This month marks the anniversary of the first famous Cottingley Fairy photographs, taken in July 1917, images that would go on to convince thousands—including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—that fairies really existed. Just a few years later, Doyle would publish The Coming of the Fairies, cementing the photographs as one of history's most enduring paranormal mysteries.
But beyond the charming Edwardian images lies a much older and far darker story.
Long before fairies became tiny winged creatures from children's books, they were feared across Britain and Europe. They were linked to witchcraft, black magic, the restless dead and even poltergeist-like phenomena. Some believed they were fallen angels; others thought they could abduct humans, bring illness, or even kill.
In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Richard Sugg, author of Fairies: A Dangerous History, to uncover the forgotten folklore behind these mysterious beings. Together we explore how fairy beliefs evolved over the centuries, why they inspired genuine fear, and whether the Cottingley photographs helped transform one of folklore's most dangerous supernatural beings into the friendly fairy we recognise today.
Link to podcast episode: https://www.podpage.com/haunted-history-chronicles/fairies-a-dangerous-history-with-richard-sugg/
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