Myths and Mysteries of the Thames

What’s lurking in the water? Discover pagan Thames rituals, sacred rites, magic, myths, urban legends and monsters.

What’s lurking in the water? Discover pagan Thames rituals, sacred rites, magic, myths, urban legends and monsters.

The Thames has been a site of pagan ritual, sacred rites and popular celebrations since ancient times. Ghosts, dreams and strange stories gather on its bridges and lurk within its tunnels, tributaries and sewers. Dastardly deeds and death occur on the bank and in its docks. Discover the waters of London as a place of magic, myth, urban legends and monsters: from the suicidal ghost of Waterloo Bridge and the traitor’s heads of London Bridge, to the phantom willies of Westminster Bridge. For the untrue origin of the song London Bridge is Falling Down, and the unreal origins of sewer pigs and much more, join our London strangeness experts Robert Stephenson and Scott Wood.

Robert Stephenson is a qualified City of London guide and a tour leader at Kensal Green and Brompton cemeteries. He has taught on London for twenty years.

Scott Wood is the host of the London Fortean Society, author of London Urban Legends: The Corpse on the Tube and writes Fortean London news for Londonist.

This event is part of 'Londonist Afloat: Terrific Tales of the Thames', happening on the weekend of 20-21 September. This event is included in the programme of Totally Thames Festival 2014.

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