊 The 'Wizard Earl', himself. ♥

[@susanross1651]

Gosh those gates were an amazing work of art 💕

[@TheJollyReiver]

Indeed!

[@ivonekowalczyk5823]

So the Carmelite friars may have used anchorites. They are clergy that sequester, isolate, themselves for total prayer. They get food brought to them, no contact with outside world. Maybe the anchorite used the cave. Great episode. Thanks.

[@maskcollector6949]

This story about 3 thieves is actually a direct reference from Chaucer's "The Pardoner's Tale". I'm sure there's some truth to the original story, about 1390 was when it was written, and the Percy family was in the area for about almost 100 years at the time. Odds are it's based on some mischievous relatives or wandering thieves either way it's funny, I always thought it was realistic.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thanks for sharing mate!

[@jackpayne4658]

That story is a lot older than Chaucer. It's found as a folktale, with minor variations, all around the world.

[@Zenmyster]

I was about to note the same thing

[@jeandemezerville1469]

If that's the case, the hermit's Death.

[@georgelewicki877]

My theory on where the gold is: There must have been a fourth thief to have survived to tell the story, otherwise how would we know all the details. The fourth thief, let's call him Percy, used the gold to buy a large estate where he and generations after him would live. The story of the "three" thieves was spread by Percy himself to have people believe that the gold was still hidden and maybe lost forever, and with no one left to pursue.

[@zorakj]

Fascinating theory!

[@adamtheo03]

The story told in the video is most likely based of Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Pardoner’s Tale” from around the 1400s. Your theory is really clever and I so feel like a wet blanket for saying the story from the video is fiction, but Chaucer’s works are really good and are worth a read 😅

[@maycontainnuts3127]

great speculation, but the house of percy is much older than this story

[@adamtheo03]

@@maycontainnuts3127The House of Percy may be older than the Canterbury Tales by a fair amount, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that this story in its own pre-dates what I referred to. Keep in mind that this story happened on the House of Percy’s land but doesn’t directly include members of the house themselves, meaning that the age of the House of Percy has little implications on the story other than saying it had to have occurred or been fictionalized after 1067. I’m going to play devils advocate here as I admit I am not well versed in the origin of the tale told in this video, nor am I fully competent in the House of Percy’s history, so correct me if I am wrong here: As I see it, stories generally change as time passes and since I am unaware of this story existing before The Pardoner’s Tale was written (between 1390-1400), it makes sense to assume that the huge similarities (three men find treasure; one goes off to get food and poisons it while the other two plan to murder him upon their return, all three die, and the final man dies from the conveniently poisoned food) mean that one was almost certainly inspired by the other, with my leaning being that this was inspired by Chaucer since I cannot find any evidence of this story’s existence prior to 1400 at the earliest. If you have information on where I can read the story from this video and info on when it was originally published, I would be greatfull of course.

[@danae7054]

There's a novel somewhere in that theory :)

[@thewoodlander9868]

Another great instalment.... thanks for doing this.. I know I've said it before... but it is really important.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thanks as always man! Gonna watch your latest tonight!

[@connorricketts1323]

it is keep the store's alive so they don't get lost in the past is really important and the folklore stories are great I really enjoy them love folklore and mythology

[@ghostcasebook1266]

Thank you so much for such an interesting story. Beautiful scenery too!

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you!

[@alexandravladmets8206]

Holy Moly! Adrian Mole still lives and he hasn´t aged a day!😄And he´s wearing my dad´s sweater from the 90ies! Nice video.

[@durhamfox5271]

2:43 those gates! They look like something straight out of a Hammer Horror Film! Macabre, yet magnificent at the same time

[@SindyLowery]

Outstanding castle 🏰 building would love to take a tiny peek inside just Beautiful all around 💯😻🐾🐾🐾🐾

[@ElizabethHopkinson]

“Ornamental hermits” were a thing in the C18th. Wealthy families would hire men to live in caves on their land, so they could show visitors. Maybe a statue was a cheaper option?

[@swanchamp5136]

That crossed my mind too. Wealthy land owners also used to build fake historical sites on their land as well, fake castle ruins, fake standing stones and such. Wouldn't surprise me if the monk statues were something similar.

[@123456wasp]

Love those gates! 😎👍

[@GradKat]

I used to live in Alnwick. It’s a beautiful place.

[@crvz9761]

This channel is a hidden gem. Keep up the great work! Greetings from Cali 🌴

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you! :-)

[@bcaz84]

What a beautiful place of the world.

[@paranormalesmitk2undEMFsaar]

Sehr gut gefällt mir sehr ❤❤❤. Liebe Grüße aus dem Saarland ❤❤❤

[@cindysuecox1]

I adore your channel! Living in the USA-there's nothing like this, I mean the great and famous places you visit- this place is so beautiful, and with my love of English history, there is a Percy named in everything I love! Including the one who did NOT support Richard at Bosworth 😢 but that's for another time 😊 thank you for all you do!

[@TheJollyReiver]

Hi Cindy, glad you’re enjoying! And thank you for your kind comment!

[@khandeexiong7769]

The UK has a very rich and interesting history. ❤❤❤

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

That's a great cave, and the name is very intriguing.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Indeed!

[@joelpacheco7360]

This is really interesting. I have been using Northumberland as a setting for my novels for years. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Your videos have been helpful to me. Thank you.

[@patriciajrs46]

Joel, are your books in an online venue where we could find them?

[@joelpacheco7360]

@@patriciajrs46 Amazon. And thank you. 'The Land of Cloudbursts' is largely set in Northumberland and includes the Tar Bar'l 🔥

[@coffeetime3293]

I could not imagine fairy tales are real ❤ This land is beautiful beyond words....

[@ccasey1904]

I am American and have visited the UK many times over the year. I never got to Alnwick but always meant to! So when I stumbled upon this video, I was interested. Now to find some of your other videos! Your videos are nicely done, and I like the way someone films you while you walk and talk. That’s a nice touch.

[@ithyphal]

Another fantastic video, thank you!

[@dr.froghopper6711]

When I lived in Wales, back in ‘75-‘77, I was astounded at the history that seems to ooze from the stones and hedgerows. Roman ruins were covered in hazel and moss and vines not 100 yards from my caravan. The caravan was parked in the old manor garden of a 250 year old manor. It was a dairy when I lived there and I just rented my space. I’m from the desert southwest of America, New Mexico-about 200 feet higher than the famous Rio Grande. We have centuries old structures here too but the surrounding area isn’t nearly so green. The nearest Pueblo to me, Isleta Pueblo is thought to be about 700 years old or older. Our desert reminds me of Wales, without the ocean, rain and verdant green growing everywhere.

[@pedallinraw]

Wilson and Blackett 😉👍🏻

[@bcvc3365]

❤ I love that you show us the locations!! Nicely done bravo 👏

[@TheJollyReiver]

:-)

[@Louis-si4ci]

Thank u so much for doing what you do. Enjoyed thoroughly 👌

[@lookis4879]

First time on your channel and I'm hooked thank you

[@theendofeverything6356]

We missed the park on our last visit to Alnwick in February. We'll definitely put it on our itinerary next time. Thanks again, sir!

[@ladyhonor822]

Thank you so very much 🥰 AMEN Philadelphia USA 🇺🇲☦️🙏🙏🙏🤟🤟🤟🎶🎶🎶⚓🔥🔥🔥🫀🫁🧠🇺🇲☦️🥂👑🤕🎺🩺🏥📿🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹⚓

[@Jay-Leigh]

This was so interesting and very nicely presented. Thank you

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you liked it!

[@staticcharm3808]

Glad to see this channel start to blow up and get more popular

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you :-)

[@Appophust]

Have you ever heard of garden hermits? They were a thing back in the day. Rich people would either have a statue, or hire a real person. Just thought it was interesting that the "hermit" statue was in/near a private garden.

[@aishatailford3947]

Thank you for your videos! It makes me so proud to see you showcasing our wonderful county and all its folklore and history.

[@clayburk5797]

I was in Alnwick last month on a Study abroad trip. Thanks for the interesting tales and places to explore!

[@shireboundscribbles]

That doorway that you stepped through at 8:46 was also, I think, used as the enterence to the Abbey where Maid Marian in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood series went to. So multiple Marian connections. 😃

[@Svvithred]

This is what I love about the UK, so many beautiful areas with interesting history, some almost semi-legendary now due to the very ancient themes involved!

[@user-tp1tf3ul1o]

I grew up in Alnwick, and we used to call that the "Mad monks cave". No idea why but the nearby monastery might have something to do with it.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

Stumbled on your channel today, via someone else who recommended it, and have been watching on and off all day. Folklore, traditions and ;sacred sites' are my lifelong passion and you are coming up with stuff I didn't know about in places I am unfamiliar with Thank you for educating me

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you’re enjoying!

[@connorricketts1323]

your channel is the best really enjoy the folklore stories and the place is beautiful can't wait for more great stories have been watching your channel since I'm glad I found this channel its a gem loved this story and you do great presentation keep the stories alive so we dont forget them

[@garymacmillan6401]

This story is like a 18th century Reservoir Dogs. There is no honour amongst thieves.

[@_the_wessex_nomad_]

Really enjoyed that! That's now definitely on my list of places to go.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad to hear it fella. I’ve been enjoying your work recently too.

[@pmajudge]

NICE ONE !! MANY THANKS , THE JOLLY REIVER FROM, U.K. (2023).

[@carlosmontanez1173]

Really enjoy your legends and folktales of the ancient British isles, Would be awesome to see a collaboration between you and another youtuber by the name Liath Wolf. Always look forward to your videos.👍👍

[@PolarChimes]

I really like the pace of this video! The time to look at the countryside and castle gives space to drink in the setting and imagine the history of the place. Enjoyed this a lot, thanks.

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

Lots of interesting symbolism as expected.

[@wms72]

Beautiful area

[@mysticallymerry5523]

This Island is so full of mysterious history, glad you're helping to keep these stories and events in memory. Thanks.👍🏻😊

[@attalion_1475]

I hate coming late to your videos :( Absolutely gorgeous location and the best lore as always!

[@Grainne007]

I really enjoy your channel. It's the best on here, in my opinion. I've been binge watching since stumbling across it. Many thanks!

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you enjoy!

[@oldsilver6035]

I'm sure it has to do with the treasure somehow. We have stories like that over here too. I've searched some caves myself looking for the James gang's loot. Thank you for the story.

[@revieboy]

Northumberland, such a beautiful area. Another brilliant video, this looks like a great place to explore. I went over to the College Valley last year and walked up to the old Roman Forts, I wonder if there are any tales to tell from that area

[@cassandrade-wolfe6926]

Lovely video 🧡 Myself and my husband visited Alnwick a few years ago. Enjoyed your tour. Northumberland is beautiful.

[@29summers]

Great storytelling 👍

[@JR-ld2xx]

Thank you!

[@luthien8036]

Wonderful video as always! ❤️ As many of us wrote before, you should be on TV!! Thank you very much for making these episodes! They are true gems!

[@Michelle-1]

Your voice is so charming and so welcoming thank you 💜

[@samanthalowrey1717]

Great video can’t wait to see the other videos

[@Freakaboogie]

beautiful stuff!!!

[@brendanriley2908]

Great video, thank you

[@elainegill2619]

I've just subscribed to your channel,loving listening to you tell the stories of the places you visit.....those gates are amazing....I've seen the ones at Alnwick gardens.Thank you.

[@JoshuaGitmostate-ie6qt]

Great job

[@suecrowhurst4393]

Very interesting story about the robbers, beautiful views, thankyou

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Such beautiful places!

[@123UpNorth321]

Your sweater is awesome, I bet that it is very warm 🤗😻

[@Zoubirking-1970]

That’s a really interesting story about the thieves thanks TJR

[@TheCurtainLift]

Fantastic video

[@leesvision]

Much love ❤️

[@dandawson4184]

Great stuff this.

[@constanceastral1497]

Nice channel! I really enjoy the way your vids are put together! Great content. I love history and lore!

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!

[@candylandi5351]

Good video and I like how you solved the mystery all by yourself.

[@DavetheNord]

Great channel old bean! 👍

[@barbaraprest783]

So interesting thank you

[@rbrowne2998]

Great story. Thanks. Keeps the mystery as well as giving some facts. The double and triple crossers I think is an old one with variations. Didnt know the Capability Brown was Northumbrian.

[@Paulboblol]

Good video been to Alnwick many times and never came across this park will definitely be visiting when I next return to Alnwick

[@TheJollyReiver]

Worth a visit!

[@mathematicsfanatic832]

Pls bring back that duke of avalon intro song. Also please recommend some books on the folklore of robin hood. You are my favorite storyteller.

[@smartman123]

beautiful locations

[@visitingdeadadventures]

Wow the tower was awesome so amazing ,greed was in their minds so they could have it all for theirselfs ..i guess got what was coing to each of them .. very awesome pictures of the ruins another awesome video bro

[@AdamTurnbull-xd3nf]

What an intresting place will have visit it next time im close to Alniwick.

[@morgsjoboo2247]

What a fabulous video Thanks so much for sharing So much information 😊 We are visiting Northumberland at the end of August. It will be our 1st visit. Have a great day Morgs Jo and Boo 🐕

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@JEKAZOL]

Nice!

[@musicland6477]

Just discovered your channel the other day and am really enjoying your videos. 🙂

[@StamfordBridge]

There are many hermit saints in Christian lore who were said to have lived in caves. Perhaps the statue was honoring such a saint.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Excellent subject choice, and footage. Most interesting to a USA Chicago born Irish American, (lineage County Kerry, Ireland). No Authentic Castles here.

[@bonysminiatures3123]

great story about the robbbers

[@Thelwyd]

I love this channel and its videos

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad to hear it!

[@sebby324]

Could you do a story from Berkshire? I’m from Wokingham in Berkshire and I only know of 2 ghost stories here

[@brandijade7063]

The yellowarrow brick road? :) Great vid!

[@katb.6132]

I am so impressed with your Tour and talk.❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉 New subsciber.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@MartyJackson]

This was an awesome video, gained a subscribe from me.

[@angelwitchywildingrocco]

Ive heard of mother shipton and nostrudamus but not this ❤💖💖 cool😊😊

[@Snaut1]

Thanks for the free forest kino, lad.

[@smartman123]

very classy and professional channel

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you :-)

[@truthlifefishing1730]

My street name growing up in Australia was named ALNWICK. We pronounced it not as UNNICK but AL N WICK.

[@heatherboardman7004]

As we do in North England

[@truthlifefishing1730]

@@heatherboardman7004 AL N WICK?

[@martagaines7272]

I love your Hazelwood deer story ❤️ Photos?

[@barrythewarren]

cool😃

[@noreenclark2568]

It seems to be a true saying that there's no honour among thieves going by those three .

[@Tallulahsteel]

wow i’ve just been on a binging spree and watched all of your videos, you have such an amazing way of telling stories i was very surprised that you didn’t have more subscribers

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you for your kind comment! Glad you’re enjoying. Hopefully I continue to grow in the months ahead :-)

[@timsedmunds]

That was wonderful and beautiful as are you! I wish you well and would love to meet you? Thank you.