FOLKLORE OF NORTHUMBRIA, by Fran and Geoff Doel. Published by The History Press, Stroud, Glos (tel: 01235 465500). £14.99. Softback.

DRAWING on a wide range of printed, manuscript and oral material, the authors explore the folklore, legends, customs and songs of the region, from King Arthur to St Cuthbert, witches to faerie folk and superstitions to sword dancing.
Interesting chapters include a gazetteer of 28 holy wells and an exploration of seasonal customs and rituals. At one time traditional Christmas food included haggis for breakfast “made sometimes of fruit, suet, and minced entrails, and sometimes only of oatmeal, suet and sugar, stuffed into a sheep’s maw and boiled”.