Folklore is simply the tales of the common folk. That is what makes it so fascinating: rather than the lives of kings, queens and celebrities, it carries the stories of ordinary people. Those stories are deeply rooted in the places and communities they grew from.

Ghost stories have always belonged to that tradition. For centuries, ghosts and folkloric creatures lived side by side in the collective imagination, haunting the same lanes, shorelines and firesides. In these darker days of the year, those hauntings grow more vivid. As the seasons turn, we reach for stories that blend fact and fiction to help us make sense of the passing of time, of loss and remembrance.

Join Darker Days Hastings for an evening exploring these themes with three local storytellers:

Melanie Atkinson, author of The Last Night in Amsterdam
Mel Coghlan of Hastings History and Folklore Tours
Molly Morrison, author of Spirits of Hastings and lead investigator for the Untruth Seekers

They’ll share ghost stories, local legends and the history behind them, and show how a single Tarot card can unlock a tale.

Then we’ll put folklore into action as a living tradition. You’ll draw a set of prompts, and we’ll help you weave them into a story of your own. No writing experience is needed, just curiosity and a taste for the eerie.

If you’re interested in hauntings or folklore, or you’ve ever felt a tingle down your spine, this is the workshop for you.

Entry is free, but please reserve your place. Donations on the night are welcome.

Melanie Atkinson: https://www.instagram.com/melaniewriting/
Mel Coghlan: https://www.instagram.com/hastingshftours/
Molly Morrison: https://www.coghurstpress.com/folklore